His Kingdom (Owning Vegas Book 1)

I get all the way back to the penthouse floor with Charlotte. She looks a little lost. I get that I’m probably coming off too strong. I can’t help it. I see something I want and I go after it with everything I have. And right now, the thing I want is her.

Charlotte will either get onboard with the program or she’ll get onboard with the program. Because I don’t give up. Nothing is going to stop me from having her. Completely. I don’t know when it happened. But sometime between leaving her in that bed asleep and the doctor’s visit, I made up my mind.

This woman is mine.

I was going to take her to my penthouse. Instead, I lead her towards the room she’s staying in. It’s a small compromise on my part. To make her feel more comfortable. “Thank you for bringing me back,” she says.

“Of course. Do you need anything? Are you hungry?” I ask as I walk farther into the suite.

“Ah, no. I’m good. Thanks.” Charlotte’s fingers twirl in her shirt.

I open my mouth to say something to ease her mind, and then my phone rings. It’s Sammie. Shit. “I’m sorry. I have to take this.”

“It’s okay. I’m going to have a shower. Thanks for… everything.” Charlotte turns towards the bedroom.

“Charlotte?”

“Yeah?” She stops and pivots to look at me again.

“This isn’t over. I’ll be back,” I tell her.

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to,” I say and click the button to answer my phone. “This better be important,” I grunt as I walk out of the penthouse and back towards the bank of elevators.

“Some detective is downstairs hassling the staff. He’s looking for your girl,” Sammie says.

“I’ll be right down,” I tell him before cutting the call.

I was wondering how long it’d take for Charlotte’s ex to come looking for her. He was quicker than I thought. My guess was at least a week. My staff knows not to say shit about any of our guests. Which means, badge or not, the guy ain’t getting any information out of them.

By the time I make it down to reception, I can hear the commotion. “Is there a problem here?” I ask.

Sammie is behind the check-in desk, standing in front of a young girl who looks like she’s about ready to cry. My friend, however, appears as though he’s ready to jump over the counter and end this motherfucker in front of everyone.

Interesting. He’s usually the most easygoing out of the three of us.

“Yeah, I want to speak to the manager,” Charlotte’s dipshit ex says. Owen, if my memory serves me right. And I’m always right.

“And you are?” I ask him.

“Detective Aiken. I’m looking for a woman who checked into this hotel two days ago,” he says, flashing a badge.

I shove my hands into my pockets and pin him with a glare. “You got a warrant?”

“Do I need one?” he counters.

“Yes. We don’t give out guest information unless you have a warrant,” I tell him.

“Look, she’s my fiancée. She went missing. I’m just trying to find the woman I’m supposed to be marrying, and I know she was here. Just tell me if she’s still here,” he pleads.

I smirk. “Again, get a warrant. Until then, get out of my casino. And if I catch you back around here harassing my staff, I will press charges. I don’t give a fuck what kind of badge you try flashing in my direction.” I know he’s not going to get the paperwork he needs. No judge in this city will sign off on searching one of my casinos. I nod my head at the two security guys. “Escort Mr. Aikens out and don’t let him back in unless he has a warrant.”

“Yes, boss.”

Then I turn back to the girl manning the front desk. “Did you tell him she was here?”

“No,” she whispers while shaking her head.

“Good.” I need to get back upstairs. But first I need to have a chat with my friends. “Get Carlo. Meet me in my office,” I tell Sammie.noveldrama

“So you shacked up with a runaway bride?” Sammie laughs.

“Fuck off,” I grunt at him before downing the contents of my whiskey glass.

“So this detective, he cheated on her? Fucking fool.” Carlo whistles. “Girl’s a solid ten.”

I raise a brow at him. I’m not opposed to putting a bullet between his eyes if he’s looking at Charlotte the wrong kind of way. Like I said, I will stop at nothing to get what I want and keep it.

“Objectively speaking,” he adds, holding up his hands. “Trust me, boss, she’s all yours.”

“That’s if you can keep her. She’s smart, that one,” Sammie chimes in.

“You think I can’t keep her?” I ask, genuinely curious as to why the fuck he thinks I won’t be able to keep her.

“Does she know who you are?” he counters. “She’s a good girl type. Doesn’t fit in with our world.”

“She fits in if I say she does,” I tell him before changing the subject. “How’d it go with Justin?”

“Splayed him out. I’m expecting it to hit the media anytime now. Left him in an alleyway behind one of the Garcia restaurants,” Carlo says.

The Garcias are pains in my ass. Their empire is building, not as large as mine, but they’re giving it their best shot.

“Get anything else out of him?” I know there was a reason Justin sold insider intel, and it sure as fuck wasn’t for a sick mother who doesn’t exist.

“Nope. But I have my suspicions. I’ve got a few guys hitting the streets tonight. Once they find him, people will start talking and our guys will be there to hear ʼem.”

“Good. Keep me posted. I got shit to do.” By this time, I’m usually walking the floor, mingling with high rollers and making my presence known. Right now, all I want to do is get back upstairs to Charlotte.

I hear it as soon as I open the penthouse door. Her cries. I run through the living room and find Charlotte curled up on the bed. Sobbing. The sound—the image of her so upset—has my chest aching.

“Charlotte? What happened?” I ask as I climb onto the bed and pick her up. I sit her on my lap and hold her against my chest. Her sobs get harder, louder, and my hands are ready to get stained with the blood of whoever the fuck made this woman cry.