His Kingdom (Owning Vegas Book 1)

I’ve never not loved what I do. I thrive on the deals made in the shadows, the danger, the power. Not once have I shied away from it or wanted anything different. This is what I’ve spent my entire life working towards. I don’t need to keep going. I have enough money to retire now and never work again. But what the fuck would I do then?

Standing on a dirt airfield about a three hours’ drive away from the city, I’m waiting for the plane to land. I’m here to pick up Emmanuel Lopez. The current leader of the De La Sangre Cartel and my contact for the billions of dollars’ worth of cocaine I distribute throughout my city.

“You look like you’d rather be doing anything else right now,” Carlo says. “You need to keep your head in the game, boss.”

“My head is in the fucking game,” I grunt at him.noveldrama

“Jeez, don’t shoot the messenger.” He holds up his hands. “What’s going on with you? You seem distracted lately. And you know what happens when the boss is distracted?”

“I’m not distracted.” I’m lying. I am distracted. I know it, and he knows it. But, fuck, if you had an angel fall into your hands and bed, you’d be distracted too.

“They get killed. That’s what happens, but you know that.”

“I’m not getting myself killed, Carlo.”

“Not on purpose, you’re not. But you will if you don’t get your head straight. You know what else happens? When the boss gets killed, what do you think they do to his loved ones?”

“I don’t have any loved ones.”

“Ouch, I’ll try not to take that personally. Fine, what do you think happens to his girlfriend?” he asks. “I’ll tell you what. They either end up dead with him, after being assaulted and used in ways you don’t want to imagine, or they move on with another guy.”

I turn and glare at him through the lenses of my sunglasses. Is he looking to get his ass shot right now? “No one other than you and Sammi even knows she exists,” I remind him. If I end up dead, I know Sammie will look out for her.

Fuck, I shouldn’t even be thinking like this.

First, I’m not getting killed. Second, it’s not that serious. “It’s also not that serious,” I repeat aloud.

“It’s not? Could have fooled me.” Carlo shrugs. “So I guess you won’t care that she’s currently at Victoria’s Secret with Sammie buying undergarments?” Carlo asks, holding up his phone.

I see the text message from Sammie complaining about being dragged around various shops.

Plucking the phone out of Carlo’s hands, I hit dial. “Kill me now,” Sammie answers.

“Gladly,” I tell him. “Where is she?”

“Well, hello to you too, boss. She’s in the dressing room,” he says.

“Why the fuck are you in a fucking lingerie store with my girlfriend? My naked girlfriend. Fuck it! I am killing you!” I yell.

“She dragged me in here. You told me not to leave her side. Also, I’m not in the dressing room with her. I’m not a fucking idiot,” he says.

“Put her on.”

“Ah, boss?” Sammie questions.

“What?”

“That would mean I’d have to walk into the dressing room,” he says cautiously.

“Slide the phone under the door and walk the fuck away,” I instruct him, frustration running through me like a wildfire.

It takes a minute. But then I hear her sweet voice, and I feel almost calm. “Hello? Louie?”

“Charlotte, sweetheart, what are you doing?” I ask her.

“Shopping. What are you doing?”

“Picking up a business partner. Why are you in a lingerie store with a man who isn’t me?”

“Because I decided I’d take you up on that offer to stay for a bit and I need clothes. Also, I’m a grown-ass woman. And last I checked, you weren’t my daddy. I don’t need to ask your permission to do anything.” She goes on a rant.

“Charlotte, I don’t want other men seeing you in various stages of undress,” I tell her.

“Again, I have a father, and it’s not you. Nice chat. Talk later.” The line cuts off.

Did she just…? I check the screen. She did.

“She hung up on you, didn’t she?” Carlo laughs.

“Fuck off.” I hit redial and the phone rings out. So I hit the button again and wait.

“Boss? What’d you say?” Sammie asks.

“Where is she?”

“Changing. She mentioned something about showing you who’s boss? I don’t like this. You know she’s scary, right?” Sammie whispers.

“She’s a tiny woman.”

“With a temper,” he adds.

“Get her back to the penthouse. I don’t want her anywhere near the casino floor when I walk through with Emmanuel.”

“Got it. Keep her off the floor. Should be easy enough,” Sammie says—although I hear the sarcasm in his voice.

The sound of a plane hitting the tarmac has me looking up. Fucking finally. “Gotta go.” I cut the call and hand the phone back to Carlo. “Not a single mention of Charlotte,” I tell him as we watch the plane come to a stop at the end of the runway.

“I wasn’t born yesterday,” he replies.

The hatch door opens and the stairs lower. Ten of Emmanuel’s guards step out first, forming a line with a gap in the center. Then their boss follows. “Louie, it’s been far too long, my friend,” he says, a smile on his face as he steps towards me with outstretched arms.

“It has. How was the flight?” I ask, returning the gesture.

“Bumpy. Thought I was a goner for a bit there.” He laughs.

“Let’s get out of here. It’s fucking hot.” I direct him to the cars I have waiting. For both of us.

“Carlo, you’re looking old.” Emmanuel hugs him.

“Working will do that to you. You should try it sometime,” Carlo retorts, and Emmanuel laughs.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“This city never changes.” Emmanuel looks up towards the sky.

“From your lips to God’s ears,” I say. I don’t need this city to change. I like it fine just the way it is.

“Where’s Sammie? He didn’t want to come greet me?” Emmanuel asks. I was waiting for it.

Emmanuel, Sammie, Carlo, and I all know each other from our fucked-up childhoods. Emmanuel was the first to climb the ladder. Turns out, his American mother had gotten knocked up by some Mexican drug lord who later tracked him down. Then our friend was shipped off to Mexico and has been coming back and forth to Vegas ever since. Knowing someone that long might give you a false sense of familiarity. Security. Not me, though. I know Emmanuel and I know the cruel bastard he is. His cartel deals in shit I won’t touch. But the drugs? They’re solid. I won’t go anywhere else for them.

“He’s working,” I reply.

“Right. Well, we’ll party tonight. Where we going?”

“Aces.” The casino Carlo manages for me.

Emmanuel glances in my direction. I know what he’s thinking. Why am I not hosting him here? “What’s wrong with the Royal?” he asks. “Am I not worthy of being royal?”

Truth is, I didn’t want these assholes anywhere near Charlotte. I’d much prefer to keep her far off Emmanuel’s radar. I like the guy. I’ll do business with him and entertain him when he’s in town. But I won’t be able to sit back and watch him do or say anything inappropriate to my girl. And he has a habit of treating women like pieces of meat. A trait he picked up from his old man.

“The new strippers are at Aces,” I tell him. “It’s also where the game is set for tonight, if you want to buy in.” The game being poker. And not just any poker game. All the highest of high rollers want in on this one. I’ve seen men lose billion-dollar fortunes before. “I’ve had your bags delivered to Aces.”

“I’m staying there too?”

“Yep,” I confirm. “Now, come on. Let’s get a drink.”

I drop a hand on Emmanuel’s shoulder as I lead him into the Royal Flush. Not because I want to. But because I know if he thinks I’m trying to keep him out, he’s going to want in more. And then he’s going to dig.

“Carlo, let Sammie know we’re here and have him meet us in my office,” I call out.

We step inside and Emmanuel takes a seat across from me. His eyes scanning the room before settling back on mine. “Let’s cut to the chase so we can get to the party part of the night. This is Vegas after all,” he says, leaning forward. “What do you want, Louie? Why’d you summon me here?”

He’s right. I did call him here.

I pour us each a glass of whiskey, sliding one across the desk to him. “I need more product.” I look him dead in the eye. His face is a mask of indifference. “The shipments are moving faster than I anticipated. The demand is through the roof.”

Emmanuel smirks, taking a slow sip of his drink. “More cocaine, huh? I figured as much. How much more we talking?” he asks.

“Double the last order,” I reply, watching his reaction.

He leans back in his chair, swirling the whiskey in his glass thoughtfully. “You know the risks involved, Louie. Doubling the shipment means doubling the heat. You really think you can move double?”

I nod, my expression resolute. “I’ve got everything under control. My network here is solid, and I’ve taken extra precautions. This is a calculated decision.”

Emmanuel’s eyes narrow as he considers my request. “All right. I’ll make the arrangements. But know this: If anything goes south, it’s your head.”

“Understood,” I assure him. “You’ll get your payment upfront, just like always.”

He raises his whiskey, a glint of approval in his eyes. “I know I will.”

We clink glasses, sealing the deal.

As we finish our drinks, I can’t help but feel a mix of anticipation and unease. The stakes are high, but the rewards are even higher. I have my eye on a fourth casino, and I need more cash to get it. This is my way of getting it quicker.

“Let’s get back to the party,” Emmanuel says as he stands. “We’ve got a lot to celebrate tonight.”

We walk outside the office, where Carlo and Sammie are waiting alongside Emmanuel’s men. “I’ll meet you guys over at Aces. I’ve got a few things to tie up here,” I tell them.

Emmanuel gives me that questioning look again, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he slaps Sammie on the shoulder and they start chatting like long-lost friends.

I breathe a sigh of relief. I get it.Why am I doing business with these assholes if I don’t want them anywhere near the woman I’m fond of? Because they’ve got the best product on the market, and as vile as their cartel can be, others are much worse.