His Kingdom (Owning Vegas Book 1)

I don’t know how long I’ve been pacing up and down the living room before I hear the door open. I let Evie’s whole “he’s a mobster” thing get into my head. To the point I Googled Louie’s name and read through numerous news articles that suggest he isn’t just a mobster but the leader of the Las Vegas underworld.

It’s all speculation. Nothing has ever been proven. Which probably means it’s just rumors and conspiracy-theory bullshit, right?

He’s not a criminal. I’m not sleeping with a criminal. Although, I do see the irony if he was. I just ran from someone who works to uphold the law, right into the arms of someone who breaks it. Someone who profits on breaking it.

I haven’t known the man for long. A couple of days isn’t long. I get that. But when I look back to when I first met Owen, I don’t remember him being as attentive—or as nice. I do remember wondering why Louie’s knuckles were bruised, though. I never mentioned it because it’s really none of my business. I assumed he works out, boxes, or something. But what if they’re bruised because he uses those fists on someone else?

The saying sometimes good people do bad things comes to mind. So what if Louie does some bad things? Does that automatically make him a bad person?

Holy shit, my mind is making up excuses for him before I even know if it’s true. Does that make me a bad person?

I turn to face Louie when he walks into the living room. My eyes rake up and down his body, searching for… blood splatters? I don’t know what, but I don’t see anything.

“Charlotte, you okay?” he asks me.

“Are you a mobster?” I blurt out.

Louie’s expression goes from one of shock to casual as can be. An I don’t have a care in the world smirk on his face within seconds. “Why would you ask that?” He walks towards me.

“Nope. Stop.” My hand shoots up between us, and to my surprise, Louie actually pauses. He doesn’t say anything. Just stands there. We’re locked in a silent, staring contest for what seems like forever. He’s not going to answer my question. “Are you?” I ask again.

“Am I what, Charlotte?”

“A mobster,” I repeat. “My friend Evie Googled you. She’s coming here by the way, but that’s not the point. Are you a mobster? It’s a simple yes-or-no question, Louie. And where did you go just now? Did you do something to Owen?”

“You want a drink?” Louie offers casually, walking over to the bar cart on the opposite side of the room.

“No, I want answers,” I tell him.

“Sometimes we think we want answers, but what we really want is reassurance. I think what you want is reassurance that you’re not making a wrong choice by staying here with me.” He turns back in my direction, his eyes boring right into mine.

Is he right? Do I just want to know I’m making the right choice by staying here?

When I don’t say anything, Louie continues. “You aren’t trapped here, Charlotte. You are free to leave whenever you like. I’m not forcing you to do anything you don’t want to do. I suspect for the first time in a long time, you’re making decisions for yourself.”

“So if I left right now, you wouldn’t try to stop me? You wouldn’t follow me?” My heart starts racing. Am I making this whole three-day relationship more than what it is?

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t do everything in my power to stop you, to convince you. But I’m not holding you here against your will. No matter what kind of monster I am, I’m not that kind,” he tells me.

“So you are a mobster?” I ask with a raised brow. He admitted as much, even if he didn’t use the exact word.

“One thing I won’t ever do is lie to you.” Louie starts walking towards me again, a glass of amber liquid in his hand. I don’t stop him this time. “I also won’t tell you anything that could be used against you,” he says. “Am I a mobster? No, I’m not affiliated with any mob family.”

Something about the way he says that is strange. “What do you mean you won’t tell me anything that can be used against me?”

“I will always do everything to keep you safe, Charlotte. There are aspects of my life that I will keep from you, for your own benefit.” Reaching for me, Louie cups my face with his free hand. “I would prefer if you didn’t get implicated in anything. Please, don’t ask questions I really can’t answer.”

“So what you’re telling me is that you’re a criminal but won’t admit it for my sake, not yours?” He can’t be serious right now.

His left eye twitches. Oh, I must have hit a nerve. Good.

I have spent enough time putting up with non-answers. Now that I think about it, I should have pushed Owen more about where he was all those times he came home late. He was probably out fucking my sister while I sat at home waiting for him.noveldrama

“I’m not doing it again,” I say, taking a step back from Louie.

“You’re not doing what again?” He takes a step forward, closing the gap between us.

“I can’t just go along with whatever you say. I can’t be the girl who sits at home, ignorant to the fact her boyfriend is out sleeping with her sister. I can’t just take your word that everything is okay. I can’t be stupid again,” I explain in one long breath.

“First of all, I’m not sleeping with your sister. Nor will I ever sleep with your sister. Or anyone else, for that matter. If I tell you that we’re exclusive, then that’s exactly what we are. Second, you’re far from stupid and I’m not standing here trying to pull the wool over your eyes.”

I look up at him. “What happened with Owen?”

Louie’s fingers brush over my arm, over the mark my ex put there. “I made sure he can’t ever hurt you again,” he says. “I won’t ever let anyone hurt you, Charlotte. I take care of what’s mine.”

“And I’m yours?”

“Like it or not, I found you and I plan on keeping you. And just so we’re both clear, we…” Louie points between us. “…are doing this, and we are exclusive. I don’t share.”

“Don’t you think this is all happening a bit too fast?”

“Yes,” he says. “But I trust my gut. It’s never led me astray before. And right now, my gut is telling me to hold on to whatever it is that’s growing between us. To nurture it. Because I have a feeling it’s going to be something out of this world, something extraordinary even.”

“Do you think Carlo was serious about his job offer?” I quickly change the subject.

Louie appears taken aback. More so than when I asked him if he was a mobster. “What? Why?”

“Well…” I smile. “If I’m going to stay, I’ll need a job. I have a bit of savings but it’s not going to last long.”

“Here.” Louie takes his wallet from his back pocket and pulls out a black card.

I look from the card in his outstretched hand, up to his face. “What is that?”

“It’s a credit card. Whatever you need, put it on this,” he says.

“Yeah, I’m not taking that.” I shake my head.

“Yes, you are,” he insists.

“No, I’m not.” I fold my arms over my chest. “I’m not a charity case.”

“No, you’re my girlfriend and I’m not going to have my girlfriend work for some other guy,” he says, putting extra emphasis on the title.

“Yeah, I’m also not a whore. You’re not paying for me,” I tell him.

“What the fuck? How did we go from you’re my girlfriend to you thinking you’re my whore?” Louie shakes his head.

“You’re trying to pay me. That suggests you’re paying me to be your girlfriend. That’s the very definition of a whore.”

“No, a whore is someone you pay for sex. I want a lot more than just sex from you, Charlotte. I want everything.”

He wants everything? That’s a problem, considering I’m not sure I have anything left to give anymore. “What if I don’t have anything to give you?” I ask aloud.

Louie smiles at me. “Charlotte, you have already given me more than you’ll know.” His lips press into mine. Soft, gentle.

Damn him and those lips. This man is like a drug. When he’s touching me, it’s hard to think straight. I know I’m going to have more questions later.

“Let’s go to bed. It’s late,” Louie whispers against my mouth.

“Okay.” I sigh. I can’t bring myself to walk away, even though my head is telling me I should.