Page 21 of The Billionaire's Ride

Feeling more like myself for the moment, Black Jack and I whiz down Northumberland toward Hippodrome Casino. It’s not hard to miss with all the brightly lit gold and blue lights. I squeeze the bike between two parked cars and stroll into the house of games. Peering around, I look for the lads. There are only two places they can be: the bar or the blackjack tables.

I can use a drink, so I turn the corner and head up the stairs to the bar overlooking the casino floor. My oldest friend, Collin, sits towards the middle, leaning against the steel bar top.

“Aye, mate,” I say, sliding onto the barstool beside him.

“Dreeew. I was wondering when I’d see your mug around here.” Collin shoves my shoulder, downs his short glass of whiskey, and then holds up the empty glass. “You want?”

“Yeah.”

He nods to the bartender with an arrogant smirk. “Two more of these.”

Collin’s a kid fromthe wrong side of the tracks,as they say. We met during a football match when we were thirteen. He made it his mission to annihilate me that day on the field, and he succeeded, earning my respect. Our friendly competition turned into an actual friendship.

That summer, I begged my parents to stay in London while they went on holiday to some exotic location. I spent a lot of time at Collin’s house and became an honorary member of his family after I complimented his mum on making the best Welsh rarebit in all of England.

Their life was modest compared to mine, but that was what I liked about them. It wasn’t about high expectations and what other people thought. They just loved each other. It was the first time in my life that I actually felt like Just Drew.

I told Collin as much, but he would always shove me off and call me mad. Collin desired the kind of opulence that was at my fingertips every second of the day. He much preferred to spend time with my family. I don’t know how he did it, but he managed to connect with my dad. It wasn’t until Collin went to work for him at Bonnaire Capital that I realized how similar the two really are.

I glance over the rail, looking out for the top of my brother’s toffee-colored, wavy-haired head. “You seen Mick?”

“He’s at the blackjack table with Kent,” he says, referring to my younger brother.

“Why aren’t you playing cards? Not in the gambling mood?” I ask.

Collin sneers, shuffling the ice at the bottom of his glass. “Just taking a liquor break. I gamble all day long.” He’s in the venture capital department. Every day, he has to make decisions that will either win big or lose. And Collin hates to lose, which is probably why he’s sitting here.

I take a long sip, feeling the burn of the husky liquid.

Collin knits his brow. “What’s going on with you? Why’s your face like that?”

“Like what?”

“All puckered like you’re contemplating the world’s problems,” he says.

“Don’t say pucker.”

“Puck-ER!” he yells in my apparently puckered face.

I roll my eyes and take another gulp. “It’s nothing.”

“Sure it is. But don’t worry, I have a feeling our night’s about to get a lot better.” He nods his chin behind me. Two gorgeous women just sat down at the end of the bar. One sends a wink, and the other a glossy-lipped smile.

“Two of us and two of them,” Collin mutters in a low tone. We could land those lovely ladies in our sleep. It all started back when we hardly had a few hairs on our chins, and we spent our entire youth perfecting our strategy. Back at university, our mates called us the cock-block duo because if we were around, no other guy stood a chance. Yes, Collin and I are unstoppable. Or, should I say,were?

Last year, Collin became a husband after an unplanned pregnancy. He wasn’t ready to settle down, but my dad convinced him it would be better for him in the long run, so he complied. Collin never confessed anything, but I suspect he’s been no angel. Believe it or not, it’s not behavior I prefer to encourage. Besides, it’s more for me. Not that I’m in the mood for any woman but Kate.

“How’s Celine?” I ask, referring to his wife.

He scoffs. “Why’d you have to go and bring her up? I’m just trying to have a little harmless fun.” I’m not sure about his definition of harmless, but that’s Collin. He always wants more, more, more. He’s never satisfied with anything he has. He’s the same with money. No matter how rich he gets, he goes after more. More cars, more houses, more designer suits. It’s like he has this gigantic hole he’ll never fill.

“You’re the one who chose to get married,” I say.

“It didn’t feel much like a choice.” Collin looks away from the two women, and they pick up their drinks and walk away.

“You know, you can say no to Dean,” I say, referring to my father. “I do it all the time.” I take a sip, then feel a hand on my suit-clad shoulder.

“Well, well, look who finally decided to show up.” Kent’s voice resounds from behind me.

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