Page 23 of His Kingdom

“For what?” His brows furrow.

“For crying on you. I ruined your shirt. You don’t even know me and you’re sitting in here comforting me.”

“I don’t know you yet. But doyouknow you, Charlotte?” Louie asks.

“I thought I did,” I admit.

“I want you to take your time. Really think about what you want from life. And while you’re doing that, I think it’d be a great idea for us to get to know each other,” he says.

I smile. I like this man. He is absolutely nothing like anyone I know. “Yeah, like dating? Or friends? Or…” I let my sentence trail off.

“Dating. We should definitely date,” Louie says. “In fact, the first date starts right now.” He stands and holds out a hand to me. “Come on.”

“Wait! Now? Where? I’m not dressed.” My eyes widen.Is he insane?I can’t go out right now. I’m a hot mess. I don’t even need a mirror to confirm that.

“I like you in a state of undress.” Louie smirks. “And you don’t need to change for where we’re going. Trust me.” He’s still holding out his hand, waiting for me to take it.

Why do I feel like this is one of those moments? A crossroad in my life? A red pill, blue pill type of thing. I can stay here and wallow in my own self-pity, or I can take Louie’s hand and turn my life around.

It could be a turn for the better or for the worse, but there’s only one way to find out, right?

I place my palm in his. “Okay, but I’m not walking through the casino in a robe.”

“I wouldn’t let you walk anywhere in public without clothes,” Louie says as he leads me out of the room.

We end up in front of a door in the same corridor. Louie opens it and guides me inside. It’s similar to the room we just left. But lesshoteland morelived-in.

“Do you live here?” I ask him.

“I do.” He nods once before adding, “Make yourself at home. I’ll be right back.” And then he’s disappearing down a hall.

Make myself at home, huh?Does that mean I get snooping privileges? I mean, it would only be smart to look around, right? Try to figure out who this guy is that I’m… dating?

Though I’m not so sure dating is a wise thing for me to do. I also don’t think I want to refuse him. Like I said, I’ve never met anyone like Louie. And right now, I really, really am interested in getting to know him better. Him and that body of his.

Oh shit, I’ve been single for a hot minute and I’ve turned into a hussy.Or is it the fact that he rocked my entire world with orgasms that I didn’t know I was capable of having? Either way, I want more.

ChapterThirteen

Ileave Charlotte in the living area. After placing an order for room service, I rush around the bedroom. I remove the pistol from under the pillow on the bed. The one hidden behind the cushion on the sofa, and then I walk into the bathroom and grab the one that’s taped to the side of the toilet.

Sounds paranoid, but I’d rather be paranoid than caught off guard and out of reach of a weapon.

Next I walk into the closet, unlock the safe, and stow everything away in there. Before rushing back out to the living room, because I know there are more lying around. Most of them not in obvious places, though. She wouldn’t find them. Unless…

“Charlotte?” I question when I find her staring into a drawer I really wish she hadn’t opened.

“Shit. Sorry. I was totally snooping. But in my defense, you left me alone out here,” she says, slamming the drawer shut again.

“Snoop away,” I say, holding my hands up as if I’ve got nothing to hide. Other than a few weapons here and there, she’s not going to find anything incriminating. I haven’t gotten to where I am today by being stupid and leaving evidence where just anyone can find it.

“I… ah… why do you have so many…” She leaves her words hanging between us.

“It’s Vegas. I own three casinos on the strip. Three of the biggest casinos in the state, Charlotte. There are, let’s say, less-desirable people that would like to take what I’ve got,” I explain.

Her brows knit together. “Are you in danger?”

“Danger lurks everywhere, sweetheart, especially the desert. But I’m very capable of taking care of myself. Trust me, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.” I smile, trying to ease some of her worry. Which I’m not sure is for me or for herself.

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