Page 34 of His Kingdom

“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 wantinmore. 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 muchmorewe talking?” he asks.

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