Page 43 of His Kingdom

“I think I need to meet thisCharlotte.” Emmanuel looks directly at me. The fucker wants me to know that he knows her name. I’ve made it a point not to mention it in front of him. And Sammie and Carlo haven’t either.

I shake my head. “Sure, when hell freezes over,” I tell him.

“She doesn’t know,” Sammie says casually.

“Doesn’t know what?” Emmanuel’s interest is piqued. I don’t think that’s a good thing.

“That the boss here is… Well, she doesn’t know what he does. What any of us do.”

“What does she think you do, then?” Emmanuel prods.

“Business,” I tell him. “And I plan to keep it that way.” At least for a while. I don’t want to lie to Charlotte, but I do want to keep her around long enough to make it harder for her to leave.

“It’s not an easy secret to keep from the woman who is warming your bed every night,” Emmanuel states.

“She knows what she needs to know. I don’t need her being implicated in anything.” I’m not a fucking idiot. I know I can’t hide this part of my life from her forever, but I will for as long as I can. For her benefit, not mine.

“Your life, man. What’s the game plan here?” Emmanuel asks me. “You know I’m down for anything. I don’t give a fuck who this asshole is. You, though, you need to think with your head, not your rage.” He points at me.

“I want his fucking head rolling down the goddamn strip.” My fists clench and unclench as I try to rein in my anger.

“I hear that. I do. However, it’s not smart. This cop is connected to your girl. He goes missing after coming looking for her, and the first person they’re going to focus on is the ex,” Emmanuel says. “You want your girl dragged into a station for questioning?”

I don’t say anything. I don’t need to. I will not let this come back on Charlotte. I also don’t need no fucking dirty cops looking her way. “Fine. We do this clean.”

“Got him,” Carlo says. “He’s staying at the Norge.”

“Cheap fuck,” I grunt. The Norge is one of those pay-by-the-hour joints. Known for street walkers and junkies. “Get me five grams and a syringe.” I can’t make him bleed or hurt like I’d prefer, not if I don’t want this shit to fall back on Charlotte.

“Got it,” Sammie says. “I’ll meet you there.”

With a curt nod, I stand, pick up my wallet, and swallow the last of my whiskey. “Let’s go show this fucker what happens when someone touches something that belongs to me.”

“Car’s waiting.” Carlo pushes up from his seat before buttoning his jacket.

“One less pig around here is a brighter world, if you ask me.” Emmanuel chuckles as he stands and follows us out of my office.

As we make our way through the casino floor, I’m stopped by a few guests that I exchange quick, polite conversation with before promising to catch up with them later.

I look to my left the moment I step outside. That’s where she was standing. Right in front of my own casino. No one should have touched her, especially in my fucking house. In my fucking town.

Maybe I need to make it public knowledge that Charlotte belongs to me. Of course, no one here knows she’s mine, which explains why not a single fucking person stepped in to help her when that asshole cornered her. I’m going to fix that, though. Tomorrow night, I’m taking her out and then every fucker will know just how off-limits she is.

* * *

“You know, getting wifed up is the best way to put a target on your back,” Emmanuel says from where he’s seated beside me in the town car, as Carlo climbs into the front passenger seat. “It’s announcing to the world that you have a weakness.”

I glare at him. “You planning to exploit that weakness?” We might be friends, in a way, but I will put a bullet in this motherfucker’s head without blinking if he threatens Charlotte.

“Fucking hell, man, you really need to relax. I ain’t gonna touch your girl.” He shakes his head.

By the time we get to the motel, Sammie is already waiting out front. He waves a key in our direction. “Room sixty-nine.” He smirks.

I slip my hands into a pair of leather gloves and shake my head. “Grow up,” I say before snatching the key from him. “No marks. No bruises.” I wait for each of them to nod.

“You know, this is just like old times,” Carlo says. “The four of us, lurking around in the dark of the night, primed and ready to teach some asshole a lesson.”

“Good times,” Sammie tells Carlo.

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