Page 54 of His Kingdom

“She’s my friend. Don’t worry. I’m not into girls.” I laugh at him.

“Still don’t like it,” he says.

“Anyone ever tell you that you have a serious jealous streak?”

“I’ve never had a reason to be jealous before, so no,” he says.

“Okay then.” I grin.

After dancing to one more song, I drag Louie back to the table. I can feel the alcohol wearing off. I need another drink.

“What the fuck are you all looking at?” Louie grunts, meeting the glare of everyone currently staring in our direction.

“Were you just dancing?” Carlo asks with a smile on his lips.

Louie lifts a brow. “So?”

“You don’t dance,” Sammie says.

“Well, there was that one time. In junior high. School dance. He danced with someone then. Who was she?” Emmanuel shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter. Point is, there was the one time.”

“Should I be jealous? You danced with someone else once in your life?” I ask Louie.

“No,” he tells me.

“Don’t worry. Charlotte isn’t the jealous type,” Evie says.

“Really?” Sammie doesn’t seem convinced.

I shake my head. “I’m really not.”

“Huh, maybe we should take a walk. Let’s go visit another bar,” Carlo suggests.

“Yes, let’s.” Evie and I jump up at the same time.

“This will be fun,” Sammie murmurs.

“So much,” Carlo agrees with him.

Louie stands. His hand wraps firmly around mine, and he pulls me against his side. “Stick close to me,” he says into my ear.

“Why? Scared I’m going to disappear?” I ask him.

“Yes,” he replies, his tone serious.

“I’m probably not.” I laugh at him.

We end up following Carlo and Sammie through the casino floor. A lot of people stop and talk to Louie, who never lets go of my hand. His grip tightens on me as we enter a section marked:high rollers. He seems tense. Then again, he’s always tense when other people are around.

When it’s just us, locked in the confines of his apartment, that’s when he’s more relaxed. He opened up to me last night, about his childhood and his nightmares. I wanted to hug him. Hold him tight and tell him that he wasn’t going to be alone ever again. That I’d stay as long as he wanted me to stay.

I didn’t do any of that. Because I’m not trying to come across as a clinger. Also, my head is urging me to slow the hell down. I just don’t know how. I’m so caught in this man’s web and there doesn’t seem to be a way out. Not that I’ve really looked for one.

A woman, who’s definitely more like a goddess, walks towards us with a huge smile on her cherry-painted lips. Her eyes are directly on Louie when she reaches us—or I should sayhim—because she doesn’t even look in my direction. Her hand lands on his chest and her red mouth presses against his cheek.

“Louie, darling, I was hoping to see you tonight.” Her French accent sends shivers through me.

Louie tightens his hold on my hand as I’m attempting to pry myself free. I want nothing more than to shrink into the background. “Julie, this is my girlfriend, Charlotte,” he says, looking down at me.

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