Page 45 of Russian Roulette
I unlock the door to my penthouse suite and invite her inside. “Make yourself at home,” I say as she steps inside. She surveys the sunny room, taking in the stunning view of Vegas through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
She turns to me and says, “It’s beautiful here.” There’s a hint of a smile on her face, and I realize she’s beginning to relax a little. I’m relieved, knowing that she’s safe here with me.
“I have a spare bedroom and bathroom,” I tell her. “I’ll put your suitcase in there for you to change clothes whenever you want.”
She nods at me. “Great, I’ll change now. Lead the way.”
I show her to the extra bedroom across the hall from mine and flip on the light. A king-size bed, covered in a soft white comforter and fluffy pillows, takes up most of the space. There’s a large dresser on one side and a walk-in closet on the other. A large window with a view of the city covers the length of the bedroom. I sit the suitcase on the floor, and she immediately kneels to unzip it. She begins to unpack her clothes and put them neatly in the closet. I’m surprised she’s removing things from her suitcase. I expected her to keep everything packed in case she decided to flee.
“The room is yours. Make yourself at home,” I say, watching her as she organizes her things. “I want you to be comfortable here. Do you need anything else?”
She shakes her head. “No, I’m good for now. I’ll just change and freshen up.”
“The bathroom is through there,” I say, pointing to a door. “The windows don’t open and we’re up high in case you want to crawl out the window again. You should be able to find everything you need in there. I’ll be in the living room.”
I step out to give her some privacy. Shortly thereafter, Jade enters the living room wearing a tight pair of jeans and a black sweater that hugs her breasts. She’s pulled her long, dark hair back into a ponytail. As always, her face is clear of makeup.
“Wow, you’re stunning,” I say, wondering if she has any idea how attractive I find her.
She doesn’t answer me, and instead wanders slowly around the room, checking out the furniture and décor. The living room is spacious, with comfortable sofas, elegant lighting fixtures and a large flat-screen television.
“The penthouse suite was fully furnished when I moved in, so I can’t take credit for the decorating,” I tell her. “Most of my time is spent working and I’m not at home enough to care.”
Jade walks over to gaze out the windows. “The view is gorgeous,” she says. “I can’t imagine waking up every morning to this scene. You’re lucky. I can spot all the famous Las Vegas landmarks from here. It must be nice to afford such a luxurious lifestyle.” I detect a hint of envy creeping into her voice.
“Believe it or not, the lifestyle can have its downsides,” I say, thinking of the constant stress that comes along with my line of work. “But I won’t deny that living in a Vegas penthouse has perks. Room service, for one thing. Would you like a drink? There’s a cool bar on the top floor. They make a special signature cocktail that everyone needs to try before they leave Vegas. I can call to have a couple of drinks sent to us.”
“What’s it called?” she asks, her interest piqued.
“The drink or the bar?” I tease.
“The bar,” she says.
“The Pink Elephant,” I say, grinning at her. “How can you resist a drink from a bar with a name that cute?”
“Okay,” she slowly relents. “I’ll try it. I’m not much of a party girl or a heavy drinker. I guess one drink can’t hurt. Just one though.”
“Great! That’s the spirit,” I say, relieved the conversation has taken a more lighthearted turn. “You’ll love the drink, I promise.”
I quickly text our order to the bar, a bottle of champagne, and a house specialty drink for Jade. It’s not long before room service knocks lightly at the front door. I crack the door open slightly, hand the server a large tip, and ask him to leave the rolling cart outside. No need to take the chance of anyone spotting Jade. Giovanni has eyes and ears everywhere. When the server steps back into the elevator, I open the door wider and grab the cart.
“Your mobile bartender has arrived,” I tell her while rolling the cart into my living room. “Open the balcony door for me and we’ll take our drinks outside on the patio.”
“There’s a patio?” she asks. “Where?”
I tilt my head toward the other side of the room. Sliding glass doors lead to a large balcony with a hot tub and a small infinity pool. A covered table and chairs sit around the pool. Clear plexiglass railings providing an unobstructed view of the city surround the patio.
“You’re not afraid of heights, are you?” I ask. “Some people get a little dizzy on the patio. We’re up higher than you might realize. I would hate for you to fall off the edge.”
She slides open the door and stands at the entranceway. “This is incredible! I can’t believe you live here. I’ve never been inside a penthouse this fancy in my entire life.” She immediately runs to the edge of the balcony to stand on her tiptoes and peek over the railing. “Damn! You weren’t kidding. This is very high. Do you use the pool and hot tub often?”
“All the time.” I smile at her. “See…being a prisoner isn’t so bad, is it?”
“Not if this is the prison,” she replies. “Vulcan’s place was a whole other story.”
“I can only imagine,” I reply. “Vulcan prefers to rough it.”
“That’s putting it lightly,” she says. “Does he really live out there in the RV, all alone and away from civilization?”
