Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“Foreseeable future doesn’t inspire confidence,” Jayson murmurs. “We’re concerned. You have to understand why.”
“That’s the only reason I haven’t thrown a punch yet.”
Erick snorts. “Two against one. You’d get wrecked.”
“Never stopped me before.” I stare at him hard. “We’re not kids anymore.”
“No, we aren’t, which is why you should run this sort of fucking things past us.” Jayson rubs his face. “I didn’t want to have this conversation like this. Can we just take a step back? Think about what we said.”
“I’m not interested.” I finish my drink and slam it down on the bar. “Casey is my wife. End of discussion. If you want to meet her, you will be on your best behavior.”
Erick shakes his head. “Stubborn.”
“Fuck you.” I walk a few feet away and turn back. Jayson looks exhausted. Erick’s only looking at me, that frustrating, passive expression watching my every move. “I’m the Don of this family, which means neither of you needs to understand my motives.”
“Did you marry her for yourself? Or for the family?” Erick tilts his head ever so slightly.
“I married her for both.”
“I’m not sure I believe you.”
“And I’m not sure it matters.” I walk away from my brothers. Let them talk behind my back. I’m sure they’ll find Con and fill him in on what I said.
I’m in a dark mood. This isn’t how I wanted their visit to go, not at all. I didn’t expect them to fawn all over my new wife, but I hoped they’d at least give her a chance.
All my life, I’ve done what’s best for the Costa Family.
When Dad passed, I stepped into leadership. I sacrificed to take control, turned to violence when necessary, greased palms, debased myself. I did what was necessary to make sure everything didn’t crumble the moment Dad was out of the picture.
The family’s still going because of me.
Our casinos, our properties and golf courses, even our street operations.
It’s all running because I did the hard work.
And since then, in the years after, I’ve consolidated my power while making sure the business remained my priority.
Even with Casey right here in the casino under my nose.
I never gave in to temptation.
Because I knew it would start problems. I knew Erick and Jayson and even Con would have issues with me marrying a random girl like Casey with no connections to the underworld.
Except for her scumbag brother.
Her brother who visited my casino this morning and spoke with my wife.
And she still hasn’t said a word to me about it.
I have a million reasons to feel stressed and angry, and I don’t need Jayson and Erick making shit harder.
Except that’s what they do.
I find myself standing outside of the high-roller area. It’s a slow day and Casey doesn’t have anyone at her table. I lock eyes with her for a moment and she gives me a little wave before coming over. I fight against my frustration.
“I just heard that your brothers are here,” she says, looking nervous. “Jayson and Erick, right?”
“Rumors spread fast.”
“They’re here to meet me, aren’t they?”
I nod once. “They are.”
“Well, it’s dead in there, maybe—”
“No,” I say, cutting her off. “Not right now.”
“I just figured we should get it out of the way, like with Con. That went well, right?”
“I said no.” I turn away from her. “My brothers need some time to acclimate. They’re jet-lagged.”
“Oh.” The confusion in her voice almost kills me, but I don’t look back. “Okay, well, let me know when, I guess.”
“Soon. You should get back to work, since that’s what you really want to do.”
“What’s your problem, Adler?”
My jaw tightens. What is my problem? I have brothers that don’t trust me and a wife that keeps things from me. First her meeting with Tony, now her run-in with her brother.
She knows I know—so why not say something?
“I have work to do.” I walk away, ignoring the voice in my head screaming at me to turn around and make things right.
This is what my brothers wanted. They think I’ll fuck things up.
Sometimes I think all I’m good at is meeting the world’s expectations of me.
Chapter 27
Casey
I have no clue what’s happening with my grumpy asshole husband. He basically brushes me off when I try to talk to him about his brothers and doesn’t even give me a chance to mention Shane.
But fine, whatever—he can be surly if he wants. At least I’m working.
Sort of.
“Does anyone ever come in here?” I ask the girl working the roulette table. I glance down at the sign stating the table minimum: five hundred per spin. Fucking hell.
“Sometimes,” she says, looking a little nervous. “But mostly it’s quiet, especially early. The high rollers don’t come out until later.”
“I guess that makes sense.” I sigh and stretch my leg. My knee’s killing me already. “I’m just a little bored.”
“I can head out onto the floor and see if I can get someone in here.” She’s talking quickly, like she’s scared of something.