Author: Ford, Brenda
Date: 2019-08-22

The Marriage Plan

Brenda Ford

Copyright © 2019 by Brenda Ford

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

This book is a piece of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people.

If you are reading this book and book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

Published: Brenda Ford 2019
brenda@authorbrendaford.com

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Contents

Author’s Note

The Marriage Plan

1. Rose

2. Darren

3. Rose

4. Darren

5. Rose

6. Darren

7. Rose

8. Darren

9. Rose

10. Darren

11. Rose

12. Darren

13. Rose

14. Darren

15. Rose

16. Darren

17. Rose

18. Darren

19. Rose

20. Rose

Epilogue

Excerpt

Author’s Note

Stay connected with Brenda Ford

Also by Brenda Ford

Author’s Note

The Marriage Plan is a full-length standalone novel. At the end, I’ve included an excerpt from my Amazon TOP 100 book, Unexpected Baby.

The Marriage Plan concludes at around 90% on your device.

Happy Reading!

XO, Brenda Ford

The Marriage Plan

Blurb

A pretend marriage with a seductive ex-SEAL,

A plan to escape from a dangerous past,

The thrill of lust and …love,

And an intense dilemma that collides my two worlds –

The haunting past with me being a pawn in my father’s hands,

And a possibly rosy future with a sensual but hot blooded man.

Well, that practically sums up my life!

I hope I can figure it out before it’s too late.

They’re coming.

1

Rose

I know why they call it the City of Lights.

Everything shines in Las Vegas. As I hand out the drinks at my father’s casino in my skimpy little outfit, I get another migraine from all the flashing, shining machines and the constant chink sound of levers being pulled and the occasional crash of coins hitting the payout bar.

There are a thousand different tunes playing from all the slot, fruit, and spin-to-win machines. Hundreds of mindless faces stare numbly at the screens, robotically piling in nickel after nickel in the hope of winning a dollar.

At the back of the casino are the dealer tables where the bigshots can play for large sums. I make sure to keep them supplied with a constant flow of drinks to help ease the pain of big losses. Some of them lose thousands in one night; some of them lose hundreds of thousands.

Blackjack, poker, and craps always attract a big crowd, and so does the roulette wheel; I think it’s the thrill of a game of pure luck.

Tonight’s a Saturday night, so it’s about as busy as we get. The place is filled with local Vegas gamblers as well as tourists from around the world. I can hear a British woman nagging her husband to get off the slots machine in one ear and a Japanese businessman shrieking with joy in the other. There is a constant background chatter.

Across the floor, my brother, Silvio, is on patrol. He’s the casino head of security and love to play the part by wearing all black and speaking into a radio clipped to his chest. Half the time, I don’t believe there’s even anyone on the other end; I think he just likes the way it looks.

Not that the security team is anything to scoff at. My father only employs the best—ex-SEAL, marines, bodyguards to the highest-profile names in Vegas and beyond. There is one security officer in particular that I always make time for.

Darren. He’s the sexiest damn man alive. He has the physique of a Greek hero and the eyes of Don Juan. He’s got the smoldering gaze down to an art. Often I’ll catch him looking at me from across the casino, and when I catch his eye, he’ll give a smile that makes me weak at the knees.

My fellow waitress, Natalie, appears beside me and rolls her eyes when she sees who I’m staring at.

“Jesus, Rose, you couldn’t make it any more obvious if you tried. You’re undressing him with your eyes, biting down on your lip and everything. I’m just waiting for the porno music to start blaring — bow-chicka-wow-wow.”

I laugh. “He’s just as blatant.”

“Yes, and he should be careful. One of these days Silvio will catch on to him looking at you like that.”

“Silvio doesn’t know what flirting looks like. The only things that turn him on are army boots and military-grade radios.”

“And his gun. Don’t forget about that.”

“He has a license for it.”

“Still, he’s got a bit of a temper on him. I’d be careful with how you flutter your eyes at Darren.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Silvio’s not going to shoot him.”

“I don’t know. Silvio’s the jealous type.”

“Jealous? That’s sick, Nat. He’s my brother.”

“I didn’t mean it like that. Ew.”

I let out a wistful sigh. “It’s not Silvio I’d worry about anyway. It’s my Papà. You know how he gets about who I date.”

“Urgh. I know. I think it’s weird.”

“He’s just worried about me. Our family is worth a lot of money. He’s worried someone’s going to take advantage of that. He wants me to be with someone he knows can be trusted; someone who’ll protect me.”

“Well, I’ve seen the types of people your dad trusts and they all look like old furniture salesmen with cardiac issues.”

“You’re right. My Papà’s friends definitely all share a certain aesthetic.”

“The Godfather aesthetic. And your father’s the worst of them. No man his age should be wearing leather. He looks like an ex-biker who wandered out the nursing home.”

“Natalie!” Rose giggled. “You can’t say things like that. You’ll end up getting overheard one of these days and being booted. Not to mention that’s my Papà you’re talking about.”

“You’re saying he doesn’t look like a T-Bird reject?”

“You’ve made that reference before.”

“He’s no John Travolta.”

“Ssh, Nat! Seriously, you’ve got to keep your voice down around here. You know the walls have ears.”

“If I have to keep my voice down then you’ve got to stop staring at Darren like a thirsty puppy with its tongue hanging out.”

“Alright, alright. Point taken.”

“You should make sure Darren gets the memo, too.” She nods towards him pointedly. “You’re not the only one who needs a lesson in subtlety.”

* * *

My father’s house is beyond belief. He’s not the sort of man who is discreet with his wealth. It’s no misnomer to say that the place is a mansion. It rests just outside the city at the head of a street all its own — my father says the city planner is a ‘friend’, whatever that means. It means he sits higher than all the other properties, in one of the biggest residences in Las Vegas.

The driveway is almost half a mile long. I drive up it slowly in the classic Cadillac that my father bought me for my twenty-first birthday. He keeps trying to buy me another, saying it’s dangerous to drive the same car for eight years, but I keep refusing. Natalie would never let me live it down if I let him. Working alongside her has definitely brought me down to earth a bit after an admittedly lavish upbringing.

The entrance to Casa di Russo is an architectural triumph reminiscent of old Italia gothic cathedrals. The front entrance is a narrow, arched doorway two-stories tall, flocked by a pair of grand, ornately carved pillars. The mansion that rests behind is made of white limestone to resist the desert heat, as large and awe-inspiring as the White House itself.

I park on the huge gravel driveway under one of the rows of immaculately kept palm trees and nod in greeting to the well-dressed doorman who always stands at the front entrance. I’ve never questioned why my father guards his house with an armed guard—not to mention the two goons that patrol the place at night.

He’s always told me that fortune makes a target of a man and that someone as wealthy as him has to watch his back. I’ve always readily accepted his explanation; I don’t want to think there might be any other reasons he’d be so expectant of some kind of assault all the time.

Julio, the doorman who is always remarkably polite for a figure so suspicious, steps back to let me in.

“Signor Russo is not yet home,” he tells me. His Italian accent is thick, putting me to shame for my own completely American one despite my Latin roots. “Please go inside, Signorina Russo. I will inform him of your arrival when he gets here.”

“Thank you, Julio.”

I always feel uncomfortable entering my Father’s mansion. I feel like I’m under surveillance by more eyes that I can see; a feeling which is not helped by the presence of countless security cameras around the property.

When I was a little girl, I used to test the theory by burying my ‘treasures’ somewhere in the garden and then coming back in the night to see if they’d been stolen. My reasoning was that if someone had seen me bury the treasure, then they’d surely steal it when I wasn’t watching.

Looking back, I’m thinking my plastic Barbie watch probably was not the valuable item I believed it was.

I enter through the foyer and turn right into the main reception. My heels against the marble create a loud echo that reverberates beneath the high ceilings. I look up at the chandeliers—every one lit even though nobody is home—and marvel at the fact I used to ever think all this was so normal.

I’ve not long sat down on one of the luxury white leather sofas when my father enters.

“I’m sorry I’m late, Cara,” he says. “There was a problem at the casino.”

He hasn’t entered the room to greet me and I know why. He’s bleeding above his left eye; a sure sign that he’s been up to no good.

“What happened, Papà?”

“Just an old man who loses his balance from time to time. Nothing to worry about, Tesoro. Let me get out of this stuffy suit and we’ll eat.”

I hold my tongue and reluctantly stay in my seat. My heart is pounding and I don’t know why; it’s simply this innate sense of danger I often feel when my father is hiding something from me.

Perhaps I would push him if not for the fact I’d rather not know. With a mother that died young, I was definitely a Daddy’s Girl. If I were to dig too deep, my horror might mean I could never look at him the same way again.

I’m not ready to be alone in this world.

Ten minutes later, we were in the dining room. Although there was a monstrous long oak table, I purposefully sat at my father’s right-hand side. He was freshly showered and smelled of spicy shampoo and cologne; the same brand he’d used his whole life.

His jet-black hair was still wet from washing and was slicked back, giving him that classic Italian look. He was wearing a light blue shirt with the top two buttons undone and white chinos. I smiled.

“What are you smiling about, Tesoro?”

“Nothing. I just had a flashback of Barbados. How many years ago was that now?”

“A long time. You were only fifteen.”

I let out a nostalgic sigh, leaning forward on the table with a little smile playing on my face. “That was the last time we all went away together. You, me, Silvio. I remember how you used to barbeque for us every night—sea bass and chorizo—and then we’d play cards by the pool until it was dark. You wore an outfit just like this.”

“I assure you it’s not the same one.” He patted his stomach with a chuckle. “I’ve put on a few pounds since then.”

“I miss those days.”

“Me, too. You were such a sweet child.”

“I’m not still sweet?” I smile teasingly.

“I see you waitressing in that short skirt with grown men staring and I wonder where my little Rosie went. You’ve grown into a stunning woman.”

“I hope this isn’t leading into another lecture about finding a good man.”

He tapped the side of his nose with a sly smile. “Your Papà will make sure you find your Prince Charming.”

“Perhaps you could direct all this energy into finding someone for Silvio instead?” I pull a face. “He’s become so serious lately. He’s far too into the security fantasy. He’s starting to think he’s Rambo.”

My father’s in-house cook and housekeeper, Maria, brings out a seafood salad, bread and oil, and red wine.

He pours me a glass with a sage smile. “Silvio is not a family man. He’s destined to be a businessman.”

“He needs someone sweet to come home to. Someone to soften up those rough edges.”

“A casino man needs rough edges, Rose. You put up with a lot of angry people in this business.”

My gaze shoots to the cut above his eye.

“You can’t tell me that the love of a good woman wouldn’t do him the world of good?”

My Papà laughs. “Perhaps you’re right, Cara. But then again, you always wanted me to remarry. You’ve got Italian blood in you after all; you were always bound to become a passionate woman.”

“We should go there sometime.”

“Italy?”

“Yes. It’s been so many years. I’m losing touch.”

“For certain, we will.”

“My Italian has an American twang now. Have you noticed?”

He chuckled. “I brought you here for a different lifestyle.” He gestured around him, wine glass still in hand. “I didn’t fail, did I? Italian, American...it doesn’t matter. My girl wants for nothing.” He leaned forward and raised an eyebrow. “Except a new car, maybe?”

“Papà!” I laugh. “I’m a grown woman. I have to pay my own way now. Besides, Natalie—you know, who serves with me—she had to save up for two years for her beat-up Ford. She’d want to hit me if I rolled up in something even more glamorous than the Cadillac.”

“I’m pleased you’re mixing with such down-to-earth people.” He smiled with approval. “I had to learn the value of money the hard way. I was brought up by my bootstraps.”

I try to refrain from letting any expression of boredom show on my face. I’ve heard this story a thousand times.

“My mother raised six of us on her own. Lost two of them to illness young, and a third to drink. Another one’s in prison. It was tough.”

“I know, Papà.”

“And my father? Never saw him. He didn’t give her a single lira for one of us, and she was faithful to him her whole life—even after he vanished. Then they came and took the farm from us. She died penniless in a hut in the mountains. I always promised I would earn a good living and take care of the siblings that remain.” He raised his chin proudly. “And so I did. Well, the one who didn’t die or go to prison. Donnie got an Ivy League education and a house in Beverley Hills.”

“And yet you haven’t seen Uncle Don in years!”

“You know what always brings family together?” He winks. “A wedding.”

“Got to find a groom first, Papà.”

He nods. “I hope you’re not going after any of the gamblers. They pay for all this because they’re good at one thing: losing. Don’t you marry any loser now, my girl.”

“I’m not going after the patrons. And, since I’m at the casino most of the time, that means I’m not going after anyone.”

“Good girl. You always were smart.” He pats my hand with a kindly smile. “Your time will come. Trust me.”

2

Darren

I work seven days a week but I get four mornings to myself. The weekends are when Vegas really hits its stride and the casinos get full of wasted men on stag dos, drunks, and habit gamblers who don’t know when to stop. That’s when trouble kicks off.

But on the four mornings I get to myself, I always follow the same routine. Breakfast—two sausages, two eggs, and a slice of black pudding washed down with two cups of coffee and a glass of orange juice. I watch an hour of the morning’s news. Then I hit the gym.

I arrive just after ten. Back when I was in the army, drills started at 05:00am. I feel slovenly getting there at this time but it lets me miss the morning yoga moms, students and ‘bros’. I also get to meet up with Jake, my oldest friend.

“Hey man, thought you weren’t coming.” He grins at me from the workout bench where he’s curling iron. “Not getting soft on me now, are you?”

“Just getting too used to these lie-ins.”

“Pfft. Wouldn’t get away with it in my job.”

Although we had never served together, Jake had been a marine around the same time I’d been a SEAL. We’d been friends since long before either of us ever joined the service and in recent years we’d reconnected. It was good to have a buddy to share battle stories with; the experiences normal folk just couldn’t understand.

“Construction’s not that bad.”

“Getting up at the crack of dawn to tear up foundations? Using your brawn to haul debris?” He flexed his bicep. “It takes more than standing around the fruit machines.”

“Until some guy blows ten grand he doesn’t have. Then you know about it.”

“Is that why you keep coming to the gym? So you can man-handle those gamblers?”

“You here so you’ve got the wrist strength to drive a forklift?”

We catch each other’s eye and laugh. We’ve been ribbing each other since we were kids. We share a friendly rivalry where we always make fun of each other. He’s my best friend.

“Come on.” I jerk my head towards the weights bench. “Spot me.”

I lie on my back on the bench and Jake prepares the 360lb barbell. When it’s above me, I curl my fingers around the iron and slowly lower it down then back up again while Jake prepares to share some of the weight if I lose focus or grip.

“I don’t know when you get this hench, man. I remember when you were a pale skinny-ass seventeen-year-old who could hardly lift a book.”

“And I remember when you used to dream of becoming a Nevada cowboy.”

“Yeah, yeah…I remember, too.”

I do six reps and put the barbell back in place. I’m about maxed out at 360lbs; I’ve broken a sweat and my muscles are burning in my arms and shoulders.

“You’re still looking ripped.” Jack nods in approval. “Any of this effort going towards bagging that waitress you’re always harping on about?”

“Rose?”

“As if I could forget her name. She’s about all you talk about these days.”

I chuckle. “It doesn’t hurt to stay in shape.”

“Jesus, Darren. You’re a grown man. Why don’t you just ask her out?”

“It’s not that simple.”

“I don’t see why not.”

“Her father is very protective of her, and she respects him too much to go against his wishes.”

“Her father?” Jake groaned audibly and sat beside me on the workbench, passing me a towel to wipe the sweat from my face. “I’m sorry. I thought this was the twenty-first century.”

“They’re old-school. Italian, very traditional.”

“Are you sure you want a girl like that? Do you want to date a woman whose Daddy is always looking over her shoulder?”

“It’s not like that. She’s not steamrolled, she’s just…respectful. It’s refreshing, actually. Men throw themselves all over her and she turns them down with grace.”

He rolled his eyes. “So you want her because she’s the girl you can’t have.”

“No. I want her because she’s funny and smart. She’s devoted, hard-working, mature. You’ve dated those girls that dream of being an army wife and that’s all they care about; I know you have. Rose isn’t like that. She’s got substance.”

“The waitress has substance.” He sighed. “The heart wants what it loves, I guess.”

* * *

Rose is sexy in a way a man like me can’t find the words to describe. I can’t tell if it’s that sparkle in her eye or the way she flips back her long, black hair that drives me wild—or maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for girls with tan skin and legs as long as hers.

All the servers in the casino wear the same skimpy little outfit—a tiny black skin-tight miniskirt and crimson corset-style top with a little black bowtie at their necks—but none wears it better than Rose. She’s a playboy bunny and Audrey Hepburn all rolled into one, not losing any of her natural elegance by showing off her slender figure in that tiny outfit.

I stare at her from across the floor. She flashes her smile at a regular as she hands him his usual Long Island and throws back her head as she laughs at something he’s said, playfully pushing his shoulder at whatever naughty comment he’s made.

I know every man who walks in here tries his luck with her—young and old, single and married, not two dimes to rub together and the millionaires that throw down thousands on a single roll of the dice. She could have her pick.

Still, whenever our eyes meet in this place, I sense that she doesn’t want any of them. The way she bites down on her lip and whispers to Natalie as she stares at me from under those long, dark lashes tells me she feels the same spark as I do.

I take the opportunity to patrol the floor just so I can have a reason to pass her.

I stand a step behind her and take her by surprise by speaking into her ear. “How’s your night going?”

She gasps, turns around, then smiles. “Hello, you. I was wondering when you’d come and say hi.”

“I’ve been keeping my eye on the tellers. One of them was getting an earful from a patron earlier; he started pounding on the glass. Really shook her up.”

“Mollie?”

“Yes.”

“Poor girl. This isn’t really the right environment for a sweet girl like her to work in.”

“Some would say you’re a sweet girl too, Rose.”

She laughs and flexes are muscles. “Me? You’re joking, right? I’m hard as steel.”

I smile. Rose can talk her way out of most situations or calm an angry patron with nothing more than a smile and a gentle hand on the shoulder, but I hate to think of her faced with real danger. She does her best to stay out of trouble, even when trouble is on her doorstep.

“What’s the house special on cocktails tonight, then?” I peer at the drinks on her tray; she has half a dozen pink, slushy cocktails in tall glasses with over-the-top garnishes and sugared rims.

“I think it’s pink gin, raspberry, and Archer’s.”

“And what creative name has the bartender come up with this time?”

Rose pulls a face. “It’s called a Tasty Orgasm.”

I grimace, then laugh. We shared a running joke about how the bartender, Martyn, always named his cocktails something hideously embarrassing and awkward to promote. “That guy’s a sex fiend.”

“Right?” She laughs. “He’s named the last three something kinky. We’ve got the Tasty Orgasm tonight, the last one was the Vodka Moan, and what was it before that?”

“The Chambord Climax.”

“That’s right.” She rolls her eyes with a wry smile. “I think he does it just so he can make innuendos at the pretty girls who go to the bar.”

“Most definitely.” I mock Martyn’s smarmy voice. “Can I offer you a Tasty Orgasm, Madam.”

Rose played at a female tourist. “Oh my! Yes, you can.”

“And perhaps a drink also?”

She giggled. “You’re as bad as he is.”

“No. I’m much better. I’ve got the physique to back up my pick-up lines.”

“So humble, too.”

“You look like you’ve been working out.”

“Stop it. You know I haven’t got time to put on make-up most nights, let alone spend hours at the gym. I don’t know how you do it.”

“Force of habit after all those years training in the navy.”

“I bet.”

I look up and see Silvio and several others on the security team slipping into a staff-only door. It’s unusual to see that many of them disappear together.

“I’d better get back to work,” I say. “Nice catching up.”

“Yeah, you too.”

“Let me know if anyone gives you any trouble tonight. You know where I am.”

She laughs. “I’ve had no trouble in the last three years, Darren. I’m sure I’ll walk away unscathed tonight.”

I want to stay and flirt some more but duty calls. I leave Rose to find out what’s going on behind closed doors. I cross the casino floor to the stock room where the team disappeared, wondering why they’d gone in there when there was nothing inside but janitorial supplies and tools for the machines.

I take hold of the silver doorknob and tug but someone has locked the door from the inside.

What the hell is going on in there?

Suspicious, I step back and loiter by the giant Wheel of Fortune, keeping my eyes glued to the door. I don’t like the way the hairs on the back of my neck are standing up. Lately, Silvio’s behavior seems more sketchy than usual. More and more of his business seems to be conducted behind closed doors these days.

It’s almost an hour before anyone leaves again. Three of our guys exit, then a few more minutes pass until Silvio appears. I notice him wiping blood from his fist from a distance while he looks around unperturbed.

I go to him. “Silvio! Is everything okay in there? I saw half the team inside.”

“Just a little team meeting.”

“Anything I need to know?”

He pats my shoulder reassuringly. “You’re one of my top guys. There’s nothing I can teach you that you don’t already know.”

“Was a patron getting out of hand?” I nod towards his bloodied hand.

Silvio frowns. “It’s best you don’t ask questions, Darren. Be a good soldier now, and only concern yourself with the orders that come your way. Never mind what goes on above your head.”

3

Rose

My father always eats for free at Francesco’s. Whenever we dine there, he is given a celebrity’s welcome and offered a silver service. He always gets the best table and a bottle of wine on the house. I’ve asked him before why he gets such special treatment at Francesco’s and he simply tells me he and the owner are ‘old friends’. He seems to have a lot of old friends in this town.

Regardless of whatever strange relationship my father might have with the restauranteur, the restaurant itself is lovely. It’s as stereotypically Italian as you can find as if someone had taken a survey of what Americans thought Italy was like and made it into an upscale eatery.

The walls were bare stone, the lights were low and dim, and the seating was brown leather. Red tablecloths adorned each of the oak tables and there were huge cases of luxury red wine on display. There were heavy bouquets of white flowers everywhere, more ornate and extravagant that I’ve seen at most weddings.

The diners were upper-class and refined. Most of them were dressed as if they were going to the opera rather than to a restaurant. The men wore tailored suits and polished shoes and the women wore diamonds and fur stoles.

I felt almost underdressed in my emerald Prada pleated midi dress and emerald earrings. I always dress up when I went out with father; he always took us somewhere upscale. As I said, he’s not subtle with his wealth.

“Those flowers smell sumptuous,” I say with a smile. “And the food smells delicious.”

“Best Italian outside of Italy.”

I ordered the swordfish steak with sautéed potatoes while my father ordered the crab and prosecco linguine.

Francesco himself came to present our wine to us. He approached the table in his finest suit, beaming with pleasure to see my father again.

He greeted him with a kiss on each cheek. “Giacomo! What an honor to have you in our fine establishment once again. It has been too long.” He held up the bottle of wine. “I’ve been saving something very special for you. It is a 1984 Dom Perignon. Very good year.”

“Exceptional, Francesco!” My father patted his hands with a broad smile. “I feel honored.”

“Of course. You are our most welcome guest.”

I sit back and say nothing throughout the exchange until Francesco turns to me.

“Mio Dio! Giacomo, your daughter gets more beautiful every time I see her. Welcome, Signorina.”

“Thank you, Francesco. A pleasure, as always.”

He leaves and I smile across the table at my father. “Friends in high places, Papà.”

“The best kinds of friends to have.”

The food arrives and it is exquisite. “This fish is to die for. I’m in heaven.”

“If you think you’re happy right now, wait until I tell you why we’re really here.”

I narrow my eyes. “What do you mean?”

He nods towards a table of people dining on the other side of the restaurant. There are six of them, most of them my father’s age or just a little younger. My father points to the youngest of the group—he must have been in his mid-forties.

“That’s Raffaele Alfonsi. Ever heard of him?”

“No.”

“He’s one of the biggest names in Nevada in the gambling business. His family owns eight casinos. He’s heir to the greatest fortune in Las Vegas.”

I look across with only mild interest. Raffaele looks wealthy but no more so than anyone else in the restaurant. Perhaps his clothes are tailored slightly better and those shoes look designer. The watch he’s wearing is definitely a Patek Phillipe—my father’s favorite brand—and would have easily cost in excess of $700,000.

As for the man himself, he wasn’t bad-looking—for his age. He still had all his hair which was dark and thick and his eyes were dark and piercing. However, there was something off-putting about the way he interacted with those around him, dominating the conversation, laughing obnoxiously loudly, and snapping his fingers at the waitstaff.

“Are you buying another casino, Papà.”

“Not tonight, Cara.”

“When why are we interested in Raffaele Alfonsi?”

“He’s noticed you and has expressed an interesting in courting you. He’s spoken with me personally.”

I let out a shocked laugh and put my hand over my mouth to buffer the sound. My eyes widen and I stare at my father in disbelief.

“Courting me? And he’s spoken to you personally?” I take a deep swig from my wine. “I didn’t realize we were living in Ancient Persia.”

“You should take it as a compliment, Rose. And in fact, approaching me first is a very classy move. It shows respect. We are competitors, after all. The fact he came to me first is upfront. It shows character.”

“It shows misogyny.” I pull a face. “I’m not a piece of meat, Dad.”

I only call my father ‘Dad’ when I’m annoyed with him. Papà is the term of endearment I’ve used since childhood.

He nods. “I know that, Tesoro. But, you are single and not getting any younger.”

“I’m twenty-nine!”

“Your mother had your brother when she was twenty-one.” He shrugs, fixing me with a knowing stare. “I want to know somebody is taking care of my little girl. I don’t want to see your time passing you by.”

“I’m happy as I am. I have friends, I work. You’ve always spoiled me rotten. I don’t need a man.”

“Nonsense. Everybody needs someone, Tesoro. None of us were put on this earth to be alone.”

“If I wanted a boyfriend, I’d find my own.”

“You could have any man you wanted. Don’t think I don’t know that. But I want to make sure you end up with the right man. Raffaele is wealthy, sophisticated, well-connected and he knows all about our family businesses. Who better to ensure you are protected and provided for after I’m gone?”

I rub my face with my hand. “Jesus Christ, Dad. He’s hardly a spring chicken himself. He must be fifteen years older than I am!”

“There were sixteen years between your mother and I.”

“Times were different back then. A woman only wanted to be a housewife, nothing more. And if a man was already settled with money and a home, then she considered herself lucky. That’s not what I’m after.”

“And what are you after, Rose?” He pats my hand affectionately. “You’ve been working in the casino since you were eighteen. You’ve shown no interest in stepping up into a management position and you’ve never gone to college. Will you be a barmaid after I’m gone?”

My cheeks burn. “Dad! Is that what you think of me? That I’m some kind of loser?”

“Not at all, Cara. Your father simply worries for you. I want you to have this kind of lifestyle always. Everything I’ve done, all I’ve sacrificed…it’s been to make sure my family never endures what I endured when I was young. I never want you to be a single mother like your nonna.”

“I don’t even have kids!”

“What’s the problem, Rose? An attractive, wealthy, and intelligent suitor wants to take you out. Do you know how many women would kill to be in your shoes?”

“Firstly, he’s old, and secondly, what makes him think I’m interested? I’ve never spoken to the man! What, has he seen me out with you and decided I look like a nice piece of ass? How entitled can someone be?”

“You just don’t understand traditional dating.”

“Evidently.”

“He’s really wanting to go out with you.”

“That’s a shame.” I drink down the last of my wine. “Because there’s no way in hell I would ever date that arrogant jerk. And if you want me to keep visiting you then you’d better learn that I am a grown woman, not a pawn in your business. Don’t try and whore me out again, Dad.”

* * *

I enter the casino to start the late shift an hour later. My ears are still ringing with rage and I keep replaying the conversation with my father over and over in my mind, wondering which of us was the crazy one.

My fury must have shown as Darren comes over to where I’m loading drinks onto a tray at the bar and smiles at me kindly.

“Tough night?”

I scowl. “You have no idea.”

“What happened?”

“You don’t want to hear it.”

“Try me.”

I huff angrily, throwing my hands up in frustration. “It’s my dad.”

“What’d he do?”

“Get this—he invites me for dinner tonight. Lovely, right?”

He nods. “Nice.”

“Except he’s got an ulterior motive.”

“What did he want?”

I lean in towards Darren so I don’t make a scene as I relate what’s just happened. I’m shaking with fury. “I show up only to find out that he was trying to pimp me out.”

“What do you mean?”

“He points out some old guy sitting a few tables over and tells me he’s some casino bigshot who’s seen me and wants to take me out.”

Darren looks taken aback. “And it was your father who told you this?”

“Right?” I let out a furious, exasperated breath. “Him and this guy are acting like kids at recess asking one to tell the girl he likes he’s got a crush.”

“So he’d brought you there to get your opinion on this guy?”

“Presumably.”

“And?”

“And I’m mortified. They’d obviously set the whole thing up so we’d be there at the same time. That’s beyond creepy. And I don’t know what he expected to happen. Did he think I’d be flattered? Excited that some millionaire has taken a fancy to me? It doesn’t matter how much money he’s got, he shouldn’t be chasing girls half his age.”

My eyes well with tears and I sniff. “He made me feel so cheap.”

Darren reaches out and rubs my arm. “Don’t cry, Rose. Your dad’s an idiot.”

“Darren!”

“He is.” Darren takes me by the shoulders and looks into my eyes. He’s strong and fierce in his protection of me—a kind of protectiveness I should have expected from my father or brother—and he lifts my chin when I bow my head to stare at the ground. “You deserve better. You are a smart, witty, grounded woman who should be with someone who recognizes how incredible she is—not with someone who only notices her beauty.”

His words draw a small smile from me. How many times have I fantasized about Darren looking into my eyes and telling me I’m beautiful?

“I’m afraid that’s never going to happen. Not while my father’s looking over my shoulder.”

Darren pauses. I can see the thoughts turning behind his eyes. He takes a step closer to me and whispers in my ear.

My heart is pounding. What if Silvio sees?

“How about I take you somewhere we can’t be seen?”

* * *

Darren lives in a small one-bed condo in Paradise, Las Vegas. He drives me there after we finish our shifts. The whole time I’m in the passenger seat I feel like a naughty teen bunking off school. I keep casting glances over to him, tingling from head to toe with excitement.

“This feels weird,” I say. “I’ve never seen you outside the casino.”

“Can’t say I haven’t thought about it.” He looks over at me from the driver’s side. “I think about it all the time, actually.”

“About seeing me outside of work?”

“Absolutely. I’ve wanted to ask you out for years.”

I let his words sink in for a moment. Darren Tanner, the ripped ex-SEAL hottie I’d been slobbering over since the day he was hired has had his eyes on me.

“Then why haven’t you?”

He chuckles. “Silvio. Your father.”

“Hmm. They both seem to play a much larger role in my love life than I care to admit.”

“That and the fact you’re way out my league.”

I bite down on my lip, casting my eyes over his incredible body. He’s taken off his jacket to drive home and I can see the tautness of his huge biceps on display in a black tank-top. He has a full sleeve of black-and-white tattoos on his right arm.

His hair is dark and short; not quite a buzz cut but not much l0nger either. His eyes are a mellow hazel. Despite his rugged exterior, those eyes are soft.

“In what way am I out of your league?”

“I’m just a guy from the wrong side of the tracks who brushed up in the navy and landed on his feet. You’re Las Vegas royalty.”

“I hardly think my dad being the Kingpin of the gambling capital of the world makes me upper crust, Darren. If anything, I’d bet I’ve got more rough edges than you.”

That makes him laugh in a way that makes him squeeze his eyes shut. It gives him the most delicious boyish charm that takes me by surprise to see on his rough, stubbled face.

“Are you really trying to convince me you’ve got rough edges? You told me you went to private school, did horse-riding for years, and that your dad bought you a Cadillac—yes, a Cadillac—for your twenty-first. You know what I got for my twenty-first?”

“What?”

“A pack of smokes from my little sister.”

“What did your parents get you?”

“Are you kidding? By the time I was twenty-one, I’d been away from home for years and never looked back.”

Darren and I had known each other for four years now, but our talk had only ever skimmed the surface of getting to know each other. It’s hard to share deep conversation when running around with trays of drinks, Darren walking his patrol, and eyes watching us from every corner of the casino.

I never knew he’d had a difficult relationship with his parents.

“Do you still smoke?”

“Quit when I joined the SEALs. Had to run that 5-minute mile.”

“I tried it once. My throat felt like it had been sandpapered for a week.” He smirks and I narrow my eyes. “What?”

“Nothing.” He chuckles. “Just seems a bit feeble from a girl with such rough edges.”

I slap him playfully and he laughs. “Alright, alright,” I say. “Maybe I am more upper-class than I like to think I am.”

Soon we arrive at the condo. It doesn’t look much from outside—whitewashed stone walls and barred windows—but inside, it’s got a few of Darren’s own home touches.

The front door opens straight into the living room which is adjoined to a pretty small kitchen with grey marble counters and an impressive-looking espresso machine. The living room itself is small and minimalistic, but well-kept, tidy and homely.

There’s a single rectangular, minimalist gray sofa in the middle of the room atop a stripy grey rug that covers most of the laminate wood floor. It’s angled to face a very large TV on a glass stand. By the window is a treadmill and in one corner of the room is a giant waxy plant that looks to be thriving.

I go to it and touch one of the leaves with a smile. “I didn’t realize you had such a green finger. I can’t keep a plant alive for more than a week.”

“In another life, I might have been a landscaper,” he replies. “I’ve always liked pottering around the garden.”

I didn’t know it was possible to fancy him more. I’m immediately picturing him topless in the garden, pouring a bottle of water over his head to cool off, drenching those rippling muscles...

“Do you want a drink?” he asks.

“More than anything.”

He laughs. “Wine, gin...something a bit stronger?”

“Wine would be perfect.”

“Red, white, rose...?”

It’s my turn to laugh. “Who are you catering for here? Have you got a bar under that sink?”

“I like to be prepared.”

He pours me a glass of white wine. I take a sip; it’s sour and I try not to pull a face.

Darren laughs. “Got to work on those rough edges, girl. That’s what a four-dollar bottle of wine tastes like.”

I defiantly gulp back three large swigs then poke my tongue out at him. His eyes are glittering with laughter in a way that makes me weak at the knees. He gestures towards his sofa, inviting me to sit down.

It feels good to be on something soft with the weight off my feet. I’ve been serving in stilettos all night. I slip them off and place them neatly behind the sofa, curling up my legs beneath me and settling back.

Although I’ve never been here before, I don’t struggle to make myself at home.

Darren sits beside me, a glass of wine in his own hand. He casually extends his arm across the back of the sofa when he sits. I smile, wondering if he’s going to pull the yawn-and-stretch move to put his arm around me.

I’d like that.

“So, Miss Russo,” he says with a devilish smile. “If you were going to choose your own man, what would he be like?”

I dip my head with a shy smile. “Well...I suppose he’d be tall, dark and handsome.” I catch his eye with a wicked grin of my own. “He’d stay in shape, of course. And it’s very important to me that he’s good with plants.”

He slides across the sofa so he’s close to me. I jump when the hand that’s been behind me on the back of the sofa is suddenly on my shoulder then I relax and enjoy the feeling. He leans forward and kisses me; he tastes of Pinot Grigio.

I close my eyes and savor it. I’ve imagined this moment so many times. I let out a long breath of contentment as he kisses me; it sounds almost like a moan. I feel my body relaxing and my inhibitions floating out the window.

“At last,” I whisper.

He tucks my hair behind my ear and looks into my eyes. “At last.”

I sit back for a moment and sigh. “Silvio would kill us if he know.”

“Silvio’s not your keeper. Neither is your father.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about; it’s you.”

Darren laughed loudly. “I could snap Silvio in half like a twig. He’s never lifted a weight in his life.”

“You know my family are well-connected.”

“You think they’re going to take a hit on me for kissing you?”

I turn away. My stomach is clenching in nerves; those same nerves that always gnaw at my insides even when I don’t know why I’m scared. I love my father and Silvio...but I don’t trust them. I know they get up to no good when my back is turned.

“I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you because of me.” I cast him a knowing glance. “You could loose your job, at the very least.”

“There’s no shortage of security work in Vegas. I’ll land on my feet.” He kisses me again. “I’m tired of worrying, Rose. This feels so right.” His voice is a low growl of desire. “Nothing’s ever been as hard as keeping my hands off you.”

“You think you’re the only one?” I press my hand against his strong, firm chest, feeling his heart beating fast beneath my palm. “I wanted to rip your clothes off the very first day I saw you.”

“Now’s your chance.”

I do as I’m told. I reach for the bottom of his tank top and pull it up over his head. The muscles beneath are as ripped and firm as I’d always imagined; like a freaking xylophone. I run my palm down those washboard abs and smile like a little girl who’s been given a tasty ice-cream cone.

I want to lick that body.

Darren puts his hands on my waist and picks me up like I weigh nothing to set me on his lap. I straddle him. I’m already getting wet but feeling the hardness of him pressing between my legs through his pants only drives me wilder.

“You’ll have to help me out this corset.”

He wraps his arms around me to reach the ties at my back. His cheek is against mine. I can hear his heavy, wanting breaths in my ear and feel the warmth of them on my neck. My chest is pressed up against his. I place my hands on his shoulders and let out a long, slow breath of contentment.

The corset gets looser as he works at the lace. The material sinks lower as it’s untied, showing more of my cleavage, inch by inch. When he’s untied the corset, it comes apart like drapes and he throws it aside.

I’m wearing no bra underneath.

“My God, you’re sexy,” he says, his voice low and husky. He holds onto my waist as he bows his head to my breasts and flicks his tongue sensually around a nipple before taking it in his mouth and sucking gently.

The feeling sends tingles shooting through me from where his mouth is on me right down to my pussy.

“That feels so good.” I lean forward and cradle his head in my arms as he explores my breasts with his mouth. “I want you so bad.”

He reaches down to unbutton his black pants and pulls them down with his boxers. I feel his cock pressing against my panties.

“Take them off,” he whispers.

I stand to wiggle out of my underwear, turning around so he can see my ass when my panties fall to the ground. I kick off my skirt but he tells me to leave the stilettos on. Darren kicks off his clothes and shoes completely and I straddle him again.

This time, I position myself over him just right so that I can slide down onto his cock.

I gasp when I take him. “That feels so good.”

His body is unbelievable. His skin is hot and his muscles hard. When his stubble grazes my shoulder or neck, it turns me on insanely. I press my lips down over his and kiss him deeply, grinding my hips against him as I do.

He feels so deep inside me and it’s sending frissons of pleasure through my body; it’s like he’s teasing every nerve.

Darren cups my breasts in his palms and kisses them. There’s a look of reverence on his face that makes me feel like the most beautiful woman alive. And I’m with the most handsome man in the world. I’ve never been this turned on.

He leans forward to whisper in my ear. “I want to bend you over and fuck you hard.”

A shiver of delight runs through me. I stand and bend over the arm of the sofa.

Darren runs his hands down the length of my back and then between my legs. I gasp when he starts to massage my clit. It feels insanely good and I relax against the sofa as my knees grow weak.

Soon I’m on the edge of orgasm. “Don’t stop!”

When he brings me to climax, I’m ready to collapse, but instead, he thrusts into me, sending new waves of pleasure coursing through me, more intense than the last. I’m breathless and dizzy with intoxicating satisfaction. I grasp the arm of the sofa to keep myself steady as he fucks me until at last, he lets out a low moan and cums.

We both stand for a moment in the after throes of ecstasy then collapse side by side on the sofa, naked and grinning.

“Funny how my mind is completely blank right now.” I let my head fall onto his shoulder with a happy smile. “In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this good before.”

4

Darren

Rose crosses my path with a devilish smile. “Hello, stranger.”

Only a few hours ago she had her legs wrapped around me naked in bed. It drives me wild to be this close to her without being able to kiss her. I want to pull her towards me now, in front of all these people, and let the world know she’s mine.

“You’re looking good, Rose.”

“I bet it’s hard to see me in this outfit without imagining it on your bedroom floor.”

“You read my mind.”

She winks at me. “Perhaps later we can re-enact the whole thing.”

“It’s not fair to get me hard at work.”

“You’re the one looking like 007 over there.”

I smile. There is a stirring in my loins and my blood is heating up, wanting to take her home and explore her body all over again. I recall the sensation of her waist beneath my palms and the way her thighs squeezed together against me when I brought her close to orgasm.

“Does that mean I can take you out tonight?”

She smiles. “Like a date?”

“I think it’s about time we took this flirting a little further. I’d love to take you to dinner.”

“I’d love that.” Her smile is so wide and genuine.

I smile back. “Great. After the shift?”

“I’ll have to go back and get changed first.”

“Then I’ll pick you up. How does 8.30 sound?”

“Perfect.”

She looks as happy as anything as she skips away to the bar to pick up a tray of drinks. I feel pretty good myself, unable to stop smiling as I patrol the machines and cast a watchful eye over the card tables.

When I see a new face enter the casino with a trio of bodyguards, I stand to attention. I don’t know if he’s here to cause trouble; it wouldn’t have been the first time someone who had lost a lot of money had returned with backup to try and ‘gently convince’ us that we were mistaken.

It never works out for those who try that trick.

At the center of the entourage is a forty-something-year-old man of average height who looks to be of Italian descent, judging by his jet black hair and the style of his clothes and jewelry. As if the muscle wasn’t enough to show he was a bigshot, he walked with a swagger. Heads turned as he strutted down the center aisle. It was clear this guy was someone of importance.

Silvio comes to stand beside me and follows my gaze. “That’s Raffaele Alfonsi.”

“Who?”

“You haven’t heard of the Alfonsis?” He raises an eyebrow. “How much am I paying you again?”

“Someone I should know?”

“Only the heir to the fortune of our biggest competition. The Alfonsis own a dozen casinos around Nevada and have their fingers in all sorts of other industries. Raffaele’s father is a multi-billionaire.”

Suddenly it clicks. This must be the guy Giacomo tried to set up with Rose.

I turn to Silvio with a frown. “What’s he doing here?”

“I’d guess he’s come for Rose.”

My stomach drops like a rock. “I thought she wasn’t interested.”

Silvio laughs. It’s a hollow, cruel sound. “You think that matters? He’s Raffaele Alfonsi.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

“She doesn’t know what she wants.” He shrugs. “She probably wants to find some hippy loser with an artistic streak to make her feel all sappy and romantic, but the truth is, Rose is accustomed to a certain standard of living. She wouldn’t survive if she wasn’t being kept by someone with a bottomless bank account.”

“You underestimate her. She can stand on her own two feet.”

He scoffs. “You really think she can afford an apartment in Las Vegas on a waitress’ salary? Grow up. She likes to think she’s independent and down-to-earth, but she’s riding her daddy’s coattails.”

“But that guy must be twenty years older than her.”

“Fifteen.” Silvio chuckles and slaps me on the arm. “Don’t you have a job to do?”

I nod and step away to do my patrol but I keep casting glances across the casino to see where Raffaele ends up.

He’s lead by one of our guys into a private back room where he emerges shortly after with Rose’s father, Giacomo who leads Raffaele confidently across the casino floor towards where Rose is handing out drinks.

I step closer to keep a watchful eye over the situation.

“Rose,” Giacomo says, “I’d like you to meet Raffaele Alfonsi.”

I can see the horror on Rose’s face before her body stiffens and her jaw tightens. “Hello.”

Raffaele takes Rose’s hand and kisses it. “Bellissima, it is an honor to make your acquaintance at last.”

She pulls her hand away. “I didn’t know there would be an introduction today.”

“Raffaele would like to take you to lunch.” Giacomo fixes Rose with a stern stare. “He’s come here especially.”

“I see. Well, I’m on shift right now. I have work to do.”

“Nonsense.” Giacomo takes the tray she’s carrying from her hands. “Consider yourself off-duty. Go enjoy a meal with this man.”

Rose stares daggers at her father. “I’m not suitably dressed. I’m wearing a corset and stilettos.”

“I bought several outfits for you this morning. They’re in my office.”

“I guess you’ve thought of everything.” She glares at them both. “I suppose I don’t have a choice in this matter?”

Giacomo laughs jovially. “I’ve never known a woman so opposed to being spoiled!”

“A rare virtue.” Raffaele smiles. “But you should know, Rose, I always spoil my women.”

She looks like she wants to vomit. “You should know I always select my own men.”

He throws back his head and laughs. “Trust me—after a date with me, your choice will be made.”

Giacomo leans into Rose and I’m close enough to hear the words he whispers. “If you make a scene, I will not be pleased— and I would advise you to make sure I am pleased.” The threat in his words is thinly veiled.

She narrows her eyes. “I guess I’ll get changed.”

I’m worried for her and irritated. Last night was incredible. We had mind-blowing sex after years of keeping each other at arm’s length. Twenty-four hours later and she’s going out with another guy. Against her will.

I want to tell Giacomo he’s abusing his daughter, tell Silvio he’s an asshole, and smack this Raffaele guy square in the jaw. Instead, I grit my teeth and send Rose a text telling her to call me if she needs me.

I wonder if I’ll still see her tonight.

5

Rose

My father has bought me the most ridiculous dress to wear to lunch. It’s bright red, skin-tight, and low cut but designer—I suppose he thinks that makes me look less like a prostitute. He didn’t think about getting me a different pair of shoes, so I’m wearing the dress with my work stilettos.

I felt like the world’s biggest bitch when I walked out with Raffaele in front of Darren but I felt trapped. My father—as much as he dotes on me and I love him—definitely has a dark side that I’ve only seen once or twice. It’s terrifying when you see him switch into that mode; he doesn’t scream and shout, his voice becomes low and dangerous. He’s like a panther prowling through the tall grass, quiet but lethal. He’d had that gleam in his eye tonight that told me disobedience would be unwise.

Raffaele takes me to some bistro that’s so exclusive it doesn’t have a sign at the front of the building. We enter through a side door and are led down into a basement where suddenly a five-star restaurant appears, full of local celebrities, millionaires, models, and playboys. The amount of wealth in this one place is sickening.

They seem to recognize Raffaele. We are led straight to a table at the center of the restaurant; it’s like he wants to be seen.

Everything in this place is of the highest possible standard and expense. The place settings are reminiscent of some English aristocrat; the China is Royal Copenhagen, the silverware is actually platinum, and the wine glasses are genuine crystal.

“I hope you’re not under the impression I’m easily impressed by shiny things,” I tell Raffaele sharply. “I’m a human, not a magpie.”

He simply laughs and pulls out my chair for me, gesturing for me to take a seat. “I didn’t know you had so much fire, Cara, but I like it. It’s not often I’m faced with a challenge like Rose Russo.”

The way he refers to me as a challenge makes my skin crawl. I feel I’m nothing more than prey for a predator with nothing left to hunt but the big game.

I sit and he takes a seat opposite.

“What made me catch your eye, Raffaele?” I ask him. “We’ve never met. Is it me that attracts you or my father’s casinos?”

Raffaele leans forward on the white linen tablecloths resting his arms on the table and meeting my eyes with a steady, hungry stare. “I’ll be honest with you because I can tell you are not a foolish girl.”

“What a compliment.”

“I like to keep my eyes on the competition.” He sits back with a slick, smug smile. “I occasionally send my men in disguise to a number of casinos around Las Vegas to see what others are doing; how they’re conducting their business.”

“That’s kind of underhand.”

“Your father does the same. It is common practice.” He snaps his fingers at a waiter and makes a gesture that obviously means something to him even if it means nothing to me. “I kept hearing my men talking about the beautiful daughter of Giacomo Russo. When I had heard them speak about you several times, my interest was piqued. You’d held their attention for a long time and I wanted to see if you were as exquisite as they said.”

He met my eye with a smoldering gaze. “They were not mistaken. I set my eyes upon you and knew I was looking at the most bewitching woman in Nevada. You are intoxicating, Bellissima, and I am a man who is not easily impressed.”

It’s my turn to lea forward. “I’m afraid my father might have given you the impression that I am a woman who is easily bought. I’m sorry to disappoint you.”

“If I wanted to buy a woman, I could call on any of the young, beautiful and eager escorts that are reserved for men like me or I could pick a pretty girl from the streets and shower her with gifts and blind her with glamour. But I am not looking to buy anything, Cara.”

“Then what? Why am I here?”

“Because you are the best; and I always get the best.”

His words leave a bitter taste in my mouth. I’m nothing but a status symbol to him; some prize to be won. I’m sickened by the way he seems to think he has a right to me. He speaks as though I’m already his—I just don’t know it yet.

“What makes you think I’d be interested in a man like you?” I lean back and fold my arms across my chest. “I have been raised with glitz and glamour. I’m bored with the casino lights. I’ve seen a thousand jackpot wins. You’ve got nothing that intrigues me.”

Raffaele laughs. “That’s only because you don’t know me yet, Rose.”

The waiter appears with some bottle of champagne that I know costs thousands per bottle; it’s the kind my father buys when he’s trying to impress someone or when he’s celebrating something big. Raffaele is obviously here often enough that the waiter recognizes what he wants simply by a gesture of Raffaele’s hand.

“I can offer you excitement. I sense you’re a woman who’s not averse to a little danger.” He runs a finger down my forearm. The hairs on my skin stand up at his touch as if it were a spider crawling across me. “Life with me can be very dangerous.”

I pull my arm away. “Did you get that line from a movie? You think I’ll be drawn in by the mystery? I could care less what you get up to.”

“I suppose not.” He chuckles. “I guess the daughter of Giacomo Russo has seen it all.”

“What do you mean?”

“Aha. Now I’ve got your attention.” He pushes a menu across to me. “Dine with me, Bellissima. Then we can discuss whatever you like.”

I’m interested in what he has to say about my father. Reluctantly, I cast my gaze over the menu. I order the truffle ravioli. He orders the Kobe strip – a cut of steak that costs hundreds of dollars.

When our food arrives, I press Raffaele for more information.

“What is it you think I’ve seen as Giacomo’s daughter?”

Raffaele smirks. “I hesitate to use the word ‘mafia’ as it has such unpleasant connotations, but surely you know your father is well-connected and not afraid to use force when need be.”

“The mafia?” I raise an eyebrow. “Because every Italian who does well for himself must be a mob boss?”

“Only the ones with half the former navy on their payroll. The ones whose patrons occasionally disappear. The ones who aren’t afraid to get blood on their hands.”

“That’s ludicrous.”

Even though I’m denying it, my heart is pounding. Raffaele’s words have a ripple of truth to them that reverberates through me. I’ve been suspicious of my father and his activities for a long time. Silvio’s behavior has only made me more concerned. My brother is becoming a thug.

“You don’t have to hide anything from me, Preziosa.” He taps the side of his nose knowingly. “Your father and I are in the same business, after all.”

My head is spinning. If I didn’t feel in danger a moment ago, I do now.

“I don’t involve myself in my father’s affairs,” I say. I pick up my napkin and dab at my lips. My hands are shaking so I quickly put the cloth down.

Raffaele reaches across and lays his hand atop mine. “You don’t have to worry. I am a man with his own connections. Those who are close with me never come to harm.”

“And those who aren’t?”

He chuckles. “Why concern ourselves with hypotheticals, Rose? It’s the easiest way to drive yourself mad. Right now we are in an exclusive restaurant enjoying a sumptuous meal and you look ravishing. I would say we are becoming very good friends.”

“You’re not shy about your undertakings,” I say.

“When you’re as powerful as I am, there’s no need to be coy.” He leans forward with a smile. “I’ve got half the Las Vegas police department in my pocket, as well as several judges. You may not be for sale, Rose, but you’d be surprised how many are.”

“The casinos don’t generate enough profit for you?” I make sure my disdain is evident in my voice.

“Money is one thing, but respect, power…those are completely different vices.” He shrugs. “Besides, my father was in the business, so naturally I chose to walk the same path.”

He has to be talking garbage. I can’t fathom that anyone who was genuinely operating at a high-level within the criminal underworld would decide to talk about it over lunch as if discussing golf.

Raffaele raises his glass towards me before he drinks in an unspoken toast. He takes a long drink from his glass then continues. “It seems you’re walking in your father’s footsteps also. You’ve chosen to work in the casinos, after all.”

“It was the natural path.” I feel a stab of shame. I’ve never been led by my own ambition or desires. I suppose having everything handed to me on a plate my whole life has left me feeling satisfied with doing very little with my life.

“It sounds as if you wish for more.”

“I’m not sure I have more to give.” I swallow and look down at the tabletop. “I’ll confess I’ve had an easy upbringing. It’s left me with no sense of vocation.”

“A woman as beautiful as you does not need one.”

It was intended as a compliment but it feels like an insult. It’s as if I have nothing between my ears. I might as well be a broom handle in a dress and a wig for how little Raffaele believes I have to offer the world.

“I will find my calling eventually.”

“A woman like you could command nations. You are a Cleopatra of our time. What men won’t do for a glance or a touch from someone so beautiful.”

“You speak as if beauty is some kind of magic.”

“Isn’t it?” He smiles. “I don’t allow many women to tell me ‘no’. You have me under some kind of spell. The kind that only makes me want more the more you resist.”

My stomach twists with nerves. I get the feeling that one date will not be enough to be rid of Raffaele. I think of Darren and wish he was with me now. I always feel safe knowing he’s somewhere on the casino floor. He’s protected me countless times from handsy drunks and sore losers. It’s as if he’s only ever watching me; whenever I start to feel nervous, he appears. I’m nervous now.

“I won’t change my mind, Raffaele.” I swallow, finding the courage to lift my eyes to meet his. “I’m not looking for a man like my father.”

“Nonsense. Every girl wants a man like her daddy.”

He makes me feel sick. I’ve got pepper spray in my purse. I wonder if I’ll have to use it when this meal comes to an end.

I’ve finished eating so I stand up. I haven’t touched my champagne and I won’t be sticking around for dessert.

“It’s time I go. Thank you for dinner.”

Raffaele grabs me by the wrist and I gasp. I want to tear myself away from him but I’m aware of all the eyes upon us. There’s a fury in his eyes that scares me; a moment later it passes, he smiles, and he loosens his grip.

“I’ll see you again soon, Bellissima.” He smirks. “Be safe out there.”

6

Darren

I arrive at Rose’s apartment at 8.30pm as we planned, even though I have my doubts about whether she’ll be there.

To my surprise, she’s already sitting on the front step of her apartment building when I arrive. She jumps up when she sees me, runs to me and throws her arms around my neck.

“I’m so sorry, Darren. I didn’t want to go but I was scared about what would happen if I refused.”

I wrap her tightly in my arms. Relief washes over me to feel her body small and safe against mine. “Don’t apologize. I was worried about you. I’m just glad you’re here.”

“I hated every second of it,” she says.

She looks distressed. I think she might have been crying and her hair is ruffled from her running her hands through it so many times. She’s no longer in the red dress her father had brought her. Instead, she’s dressed simply in skinny jeans, a pretty black blouse, and black heeled boots.

I run my hand through her hair with affection. “Did he hurt you?”

Rose shakes her head. “No.”

“You’ve been crying. What did he do?”

She rests her head against my chest and holds onto me. “He made me feel like a target. I don’t think he’s going to give up.”

“You have every right to turn him down, Rose. Nobody gets to tell you who to be with.”

“I’m not so sure about that. My father can be pretty scary sometimes.”

“I bet he can.” I clench my jaw. “What can I do? I’m not the greatest handyman in the world but I could fit new locks for you and a basic intruder alarm. If it would make you feel safer to have lights on the building or—”

She cuts me off. Her sorrowful expression has lifted into a beautiful smile. “I thought we were having a date tonight?”

“I didn’t think you’d feel like it now.”

“I didn’t, but you’re just so sweet I’ve realized there’s nothing I want more than to spend the night with you. Let’s go out somewhere.”

“Where do you want to go?”

“I don’t care. Anywhere. I’ve just had the date from hell, so it will be impossible to disappoint me.”

* * *

We go to the Vegas strip and walk around like we’re tourists until Rose pulls me in after her into a crazy golf attraction. The course is inside a building on the strip where we enter into a neon, glow-in-the-dark adventure land filled creepy murals, sci-fi sculptures and a host of other fancies made to draw the eye.

“It’s dark in here,” I say.

Rose laughs, pulling me towards her by my shirt. She kisses me. “I think that’s what I like about it the most.”

“Have you been here before?”

She twirls her putt in her hand as if she’s half Tiger Woods, half showgirl and wiggles her eyebrows teasingly. “When I was a kid, I used to come here once a week at least.”

“I see. So you’re going to walk all over me, then?”

“I just might.”

I like this side of her. It’s good to see her smiling and having a good time without being bothered by a host of men or looking over her shoulder to see whether Silvio or Giacomo are watching.

I place my hand on her waist and kiss behind her ear. “We should have done this years ago.”

She spins to face me and kisses me softly. “I’m glad we’re doing it now.”

“At least we know we’ll never run into Silvio at mini-golf.”

Rose shrieks with laughter. “Can you imagine? He’d probably shoot the pop-ups.”

“Or come after me with a putt-putt.”

We go to hole one which features a cyclops spaceman. I have to shoot the ball between its legs in a straight line.

I take hold of the putt in both hands and wiggle my butt to make Rose laugh. I line up my eye to the hole…and watch the ball travel in a completely different direction.

“Huh.”

Rose laughs. “See how it’s done.”

She lines up her ball, swings, and I watch the ball glide straight into place in the world’s most effortless hole-in-one.

We continue around the course. I’m smiling the whole time. It feels like we’re in some secret other world as if we’ve just gone through the wardrobe into Narnia. Everything is glowing and buzzing, people are laughing, but there’s not a shred of light from the world outside. It smells of sugar and human sweat.

After golf, we end up back on the strip. Rose has the biggest, smuggiest grin on her face and she keeps teasing me for my embarrassing failure on the course.

“So, there is something the ex-SEAL can’t beat me at.” She hams it up. “He might be stronger, he might be tougher, but he’s got the hand-eye co-ordination of a lemming.”

I wrap my arms around her from behind and trail a finger down her navel seductively while whispering in her ear. “You know first-hand just how coordinated I can be.”

She takes my hand. “Come on. Let’s keep walking. I don’t want to go home yet.”

“We can stay out as long as you want.”

Despite working in a casino, I don’t often walk along the Vegas strip. I find the tourists, noise, and lights draining. Tonight, it’s different. There’s something kind of thrilling about the activity; something kind of magical about the lights.

As we keep walking down Las Vegas Boulevard, we come closer and closer to the High Roller—Vegas’ famous Ferris wheel.

I turn to Rose, nodding towards the wheel. “Fancy a ride?”

“I’ve never been on it before. I’m kind of scared of heights.”

I squeeze her hand. “I’ll look after you.”

We join the queue of tourists and twenty minutes later we’re in a pod along with several other people. We find a spot on our own standing by the glass and I wrap my arms around Rose from behind, resting my chin on her shoulder to look out over the city.

The wheel shudders and we begin to rise. Rose gasps and clings onto my hands.

“Forget about the height,” I tell her. “Just look at those views.”

We climb higher and higher over Vegas until we’re above the city.

Rose lets out a long sigh of awe and contentment, leaning back against me. She’s finally relaxed and there’s a small and constant smile playing on her face. “Look at all those lights.”

“When you’re down amongst it, Vegas seems like the whole world stuffed into a few streets. From up here, it almost looks peaceful.”

“I love Vegas.” She twists her head to look at me over her shoulder. “But I don’t know if my future is here.”

“The city’s charm is wearing thin?”

“Not so much the city. I’m Vegas born and raised…but as long as I’m here, my path is laid out for me. Who I can be with is already chosen.”

I kiss her. “Forget about all that, Rose. I promise you everything will work out the way it should. I’ll fight for you, even if it means losing my job.”

“You’d really do that?”

I smile. “Do you know how hard it is working there knowing I can’t touch you or kiss you? It’s torture. Plus, I’m not sure everything is as clean-cut at the casino as Giacomo would like us to believe.”

“Raffaele said something when we were out today.”

“What did he say?”

“He said my father was in the mafia.”

Chills run down my spine but I’m not surprised. I hold Rose tighter. “You’re not like your family, Rose.”

“I’m scared what might happen if I live my own life.”

“No matter what he’s done or who he is, Giacomo adores you. He might have it in him to hurt other people, but I don’t believe he could ever hurt you.”

7

Rose

I enter my father’s office at Casa di Russo. It’s an office that would make any Bond villain proud with its marble floors, huge oak desk and the throne of an executive chair that sits behind it. There’s a fireplace in the office, above which hangs an oil painting portrait of my father. The whole room smells of leather and furniture polish.

My father is sitting behind his desk when I enter. He’s wearing a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His hair has been slicked back into his favorite style. The cologne he’s wearing reaches the doorway of the room.

“Hello, Papà. I’m here.”

“Rose, Cara. Thank you for coming.” He steps up from behind his desk—hobbling a little in his old age—and greets me by kissing my hands. “Sit with me, Gioia.”

He doesn’t return behind his desk but sits in one of the two grand brown leather chairs on the other side, inviting me to sit beside him.

I’ve only been in my father’s office twice that I remember. Once was when he wanted to tell me he’d bought me an apartment of my own. The other time was to tell me my mother had died. Being in my father’s office meant the news was either great or terrible.

“Tell me, Principessa, how was your meeting with Raffaele?”

I bite down on my tongue. I don’t want to lose my temper with my father but I’m still furious at him for putting me on the spot that way, especially with a man we hardly know. He had no idea what kind of danger may have awaited me, away from his protection.

“He’s arrogant and sleazy,” I reply bluntly. “He wants me for no reason other than he thinks I am beautiful. And not only does he want me, but he thinks it’s his right to have me. I can’t tolerate such a despicable creature.”

My father frowns and sits back, clasping his hands beneath his chin. “It makes me sad to hear this, Rose.”

“I know you had high hopes, Dad, but it was a disaster. I’m never had a greater dislike towards any man. I think he’s insidious and dangerous.”

He drums his fingers together. “Raffaele felt very differently.”

“I’m sure he did.”

“He’s still very interested.”

“I don’t know what you want me to do about that.” I shrug. “I don’t like him. It’s as simple as that.”

“I’m afraid it’s not quite so simple, Rose.”

I narrow my eyes. “I’m sorry?”

My father gestures around the mansion. “Look at this life I have given you. You’ve had everything you’ve ever wanted – riding lessons, prom dresses, apartments, cars…And now I’m asking for something in return, you can’t give it to me?”

“Dad, you’re not asking for something material. You’re asking me to give my body and my emotions to a man who repulses me. It’s not the same.”

He snarls. “You think my body and emotions haven’t gone into raising you? You think I haven’t earned scars keeping you in this lifestyle? You think I haven’t dealt with anger, bitterness, and rage?”

His face has contorted into a wicked scowl. His eyes are wide and wild; his teeth are bared. I feel my jaw start to tremble. I don’t know if I want to cry or scream. All I know is that he’s frightening me.

“You know I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Papà.”

“Don’t Papà me. You think you’ve got your daddy wrapped around your little finger, don’t you?”

“Dad, I—"

He cuts me off. “Enough, Rose. It’s time you contributed to this family. All your life you have coasted along without ever having to prove your loyalty to this family or your dedication to me. Now that time has come.”

“You want me to prove myself by dating Raffaele? It’s ridiculous. What does it prove except I’m a girl who will be walked all over by her father? You can’t buy my obedience. If those are the rules, then you can take it all back —the apartment, the car, the job; I don’t want any of those if it means you get to decide my life for me. If it means you get to sell me like a whore.”

“You owe me.” He glowers at me, pointing a threatening finger in my direction. “I never expected this kind of ingratitude and pride from you. Silvio is out there every day getting his hands dirty for this business. What do you do?”

“I’m out there too, Dad.”

“Showing off your ass in a mini-skirt and carrying around drinks? I’ve always let you take the easy road. I’ve tried to protect you.”

“You want to pass me off to a man far older than me who only wants me for my body and for your business.”

“You think you can have someone better than Raffaele?” My father scoffs. “You’re a waitress, Rose. You may have a pretty face but you’ve lived life with your head in the clouds. You’ve faced no hardships so you’ve developed no character. Being a trophy wife is the best you could hope for.”

It’s my turn to scoff. “Wife? You’re getting more insane.”

“I’m not mad, my girl. Raffaele wants to marry you and I’ve already given my blessing.”

My insides are twisting into a painful knot that’s making it hard to breathe. Papà is serious.

“Your blessing means nothing without my consent.”

“You will marry that man, Rose.”

“I won’t.” I stand up and back away from my father. I’ve never seen him like this; he looks crazed and brutal.

My father stands and charges towards me. I back against the wall and he slams his hand onto the red paint beside my head. I shake with worry. He’s never been violent towards me before.

“You’re scaring me, Papà.”

“Good. You should be scared.”

He leans in so his face is close to mine. I can see the whites of his widened eyes and feel the heat of his anger rising from his skin. Tears start to seep from my eyes. “Stop it, Dad.”

“You’ve had it easy. You’ve been sheltered but it’s time you learned the meaning of sacrifice. It’s time you had a little ambition. Do you think all of this fell into my lap?”

“I know you worked hard.” I turn my face away from his evil glare.

“I’ve bled for this.” He whispers in my ear. “I’ve killed for this.”

“Papà, you don’t know what you’re saying…”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know what the Russo name means. You’re not that stupid or that innocent, Rose. You’ve enjoyed the benefit of blood money and know it’s your time to pay your pound of flesh for the cause. You will marry Raffaele.”

“Why? What good will it do?”

“Why?” He steps back, throwing his hands in the air. “To build upon the empire I’ve created! As long as we have competition, we are under threat. I want this city beneath my feet.”

“Why do you need me? It’s business. A merger should be dealt with in the board room, not the chapel.”

“Because Raffaele wants you.” My father paces in front of me. I shoot sideways glances towards the door, wondering if I’m safe to run. “In our world, certain gestures have to be made. People betray one another for money all the time, but certain promises are made when it comes to blood. If I give my daughter, I am promising my loyalty to Raffaele, as he is promising his loyalty to me. It is the only way to do business in a dishonest world.”

“Is his loyalty worth your daughter?”

“What is it you think I’m stealing from you, Rose?” He fixes me with an evil, judging stare. “Your future as it stands is being groped by gamblers while you walk around dressed like a slut. I’m giving you the chance to be a kept woman. Don’t expect me to believe you’re not already opening your legs to every man who gives you a second glance.”

“Papà!” I sob loudly. “Why are you talking to me like this? What did I do?”

“It’s what you won’t do. You’re taking without giving anything in return and that is not the way I raised you. You’re disrespecting me and showing a disgusting amount of ingratitude for the splendor you’ve been raised in.”

“This is my life, Papà! How can you bear to even think of his hands on me?”

“You are the daughter of a great name. You must marry into a great name or you will be eaten alive by those who seek to destroy me. Marrying Raffaele is a small price to pay for the wealth and protection he can provide you.”

“I don’t care about wealth.” I blink and fat tears roll quickly down my cheeks. “And it seems you’re the only reason I’m in danger. I’ve not played the games you’ve played. None of this concerns me.”

“All of it concerns you. You are part of this family and tied to my business whether you like it or not, my girl.”

“You know I’d do anything for you, Papà, but this is something I cannot do. That man scares me.”

“He’s not the one you should fear. You’ve never seen my wrath, Rose. I don’t think you’d like it.”

My jaw trembles. “Are you threatening me?”

“Consider it some fatherly advice.”

“And what if I refuse?”

“I don’t think you want to find out.”

I stare at my father but don’t recognize the man in front of me. “You’re a monster.”

“You have no idea.”

* * *

“Darren.”

I feel a flood of relief when I see him waiting for me in the dive bar where I’d asked to meet. I go to him and wrap my arms around his neck, holding him tight.

“Rose, you’re shaking.” Darren holds me at arm’s length to get a good look at me. “Tell me everything that happened.”

He’s already ordered our drinks and leads me to a quiet booth at the back of the dim, scarcely populated bar. I chose this place because neither Raffaele nor my father would be seen alive here. The wallpaper is peeling, the leather is splitting, and the whole place smells suspect.

I take the gin and tonic and drink it down quickly.

Darren raises his eyebrows. “I’ve never seen you drink like that.”

“I just don’t know what to do, Darren.”

“Slow down and tell me what happened.”

“I went to see my father today.” I swallow and look down at the tabletop. My head is still spinning from the shock of having my own father turn on me the way he did. “He told me—no, he ordered me—to marry Raffaele.”

He laughs and squeezes my hands. “That’s ridiculous, Rose. No one’s got that power.”

“He does.” I shake my head. “He’s got this city in his hand.”

“You’re his daughter. He’d never bring you to harm.”

“He threatened me.”

Darren’s face darkens and he leans forward. His expression is a picture of fury and protective rage. “What did he say?”

“Nothing specific. It was vague—you’ll regret it, you don’t want to disappoint me…that kind of thing.”

“He’s bluffing.” Darren sits back casually and takes a swig of his own beer. “He can’t force you to do anything, Rose.”

“I’m scared of him. I’ve never seen him like that before. I thought he was going to hit me. He’s never raised a hand to me before.”

Darren grit his teeth and leaned forward on the table with his elbows. “You really felt that threatened?”

“He said it was my turn to repay all he’d done for me and to do my part for the family business. I know he’s not talking about the casino, either. He is a mobster. I know it.”

“I don’t understand why you marrying Raffaele affects the casino or whatever else might be going on behind closed doors.”

“He was talking like it was some kind of criminal code. Blood ties and things like that. He’s gone insane.”

“I think he was always mad, Rose. You’re just seeing it for the first time.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and tears seep out. “I’ve always been such a daddy’s girl. He’s always doted on me, been so kind, been so protective… It’s like he’s become a stranger overnight. I didn’t know the man I was speaking to today.”

“Maybe Raffaele has got something on him.”

“What do you mean?”

Darren raises his hands helplessly. “I don’t know. If they’re rival gangsters of some kind, maybe your dad owes him a favor.”

I bury my face in my hands. “This is ridiculous. I can’t believe my father is some kind of Godfather.”

Throwing me a sympathetic smile, Darren’s eyes soften. “You’ve always known something was wrong with this. Deep down.”

“Maybe deep down.” I let out a long, shuddering breath. “I just never thought I’d be exposed to any of it, you know? He does his thing behind closed doors and I just go on with my life.”

“It’s time to pick your side, Rose. You can’t bury your head in the sand anymore.”

I wipe my eyes with a bar napkin. “My mom died young. I’ve only ever had my father and Silvio. If I walk away, I’m on my own.”

Darren meets my eye. “You’ll never be alone.”

“What can I do? If I don’t do as he says, there’s no knowing what he’ll do.”

For a moment, Darren pauses. He leans back in his chair and stares into the middle distance, thinking hard. Then he snaps out of his thought and meets my eye.

“You can only get married if you’re single.”

“What are you saying?”

“Tell him you’re already married.”

I laugh. “To who?”

“To me.”

My heart aches with gratitude and desire but I can’t do that to him. “I would never put you in danger like that.”

“Your father hired me because of my ability to take care of myself and ‘take care’ of others.” His gaze is steady and determined, those dark eyes holding my gaze. “I’m not some hapless nobody he can take down like that.” He snaps his fingers. “I’m military through and through. I was trained to stand my ground and to win.”

“You’ve got no idea how far his reach stretches.”

“There are six guns in my house, Rose. I’m trained in hand-to-hand combat. I’ll get top-level security. I know a guy who can kit me out. Private security. An old war buddy of mine. If you want to get out of this, I’m your safest bet.”

“What about Silvio? He cares for you.”

“Let’s hope so. Maybe he’ll care enough to let us walk away.”

“Or maybe he’ll feel betrayed enough to come after you with a machine gun and a silencer.”

“Silvio is all bark and no bite.”

“Is he?” I gaze at Darren helplessly. “I’m starting to realize I don’t know either of them. My father was talking about blood money, sacrifice, and people he’s killed. Silvio acts like some hardass movie villain. Is he just playing the part, or is he truly a villain?”

“If you don’t get away from all this, you’ll be doomed to be a part of it.” Darren takes my hands and holds onto them tightly, desperately. “Let me help you.”

“You don’t know what you’re offering.”

“I know exactly what I’m offering.” He smiles at me reassuringly. He’s so handsome and kind. “A little white lie in exchange for your future.”

“I’m so scared of what might happen.”

“And that’s why we have to do this. Rose, living in fear is no way to live.”

8

Darren

As it grew late, I could tell that Rose was reluctant to go home alone so I didn’t hesitate to invite her to stay the night at mine.

She comes back to my condo and I let her borrow a shirt for her to wear as a nightdress. I’ve always liked a girl wearing my clothes, but Rose turns it into an art. Her legs look incredibly long from underneath the blue shirt even though she’s only petite. Her skin is tan from the Nevada sun, her legs perfectly smooth.

“I feel so much at home here,” she says. “It doesn’t seem like I’ve only been here once before.”

“I’m glad you feel welcome.”

“It’s more than that.” She stands on her tiptoes to kiss me. “I feel safe.”

Her words make me feel a hundred feet tall. I’ve fought terrorists and soldiers, been faced with gunfire and ammunition, but nothing makes me feel as strong and needed as Rose when she has that look in her eyes.

“I’m going to look after you. It’s a promise.”

“I believe you.” She smiles. “At least for now neither my father nor Silvio would think of coming here to search for me.”

“They’re not going to be searching for you anyway.” I pop open the cork on a bottle of wine and pour her a glass. “You’re not on the run.”

She frowns. “I’m not so sure, Darren. That’s exactly how I feel.”

We go to the sofa and she curls up against me. The TV is on low volume in the background, keeping a steady background buzz to the silence and creating the dim, flickering light we sit in.

We drink wine together, casually watching the television for some time. It’s a cozy kind of comfort I’d not experienced before.

“You must be used to danger,” Rose says during an advert break. “You must have faced all kinds of trouble when you were serving.”

“That’s what you sign up for.”

“Where did you serve? I don’t think I’ve ever asked you.”

“I don’t talk about it much. Some of it is classified, and some of it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

She cuddles up against me. “We don’t have to talk about it.”

I consider for a moment. My military life has rarely met my civilian life with the exception of my friendship with Jake. I’ve never thought about where I’d draw the line when it came to discussing duty with a girlfriend. Is Rose my girlfriend?

“I was part of the Yakla Raid in 2017 against Al-Qaeda.”

“Oh my god.” Rose sits upright. “I didn’t realize you’d seen that kind of action.”

“I can never decide if it’s something I’m proud of or not. They tell me I’ve served my country and prevented terrorism in the US, but I know women and children died that day. I saw and heard things I can never forget.”

“I think my father’s right,” Rose tells me, falling quiet. “He told me I’ve been spoiled my whole life and that I’ve never faced any kind of hardship. Someone like you must think I’m a silly little girl with my problems when you’ve seen the face of war.”

I kiss her softly. “I don’t think any such thing. I chose war and I was trained for it. You weren’t prepared to find out your father was a criminal.”

She winces. “I hate to think of him that way. In my head, he’s just my Papà—the man who bought me a piñata for my tenth birthday; the man who pretended to love the food I tried to cook when I was twelve; the man who welled up with pride when he saw me in my prom dress.”

Rose lets out a long sigh. “He’s always protected me and made sure I’m safe. He’s provided for me. He’s never been an absent father. He used to read me a story before bed every night. How am I meant to reconcile those memories with this other side of him I’ve seen?”

“By moving on before those memories can be poisoned by these new and cruel motives of his. If you do what he wants, you’ll only end up hating him.”

“I know.” She places her wine glass down on the coffee table and pulls up her feet underneath her, resting her head on my shoulder and looking up at me with curiosity. “Are you close with your father?”

My laugh is bitter. “Not at all.”

“Oh.”

I can tell there are questions she’s too polite to ask. I make the choice to tell her more. “He was a womanizer and a bully. My mom finally kicked him out when she found him in bed with yet another woman for the third or fourth time. After he was gone, it was her turn to play the field. She was never home and when she was, she’d bring back men who didn’t think much of me. I was an afterthought to them both, so I left. Never heard from either of them again.”

“How old were you?”

I try to remember. “Maybe seventeen or so when I decided I was better off alone.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I didn’t know.” She sits up suddenly, looking around at me with a guilty expression. “I hardly know anything about you, Darren. Did you realize that? I can’t let you put yourself at risk for me. Sure, we’ve fancied each other forever, but that’s not enough for you to put your neck on the line for me.”

“If that story told you anything, it should be that there are few people in my life who matter to me. You’re one of them.” I stroke back her hair from her sweet face. “I’m in this with you. You’re not going to get rid of me that easily.”

“I’m a fool for having lived this way for so long.” She reaches for her glass again and takes a long drink of wine. “It never occurred to me to go to school to study or train to do anything with my life outside that damned casino. I knew I’d be taken care of and I took it for granted. Now I’ve made the bed I’ve got to lie in. I didn’t give myself a back-up plan.”

“I’m sure most people in your position would have done the same.”

“My dad’s right. I have no character.”

“That’s not true, Rose. You’ve got tonnes of character.” I pull her back towards me and put my arm around her. “You’re kind, witty, and resilient.”

“Resilient? That’s the last word I’d used to describe me.”

“You will be,” I promise her. “Tomorrow you’re going to tell your father that you’ve already married me and then you’ll walk away. And when you’re living your new life, free from him and happy, you’ll realize you were always resilient—you’d just never tested yourself.”

* * *

“Maybe I shouldn’t speak to him today.” Rose sits up in bed and rubs her face with her hands. “Maybe I should wait until the weekend.”

“The longer you wait, the harder it will be.”

“There’s no way he’s going to believe it.”

I take her hand and give it a gentle squeeze. She looks so vulnerable in the morning light, free of her makeup and high heels. She keeps biting down on her lip in nerves and fiddling with the edge of the bedsheets. She’s been talking herself around in circles for the best part of an hour.

“Besides,” I say,” I’m going to be with you.”

Her head snaps around. “No, you won’t.”

“Of course I will be. You think I’m going to let you go there alone after all you’ve told me?”

“No. You’ve done enough.” She stands and stretches then pulls open the drapes and looks outside. She folds her arms across her chest and sighs, her gaze taking on a thousand-yard stare. She turns back to me, leaning back against the windowsill. “My father won’t hurt me and neither will Silvio. But I don’t trust either of them not to hurt you.”

“I don’t think they’d do anything to either of us, Rose. Your father is insane if he thinks he can force you to marry anyone.”

“If I say no, he’ll find a way to scare me into it. Hurting you would be a good start.”

I go to her and wrap my arms around her. She lays her head against my chest in a defeated posture. I kiss her forehead. “I’ll be prepared for a knock on the door. Don’t worry about it.”

“I’d rather you weren’t here for a while.”

“At my home?”

She nods. “They know where you live.”

“Rose, I know you’re scared, but maybe Raffaele’s simply got your head running a bit with his talk of mafia and criminal underworlds. You weren’t afraid of your father before.”

“It’s not just that. If you’d seen the way my father spoke to me the other day; if you’d seen him punching the wall…you’d know I’m not blowing this out of proportion.”

“I’m going with you.”

“No, Darren.” She lifts her gaze and meets my eyes sternly. “I mean it.”

“What am I meant to do then? Just stay here worrying about you?”

“You can wait in the car outside. We’ll leave together and if anything happens while I’m in there or I’m in there too long, you can come find me. Otherwise, you just stay put out of sight and out of harm’s way.”

9

Rose

I should have known Silvio would be here. My father and brother are rarely at the casino during daylight hours. They prefer to show up in the cover of darkness like foxes on the hunt. Apparently, this is where they spend their time before 10:00pm—cozied up in the drawing-room at Casa di Russo.

They both look up when I enter. They don’t seem surprised to see me. My father has a smug look on his face as if confident I’ve come crawling back to do as he’s commanded. They’re both drinking red wine. My father lays down his glass on the opulent carved coffee table between them.

“Rose. I trust you’ve come to tell me you’ve made up your mind?”

“It’s time I confessed something to you both. I can’t marry Raffaele because I’m already married. I have been for several months.”

My father draws in a sharp breath through his teeth and his skin grows pale. He bows his head in the most excruciating silence. I can see his hands curling into fists.

Silvio stands to confront me. “Who?”

My heart is beating so fast. I don’t want to give Darren’s name but it’s the only way to lend any credibility to this lie.

“Darren.”

“From my team?” Silvio swipes his arm in fury across the side table next to him, sending a pile of books and a chess set smashing to the hardwood floor.

I jump at the noise and take a step back. “I knew neither of you would accept me dating anyone you hadn’t chosen so we got married in secret months ago. That way, if you found out, it would be too late to stop me from seeing him.”

“I should have known.” Silvio draws back his lips from his teeth in a vicious snarl. “I’ve seen the way you flaunt yourself in front of him and he’s hardly been able to keep his eyes in his damned skull. I should have put a stop to it a long time ago.”

My father has said nothing but now he turns in his leather chair and lifts his head to face me. “You got married without your father there to give you away?” He shakes his head in disgust. “You disappoint me, Rose. I’m disgusted with you.”

It’s taking all my courage to stay standing. I’m scared of both of them and to hear them berating me together this way puts my emotions through the shredder. My whole family is staring me down with revulsion in their eyes.

I lift my chin defiantly and meet my father’s eye. “What was I supposed to do, Papà?” I raise my hands helplessly. “You watch my every move. You monitor my every relationship. I was in love. I did what I had to do to be happy.”

“You’ve made a terrible mistake.” He rises to his feet and points at me. “You’ve lost everything today, my daughter. You are no longer welcome in my home, you no longer work in my casino. That apartment you’ve been living in belongs to me. I want you out. Don’t bother collecting your things—I bought them all. You have nothing.”

I blink back tears, swallow, and nod. “If that’s the way you want it, Papà.”

He snarls. “You arrogant, foolish girl. You’ve thrown away all of this to chase after a handsome face. He won’t provide for you. As soon as you grow tired of him, you’ll find yourself on the street and I won’t be extending the hand of friendship then.”

“As you wish it.”

Silvio shakes his head in disbelief. “I never realized my own sister was so stupid.” He paces the room in a rage. His voice rises in anger. “Do you know what kind of danger you’ve put your family in?”

“What kind of danger I’ve put you in?” I step forward boldly, squaring up to Silvio for the first time in my life. He’s a head taller than me and much broader, but I stand my ground. “I’m not the one who’s been doing shady business with dangerous people. You may want to be some kind of gangster but I never chose that life.”

“You weren’t shy about benefitting from it. Now it’s time to play your part, you’ve decided to play the innocent little girl.”

“I am innocent, Silvio.” I step back from him and wave my arms in frustration. “I’m a waitress. Turning a blind eye to whatever you’ve been doing doesn’t make me part of it. I’m don’t want your life.” I turn to my father defiantly. “And I don’t want your blood money. This whole thing with Raffaele has only confirmed what I always suspected but never knew for sure—you’re both criminals.”

My father’s anger dissipates for just a moment and I see a momentary flash of a heartbroken man. He nods slowly. “This is not the way I wanted things, Rose. But if this is the path you’ve chosen to take then I wash my hands of you. Get out of my house.”

“You’re dead to this family,” Silvio hisses. “And tell Darren, the miserable traitor, that if I ever see him in any of our casinos again—in fact, if I ever see him on a street where I might be walking—then he’d better be watching his back.”

Sorrow shrouds me like a cold mist. So this is how it ends. If I were really married, there would be no joy or congratulations—only condemnation. It’s proof if I ever needed it that my father wasn’t bluffing. It’s always been his way or the highway, and though I may have traveled his path up to now, I can’t go with him any further.

I take the apartment and Cadillac keys from my purse and throw them down onto the coffee table. “There you go, Papà. Now I owe you nothing.”

I look from Silvio to my father with a huge, heavy sadness that makes my knees feel weak. My father has turned his face away from me and has clenched his jaw deliberately. Silvio looks ready to march me out the door.

I take in a deep breath and nod. “I guess this is goodbye.”

With that, I turn and leave, being sure not to look behind me. I don’t want to lose my resolve and I’m half-afraid that I’d find Silvio a step behind me with his finger on the trigger of his Colt Cobra.

I stride out of the house and down the path to the bottom of the estate where Darren is waiting in his beat-up army-green jeep. I pull open the door and sit in the passenger seat. He looks across at me with concern.

“Are you alright?” he asks.

I wave towards the gates. “Just drive.”

He does as he’s told and we don’t speak again until we’re a couple of miles from Casa di Russo.

“Tell me,” he says.

Silent tears roll down my cheeks and I shrug, staring out the window. “I’m alive. That’s something, I guess.”

“What did he say?”

“What I expected. Silvio was there as well. They say I’m dead to the family. My father wanted his car and apartment back. I gave him the keys there and then. He says I’ve lost my job.” A sudden wave of guilt hits me. “I’m so sorry, Darren. They don’t want you to go back either.”

Darren surprises me by shrugging nonchalantly. “I wouldn’t want to work for them after all this anyway. You can’t trust men like that. Don’t worry about it, Rose.”

“What will you do?”

“Whatever I find first.” He looks over at me and offers a reassuring smile. He’s so handsome and so strong. “There’s plenty of bouncer work around these parts.”

“Most of the casinos around here are owned by my father or Raffaele’s family.”

“I don’t have to work in a casino. Would make a change to be somewhere else, to be honest. All those machines give me a headache.”

“You’re really not bothered?”

He takes his hand off the shift stick so he can give mine a comforting squeeze. His smile is warm and genuine. “I knew I’d lose the job when I offered. It’s a small price to pay to know you’re safe and free. We’re talking about the rest of your life here, Rose.”

“The rest of my life…” I shake my head slowly. “I don’t even know where to begin with ‘the rest of my life’. I’ve got nothing now.”

“You’ll stay with me until you find your feet.”

“Darren—”

He cuts me off. “No arguments. I’m happy to have you.”

“But you’ve already done so much.”

“Like what? Letting you use my name?I I’ve hardly done anything at all.”

“You’ve put a target on your back.”

He scoffs. “They’re not going to do anything about it. They’re big talkers but they’re not going to come after either of us.”

“I just don’t know whether that’s true.” I sit back in my seat, wrapping my arms around myself. I can hardly sit still from nerves. “And what about Raffaele?” I shudder at the thought of him. “He treated me like I was his prey. What if he doesn’t stop hunting?”

“What’s he going to do about it? You can’t get married twice.”

“You can if you’re a widow.” I fix him with a meaningful and terrified stare. “Who knows what lengths he’d go to?”

“There are plenty of beautiful women in Las Vegas, Rose. He’ll find someone else to pursue.”

“I don’t think my looks were the half of it, Darren. It was all about merging their businesses and using me as collateral. Raffaele would have had me live with a knife against my throat to keep my father in line.”

Darren frowns, looking out through the windscreen with a serious expression. “Have you got any idea what kind of business your father does under the façade of that casino?”

“No idea at all. And my imagination isn’t good enough to wonder.” I look out the window at the hills and sand rolling past as we head back towards the strip and the heart of Las Vegas. “It could be drugs, ammunitions, any kind of racketeering…He always talks about how he’s got friends in high places. He’s probably forcing through shady deals on the threat of violence or blackmail.”

“All those things are still a long step from murder.”

I shudder. “I don’t want to think about it.”

“You’re right.” Darren forces a smile. “This should be a happy occasion. You stood up for yourself, Rose, and now you’re free to have whatever life you want…with whoever you want.”

The fear lifts enough to allow butterflies to dance in my stomach. I look across at Darren with a small smile. I lay my hand atop his on the shift stick.

“After all this, would you be terrified if I said I still wanted you?”

A broad smile grows on his face. “I’m here because that’s exactly what I want too.” He glances across at me with both affection and desire. “I’ve waited so long to have a chance at being with you. You’re in my head, Honey. You’re under my skin. You have been for the longest time.”

“And the danger?”

He laughs. “I never would have become a SEAL if I was scared of a little danger. Trust me, Rose, your father has got nothing on Al-Qaeda.”

His words comfort me and I settle back in my seat with a calm smile on my face. The further we get from Casa Di Russo, the freer I feel. The muscles in my chest are loosening, my breaths are coming easier. The sadness and regret of leaving my family are outweighed by the promise of a future that’s all my own.

I’m free.

10

Darren

“Here?” Rose looks around at the secluded patch of desert I’ve picked out for our picnic and steps out the car with a smile.

“One of the best views in Nevada.”

After getting back from confronting Giacomo and Silvio, Rose had slept for a long time. While she was resting, I’d gone out and bought picnic food and a blanket. I wanted to take her somewhere beautiful to take her mind off of everything.

I love the desert. I always have done. If you get there at twilight, you’ll find the skies ablaze in purple and pink, the soft light falling across red mountains and desert flowers. It’s a landscape appreciated by too few.

Rose closes her eyes, takes in a deep breath, then opens them again to drink it all in. “It’s beautiful out here.” She turns over her shoulder towards me. “You know I’ve ever been out here? I mean, I’ve driven through desert, but never stopped anywhere.”

“Why would you? Las Vegas is bigger and brighter.”

She takes the opposite end of the heavy-duty tartan blanket I’m unfolding and helps me shake it flight. We lay it down on the sand and dry dirt and sit down together. It’s too early for the cactuses to be in bloom, but the air is filled with the earthy scent of the desert and the sweet smell of the creosote bushes that always remind me of rain.

“I thought I’d bring you somewhere completely different to where you’ve come from. Just listen.” I close my eyes and breathe in deep, savoring the silence. “Nothing.”

Rose sighs in contentment. She’s wearing the only outfit she had with her—the grey skinny jeans and dark grey vest she’d been wearing the night I’d met her in the bar. Her knees are dusty with orange dirt.

“Do you often come out here?”

I nod. “I love Vegas, but sometimes you want to escape the lights.”

“There’s nobody else around.”

“Nobody ever takes this route. It goes nowhere anywhere knows.”

“It’s a good thing I trust you, then. Here I am, a girl out in the middle of nowhere with a guy…” She smiles at me. Her eyes are full of tenderness. “Thank you, Darren. This is perfect.”

“How are you feeling now?”

She shrugs. “Bitter, scared, sad, excited, hopeful…” She smiles at me. “A little of everything bad and a little of everything good, too.”

“Leave sad and scared behind you, Rose. You’re right to be excited and hopeful. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you now.”

Rose lies on her side on the blanket, fiddling with the waxy leaves of a nearby shrub. “If only I knew what to do.”

When she lies back with her hands above her head, it exposes the perfect smooth skin of her navel. She’s got an incredible body.

“Well, what did you want to be when you were a kid?”

She laughs. “Hell knows. I never thought about it. I supposed I always thought my daddy would look after me forever.” She looks at me with an expression of self-awareness. “Time to wake up and smell the roses, right?” She rolls onto her stomach to look at me. “What did you want to be when you were a kid?”

“You’ll laugh. I know you will.”

Her eyes light up mischievously. “Interesting. Tell me.”

“I wanted to be a rocket scientist.”

“No way!” Rose claps her hands together in delight, laughing loudly. The sound seems to disappear so quickly; there’s nothing to echo it back. “You? A scientist?”

“I know, I know.” I shake my head slowly. “You won’t believe this, but I was a nerd when I was young.”

“But you’re such a tough guy now.” She mimes flexing her muscles.

I shrug. “I didn’t have many options available to me when I left home. I need cash. I was young, fit. When I saw the military recruiting, it seemed like an easy way to get out of dodge.”

“And you never looked back?”

“I wouldn’t say that.” I meet her eye. “Sometimes I think about what life might have been like if I’d not made excuses; if I’d got the loans and three jobs to get into school. Maybe I’d have ended up some clean-cut lab geek or engineer.”

“You’re good at what you do.”

“And what is it I do exactly?” I lie down beside her and stare up at the sunset. “I’m hired muscle. That’s all.”

Rose sidles over to me and rests her head on my shoulder. “You were there when I needed someone.”

That’s all she says, but it touches me deeply. It makes me feel validated. For all my regrets about the path of my life, right now, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I draw her close and kiss the top of her head tenderly.

“Despite everything that’s happened in the last couple of days, I don’t think I’ve ever felt more relaxed than I do right now.”

“Right?” She tilts her head to look up at me from where she lays. “I feel the same. It’s like the world’s finally stopped spinning.”

“You said you’d thought about us before,” I say. “How did you imagine our first date?

She giggles. “Pretty much exactly how it went. Straight in the sack.”

I laugh loudly. “I’d always thought I’d have spoiled you rotten.”

“I’m spoiled enough.” Rose plants a kiss on my lips and then sits up to scavenge in the plastic bag I put the picnic stuff in. “You know what? I’m starving. I can’t remember when I last ate.”

“You’ve spent too much time worrying.”

“Now all I want to do is eat, cuddle, and watch that gorgeous sun go down.”

She fishes out a cheese and cucumber sandwich, hands one to me, and happily munches away. I pass her a bottle of juice and we chat while we eat.

Only a few hours ago, everything felt like life and death.

Now it’s just life.

Life as I always wanted it to be.

11

Rose

We watch the sun go down and all at once it’s dark.

“My god,” I whisper, “look at those stars.”

“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”

“I can’t remember the last time I saw a sky like this. The only lights I ever see at night are neon.”

Darren smiles. We’re both lying on our backs on the picnic blanket looking up at the sky. My head is resting on his shoulder, my arm across his stomach. It rises and falls with every one of his breaths; they’re rhythmic and soothing. I’ve never felt more relaxed.

“I’ve always liked the stars,” Darren says. “Always wanted to reach them. I liked the idea of going up there more than I liked the idea of physics.”

“So that’s where the rocket scientist dream came from.”

“Maybe I should have set my sights on being an astronaut instead.”

“I’m sure you’d have passed the physical.”

I raise my upper body slightly so I can kiss him. When I draw back, I find myself getting lost in his eyes. They’re dark and kind. His face is so handsome. I run the back of my hand down his cheek, feeling his rough stubble graze my skin. His features are chiseled and angular. He looks like a cowboy out here in the desert.

I kiss him again. This time the kiss grows deeper. He parts my lips with his and his tongue brushes against mine. It doesn’t take much from Darren to drive me wild. His kiss sends heat coursing through me along with an unbearable desire.

“I don’t deserve you,” I say softly. “A girl like me who’s always had everything isn’t worthy of a knight in shining armor.”

Darren looks up at me with an expression of pure devotion and rests his palm against my cheek. “It’s the easiest rescue I’ve ever done.”

“Everything’s going to change now.”

He leans up and kisses me again. “Change isn’t always bad.”

While he kisses me, I reach for his belt and unbuckle his pants, slipping a hand beneath his boxers and taking hold of his cock which is already rock hard. I slowly slide my hand up and down the length of him, feeling him grow harder still in my hand.

He tilts his head back and moans with pleasure. “Jesus Christ, Rose. You’ve got no idea what you do to me.”

I smile mischievously. “I’ve got some idea.”

Darren grabs me by the hips and flips me onto my back in one smooth motion that makes me gasp. I love how strong he is. He makes me feel so small and feminine. Like the damsel to his hero.

He unbuttons my jeans and slowly rolls them down my legs, kissing each inch of skin on my legs as it appears. It tickles when he kisses my inner thighs and I giggle. Once he’s removed both my jeans and panties, he pushes my legs apart and bows his head down between them.

I sigh with pleasure when his tongue touches my clit. The feeling is dizzying but is made even more sensual by the sweet scent of the creosote bushes and the breathtaking view of the stars. We’re all alone in the desert, making love out in nature where everything is so peaceful and perfect.

“That feels good,” I whisper. I shut my eyes in contentment and focus on the feeling of Darren teasing my sweet spot. My toes curl against the blanket as the spectacular feeling of an orgasm begins to settle between my legs and grown.

I clutch at Darren’s hair. The feeling is almost too good. I have to fight the urge to push him away; I’m so sensitive and the lightest flick of his tongue is sending me into a frenzy.

He carries on bringing me closer to the edge, keeping my legs apart with his strong and gentle hands, even when I start to squirm from the pleasure. When the feeling gets too intense, I arch my back and cry out, gasping in the night as I cum like I’ve never cum before. My whole body trembles with the feeling; it’s like I’m drenched in warm honey.

I grab his shirt to pull his towards me and kiss him deeply. I can taste myself on his lips. Darren groans with arousal and tears my shirt off over my head as I grapple with his clothes. In seconds, we’re both bare-skinned in the sand.

The cool desert breeze whispers across my skin making my hairs stand on end. It’s a delicious sensation. I’ve never been this free with my body. I have no inhibitions; I want to experience every second of this intoxicating dance.

I part my legs and urge Darren to take his place on top of me. The weight of his body on mine is such a turn-on. I love the feeling of his hot skin against my bare breasts; the firmness of his muscles against my naked body.

My pleasure only intensifies when he thrusts into me. He moves into me with urgent, passionate strokes. It’s animal and intense. I watch the muscles of his body flex as he moves, biting down on my lip at the sight of his bulging biceps and the sound of his heavy breathing.

I claw at his back, trying to find some relief from the intensity of the pleasure. I’m a writhing, trembling mess. I press my inner thighs against his torso, feeling the rhythm of his moving between my legs.

He gets faster; the pleasure gets more exquisite with each thrust. As he gets closer to cumming, he thrusts deeper, filling me completely and satisfying every desire I’ve ever had.

Darren releases with a low moan then rests breathlessly against me. I play with his hair while he gets his breath back, then he raises his head and smiles at me.

“We’re getting good at this.”

I smile up at the stars. “We’ve got all the time in the world now to enjoy it over and over.”

We both fall asleep for a while after that. I wake up when I feel Darren stirring beside me. I’m exhausted and fight against waking. I try not to let my smile show when he wraps me up in a jacket from his car and lifts me cradle-style.

I feel like I weigh nothing in his arms. It’s the dream An Officer and a Gentleman moment. I do fall asleep again on the drive back home and if Darren carried me into bed, I knew nothing about it.

I was having the most wonderful dreams.

12

Darren

I’ve not heard a noise that loud since Yemen. Instinct takes over and I jolt upright I bed, throwing my arm across Rose to protect her from a danger I can’t see.

She screams. “What was that?”

“Stay here.”

I open the drawer of my bedside table and pull out my revolver. I hold it outright in my right hand and steady my wrist with my left. With my back against the wall, I swiftly and silently step out of the bedroom and into the hall.

I can smell smoke.

It’s not just a smell. Billows of ashen grey are spiraling towards me. I peer around the doorway of my living room to find it in flames. The loud crackling of the fire rings in my ears and my bare skin can feel the heat from here.

Lowering my gun, I dash back to the bedroom and order Rose out of bed. “Get up. Quick. Pull something on. Anything.”

She does as she’s told. I hate the look of terror on her face. “What is it?”

“Fire.”

“…Fire?” She rushes to pull on her jeans and then runs to me to grasp my arm. I pull on my clothes as quickly as I can, shut the bedroom door, then open the window. My condo doesn’t have a second floor so it’s not much of a leap, but I still throw the duvet out before helping Rose step up just to make sure she doesn’t get hurt. I leap out behind her and we dash to the front of the house.

Rose lets out a shocked gasp and covers her mouth with her hands as her eyes fill with tears. “My god, Darren. I’m so sorry.”

I feel a lump in my throat as I watch the flames consume my home. The drapes are burning. I watch as half the fabric burns loose and drops to the floor, making the fire spread faster across the carpet.

“Fuck. I’ve left my cell inside.”

Rose grabs my hand and squeezes. “Someone will call the fire department.”

“I’d better wake the neighbors. They don’t want to be inside in case it spreads.”

I alert the neighbors and soon the street is full of spectators.

Mrs. Connors places her hand on my shoulder. “Darren, I’m so sorry. If there’s anything you need…”

“Thank you. I’ll be…” I clear my throat. “…I’ll be fine.”

Although I’m keeping it together, Rose is in pieces. She clasps as my t-shirt and sobs into my chest. I wrap my arms around her to stop her collapsing. Her sobs are so heavy she’s barely holding herself upright. I stroke back her hair and kiss her head.

“It’s alright, Rose.”

“You’ve lost everything.” She looks up at me with her tear-stained face and I’ve never ever seen guilt quite like it. “I let this happen.”

“You did nothing wrong. None of this is your fault.”

“I should never have dragged you into this.”

“That’s what insurance is for. It’s okay. There’s nothing that can’t be replaced.”

“What about your photos? Or…or special things?” Her face is crumpled in anguish. “Some things can’t be replaced so easily.”

I kiss her forehead. “Maybe for some people. Everything in there is just junk.”

“What about your passport? Your birth certificate?”

“Honey, calm down. It can all be replaced. The important thing is nobody was hurt.”

There is panic in the street. The mayhem is growing and growing as spectators gather. It gets even crazier once the fire engine arrives. Suddenly there’s men in yellow firesuits everywhere, aiming hoses and shouting commands. Everyone is forced back behind a line and I can do nothing but watch everything I have burn.

The smoke in the air is thick. It burns my lungs the way it did when I tried my first cigarette. The sirens are no longer blaring but the nervous chatter of dozens of onlookers carries its own sense of dread.

“Somebody could have been hurt,” Rose whispers. She looks up at me with wide, frightened eyes. “And I don’t know who I should be scared of. Was this my father and Silvio? Was it Raffaele?”

“It could have just been an electrical fault.” Neither of us believe that.

“They’ve got the fire under control now.” I stare ahead at the corpse of my house. The flames are gone but the remaining smoke is black as night and thick as fog.

“Maybe it can be repaired.”

“Maybe.”

I don’t hold out much hope. The house is burned down to its bones; it’s a carcass of the first house I ever got a mortgage on. The first home I ever had in my own name.

It hurts to see it burned down but more than that, I’m angry. Furious. I want to grab whichever mobster scumbag did this and show them what lifting weights can give you the power to do to a human face.

“They knew I’d be here,” Rose says.

“What did we expect? We made up this story we were married.” I cast her a sideways glance and give her something of a sad smile. “At least we stuck to our story. Here you were.”

She shakes her head, staring down at the ground. “I’m so, so sorry, Darren.”

“Ssh.” I silence her with a kiss. “I don’t want to hear ‘sorry’ again. This isn’t your fault and I knew what I was getting into.”

“You don’t deserve this.”

“Neither do you.”

* * *

Once the fire had been put out, I spoke with the firemen and police, and then at last Rose and I were free to go. It was almost midday by the time we checked into a cheap motel on the outskirts of town. I made sure to pay I cash.

We head straight to the room, lie down side by side and sleep for hours. When we awake, evening is already upon us.

I’m the first to wake. Rose is still sleeping although it’s a fitful rest. She’s frowning in her sleep, her expressions fleeting one after the other; mostly expressions of fear.

I let her sleep while I take a long hot shower. I still stink of smoke. It’s clung to my skin and swirls of dark water circle down the drain as I wash. The motel’s provided soap is cheap and makes my hair feel brittle, but at least it smells better than fire.

I’ve just stepped out when Rose quietly knocks then enters. She’s still wearing her jeans and vest but her hair is a ruffled mess and her eyes are squinting in the bathroom light after coming from the bedroom and its blackout curtains. Her voice is dry and croaky when she speaks.

“What time is it?”

“Just gone seven.”

“We slept all day.” She scrunches up her vest to her nose, snuffs and pulls a face. “I smell like a bonfire.”

“There’s a 24-hour store up the road. I’ll go pick up some fresh things.”

Rose bites down on her lip. “I left my purse in the condo.”

“It’s okay. My wallet was in the pocket of my jeans. I’ve got it.”

“I’ll call the bank and get a replacement card sent out. I’ve got savings—in a account of my own; nothing my father can touch.”

I nod. “We might end up needing it. I’ve got some cash in my account but it won’t last long if I’m out of work.”

I wrap a towel around my waist and check my reflection in the mirror after wiping away the steam. I look tired but clean, at least.

Standing on her tiptoes, Rose kisses me gently. “I’ve got enough to put us up for a while and get us back on our feet. Somehow.”

“We’ll talk about it when I get back.”

She nods. “Okay.”

I go to the store and pick out some fresh jeans, a couple of plain tees and some underwear for myself and the same for Rose plus a pair of sneakers as she’d been wearing heeled boots. I browse around to pick up some other stuff we’ll need—toothbrushes, a hairbrush, a couple of cheap cell phones and chargers, and a whistle.

It’s not long before I’m back at the motel. Rose has just finished up in the shower and is toweling her hair dry as she steps into the bedroom.

“You’re back,” she says. “Everything okay?”

“There was nobody waiting outside to shoot me if that’s what you mean.”

She takes a deep breath and nods. “Good.”

The mattress bounces as she sits beside me on the bed. In spite of all the drama and chaos, I still find my eyes drawn to her long legs and bare shoulders. She looks both cute and sexy with her wet tousled hair. She smells of peppermint body wash.

I reach over for the bag of things I’ve bought. “I got us the basics—some clean clothes and toiletries.”

She picks out the whistle with interest, letting it swing from her finger. “A whistle?”

“In case you need me.”

“Wouldn’t a scream work as well?”

“They didn’t have any pepper spray, okay?”

Rose kisses my cheek affectionately. “You’re sweet, Darren. Too good for me.”

“Stop that. We’re in this together from here on out, okay?”

“In what, exactly? What happens now?”

“I guess that’s what we need to talk about.”

I lie back on the bed and stare at the grimy off-white ceiling with the garish plaster swirls. The wallpaper has a ghastly pattern on it and is peeling from the walls to reveal tar-stained plaster underneath from years of guests smoking inside. The carpets are a shade of sickly pink, marked with stains from god-knows-what bodily fluids and spills.

There was no good going to a decent hotel—the Alfonsis and Russos have their fingers in too many pies in central Las Vegas. Besides, who knows how long we’ll have to make our money last?

“I’ve already called the bank to get a new card sent out and canceled my old one. It’ll be here the day after tomorrow.”

“That gives us some time to make plans, I guess.”

“What kind of plans?”

I turn to her and shrug. “The world’s our oyster.”

“Maybe it’s safer to get out of Las Vegas.” She examines my expression. “How would you feel about that?”

I smile. “Pretty good.”

“You’re being too calm about all of this. You’ve got to be feeling pretty pissed off.”

“I am, but I’ll get over it.”

“You’ve lost your house, your job…all because of me.”

“I had insurance on the house. And the job?” I turn to her seriously. “Let me tell you something about working in that casino, Rose. I would have quit years ago if it wasn’t for you.”

“For me? Why?”

“Because I had a feeling you didn’t know how deeply your father’s connections and criminal activities went and I was worried that something would happen to you one day.”

“So you were watching out for me?”

I nod. “Someone needed to have your back. I’m glad I stayed. My instincts were right.”

“Instincts—what are those?” She flops down to lie on her back beside me on the bed. “I’ve been in my father’s and Silvio’s company for years and I never realized how dangerous they’d become.”

“They’d probably always been dangerous. You’ve just had your eyes opened.”

She shudders. “This is what happens when I don’t follow my father’s orders. Imagine what kind of life I’d have had if I had… Someone was willing to smoke us out tonight—if their intent wasn’t to kill us.”

“We’ll sure be safer away from Las Vegas.” I nod slowly, thinking over our options. I shrug. “To be honest, I could do with a change anyway. I’ve been in Vegas long enough to have seen it all. Eventually, the neon grows old.”

13

Rose

It feels good to be in fresh clothes and flat shoes. I don’t care that I’m dressed casually when we decide to find a local bar and have a drink. Both our nerves are shot and a drink sounds good about now.

We end up at some dive a few blocks over from the motel. It’s called Elvis’ Shot Glass and it’s a shadow of the kitschy garish celebrity-themed bars on the strip. Inside, the top half of the walls are papered with a black and white Elvis-print pattern and there’s a chipped and pale full-size fiberglass model of the King himself standing at the doorway with his trademark curled smile.

It’s one of the few bars that have decided carpet is a good idea. Years of spilled alcohol makes the floors sticky and almost squelchy. In the background, an old jukebox plays Elvis vinyls on repeat. It’s no wonder the bartender looks like she’s already gone mad.

We stand at the bar.

“Wine?” Darren asks.

I pull a face. “It’s not a wine kind of night. Give me something hard.”

“There’s those rough edges.” He gestures to get the bartender’s attention. “Four shots of tequila and two old fashioneds.”

I raise my eyebrows in pleasant surprise. “A man who knows how to order. I’m familiar with tequila, but remind me—what’s an old fashioned?”

“Bourbon.” He grins and shrugs. “You said you wanted the hard stuff.”

“I do. I want to drink until this night is a blur. I don’t want to think about anything at all.”

“That doesn’t sound like a half-bad idea.”

The bartender lays down our drinks on the counter and Darren and I toast each other before downing the shots one after the other. We take our old fashioneds at the bar, sitting at a couple of the high stools at one end to make it easier to keep the drinks flowing.

“My head’s a mess,” I confess. “Everything I know is gone and I don’t know what happens next.”

“Cheers to that.”

He tilts his glass in my direction and I cringe at what I’ve just said. “I’m sorry. You’re in the same boat now. I’ll never stop feeling guilty.”

“Nonsense.” He orders two more shots of tequila and asks the bartender to leave the bottle. He pushes a full shot glass my way. “After a few more of these, you won’t be worrying about a thing.”

I happily knock it back and quickly accept another. He’s right—I am loosening up.

I take a chance to really look at Darren for maybe the first time since this whole thing began. I admire his handsome face, looking even more rugged than usual with a few days’ stubble on his cheek. The white t-shirt he bought himself is perhaps a little too snug but it does wonders for his muscles. I can count the rows of his six-pack through the material.

“To think it took all this for us to get together,” I say. I’m already feeling a little tipsy and I shoot Darren a goofy smile. “Does this mean I’m your girl-friend?” I sing the last word teasingly.

He chuckles. “I sure hope so.”

“I don’t feel so bad turning your life upside down if I’m your girlfriend. Girlfriends have a reputation for doing that.”

“The ones you never forget sure do.” Darren looks at me starting to wobble a bit and laughs. “I thought a girl who was raised in a casino would know how to handle her liquor.”

“I don’t drink on the job. Makes it too easy to lose your inhibitions and trust me, there are plenty of patrons about who are hoping for just that.”

“Have you ever got with one before?” he asks.

“With a patron?”

“Yes.”

“No,” I reply honestly. “I’ve had exactly one boyfriend. His name was Billy Westborough. He went to the private boys’ school and I went to the private girls’ school. We used to have mixers for sports days and things like that. I was sixteen. We dated until high school graduation and then he went off to school. He’s a rocket scientist now, I think.”

I watch Darren’s eyebrows shoot up and I laugh, nudging him playfully. “I’m kidding. I think he became an accountant or something.”

“You’re funny, Rose Russo,” Darren says. His gaze travels across my face and his eyes are warm with affection and humor. “It’s nice to see you let go a little.”

“I’m already five drinks in.” I look down at my empty cocktail glass and giggle. “Jesus. How did that happen?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll catch up.” He picks up the tequila bottle and necks back a few fingers, placing it back down on the bar with a grin. “We’re both going to be stumbling back tonight.”

“Good. I want to fall into bed and sleep until tomorrow evening.”

“And then what?”

“I’ll have my debit card. I’ve got $40,000 or so in savings.”

“Jesus, Rose. Really?”

I shrug. “Dad paid for my apartment but I still got a wage. I’ve pocketed it all for the last however many years.”

“I’ve maybe got another six grand.”

“We’ll have no trouble putting down a deposit on a place, then.” I bite down on my lip, looking up at Darren from under my eyelashes coyly. “That is if you think you could handle living with me after all this. To be honest, I don’t want to be on my own.”

“I don’t want you to be on your own, either. Of course we’ll stick together.”

“This relationship is going from 0-100 pretty quickly, huh?”

Darren laughs. “We’re just making up for lost time. I wanted you years ago.”

“I felt the same.” I tilt my head back slightly and close my eyes. My head is woozy from the booze and I’m feeling sentimental. “I remember the first day you joined the team.”

“Yeah?”

“You were so handsome. I grabbed Natalie just to point you out. …I’m going to have to get in touch with her to let her know I’m okay.”

“Forget that. You were telling me about how handsome I was.”

“That’s right.” I laugh. “You’d tried so hard to look the part. You even had that ridiculous little earpiece in that Silvio made everyone wear and I remember you kept fiddling with it and it ended up dropping out onto the floor.”

Darren smiles. “Ah, yes. And that’s when you came along.”

“I picked it up and handed it to you. It was the perfect excuse to get chatting.”

“That was a long time ago now.”

“Yes. It was.”

“And you fancied me all that time?”

I bow my head in false modesty. “Like crazy.”

He leans in to kiss me. It takes me by surprise and I have to catch my breath. He tastes of sweet bourbon and his stubble has a pleasant graze; just a little roughness.

He pulls back and I feel like I’m blinking back stars. I smile at him warmly. “How is it that one kiss from you makes everything else fall out my head? This is starting to feel like a date.”

“Cheers to that.” He pours me another drink. “To dating.”

“To us.”

* * *

We must have walked for miles because we’ve ended up back on the Las Vegas strip. We’ve both drank so much that we’re stumbling but I can’t remember the last time I laughed this hard. My cheeks hurt from smiling as Darren and I bounce arm in arm down the strip.

We throw back our heads and laugh at the sky, howling as we make jokes and pass through the city.

“I can’t believe we’re on the strip.” I should be terrified but my sides hurt from giggling. “We could get caught.”

Darren tickles me. “You’re a naughty girl, Rose.”

I’m kind of cross-eyed at this point. All the lights are blurring together like a kaleidoscope. It’s beautiful and dizzying. I let my head loll back and let Darren pull me along down the street.

“Hey Rose, look at that.” Darren points to a classic Vegas chapel. It's lit up in neon with a giant sculpture of a bride and groom in a Cadillac sitting at the front. There’s a big sign out front saying ‘Get hitched’. “We could make this legit.”

I laugh so hard tears squeeze out from under my eyelids. “You want to get married?”

“Why not? We’re already pretend husband and wife. Let’s cut Raffaele out for good.”

I can’t tell if he’s joking or not but I’m not going to be the first to lose a game of chicken. I grab his hand and pull him after me into the chapel.

It’s cheesy as hell inside. There are fake flowers everywhere; many of them in need of a good dusting. A wedding march is playing on loop and the ‘vicar’ is chain-smoking at the altar. He puts out the cigarette on a golden plate when we arrive and jumps up to greet us.

“Young lovers, come forth!” He throws out his arms wide. He’s a red-haired balding man with a potbelly and glasses but his teeth have been whitened to a glaring gleam. He’s wearing a black cowl with white collar. “Are we tourists eloping? Are we long-time lovers tying the knot?”

I giggle and look up at Darren, wondering if he’s going to back out now. But he doesn’t.

“We’re Romeo and Juliet.” He chuckles like a schoolboy laughing at his own joke. “We’re not supposed to be together.”

The vicar taps his nose knowingly. “Nothing more romantic than forbidden love.”

“How much does a marriage cost?”

“Three hundred dollars for the ceremony and marriage certificate. Five hundred dollars if you want to throw in a full photography package and bottle of champagne.”

Darren holds out his bank card. “One full package, please.”

I laugh at the way he says it. “Are you for real, Darren?”

“I’m for real.” He runs his hands through my hair and pulls me close into a drunken kiss that fills me with butterflies and makes me lose all my inhibitions. “Let’s get hitched, Doll.”

I place my hands on my hips defiantly and lift my chin in a childish challenge gesture. “I’m not going to back out.”

“Neither am I.”

The vicar disappears for a while to get prepared. While he’s gone, an assistant dressed like Marilyn Monroe takes our details and gets some paperwork ready. Soon a photographer has appeared with a heavy camera with a professional flash.

We stand at the bottom of the aisle. I look down at my jeans and sneakers and giggle. “I’m not dressed like a bride.”

“I can fix that.” Darren steals a bunch of fake flowers from a nearby vase and pushes them into my hands. “Your bouquet, my princess.”

“Why, thank you!” I clutch the fake roses, swaying slightly from drunkenness. Darren’s also unsteady on his feet. The stupid grin on his face hasn’t wavered for a moment since we left the Elvis dive bar.

“Here you go, sweetheart.” The Marilyn impersonator fixes a cheap veil in my hair. “Gorgeous.” She ties a bowtie around Darren’s neck. “There’s the bride and groom.”

The vicar returns and someone turns up the wedding march. Darren jogs to the front of the chapel and strikes the pose of the waiting groom. I straighten my back and roll back my shoulders, and hold my bouquet in front of me.

I make a show of walking down the aisle toe-to-heel like they do in the movies.

When I reach Darren, the vicar begins with the most ridiculous vows I’ve ever heard while the photographer’s camera flashes.

“Dearly beloved, we’re gathered here today to witness the holy matrimony of—” he glances at his cheat sheet. “—Darren Miller and Rose Russo.”

I catch eyes with Darren and we both fold with laughter. I feel giddy from the alcohol and the ridiculousness of what we’re doing. I feel like I’m floating on a cloud of tequila, wrapped up in a neon haze.

“What Vegas brings together, let no man divide….”

I don’t hear the rest of what the vicar says. I’m too busy trying to stay upright and stifling my laughter. I don’t tune in again until it comes time to say ‘I do’.

“Do you, Rose Russo, take this man, Darren Miller, to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“Heck yeah.”

“And do you, Darren Miller, take this woman, Rose Russo, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then by the power invested in me by the state of Nevada, I now pronounce you Elvis and Priscilla.” He smiles. “Husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Darren pulls me towards his and snogs me in a way that would have made horny teenagers blush. I’m flushed with excitement and drunkenness but am loving every second. I feel lighter than air and completely free.

We pose for more pictures then Marilyn ushers us to a booth at the front of the chapel to sign the marriage license.

And just like that, we’re Mr. and Mrs. Miller.

14

Darren

I wake up but don’t open my eyes. My head is pounding like I’ve smacked it against the wall. I groan and bury my face in the pillow. I can hear the blood pumping in my ears. My mouth is dry and my skin is hot.

I open one eye to peek at Rose. She’s completely nude except for a veil clipped into her hair.

My stomach drops as I remember the night before. Sitting up, I see the marriage certificate and photographs on the motel dresser.

We got married last night.

Part of me wants to laugh but part of me is worried what Rose will think when she wakes up. I vaguely remember the chapel being my idea. Did I take advantage of her?

I go to the dresser to pour a glass of water from the jug that had been left out. I gulp it down quickly, squinting in the glare of the single beam of light that breaks through the drapes.

I pick up the stack of photos and look through. Despite my panic, I smile as I look at the pictures. We’re both smiling in every single one. I chuckle at a picture of me carrying Rose cradle-style, both her sneakers in the air, one hand holding onto her veil and the other flung wide, gripping her bouquet. The smile on her face is so wide I have to smile just to see it.

While I’m looking, Rose stirs and wakes. She groans, sits up and coughs a few times. When she speaks, her voice is husky. “Darren?”

“Morning.”

She puts a hand to her head. “I’ve got the migraine from hell.”

“Me, too.”

Her fingers meet with the flimsy material of the veil and then her expression changes. “We got married last night.”

The sound of shock in her voice is kind of funny. I start laughing and once I start I can’t stop. “We got married.”

“We got married.” She puts her hand over her mouth and crumples over in laughter. She laughs so hard she has to wrap her arm around her middle to ease the stitches. “Darren, we got married!”

“Thank god you’re not pissed. I thought you’d kill me.”

She unclips the cheap veil from her hair and places it on the bedside table beside her. “I clearly remember saying I wasn’t going to back out. I was feeling pretty stubborn last night.”

I pick up the marriage certificate and show her. “It’s legit. We’re married by law.”

Rose simply starts laughing again. “I guess that should freak me out, shouldn’t it? Yet I can’t stop laughing because of what a shambles we are.”

There is a funny side to all this. “What else is there to do when you lose your job and your house burns down?”

“Better elope in Las Vegas with the best of them.”

“I’m sorry, Rose. It was my idea and now we’re husband and wife.”

She steps out of bed and crosses the room to put her arms around my neck and kiss me. “I guess we’re turning each other’s lives upside down. As mad as it all is, it’s not scaring me. My father scared me. Silvio scared me. Raffaele scared me. This? This is just a fun adventure.” She rubs my shoulder comfortingly. “Shall we get some coffee?”

“I need something. My head feels like it’s splitting open.”

We have a quick shower, get dressed and I drive us to a nearby diner where I order bottomless coffee refills for us both. Rose orders pancakes and I brace myself for the day with sausages, eggs, bacon, and toast.

“I’ve had a thought,” Rose says while we’re eating. For the first time, there’s the shadow of some concern on her face.

“What’s that?”

“Did we have sex last night?”

I recall our fumbling bodies intertwined together the night before. I can still hear the giggles ringing through the air.

“Three times, I think.”

She bites down on her lip. “I haven’t taken my pill for three days.”

“I’m sure there’s still some in your system. It’s a hormone. It doesn’t wear off that fast, does it?”

“I don’t know. We’d better not risk it, though.”

“It’s okay. We’ll find somewhere to get a morning-after pill.”

Rose looks relieved. She nods. “Good. In that case, I’m going to dig into these pancakes.”

I pull a face as I watch her devour the sugary, fluffy stack soaked in maple syrup. “I don’t know how you can have such an appetite if you’ve got a hangover anything like mine.”

“You kidding? I’m starving.”

I pick at my sausage and eggs, trying to force it down knowing it’ll help me feel better in a couple hours’ time. “There’s those rough edges again. I guess you can stomach your liquor.”

“I told you, I’m more than a spoiled princess.” She takes another huge bite of pancake. “My card should arrive today,” she says. “And I’m going to call Natalie. I’ve got a feeling my passport is at the casino. I left it in the office once and I don’t think I ever picked it up. I’ll get her to meet us somewhere.”

“That’s a good idea. Do you think she’d be followed?”

“No. I don’t think Silvio or my father would have kept a close enough eye on my friends to know who they were. They were only concerned with which men were looking my way.”

“I’d better call my buddy Jake, too. Let him know I’m moving on. He works in construction now but he’s got close ties in private security. I’ll get him to hook us up with some CCTV and alarms.”

“For where?” Rose looks up at me with uncertainty. “Where do we go next?”

I sit back and drum my fingers on the diner table. It’s quiet in the diner; there’s only a family with a couple of small kids and a middle-aged man reading a newspaper who’ve ordered. I look around at them as if looking for inspiration.

“Do you want to stay in Nevada?”

“Maybe not.” She bites down on her lip. “What do you want?”

“I don’t care. I’ll go anywhere. You said it yourself: this is an adventure.”

“If we went out of state, we could easily get to California or Idaho.”

“Or Arizona.”

“Or Utah.”

“Utah,” I repeat. “I’ll be honest, I’ve never thought about going there.”

“Me neither, although it’s meant to be beautiful. Zion National Park and the Canyonlands…”

“Imagine the picnics we could have.”

Rose laughs softly. “I’ve ever heard of the Utah mafia either.”

“They’ve got Sundance up there.”

“Are we really talking about moving to Utah?”

“It’s as good a place as any.”

She nods. “I want to stay away from any city with too many lights – New York, LA…Somewhere beautiful and natural.” She draws in a deep breath. “Sounds perfect.”

“Let’s do it.”

“Yeah?” Rose leans forward eagerly. “Where do we begin?”

“We finish breakfast, we pack, we pick up your card and passport and then we drive.” I pull out my cell to check the distance. “It’s a six-hour drive.”

“Far enough we’ll never pass an Alfonsi or a Russo in the streets.”

I feel excitement stirring within me. “We’ll drive down there tonight, find a place to stay, and tomorrow we can start looking at some house listings.”

Rose laughs. “We’re moving in together.”

“Yes, we are.”

She meets my eye and smiles widely. “I can’t wait.”

* * *

Natalie meets us on the outskirts of town. She looks relieved to see Rose and hugs her tightly.

“I was so worried, Rose,” she says. “First you didn’t show up for your shift and then I got that weird call about needing your passport. Are you going somewhere?”

Rose hugs her back then nods. “I can’t tell you where.”

Natalie frowns. She’s covered her skimpy outfit with a long Mac coat and has Rose’s passport clutched in her hand. “What’s happened? Are you in danger?”

“It’s complicated.”

“You’re scaring me.”

“You don’t need to be scared.” Rose offers Natalie a reassuring smile and takes my hand. “I’m going with Darren.”

“What is this? Are you eloping?”

“Actually, we’ve already done that.” Rose looks up to me with a cheeky smile. “We’re moving away to start our own life. You know what my father and Silvio can be like.”

“They’ve always had your love life under a microscope.”

“I can’t do it anymore, Nat.” I can hear the defeat and weariness in Rose’s voice. “I can’t let them dictate my life.”

“Of course not, not when you’re in love.” Natalie turns her gaze to me and then steps forward to hug me too. “I’m glad. I always thought you two would end up together. Take care of her, okay?”

“I will,” I promise. I put my arm around Rose’s shoulder and turn back to Natalie. “We’re both going to be fine.”

15

Rose

Salt Lake City.

The Great Salt Lake, Yellowstone, canyons, lakes…a world of beauty is on our doorstep. It didn’t take us long to settle in Salt Lake City once we’d made up our mind it was the place for us.

I used some of my savings to put a deposit down on a rented one-bedroomed apartment and a chunk of the rest to furnish it. Every cent was well spent; I adore our home.

The apartment has been made to look oldy-worldy. There are wooden beams cutting across the ceiling, wooden floors and a stone fireplace in the living room. The carpet is a soft camel color and the walls are the color of caramel latte. Our furniture is brown leather and a few eclectic pieces we found in thrift stores and antiques fairs. My favorite is the wooden wall clock with the brass pendulum.

The living room is connected open-plan to the kitchen which compliments the wood-and-stone living room with wood-paneled cabinets, more beams on the ceiling, and a rustic old-fashioned stove. We’ve planted a herb garden along the windowsill which helps make it look homely.

From the living room window, you can look out over the well-kept apartment complex gardens. Behind our block of apartments, there’s also a pristine pool.

The neighbors are nice. We’ve even met another young couple we get on with incredibly well called Millie and John. We’ve shared several balcony barbecues with them and they’ve been around three times now for drinks.

They know us as Rose and Darren Miller.

Within three weeks of being in Utah, Darren had found work as a bouncer in Salt Lake City and I found work as a waitress. We both work the same five late shifts, meaning we get our days together as well as Wednesdays and Thursdays.

I stand now at the kitchen sink looking over the gardens with a silly smile on my face. It’s 1pm and we’ve both just woken up after going to bed post-night shift. I’m about to put on some bacon so we can eat bacon sandwiches in bed.

It was going to be a surprise, but the smell lures Darren out of bed and he pads out into the kitchen in his pajama bottoms and comes to kiss me.

“Morning Sexy, something smells good.”

“Morning, Handsome.” I turn to look at him and my heart melts. I’m so happy.

We never discussed our marriage after the night at the chapel. We never talked about annulment or divorce. We just carried on, and we’re blissfully happy. Now I’m afraid to bring it up in case I ruin a good thing. I don’t want to find out that Darren is still living in a façade while I’ve found true happiness in being his wife.

“You look in a good mood,” he says, flicking the switch on the kettle.

“I am.” I smile broadly. “It’s a gorgeous day, I’ve had a full eight hours sleep, and we’ve got the whole day to ourselves before work. What do you want to do with it?”

He laughs. “You’re energetic today. We can do whatever you want.”

“Can we go for a bike ride?”

“If that’s what my girl wants.”

I look outside to where the sun is shining and I can think of nothing better. “Let’s do that.”

We eat breakfast together, laughing, joking, and flirting as always. Afterward, Darren goes to the shower while I load the dishwasher.

I’m surprised when the landline phone rings. We never get calls to the house.

I pick it up. “Hello?”

“Rose. It’s Natalie.”

“Natalie! How great to hear from you!”

“I’m not so sure. Rose, I’ve got some difficult news.”

My heart drops down into my stomach. I immediately start to worry about my father and Silvio. Maybe one of them has finally taken things too far and paid the ultimate price.

“What’s happened?”

“It’s your father. He’s not got long left.”

“How do you know?”

Natalie pauses, drawing in a deep breath before launching into an explanation. “Silvio cornered me in the casino and demanded to know where you were.”

“I’m so sorry. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I told him I had no idea and that I hadn’t spoken to you since you’d left. I could tell he didn’t believe me. He asked for your number but I refused—I didn’t want him tracing your area code or using it to track you down somehow.”

I close my eyes in relief. “Thank you, Natalie. I appreciate that. I don’t want them to know where I am.”

“I figured that.” She continues. “He told me that if I knew where you were, I’d better get in touch. He said your father’s been given only days to live.”

“What’s wrong with him?”

“I’m sorry, Rose. I don’t know.”

I swallow back the huge ball of emotion that’s gathered in my throat. “Did Silvio say what he wanted from me?”

“I don’t know. All he said was that ‘all was forgiven’. I’m sorry, Rose, I didn’t want to ask too many questions in case it made it obvious we were still speaking.”

“You did great. I’m so grateful you kept our secret and that you called me. I appreciate it, Nat.”

She pauses for a second. “So, what are you going to do?”

I let out a long breath and squeeze the bridge of my nose to ease a mounting headache. “I just don’t know, Nat. It feels like a trap. Have you seen my father lately? Does he look ill?”

“Nobody’s seen him in weeks.”

A sense of dread makes my limbs feel heavy. “So he might be really sick.”

“I don’t know.” Nat sighs heavily. “I wrestled with whether or not to call you. The last thing I wanted to do was bait you into a trap but I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if you missed your last chance to say goodbye to your father because of me.”

“No. You did the right thing. I’m going to have to think about it a while.”

“Sure. If you end up back in town, let me know. I just want to know you’re alright.”

We say goodbye and I hang up. I’m torn. On the one hand, I don’t trust my family anymore and there’s no saying what might be waiting for me if I return to Las Vegas. On the other hand, would I ever be able to live with myself if my father died and I’d never got the chance to say goodbye?

For all the wrong he’s done, he raised me, and loved me, and was there for me. All my memories of him up to a couple of months ago are good ones. What if it was an illness that made him change so suddenly? What if all this could be explained?

Darren returns from the shower, now fully dressed. He sees the look on my face and becomes worried. “Rose—what’s wrong?”

For a moment I think about telling him but I hold my tongue. I know that Darren would tell me I was foolish to even think about going back. He’d say it was a trap and would stop me going. Or he’d say it was a trap and insist on coming with me. And if it is a trap, I don’t want him anywhere near the danger zone.

I force a smile. “It’s nothing. I’ve just got cramps suddenly. Could we give the bike ride a miss?”

“Sure, Honey.” He steps up to me and strokes back my hair with concern. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Just a bit dizzy. I think I’m going to lie down.”

He kisses me again, his face a picture of devotion. “Whatever you need. Go get yourself settled. I’ll bring you through some tea and a hot water bottle.”

Tears sting behind my eyes. How did I get so lucky when it could have all gone so wrong? “Thanks, Darren.”

“No problem. Go rest.”

I stay in bed all day. I call in sick to work and stay beneath the covers long after Darren has started his shift.

I just don’t know what to do. I know that going back to Vegas is probably a stupid idea, but at the same time, I can’t bear the thought of not being by my father’s side when he dies. If he’s dying.

In the end, there’s no use debating with myself. I already know what I’m going to do. Without telling Darren or ringing Natalie, I pack a bag and head to the bus station.

I’ve got to say goodbye.

* * *

I’ve hardly been gone for six weeks yet when I arrive at Casa di Russo, it feels like I’m stepping back in time. All this wealth, splendor and those defense ranks seem like they belong to another lifeline.

I’m on edge when I ring the buzzer at the gate and announce my arrival. Nothing is said to me in return; the gates simply swing open. It seems to take forever for me to walk up the drive to the mansion steps.

The security guard lets me in and tells me Silvio is in the living room.

I’ve never felt more alone as I take step after shaky step to where I know he is. I catch sight of him as I reach the doorway and I stand a moment to watch him. He’s got a glass of whiskey in one hand and his head in the other. The drapes are drawn so the room is dim and dark. I can smell the booze from here.

I have to close my eyes and take a deep breath before I can find the courage to step into the room.

“Silvio. You wanted me. Here I am.”

He looks up and I can see the shock register on his face. He doesn’t move.

My voice is wobbling. “Are you going to hurt me? Shout at me? Call me a whore?”

“No, Rose.” He looks down at the floor, his shoulders slumping. “None of it matters now. Dad’s not got long left.”

I dare cross the room and sit beside Silvio. He looks so broken my anger dissipates even though I’d been so determined to let it blaze.

“What’s going on?”

“Cancer.”

“Since when?”

“A little over two years now.”

I draw in a sharp breath. “And neither of you felt it necessary to tell me?”

“You don’t understand what we do, Rose. You’ve never been a part of it.” He clenches his jaw. “It would do no good for the whole of Vegas to know he was on his last legs. It makes it too easy for predators to strike.”

“What kind of cancer?”

“Stomach.”

“Oh god.” I squeeze my eyes shut. I feel sick with sorrow and confused emotion. I should still be so angry but all that rage is simply…gone. “Where is he?”

“Master bedroom.”

“What state is he in?”

“He’s being kept comfortable.”

I nod and stand. “I’m going to see him.” I look at Silvio intently. “Is it safe for me?”

Silvio holds up his hands. “We’ve got bigger things to worry about right now. Besides, it’s too late to change your plans and the damage has been done. You rejected Raffaele.”

“Have there been consequences?”

He looks defeated. “There are always consequences.”

I don’t ask for any more information and I don’t wait to see if I’m struck with any guilt. I take myself upstairs. I feel nervous when I’m standing outside my father’s doorway. I don’t know what I expect to see on the other side.

I push the door inwards. I hear my father before I see him; the sound of haggard breathing and the beeping of privately-purchased medical machines. I should have known that my father would never have deigned to breathe his last in a hospital bed.

The drapes are open in here and my father looks wan in the light. His skin is pale and clammy. His lips have almost a blue tinge to them. The amount of weight he’s lost in just a few weeks is unbelievable. He’s skin and bones in monogrammed striped pajamas.

“Papà?”

His eyelids flicker open and he sees me. “Rose.”

Relief washes over his expression and he holds open his arms. I go to him and embrace him without hesitation. How could I do anything else? My papa is barely clinging onto life.

Seeing him like this brings me tears in spite of all that’s happened. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner, Papà?”

“You didn’t need to know, Cara.” He pats my hands with his cold palms. “And if you’d have known I was ill, it would have only made it harder for you to walk away.”

“Is that what you wanted, for me to leave?”

He struggles to swallow. I reach for a glass of water at his bedside and help him to drink. He catches his breath before explaining himself to me.

“I regret the last few conversations we had.” His voice is more sincere than I’ve ever heard it and he’s not letting go of my hands. I perch on the mattress next to where his frail body lies. “I wanted you to know that. I’ve made many mistakes in my life but pushing you away was the greatest.”

“I never understood, Papà. One day I was your little girl and the next I was a pawn.” He blinks rapidly and tries to sit up. “Let me.” I plump the pillows up behind him and help him sit upright.

“My little Rosie…you were always my little girl. There has been so much I’ve kept hidden from you. You were always too good for the world I brought you into. You were too pure and innocent to be a part of the life I had created. There is so much you don’t know…”

I grip his hands. “I don’t know it all, Papà, but I know enough. Your other business is dangerous and…unsavoury.”

“You are too sweet to say it even now. I’ve been a gangster, a mobster and a bully all my life, Rose. I’ve trod over every person I could to get to the top. I’ve cheated, I’ve stolen, I’ve lied, and I’ve killed. There’s no low I haven’t stooped to. I’ve taken prizes no matter what the cost.”

I blink and tears roll down my cheeks. “Why are you telling me this now?”

“Because I want you to understand, Cara. I was never trying to sell you off; I was trying to keep you safe.”

“I’m sorry, Papà. I don’t understand.”

“The Russo and Alfonsi families have had a long rivalry in this town. Jacopo and I try to keep things stable but sometimes our men’s egos get the best of them. Some of our men got into a scrap with some of their men and shots were fired. Two of Jacopo’s men were killed. A hit was put out on us all. It started an all-out war; all those old wounds over territory and business were opened, and they were still raw.”

“What happened?”

“Jacopo retaliated. He came to my house, Rose—this house—and opened fire. A guard was killed, but your brother and I were unharmed. But the threats kept coming…not only against me but against mine.” He bowed his head and shook it sadly. “Silvio wanted to stand our ground and fight fire with fire but I knew my days were numbered.”

He sits up even further to be closer to me and squeezes my hands intently. “I did all I could to get out of the gutters I was born into. I didn’t want the same for you and Silvio, and suddenly I saw myself with one foot in my grave and about to live my children unprotected and under attack.”

“That’s why you encouraged Raffaele?”

“I knew he’d had his eye on you and I saw the opportunity to take the target off your backs. To let him know there was no need to fight. When I died, all that was mine would be his. In exchange, there would be a ceasefire until I passed and you would be left in his care. I knew you’d be provided for and safe from harm.”

He meets my eye desperately. “Cara, if I had years and strength enough in me to stand up and fight, I would never have let that arrogant, sleazy, murderous bastard be in the same room as you. But I knew without me here there were only two options—you on his arm or in his firing line. I was trying to protect you from coming to harm but also from the knowledge of all you’ve done.”

“Papà…I don’t know what to say.”

“You are good, Rose. You have goodness deep within you such as men like Silvio and I can never imitate. You’re pure. When you were near me, I’d feel some sense of redemption for all I’ve done. I’d know that for all the damage I’d left behind me, something good would also come from the life of this reckless man.”

“Silvio said there were consequences for me leaving.”

My father looks pained. He simply sighs and tears his gaze away from mine. “Those are not your burdens to bear and it was wrong for me to ever make you a part of it. When I die, I want you to go back to wherever you’ve been and stay there. Keep yourself safe and keep your head down. If you are out of sight, perhaps you will be out of mind for those killers.”

“Darren is a kind and decent man.” There is a lump in my throat as I think of him. “He was a Navy SEAL. He’ll protect me.”

“Does he provide for you?”

I lean forward and kiss my father’s head. “We provide for each other.”

“And are you happy?”

My tears spill hot and fast. “So happy. He treats me like a princess. He’s so caring and kind. He’s strong but so gentle. He’s smart. I think you’d have liked him.”

“I’m glad.” He nods slowly. “You were wise to marry someone different to your father. This cycle of violence and madness will end with you.” He looks up at me with curious eyes. “Were you ever really married to him?”

“I am now.” I blink through my tears to keep my eyes on my father. “We’ve been together all this time. We’ve built a life.”

“Already?”

“It’s been so easy.”

“This morning I transferred $200,000 to your account. It was the most I could do without being scrutinized.”

“Papà, I—”

He holds up a hand. “Use it, Rose. Keep it. Build a life with it. Use it to make sure your children grow up safe, happy, and educated. Make sure they are good—like you.”

* * *

My father dies less than eight hours later. We make the relevant calls to have him taken to the morgue and just like that, he’s gone.

Silvio and I find ourselves in the early hours of the morning, just as the sun is rising, unable to eat or drink anything. We simply sit together in silence for a long time. I’m the first to speak.

“What will you do now?” I ask him.

“God knows, Rose.” Silvio is slumped in a living room armchair. “I guess it’s my turn to take up Dad’s mantle.”

“And what exactly does that mean?”

He raises an eyebrow. “Do you really want to know?”

“I guess not.” I pull up my feet under me, curling up on the armchair beside Silvio’s. “You know, there’s no rule saying you have to follow in his footsteps.”

“What else am I meant to do?”

I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen Silvio look helpless. The usual stern and macho expression has fallen from his face and he looks like a lost little boy. He rests his elbows on his knees and sits leaning forward with his head bowed.

“You could do anything you wanted, Silvio. Sell the casinos—let the Alfonsis have them, and go your own way.”

“It’s a lot to give up.”

“Is it?” I meet his eye intently. “All this bloodshed and looking over your shoulder? My own father tried to marry me off to stop any of us getting shot. What is there to miss about that kind of danger and compromise?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.”

“I’m not smart, Rose. I’ve always been good at Dad’s other business. I’m cunning and attentive. I strategize. I see patterns. I enjoy the adrenalin rush that comes with seeing Alfonsi’s men sniffing around and knowing there’s going to be a fight.”

“It’s not the glamorous life you think, Silvio. You’re romanticizing a horrible existence.”

“I knew you wouldn’t understand.” He scowls. “You were always his favorite, you know. Dad would have given you anything and he shielded you from everything. I wasn’t dragged into it whether I liked it or not. Then I found I had certain talents. He noticed me then.”

“You’re blaming this gangster act on daddy issues?” I cast him a pitiful glance. “You’re lying to yourself, Silvio. I think you like it.”

“Yeah, I do.”

“So when I leave, you’re just going to carry on doing whatever it is you and Dad have always done?”

“That’s the plan.” He turns to me with a serious expression. “You’re going to leave again?”

“There’s nothing for me here. I don’t want this life.”

“I’m on my own, then.”

“You don’t have to be.” I feel sorry for him. Even though I know he’s done despicable things and the words he said to me for refusing Raffaele are still ringing in my ears, I see him now as kind of pathetic. “There’s nobody left to impress. Dad’s gone.”

“All I’ve got is the legacy he left behind. It’s up to me to make sure it doesn’t fall.”

“You know, I think he didn’t even care in the end. He wanted us to have a better life but he came to realize he was going to abandon us in a dangerous world he built. Did he transfer money to you, too?”

“$200,000 last week.”

“Me too.” I stroke Silvio’s arm comfortingly. God knows how there is still empathy in me left for him. “It’s a lot of money, you know. Enough to start again.”

“What else am I capable of, Rose? I can hardly put ‘mobster’ on my resume.”

“What about ‘Vice President of Russo Casinos’?”

He smiles, a little condescendingly. “You’ve had your head well-buried in the sand. The Russo name has a certain reputation. People know what we’ve done. If you’ve married Darren, you’ve done well—you’ve managed to rid yourself of it.”

“You can change your name, Silvio. You can walk away from the casinos and all the other shit you’ve been up to. You can take the money Dad gave you, find yourself a home somewhere far away and find a nice girl to settle down with.”

“I wouldn’t want to be with the sort of woman who’d fall for a man like me.”

I realize there’s little I can say. Silvio has set his mind on doing what he’s always done and we’re not close enough for my words to carry any weight in convincing him otherwise.

“I didn’t tell Darren I was coming here,” I confess. “I have to leave in the morning.”

Silvio sits upright and fixes me with a pleading stare. “Don’t go yet.”

“You’ve convinced me we’re in danger now Dad’s gone.”

“That’s not going to stop me from burying him. No matter what enemies he’s made, he’s our father.”

I feel a stab of pain beneath my ribs; the knife of guilt twisting. I’m in shock from losing my father and yet distracted from my grief by the threat hanging over our heads. I want to say goodbye properly, but I don’t know what harm those extra days could do.

“Come on, Rose,” he urges me softly. “Who else is going to have anything good to say about him? He’ll be put in the ground with nobody to speak for him, nobody to pray, nobody to witness…It’s the end of a life. That should mean something.”

“Silvio, I can’t….”

“If you didn’t want to say goodbye properly then why did you come back? I know you’ll regret not being here for the funeral. And I don’t know what I’m doing. I need you here.” He swallows, his face a picture of grief. “Despite everything else going on, we’ve lost our father. We should be together to grieve.”

I wonder if I can tell him. “It’s not just me I have to worry about.”

“Darren isn’t on anybody’s radar.”

I lay my hand over my stomach and give Silvio a meaningful stare. “I’m pregnant.”

16

Darren

Rose was gone without a trace.

I came back from work to find the apartment empty and my heart immediately dropped to my stomach. I checked the camera footage which monitors the apartment door and windows and saw no unusual figures or strangers lurking around. All I know is that Rose left the apartment late and never came back.

I immediately start calling everyone I can think of, starting with the neighbors. I check the apartment pool and even jog up and down through the town to check if she’s in any of the stores. I don’t know why I think she might be in a store—she’s been gone all night.

After calling everyone we have any connection to in Salt Lake City—including Rose’s work—I decide to broaden my search and ring Natalie.

She answers quickly. “Rose! How are you doing?”

“It’s not Rose. It’s Darren.”

“Oh, hi, Darren. What’s up?”

“Have you heard from Rose lately?”

“She didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

Natalie pauses and then lets out a long sigh. “I can’t believe I’m the one having to tell you this. I called Rose yesterday to pass on a message from Silvio.”

“What kind of message?”

“Her father is dying and she needed to come home to say goodbye.”

“And she went?”

“She said she had to think about it. But if she’s not there…”

“Jesus. Why wouldn’t she tell me?” I know the answer to that question. Rose would have known how I’d have responded. At the very least I would have insisted on coming with her and she would have tried to talk me out of it to keep me from harm’s way. So she decided not to tell me at all.

“Darren? Are you okay?”

“I’m driving down there.” I pick up my keys from the kitchen counter as I say it. “Can you do me a favor, Natalie?”

“What do you need?”

“Keep an eye out for her, will you? Keep trying to get in touch. I just need to know she’s okay.”

“I’ll see what I can do. How long will it take you to get here?”

“At least six hours.”

“Drive safe.”

“I’ll try.”

I don’t pack a thing. I simply jog to the car and put it in drive.

I’ve got to get to her.

* * *

When I arrive in Vegas, I go straight to Casa Di Russo. I’m not here to play games.

A security guard standing at the entrance holds up a hand to me as I approach. “Sir, this is a private property.”

“I’m here for Rose Russo.”

“There is nobody of that name in this residence at this time.”

“Bullshit.”

I shoulder past him. He tries to tackle me but I’m a warrior compared to him. I barge through the tall double doors and stand in the foyer.

“Rose! Rose!”

It isn’t Rose who appears but Silvio. He enters from the living room to the right and looks irritated to see me.

“Darren. So you’ve crawled out from wherever you’ve been hiding.”

“Where is she?”

He takes a piece of paper from his pocket and throws it across at me. “Learning about consequences.”

I take the paper and unfold it to read the simple, typed, message:

Rose will be joining us for a discussion about the future of the Alfonsi and Russo families. We invite you to join us at 8.30pm at Casa di Alfonsi tonight. It would be unwise to decline.

It was signed by Jacopo Alfonsi himself.

I raise my eyes from the message and scowl at Silvio. “You’ve seen this?”

“I just gave it to you, didn’t I?”

“Then what the hell are you doing here just standing around? She’s behind enemy lines.”

Silvio scoffs. “This isn’t Yemen, Darren.”

“She’s in danger!”

“No, she’s not.” He walks casually back into the living room and takes a seat. I follow him. “If they’d harmed her, they’d make a point of letting us know. Right now she’s a bargaining tool.”

“Are you going to this meeting?”

“I’m not going to let her get killed if that’s what they’re asking.”

His nonchalance is getting under my skin. I pick up the side table next to the armchair his sitting on and sling it across the room. It smashes into a wall and splinters, the explosion loudly echoing through the room.

“Wake up!” I yell. “Your sister is in trouble. You need to grow a pair and deal with it.”

Silvio fixes me with a calm, steady glare. He looks at me as if I’m a child having a tantrum. “Got that out your system now?”

“How can you be so indifferent?”

“What would you do if you were me?” Silvio scowls. “My father has died and left me at war with the Alfonsis. My sister refused to do her part to secure a truce. Now I’m left to clean up after the both of them. What I do next will decide who lives and dies.”

“Get your head out your ass, Caesar. What are you going to do about this?”

“I’m going to go and have this meeting.” There is a glass of wine on the coffee table in front of him. He picks it up and drinks from it deeply, down to the last drop. He places the glass heavily back down on the table. “It’s probably a trap. But I’ve got no cards to play. The head of our family is dead and we’re vulnerable. They know that. They’ve got Rose, and they know I won’t just let them take her.”

“I wouldn’t have been so sure.” I’ve been pacing the room but now sit down opposite him on the sofa but I can’t keep still. I keep my knee jerking up and down in agitation and my eyes fixed on Silvio’s every move in case he tries any funny business. “You and your father were ready to have her over before.”

“That was different. That was for her protection.”

“Nothing either of you did was for her protection. You’re a self-serving bastard and you’d have sold her off to save your own skin.”

“A truce would have saved us all.”

“And why is a truce her responsibility?” I glare at him. “None of this was her choice.”

Silvio lowers his voice, his tone self-pitying and pathetic. “I never chose any of this either.”

“Come off it. You love every second of playing the big tough guy. Now you get to be bigger and tougher.”

“I was raised with all this. I was trained for it. It was always my father’s plans that I would step up after he was gone. Now it’s all in my hands and I’ve got no choice but to keep the globe spinning.”

“Bullshit. You could sell up and walk away tomorrow.”

“It’s not much of a legacy for my father.”

“He was a criminal, Silvio.”

“Yes.” He sighs deeply. “And so am I.”

“How are you going to help Rose?”

He pats his revolver pointedly. “A little gentle persuasion.”

“Are you an idiot?” I scowl. “You think the Alfonsis won’t have an army of gunpower behind them? You think your one little Colt is going to take them all down? Waving that thing around will only get all of us killed.”

“All of us?”

“You think I’m going to leave Rose’s life in your hands?”

Silvio smiles slyly. “Where was this fire when you were working for me, Darren? If I’d known you’d had balls, I might have utilized you for real business, rather than patrolling that silly arcade.”

“I wouldn’t have wanted any part of it.”

He scoffs. “You’d have done anything for her.” He laughs at the look on my face. “You think I didn’t always know? It’s important I know how to keep my men quiet—in case I ever need to.”

“You’re not taking that gun.”

“Of course I am. Do I look like I have a deathwish?”

“They’re looking for a reason to shed blood. Don’t give them one. Go in there with your tail between your legs and maybe you’ll have half a chance of walking out with Rose.”

17

Rose

So this is Raffaele’s father.

Jacopo Alfonsi is a large man with white hair long enough to brush the nape of his neck, although it’s been oiled back so it’s flat and slick. He’s wearing the kind of black suit you’d expect only to see at a wedding or a funeral. I wonder which one he’s preparing for.

After two of his goons grabbed me from the street outside of Casa di Russo, I was brought straight here, to this room, seemingly to do nothing but sit and stare at Jacopo smoking a cigar in front of the fire.

We’re in his bedroom. It seems a strange choice of location for the confrontation he’s preparing for—it’s too intimate and familiar. I feel like it’s some kind of power move but I must be too dumb to figure out the psychology. All I know is that it creeps me out to see Jacopo so quiet and calm when a kidnapped woman is sitting in front of him.

He’d have had wrinkles if his face hadn’t been so fat. The plumpness of his cheeks has smoothed most of them out although his double chin is a fringe of saggy, loose, white skin. The veins in the back of his hands stand out, ridged and purple. There are age marks on his skin. Little signs here and there that he is also old.

The smell of the cigar reminds me of the fire at Darren’s condo.

“It must have disappointed you when you weren’t able to smoke me out,” I say. I sit straight-backed and head held high. I will not die cowering before this man.

Jacopo emits a short sharp laugh through his nose as if amused by something he’s read in the newspaper. Finally, he looks up at me. His eyes are blue and watery—unusual for an Italian. Striking.

“You’ve caused me a lot of trouble.”

“It seems there was a lot going on behind closed doors that was deemed too sensitive for me to know. To me, Raffaele was just a sleazy old man with a despicable ego.”

Jacopo chuckles. The rumble in his throat turns into a coughs and he thumps his chest as he hacks up half a lung. He wags a finger at me with an amused smile. “Raffaele wouldn’t have known what to do with you even if he’d got you.”

“I resent being used as a pawn.”

“Unfortunately, that is the nature of family business. It means making your move with family.” He leans forward and gives me a knowing look. “Do you think it was Raffaele’s idea to marry you?”

“It wasn’t?”

“Of course not. That boy of mine is an idiot with more money than sense. I wouldn’t let him near anything of importance in my business. The fool’s a liability.” He takes a long drag from his cigar. “But I thought I’d found a way to make him useful.”

I dart my gaze around the room, looking for a way to make a quick exit if need be. I know that two armed and burly guards stand on the other side of the bedroom door. We’re on the second story—a long drop to the ground below, so the window won’t do me much good. Although Jacopo is old and fat, his guards would get me before I’d even opened the drapes.

I turn my gaze back to Jacopo and fix him with a purposeful stare. “You know I’m already married. I couldn’t marry Raffaele even if I wanted to.”

“Marriages can be easily dissolved under the right circumstances.” He raises a eyebrow condescendingly. “I think you know enough about my business to realize I’ll go to whatever lengths necessary to get what I want.”

“And what do you want?”

“What was promised to me.”

I draw in a deep breath. My heart is fluttering around like a caged hummingbird looking for escape. It makes me feel lightheaded and slow to react.

“What were you promised?”

“Everything that was your father’s. He knew he was dying. We all did. You were going to marry Raffaele, and when he died, what was yours would become mine.”

“I don’t see how that would work. Everything will go to Silvio.”

“And I was under the understanding that you and your father were close.” He heaves himself up from his chair with a loud groan and ambles over to the window to look outside. “They’ll be here soon.”

I draw the subject back to what we were talking about before. I want to know what he means.

“Are you saying everything won’t go to Silvio?”

“If your father has done as he promised, everything will have been left to you in his will.”

“To me?”

“Yes. That way it would be shared between you and Raffaele when he died.”

I draw my eyebrows together in confusion. “Why not just leave everything to Raffaele? Why not bypass me altogether?”

Jacopo smiles. “You’re not at all like your brother.”

“What does that mean?”

“You don’t have a taste for any of this.” He sits back down in his armchair by the fireplace.

It’s uncomfortably hot and I’m getting flushed in my skinny jeans and black blouse. “You think Silvio does?”

“He and Raffaele are alike in that manner. Both ambitious fools.”

“You’re right about me. I don’t want any of it.”

“But your father wanted it for you.” He gives me a knowing look. “It was the agreement that you would marry Raffaele to protect your interests in the long-term. You would have your fortune and you would be protected from our hand.”

My heart feels like it’s being squeezed. His words scare me. “Do I need to be protected?”

“It really depends how the conversation goes when your brother arrives.”

“You can have the casinos. I have a life elsewhere.”

“You’d steal your brother’s inheritance so easily?”

“It was easy for him to offer me up to Raffaele on a plate.”

Jacopo chuckles. “A vengeful woman is a dangerous thing.”

“I’m not vengeful. I’m just sick of this chaos. It all happened above my head and behind my back and I want no part of it. I have a life of my own. A good life.”

“With Darren Miller?”

I feel sick. “You know his name.”

“Sweetheart, it’s my job to know.” He coughs again, finishing his cigar and throwing the stub into the flames of the fire. “People are so easily controlled by their emotions.”

I think of how I’ve left Darren in the dark and on his own. What if Jacopo has sent his men after him?

“Please don’t hurt him. I’ll do anything.”

“I’m surprised.”

“Why?” The strange conversation is starting to drain me. I feel like I’m playing chess with the devil himself.

“It was obvious to us all that you’d only married him to make yourself unavailable to Raffaele. I was very disappointed when I heard.”

“It was my life to live.”

“It was not what your father and I agreed. If you had refused, he was to let me take matters into my own hands. Instead, he let you leave.”

My father saved me. “I heard you retaliated.”

Jacopo shrugs carelessly. “Who would take me seriously as a businessman if I did not show that I meant my word?”

“You killed a man.”

“And your brother killed two of mine.”

“What are you going to do when he gets here?” Jacopo holds up his hands. “I’m not armed, Rose. I only want to talk to him.”

“And Darren? What are you going to do to him?”

“I haven’t yet decided.”

“This can end here today. You can have it all.”

“I doubt Silvio would be as accommodating.”

“He’ll do as I say.”

Jacopo laughs. “I like your spirit, but I get the feeling you are not the woman behind the wheel in this scenario. Didn’t you just tell me that all these things went on above your head and behind your back?”

“My eyes are open now.”

“We’re all going to have a little chat. You’d better hope for your sake that your brother is as amicable as you are.” He shakes his head slowly. “It is a shame you decided to run off like some rom-com movie bride. I would have liked you as a daughter-in-law. You’ve got a backbone and more common sense than Raffaele and Silvio together.”

“Common sense enough to know I want as far away from all of this as possible.”

“Ah, yes. Unfortunately, that’s a lesson I ever learned.”

18

Darren

We sit in Silvio’s Porsche at the front of Casa di Alfonsi.

I turn and give him a serious look. “How you act in there is going to decide whether Rose lives or dies.”

Silvio rolls his eyes. “When did you become Rambo?”

I grab his shirt and pull him towards me violently, bringing his face close to mine. “This isn’t a joke. We’re going to go in there and if you have to get on your knees and beg for her life, that’s what you’re going to do.”

He jerks himself away from me and straightens out his shirt. “Don’t forget who’s in charge here, Darren. You’re the only one in this whole charade without a hand to play.”

“I will burn that motherfucker to the ground if he lays so much as a finger on her.”

“You’d get a bullet between your eyes before you took a step.”

“Don’t fuck this up.”

I step out the car and look up at Jacopo’s mansion. It’s even bigger than Giacomo’s and more intimidating. It’s flanked by rows of columns and carved gargoyles. It’s like I’m staring up at a hitman’s Notre Dame.

“What is it with you people and this shit?” I ask Silvio, gesturing towards the building. “Maybe if you could all learn to get your egos in check, everything wouldn’t come down to a gunfight.”

“You wouldn’t understand. It’s about honor.”

“Honor?” I shake my head slowly. “I was in the navy. I think I know a thing or two about honor.”

I’m striding quickly towards the mansion. Silvio jogs to catch up with me and keeps pace at my side as we stride across the gravel. “There’s no honor in war. You think those kids and civilians you blew up deserved to die? At least everyone staring down the barrel of my gun has it coming.”

“Forgive me. I didn’t know I was sitting next to Mother Theresa all the way here.”

“I see why Rose likes you.” We’re almost at the steps to the door now. The three armed guards at the entrance are lowering their guns to take aim in preparation for any funny business. “You’re as much of a hippy as she is.”

“A hippy?”

“All love and peace. All that shit. You’re not willing to get your hands dirty to get to the top.”

“You call this the top?”

We reach the steps to Casa di Alfonsi and I raise my hands in the air to show I mean no harm. “We received word to come here tonight at 8.30pm. We’re to meet with Jacopo.”

The head guard narrows his eyes. “We were only expecting one.”

Silvio breezes past me with his trademark arrogance and scowls at the head guard. “Jacopo will want to see him too, Marshall. He has business for us both. Pat us down. Go ahead. We’re not carrying.”

Marshall jerks his head towards us to instruct his goons to do their body searches. I’m relieved when Silvio is clean. I half-expected him to have tried to sneak in a revolver in his sock or a knife up his sleeve. Maybe he’s got a single brain cell, after all.

“Fine.” Marshall nods. “I’ll take you to him. He’s expecting you.”

We are led upstairs to the master bedroom.

“What a show,” I mutter.

“It’s to try and throw us off guard,” Silvio says. “Just keep your wits about you.”

There are two more guards outside the bedroom. They step back to let us through and the door is opened.

When I see Rose, a weight lifts from my shoulders and I want to run to her, but I’m worried the effect any sudden movement might have on the five guards now gathered behind us.

Her eyes light up when she sees me and then fill with tears. “Darren…You weren’t supposed to come.”

“I’m so glad you’re okay.” I turn to Jacopo. “Let her go. She’s got nothing to do with any of this.”

Jacopo holds up a hand to silence me. “Young people are so dramatic. This is business. Act like a businessman.” He gestures to the circle of armchairs in front of him. “Take a seat.”

Reluctantly, I lower myself into one of the chairs. I’m inches from Rose. I turn and examine her face. There are no signs of blood or bruises. She looks shaken up but otherwise fine.

“What were you thinking?” I ask her in a soft voice. “You should have known this was a trap.”

“I had to say goodbye to my father.” She blinks and tears roll down her cheeks. “He’s gone.”

I turn to Jacopo. “If Giacomo is gone then there is no reason to bully his daughter. She isn’t one of you.”

Jacopo ignores me and turns to Silvio. “You’ve brought the new groom to do your talking for you, Silvio. Why am I not surprised?”

“He is concerned for Rose. As am I.” He sits down formally, keeping his back straight and unbuttoning his suit jacket as he sits. “Perhaps you can explain why you have interrupted the grieving of two children so soon after their father’s death.”

As repulsive as Silvio can be, I have to confess he’s a smooth talker in these kinds of situations. He has that slick, confident patter down to a tee.

“We have business to discuss and it is time-sensitive.”

“You don’t want to let my father’s assets slip through your fingers.”

Jacopo smiles. “You understand.”

Silvio leans forward, his elbows on his knees. “How about you tell me what you want, and I tell you what I can deliver. You said it yourself—let’s act like businessmen.”

“I was promised all that was your father’s.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“Silvio!” Rose scolds him. “This isn’t the time for negotiating.”

“Quiet, Rose. It’s best you stay out of things you don’t understand.”

Chuckling, Jacopo turns his attention to Rose. “I knew your brother would not be so reasonable.”

“I knew you would try something,” Silvio said. “I knew before he’d died that you’d be there with your flock of vultures to swoop in before he was even cold in the ground.”

“People do unfortunate things when they are grieving. I was giving you the opportunity to act wisely while you still had your senses about you.”

“I’m ready for a truce. Enough blood has been spilled on both sides. You may have had conflicts with my father, but I’m the head of this family now.” He raises his chin proudly.

Jacopo raises an eyebrow. “Quite a speech, Silvio.” He claps slowly. “Unfortunately, having you here is simply a formality. It is your sister who holds all the strings now.”

“Rose?” Silvio turns to her.

“Jacopo says Papà has left everything to me.”

Silvio’s eyes widen. “Lies.”

“That was our agreement,” Jacopo says. “Of course, that was when Rose was promised to Raffaele. Your father already reneged on one promise so you can understand why I am hesitant to believe he followed through on any others.”

“My father reneged on nothing. I made the decision to marry Darren and leave Vegas,” Rose retorts. “I have my own mind. Something neither of you are able to understand.”

“I’ve had to bring you here to ensure you do nothing hasty,” Jacopo continues, addressing Silvio. “You are a hot-headed young man.”

“Soft men don’t do well in this business.”

“Indeed, they don’t. But neither do reckless ones.”

“You think you deserve a cent of what my father’s earned? His casinos, his business…they are his life’s work. Do you think I’d allow it to all be handed to you on a silver platter? Who the hell do you think you are, you self-righteous son-of-a-bitch?”

“You don’t think you’d be able to come to peace with Rose’s decision if she were to make your father’s enterprise mine?”

“You’re not getting your filthy fat hands on one dime of my father’s money.”

“That’s too bad.”

He flicks his hand in a gesture for his hitmen to strike. My training kicks in and I instinctively kick over the chair I’m on and use it as a shield, kicking Silvio out of harm’s way. When the shot misses, I stand to lunge towards Rose to protect her, but by the time I’m on my feet, I find she already has a gun against her temple.

“Darren…”

She looks terrified. Her sweet brown eyes are wide and filled with tears. She’s too scared to even blink so her tears stream endlessly down her cheeks. She’s hardly even breathing, staying as still as possible as the guard pressed the barrel of his gun against her head.

I’m overwhelmed with fear. I step back with my hands in the air. “Leave her alone.”

Silvio is still on the floor, white with fear and regretting his actions. “Stop.” He raises to his feet shakily. “Shoot me if you must, but leave her be. She’s pregnant.”

I catch Rose’s eye and her expression tells me all I need to know. It’s true.

Silvio raises both his hands above his head. “It’s yours. It’s all yours. Just leave my sister be.”

“I’m finding your sudden change of heart to be unconvincing,” Jacopo says idly. “I don’t see any reason to leave a threat alive.”

“I can be useful to you,” Silvio says. “Let her live, and in return, you’ll get it all, including my insight. I’ll make the introductions. I’ll handle the exchange. Make sure everyone knows you’re the new man in charge. No resistance. No fight.”

“And then?”

“I’ll disappear.”

“You expect me to believe that when all is done and dusted, that you just walk away?”

“We both know I’m not my father, Jacopo. I’ll never fill his shoes.”

“As Raffaele will never fill mine.” Jacopo frowns and gestures for his gunman to take the gun away from Rose’s head. “I’m disappointed you didn’t marry him, Rose. I would have appreciated a more suitable heir.”

He turns back to Silvio. “Don’t look so relieved. We’re not done yet. This is all hypothetical until your father’s will is read.”

“It makes no difference,” Silvio says. “Whether it comes from Rose or me, you can have it. I’m done with all this. You can have it all.”

“Your father’s lawyer is a connection of mine. He was present when our deal was made,” Jacopo says. “I’m going to call him here now, then we will settle this once and for all.”

19

Rose

I still can’t breathe after having that gun against my head. I can still feel the pressure in my temple; the ring of ice where the barrel was placed. And now Darren knows about the baby.

We all sit in silence while we wait for the dodgy lawyer to arrive.

Darren says nothing to me but he takes my hand and holds it tight. It feels like a lifeline. I want so badly to jump into his arms and feel him hold me. I’m desperate to apologize for the danger I put us all in.

It takes almost an hour for the lawyer to arrive. It’s a long, tense sixty minutes. Everybody is on edge; as you would expect with five guns in the room.

Silvio looks like a puppy with its tail between his legs. All bluster has gone from him. He’s quiet and meek, looking down at the ground. His skin is pale and his hair a mess. He looks like the hapless teenage boy he once was before Father turned him into something else.

At last, the lawyer arrives. He is extremely tall and built like a barrel. If I had seen him in the mansion under any other circumstances, I’d have assumed he was Jacopo’s top goon or a wrestler—anything other than a lawyer.

We all move to the dining room to read the will and conduct the exchange. The lawyer sits at the head of the table. Darren, Silvio and I sit on one side; Jacopo on the other.

“Mr. Collins,” Jacopo announces, “would you care to begin?”

Mr. Collins brings down a large briefcase onto the polished oak with a thud. “In this case, I have the last will and testament of Giacomo Lorenzo Russo, as well as all deeds and titles he has entrusted to me.”

He slowly begins to take folders out of the briefcase, laying them down on the table pile by pile. Finally, he draws out the will and opens it in front of him. “I will begin.”

He loudly clears his throat. “Know by all men these present, that I, Giacomo Lorenzo Russo, of Las Vegas, Nevada, being of full age and sound mind and memory, do hereby make, publish and declare this instrument to be my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all Prior Wills and Codicils.”

The legal jargon goes on for a while. Mr. Collins announces himself as Executor and goes on to name myself and Silvio as my father’s children.

Finally, he gets to the part of the will that we’ve all been waiting for.

“I bequeath no gifts or sums to any party. All assets, property, deeds, and cash values, comprising the full value of my entire estate are to be left in full and solely to my daughter, Rose Aurora Russo.”

I close my eyes. He really left it all to me.

Jacopo laughs. “Well, listen to that. Giacomo surprised me one last time.”

I look up at him fearfully. “What now?”

“That is entirely up to you, my Dear.”

I grab every folder that is in front of Mr. Collins and push it across to Jacopo. “Take it. It’s all yours.” I turn to Mr. Collins. “I’m giving it all to him. Draw up whatever you need to draw up. I’ll sign whatever I need to sign. I’ll keep nothing except what is in my own bank account and under my own name.”

Mr. Collins skims the documents once more. “You would be transferring a total of eight casinos, twelve luxury cars, Casa di Russo, and the sum of $2.3 billion to Mr. Alfonsi.”

“Jesus Christ…” Silvio breathes. He looks like he’s about to collapse at the thought of losing so much money and assets.

I swallow and hold my head high. “It’s all cursed. I don’t want any of it. My father wanted our safety, and this is what will keep us safe.”

“I’ll tell you what, Rose,” Jacopo leans forward with a smile. “As you have been so accommodating throughout this process, I want you to keep Casa di Russo in memory of your father and your childhood.”

I don’t want it.

I nod. “Very well.”

He turns to Mr. Collins. “Make it happen.”

It’s a long, long night. Mr. Collin’s works through each document thoroughly and slowly. But, by the time the morning light appears, it is done. Everything that was ever my father’s now belongs to Giacomo.

I let out a long breath of relief to be done. I am exhausted and drained. My muscles ache, my head hurts and my mouth is dry. I want to sleep for a long, long time.

“What now?” I ask. “Are we free to go?”

“You, I trust,” Giacomo says. He jerks his head towards Silvio. “Him, I do not.”

“He won’t cause you any trouble.”

Giacomo smiles. “I like you, Rose.” He stands and reaches out a hand to shake mine. “Leave Las Vegas tonight and either of you will come to no harm. But if I ever seen either of you in this town again, I will shoot without questions. I will not risk the lives of my men for a couple of kids with a vendetta.”

I nod. “My future isn’t here.” I pause. “Actually, I have one final request.”

“I didn’t realize we were bartering.”

“My father is still in the morgue. Give us three days to bury him.”

“Three days, Miss Russo. I will give you three days. But if you return after he is buried, the consequences will rest on your head. I will protect what is mine.”

* * *

We all go back to Casa di Russo.

I feel uneasy as we step into the dark mansion. Although Jacopo has said it is ours, I can’t help but fear that there is evil lurking in the shadows.

We’re all exhausted.

Silvio heads straight to the drawing-room and the liquor cabinet. “I need a drink.”

“Make that two,” Darren raises his hand.

“Me, too.”

The drinks are poured and we all go into the living room to drink. There is silence between us for a long time until Silvio speaks at last.

“$2.3 billion…None of us will ever see money like that again.”

“You saved me,” I say to him softly. “Why did you do that?” There are tears stinging behind my eyes. “I thought you’d kill or die for Dad’s business and his assets.”

“You were right, Rose. I have a choice.” He drinks deeply from his straight whiskey. “I couldn’t have done it. You’re carrying my niece or nephew. I keep talking about legacy and Dad’s empire, but what legacy is there if it all ends with me? Maybe it’s best all of this mayhem becomes a closed chapter in the Russo family history; the sort of thing a great-great-grandkid gasps over when he uncovers the sordid truth on some ancestry site a hundred years from now.”

Darren turns to me. We’ve not had a chance to speak and catching his eye now, I feel like the worst person alive.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper. “I know I shouldn’t have come.”

For the first time ever, I see tears welling in Darren’s eyes. I don’t know if they’re tears of anger, relief or love. “You’re pregnant?”

I nod slowly. Tears start to fall from my own eyes. “It’s early days.”

“When did you find out?”

“I missed my period a few days after the chapel. We forgot to get that morning-after pill.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

There’s a ball of emotion in my throat. “I didn’t know if you’d want my child.” I reach out to touch his sweet face. “You never meant to actually marry me. We were drunk. We didn’t plan a child. I was scared you’d leave me if you knew.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

I throw myself into his arms and weep on his shoulder. I don’t know what I’m crying for but the tears won’t stop. All this emotion is rushing out of me—fear, sorrow, relief, gratitude…but most of all, love.

“I love you,” I tell him. I kiss him like I’m about to lose him. “I love you so much.”

He pulls me onto his lap and kisses me with immeasurable passion. “I love you, too. God knows how much I love you, Rose.”

* * *

We don’t waste any time in making the funeral arrangements.

Two days later, Papà is buried in the graveyard of the church where he and Mamma got married, a long, long time ago.

It’s a bright day, not the sort you’d expect at a funeral. There are no black umbrellas or a crying widow. There isn’t a host of mourners coming to say goodbye. There won’t be a wake.

There is nobody at all apart from Silvio, Darren, and I.

I shake my head sadly and turn to Silvio. “For all he fought for and all his millions, this is his funeral.” I swallow back my emotion. “If he were here now, do you think he’d say it was worth it? There’s nobody here.”

In a rare gesture of affection, Silvio takes my hand. “I was so willing to walk down the same path. But you’re right. Nobody’s even going to remember him. After a lifetime of trying to inspire fear, he’s been replaced by a bigger shark before he’s even in the ground.”

In a way, I’m glad it’s quiet. There’s been enough drama and mayhem since Papà died. I don’t want a load of strangers pretending to grieve standing by his grave. The people who matter are here.

His casket is a beautiful cream coffin with gold embellishments. It’s hard to think of him inside of it; he was always larger than life and in control. Now he’s a nobody in a box without even his fortune to outlive him.

Once the priest has finished his eulogy, he invites others to say a few words.

I step forward with the speech I’ve prepared. Silvio offers me an encouraging smile. This is why I stayed in Vegas—to say a proper goodbye.

My hands are shaking as I unfold my speech, even though there’s barely an audience. It’s the emotion that makes me tremble and the memory of all it took to get here. It’s the sadness of knowing that so much of my father’s life was spent in vain. He has nothing to show for it now.

I begin.

“When Silvio was trying to convince me to stay for this funeral, he told me that if I wasn’t there, there’d be nobody to speak for my father. Nobody to say anything good about him.”

I look down at his coffin and my heart spasms in sorrow.

“In recent months I saw a side to my father I wish I hadn’t seen. I’ve learned he was cruel and corrupt. He was power-hungry and relentless. He killed to get to the top. If he was anyone but my Papà, I think I would have despised him.”

I swallow. These are hard words to say.

“But the fact is, he was my Papà. He used to sit by my bedside when I was sick and read me stories. He never missed a riding lesson. He was obsessed with making sure I had the right car.” I laugh at the memory and sniff. “For all that was bad in him, I know he loved his children. His final act was one of redemption—putting himself in danger to give me the life I wanted. After everything he’d done, he let me go.”

I pause for a second to get my emotions under check. “Some would say such a thing was a poor imitation of love but I know better. I wish I could stand here today having lived a different life with him; a life where he was not a criminal. In that life, he was the perfect father. In this life, I know he tried.”

I throw down the single white rose I’m holding onto the top of his coffin. “The fortune is gone, Papà. None of it mattered in the end. But you saved your children. Silvio and I will have good lives. Because of you, for you, and in spite of you. I hope you rest in peace, Papà.”

After the funeral, Darren, Silvio and I find the nearest bar to have a drink. Papà is not discussed again. We’ve said our goodbyes and now it’s time to look forward. It’s time to leave the mafia in the grave with him.

“I guess it’s all over,” Darren says, taking a long drink from his pint. “What will you do now, Silvio?”

“I’m leaving Vegas, that’s for sure.”

“You know better than to ever come back.”

“I’m going to take the $200,000 and my half of the money from the sale of Casa di Russo and I’m going to head to Wyoming.”

“What’s in Wyoming?” I ask.

He looks embarrassed. “You’re going to laugh at me but fuck it. I want to buy a ranch.”

I do laugh. “A ranch? Why?”

“I need to find myself. I’ve got a lot of anger in me, Rose. A lot of hate. A lot of regret. I want to go somewhere where I’m alone with my mid to think about the way I’ve lived and how I want to spend the rest of my life.”

He sits back in his chair and a wistful smile comes across his face. “When I was trying to think where to go and what to do, I tried to remember who I was as a child—before all of this. What were my dreams before my eyes were opened to Dad’s world?”

“And you found out you were a cowboy?”

Silvio laughs. It’s good to hear him laugh without it sounding sinister. “That’s what I wanted to be when I was a child. Maybe I can wake up that part of me again.” He sweeps his hand across the air as though painting a picture. “I see myself with half a dozen horses and a farmhouse out in the middle of nowhere. Every morning I’ll ride. Maybe I’ll grow a few veggies of my own in my land. In the evenings, I’ll sit on the porch and read. Philosophy. See if I can figure out what the meaning to life is. It sure isn’t money and power.”

“Cheers to that.” Darren raises his glass.

“I didn’t expect a toast from you,” Silvio says. He bows his head in shame. “I’ve got no excuses for the way I’ve been and what I’ve done. I’ve just always followed orders and not asked questions. Now Dad’s gone, I’m wondering what it was all for and if I was ever really happy.”

“I’m glad you’re thinking for yourself at last,” I say.

“The more I think about it, the more sick I feel. I’ve done despicable things without questioning them. I deserve to be behind bars.”

“Go get your ranch,” Darren says. “Not enough men get the chance to redeem themselves. You were right about what you said about my military life—not everything we did was moral and good. I’ve followed orders, too.”

After another round of drinks, it’s time to say goodbye.

Silvio stands and embraces me. I can’t remember the last time—if ever—that I’ve hugged my brother. There is still a world of bitterness, resentment, and caution within me, but I decide to let it go. I don’t want to live the rest of my life with hate in my heart.

“Take care of yourself,” I tell him. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

He nods. His eyes look a little wet. “Can I visit when the baby comes?”

I look across to Darren uncertainly and then back to Silvio. I offer him a kind smile. “We’ll see.”

“I guess I deserve that.” He reaches out to shake Darren’s hand. “Thank you for everything,” he says. His voice is sincere. “Take good care of her. She’s one of the good guys.”

20

Rose

Our new place in Utah is adorable. We’ve moved away from Salt Lake City and set up home in a gorgeous little cottage-style house in Lake Point, Tooele County. I’ve never lived somewhere so rural, but I love it. There is endless peace and quiet and a full sky of stars every night.

I’m six months pregnant now and feel like a whale but I’ve got more energy than ever before. I’ve found a new lease of life in making a home out of our cottage and enjoying life. There is nothing to worry about now. The Alfonsis are a distant memory and the past seems to being staying behind us. The house sold for over eight million dollars, so we aren’t worrying for money.

We live life modestly and discreetly. Darren has had enough of security and has become a personal trainer. He rents some space in a warehouse that he’s converted into a studio. He’s already building quite the following—unsurprisingly, he’s pretty popular with the ladies.

I’m a homemaker for now, but I plan to study when the baby gets a little older. I’m thinking about becoming a pre-school teacher or maybe a nurse. The great thing is, I can do anything I like. There’s no pressure, no rush, and no expectations. I’m looking forward to finding myself. Every other week or so I order a prospectus for some online course and have a browse through. I’m waiting for that one job that inspires passion.

Today we’re working in the garden. I told Darren I wanted roses, and he delivered. He got no fewer than ten Rose bushes to plant around the front of the cottage.

“I want it to look like Beatrix Potter lives here,” I tell him happily as I lean forward to smell the flowers. “By the time I’m done, this whole place is going to look like it came straight out of a fairytale.”

Darren kisses my forehead. “It already feels like a happily ever after.”

“Speaking of, I got another postcard from Silvio today.”

“How’s he doing?”

“He’s finished his anger management course.”

“That’s good.”

“Do you think he’ll really change?” I ask hopefully.

Darren smiles at me. “Whether he does or he doesn’t, you’ve always got family now.”

I rub my stomach with a happy smile. “I never knew life could be this good.”

“Me, neither. It’s been the most wonderful surprise.” He picks up one of the bushes from its crate and drops it into a hole that’s been dug. While he’s kneeling down on the ground, he frowns. “What’s this?”

I stand over him to try and see what he’s found. “What is it?”

He spins so he’s in front of me on one knee and holds up a diamond ring.

“I know we’re already married but I want to do this right. I never got to propose to you.”

“Oh, Darren…” I cover my mouth with my hands, filled with the most exquisite joy.

“You are my everything. You are sweet and kind and courageous. You are loyal and resilient. You are everything I could ever want in a wife and in the mother of my child.”

His eyes are shining with love. “You once told me you were afraid I’d leave because all of this happened for the wrong reasons. However it happened, I know now we’re right where we should be. Any path we took would have led us here—I’d have made sure of it.

“This is the life I choose. I would fight for it over and over again. I vow to spend my life protecting you, supporting you, and loving you.

“Rose Aurora Russo—will you remain my wife?”

I throw back my head in laughter and fall to my knees to hug him. “Of course, I will.”

His arms close around me and he showers my face with a thousand kisses. Then, he takes my hand and slides the ring onto my finger.

Suddenly, it feels like there’s no more missing pieces. There are no doubts. There are no fears. There are no questions.

Everything is perfect.

“Let’s have a wedding,” Darren says. “A real one. I want to see you as a bride.”

I laugh. “Who would come?”

“Anyone who wants to. I just want the world to see me make you mine. I want photographs we can put on the mantel. I want you to meet Jake at last.”

“I could invite my old school friends and Natalie. Silvio could come.”

He grins. “It’s time to celebrate all this.” He gestures around him. “We’re blessed, Rose.”

I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him deeply. “Yes. Yes, we are.”

* * *

Natalie finishes fixing my hair and then stares over my shoulder at my reflection in the mirror.

“You look so beautiful, Rose.”

I feel beautiful. The veil I’m wearing is not a cheap chapel clip-in, but a beautiful designer one that comes down to my waist in a fountain of lace. My wedding dress is a modern recreation of the one my mother wore when she married my father. I saw it in a photo once. It’s form-fitting white lace with long sleeves and a train that trails out behind me.

A train that little Thomas is sitting on…

I scoop up my little boy and smother his face with kisses. “You’re going to rip my dress, Little Monkey.” I rub my nose against his and he squeals with laughter.

He looks just like his father. He has Darren’s beautiful eyes and smile. His hair is dark and curled into ringlets—he gets that from my side of the family. He’s dressed in the most adorable grey three-piece suit. One-year-olds look so cute in grown-up clothes.

“Should I take him now?” Natalie offers.

I pass him over to her. “You be good for Auntie Natalie now. She’s doing Mommy a huge favor keeping an eye on you.”

Natalie beams, resting Thomas’ weight on her hip. “He’s gorgeous.” She baby talks at him, cooing. “I want one! Yes, I do! Yes, I do!”

I laugh lightly. “He’s a handful but I couldn’t be without him.”

“What will you do with him when you study?”

“I’m studying from him and by the time I’m qualified this little rascal should be the right age to join Mommy’s pre-school class.”

Natalie lets out a long sigh. “I can’t believe how much you’ve changed, Rose. We were just waitresses and now look at all you have…”

“I’m lucky,” I say. “I don’t deserve all this.”

“Of course you do. You’re a sweetheart. It was you and Darren who gave me the money for my start-up. I don’t know what I would have done without you. Probably would have ended up waitressing for the rest of my life.”

“We owe you, Nat. You were there for us when things were crazy.” I smile at her warmly. “Besides, your business idea was great.”

Natalie decided to leave the casino after it changed hands. I think the whole thing made her nervous and I don’t blame her. When she mentioned in conversation that she had this idea for a greetings card company, I didn’t hesitate to give her the seed money. It was the least I could do.

“I’m working with this artist right now that does everything in a watercolor style. They’re beautiful. Honestly. Actually, I think it was her who did your wedding card.”

“That’s great, Natalie. I’m so glad things are going well.”

She looks up at the clock. “It’s nearly time!”

I feel butterflies in my stomach. I don’t know why. It’s silly really—Darren and I have been married for over eighteen months. I guess this is different because it’s public and a celebration. It’s different because it’s genuine.

I kiss Thomas’ forehead one last time and then gather up my skirts to head downstairs.

Our neighbor, Farmer Wilkes, insisted on letting us use his land for the ceremony and reception. We hired a wedding planner for the rest.

She was incredible. She’s transformed the field into a wonderland of twinkling lights, bouquets of white roses, silk-lined chairs, and ornate white arches.

It’s a small and intimate wedding but there is so much joy. Natalie sits in the front row with Thomas. Silvio is there with his new girlfriend—it will be the first time I meet her today.

And there, at the head of the aisle, is Darren.

He looks gorgeous in his suit. He’s clean-shaven for the occasion and wearing a light blue bowtie. His best friend and best man, Jake, stands at his side with a grin big enough for both of them.

When Darren sees me at the bottom of the aisle, I see him draw in a deep breath and his eyes soften. I see his lips mouth the word ‘Wow’ and it makes me melt. I feel like a princess.

We have a string quartet to play a beautiful piece of classical music as my wedding march.

I walk down the aisle alone. I have no mother, no father, and Silvio and I aren’t there yet. Although there’s nobody by my side, I don’t feel alone. I keep my eyes fixed on Darren and know I’m walking towards my future.

A smile breaks out on my face and I can’t control it. I wanted to stay reposed for the pictures but I’m grinning like a madwoman and my mascara is probably streaking because I’m crying again. Tears of pure joy.

I reach the head of the aisle and Darren leans in to kiss me on the cheek.

“You look so beautiful,” he whispers.

You look so handsome.

This time, the ceremony is done right. There are no gimmicks. No puns.

The officiant smiles out over the crowd and then beams at both of us.

“Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of Darren Miller and Rose Russo.”

It’s really happening.

I let the words of the ceremony wash over me. I keep sniffing and feel so loved when Darren tenderly wipes the tears from my cheek with his thumb. I only just make it through to the vows without fainting from happiness.

The officiant turns to me. “Will you have this man to be your husband, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"

“I do.”

I thought I’d lost my voice but they’re the easiest words I’ve ever spoken. The congregation applauds and cheers.

It’s Darren’s turn. "Will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"

“I do.”

We exchange wedding bands. My hand feels complete.

“Then, by the power invested in me by the state of Utah, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

The crowd erupts in cheers and Darren sweeps me off my feet into a romantic, movie-standard kiss that makes me hold onto my veil. When he draws back, I find myself unable to stop laughing with joy.

Darren grabs my hand and we run back down the aisle together as we are showered with petals by our guests.

When we have reached the last row of chairs and have a moment alone, Darren kisses me again.

“Mrs. Miller.”

“I am so happy to be your wife.” I can’t inject enough emotion into my voice to convey how happy and grateful I feel. I want to dance for joy.

“We have the rest of our lives to be happy.”

“I don’t doubt we’ll be anything other than blissful for the rest of our lives.”

Epilogue

We are blissfully happy.

Year after year rolls by in a fairytale haze of joy and companionship. A couple of years after the wedding, I complete my teacher training and get a job as a preschool teacher. Within six months, I’m pregnant again. Even though it means my career is on hold, I couldn’t be happier. Thomas is the light of our lives, and we know his little sister will bring equal joy. I’ll finish out the school year then take a year of maternity leave when Laurel is born.

Darren is happy in his job. He has a huge clientele and now also hosts weekly Insanity workouts that are infamously difficult. For the most intense gym-bunnies, he trains them to be as fit as a SEAL. People love him.

Most miraculous of all, perhaps, is the change in Silvio. Within a couple of years of ranch life, he became a changed man. He no longer drinks and he dresses like a cowboy. Whenever I video call him or receive pictures, he’s wearing his checkered shirt, bolo tie, and cowboy hat. It would be comical if it wasn’t so wonderful.

He’s become an avid churchgoer, trying to find both forgiveness and purpose. It was there that he met Helen, who he’ll be marrying next year.

He’s unrecognizable as the arrogant and aggressive goon he was in Vegas. Now he’s a clean-cut cowboy with a successful stallion rearing business and a loving fiancée.

Sometimes I think back to who I was before Darren came into my life, but there are no regrets. I didn’t know life could be this good—and it just keeps getting better.

I hope you enjoyed reading The Marriage Plan. If you love Secret Baby Romance with a Second Chance, keep reading for an excerpt from my Amazon TOP 100 book, Unexpected Baby.

Excerpt

Zoe Portwood: A s$xy goddess who irritates the crap out of me.

My one night stand, sworn enemy, and…the mother of my child!

I hate her…I’ve always hated her,

And it will never change.

I think she’s been faking it all along…

The baby, the dating, then falling for one another…guess it was all a part of her stupid big plan?

Maybe…

Maybe that’s why she walked away five years ago.

Now, she’s back, but she’s not alone.

She’s come back with a little girl,

Who I think I have a connection with.

God! It’s all so f@cked up!

Looks like I am up against someone who’s pure evil,

And yet, I am supposed to win.

Hell…I don’t have a choice.

I gotta do it for my daughter and for Zoe…the girl I fell for long time ago!

Wesley

Her red hair spills across the pillow, the curve of her ass sits nicely between the sheets, I can see the tip of her button nose, and it’s a cute one… this woman is beautiful, from what I can see of her anyway, but I feel nothing. Absolutely nothing at all. To be perfectly honest, I can’t even remember her name. She’s just the faceless woman from last night. The woman who I talked to for long enough to get her in to bed but that was about it.

But it was just a fuck. Just another fuck that doesn’t mean anything. Nothing at all. Just like the rest of them. It doesn’t matter how many women I have been with in the last month, none of them have cleansed her. None of them have made me feel any better about the woman that I screwed back then, the one who I definitely shouldn’t have. It makes me shudder to even think about the fact that I fell in to bed with Zoe fucking Portwood.

I hated her the moment that she stepped in to the office, the moment that she took the job working with me at the technology company. I don’t know what it is but the moment I saw her I just knew that she was going to be trouble for me. I didn’t realize quite how much she was going to tear my life apart. How much she’d ruin me.

I wasn’t worried on that first day. I didn’t have any reason to be. A chick strolls in wearing harem pants with feathers in her blonde curly hair and not a scrap of make up on her face. I immediately judged her as some one who wouldn’t be able to do the job, who was too much of a hippie to be great with technology but fuck me I was proven wrong. She’s a whiz, something of a genius, and she’s really damn hard to be around. She changed me from being the top dog, eons above other people, to being just normal and I don’t like that at all.

I’m the one who dresses well, who makes an effort to be there in a suit every day, who gives a shit about the schmoozing of clients and the usual stuff that comes with business. She’s clueless, she cares about none of that, but she has a talent. A talent that I really fucking hate to admit is there. A talent which kills me every day.

I’m competitive, the best of the best, and I don’t want anyone else to steal that from me. Especially not her. That stupid bitch. I really wish she hadn’t walked through that door and taken it from me, I wish she hadn’t brought out that deep hate within me, I wish I just didn’t know her at all. That she didn’t exist.

Even more, I wish we didn’t fall in to bed a month ago. I wish I didn’t need to fuck everyone in sight to try and get over that night, to push her from my mind. I wish that I wasn’t on the edge of a stranger’s bed right now, wanting to be anywhere in the world but here, because here is very uncomfortable. And more than anything in the world. I wish that me and her having sex didn’t end in that God damn conversation at work.

My head falls in to my hands as I think about that wild night. We were both drunk and horny, she had just been left at the alter by some guy who seemed to treat her like shit anyway – not that it was my right to say anything of course – and it just kinda happened. It was animalistic, filled with hate, and hot as hell. In that moment, her body was absolutely everything to me, I loved every inch of it. In that moment only though.

But it was just a moment, it was nothing more than that. Just a stupid, blind drunk moment never to be repeated. However good it felt at the time; it was a one time thing to never happen again. Luckily, she seemed to feel the same way because there were three months afterwards when we simply avoided one another. She didn’t say anything to me, and I didn’t make any effort to speak to her as well. All was good. I didn’t even feel the need to get her out of my system, I wasn’t particularly screwing around then, everything was good.

I assumed that it was going to stay good as well. That me and her would just forget that it ever happened, and nothing would change. Not talking to her was perfect actually. It made my life so much simpler. We were both doing well a work, sometimes me better than her, sometimes the other way around. It was peaceful. I didn’t even care about her when she was winning. It was all good… until she told me something to change it all.

“Why? You don’t want to deal with the consequences of your actions? Well, tough shit. I have to and so do you. That’s right. I’m pregnant. Me and you are having a baby. That one stupid night will haunt us forever.”

Her face was filled with ate as she yelled that at me, her eyes consumed with pain. She was a mess and so was I. I don’t really remember what happened next, it’s all a bit of a blur, but I think that I ran. I ran away and I haven’t spoken to her since. I don’t know what I would even say. What do you say to that? That I don’t want to be a father, that I’m not ready, that I don’t like her enough to even co parent with her. I can’t say that to a person, it’s horrible. Even if it’s the truth. I mean, me and her couldn’t be more different if we tried.

I leap up off the bed, unable to take the pressure of this anymore, and I grab my clothing. I pull my trousers on in a hurry, not even bothering with my boxers. Instead, I stuff them in to my pocket while I search for my tee shirt. I don’t even know where this place is, never mind how far it is away from home. There isn’t a chance in hell that I’m doing the walk of shame with nothing on. No way.

“Hey, handsome.” All of a sudden, the woman is awake and looking at me with a sultry smile on her face. “Where are you going in such a hurry? Don’t forget that you offered to buy me breakfast today?”

“I did?” Oh God, I was so drunk last night. I need to rein myself in a bit. “Sorry, I have to work…”

“No, stay,” she whines while flicking the covers off her to show me her naked form. Sure, she’s hot, but can’t she tell that this isn’t going to work now. I’m not in the mood. “I don’t want you to go.”

“I have to go.” I shake my head hard. “I need to go to work. I’m already late.”

“On a Sunday?” She cocks a curious eye in my direction. “Really? But you are a tech guy. Those people don’t work on a Sunday. Just stay here and let us have some more fun. There is still so much that we didn’t get to do last night, William. I will let you do whatever you want to me.”

I don’t even bother to correct her when she gets my name wrong. It’s probably for the best. At least she has a clue what I’m called. I wouldn’t even know where to begin when it comes to hers. A letter or anything.

“I have a… project,” I lie. “That I have been avoiding for far too long hoping that it will just go away. But it isn’t going anywhere. So, I need to just deal with it already.”

God, that’s actually a little too close to the truth. Not that I have a work project that needs my attention because I would never let anything business related fall to the side. I don’t exactly work well under pressure; my best work comes when I tackle an issue right away and I tackle it from all angles… shame I can’t have the same attitude when it comes to my personal life because I could really do with snapping in to action right now.

“And you have to do that right now? It can’t wait?” she barks, a little angrier now. “Because you swore that you would buy me breakfast and you haven’t. You are trying to run away. That makes you a liar. You know that, right? If you’re willing to lie to me this early on, then you aren’t going to be good news at all.”

“You’re right.” I head for the front door in a hurry. “I am bad news. You want to keep away from me.”

“You should have told me that last light, you fucking asshole,” she growls. “I wouldn’t have let you in my bed other wise. I don’t just sleep with anyone you know. How dare you use me like that…”

“Sorry,” I try because I don’t want to be an asshole. I am, but I don’t want to be. “Sorry, I…”

“Don’t you fucking day sorry to me, you piece of shit. How dare you? How absolutely dare you…?”

As she screams after me, I make my escape. A wave of guilt washes over me, I feel absolutely dreadful about hurting that woman’s feelings just to try and make my own better, but I can’t change that now. All I can really do is make the future better. And I suppose that starts with finally braving up and speaking to Zoe.

“Fuck,” I mutter as I practically run away from her apartment and towards my own home. “Fuck!”

I don’t want to face Zoe; I never have done. I simply want to bury my head in the sand and act like this isn’t happening, but it is. If this was going to be some sort of joke, then she would have put a stop to it by now. She would have told me that it was all over. But she hasn’t, which means there must be a baby in that woman’s stomach and there is a chance that it could belong to me. I am usually very anal about protection, it’s one of the things that I pride myself on, but I guess in the heat of the moment I forgot about it. I just got carried away.

Well, that isn’t something that I will ever do again. That’s a mistake I can’t ever make. I’m a commitment phobe, in too much of a mess to really be a father. This isn’t something that I can do… but I can’t keep hiding away from it either. I can’t pretend it isn’t happening because it is. It’s spiraling, snow balling, happening far too quickly. The longer that I avoid it, the bigger the problem will become. I am twenty years old now. Too old to let these things just happen without dealing with them. I need to tackle this head on.

But home first. That’s what I need to do. I need to get home and shower, get my head in order before I can tackle anything properly. This isn’t just a silly little decision, such as which bar to go to so I can find the hottest chick to pull, this is a woman who I might not have anything in common with and I might not like, but who might have my baby growing inside of her. I need to find the right way to deal with this or my whole life might come crashing down around me, and I don’t think that I can walk away. I was forced to grow up with no parents – not through their own fault, they were killed in an accident when I was young – I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through the same. No way.

Want to read the rest of UNEXPECTED BABY?

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UNEXPECTED BABY

Author’s Note

Thank you to all my readers, especially those who are reading my work for the first time. It is my privilege to have you by my side and I am glad and thankful that you all chose to spend a day or two reading my book.

If you have a minute—or even, say, like 30 seconds—please take a moment to leave a review on Amazon for The Marriage Plan. Reviews help indie authors so much!

XO, Brenda

Stay connected with Brenda Ford

Brenda Ford is a romance author who loves to write steamy romance that will give you a fresh spice in your love life.

Her books revolve around Alpha Men, Billionaires and Bad Boys, whether they are rockstars or bikers or someone staying in the neighborhood.

Her focus is to deliver that special pleasure to what a woman wants from her partner in all her books.

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