by Ali Vali
“Let me teach you, but I’m not afraid,” Brinley said, helping her off with her shirt.
“Brinley, we shouldn’t.”
“You can toss me aside tomorrow, but I’m not going to make it easy for you.”
The way Brinley touched her was like nothing else she’d experienced. It was gentle, and the kiss she’d started made Reed’s objections die in her throat.
She opened her eyes when she squeezed Brinley’s breast almost without permission and she raised her hand, not wanting to taint this beautiful woman with her need.
“Stop thinking and start seeing what’s right in front of you.” Brinley moved her fingers over her face as if memorizing every inch of it, and she placed hers on Brinley’s hips to be safe. “I want you to touch me.”
“I’m not sure I know how.” Sex she knew well, but making love to someone was as unknown as quantum physics. And she was sure that’s what Brinley wanted.
“We’ll figure it out together.” Brinley stood and held her hand out in invitation, and this was where she’d turn her down. It was the best choice for both of them…
She took her hand and followed her upstairs in a daze. Finn was gone from his spot on the floor and she glanced at Brinley, wondering what she’d done with him.
“He’ll be okay in the guest room for now. Lie down.”
She did, but not before Brinley took her boxers off and threw them over her shoulder. All that separated them now were the bandages on the bullet wounds, but the feel of Brinley on top of her erased all the pain. The sensation of running her hands down Brinley’s back to her ass made her want to take charge, but she fought the instinct, wanting Brinley to move at her own pace.
Brinley must’ve sensed she’d go no further, so she sat up and swept her hair back as she straddled her waist. “Perhaps we shouldn’t have ended up here, but if you don’t touch me, I’m going to have to beg. That’s how much I want you.” She relaxed as Brinley took her hands and placed them on her shoulders. “Don’t make me do that.”
It was all she needed to hear and she moved down to her breasts, gently pinching her nipples until they pebbled under her fingers. That made Brinley move her hips slightly and take a quick breath. “Too hard?” she asked, lifting her hands.
“No, but you’ve got their attention now. It’s no time to stop.”
“Show me what you want,” she said, putting her hands back on Brinley’s soft, warm skin.
Brinley covered her hands with hers and squeezed before moving them down slowly until they were on her ass. “Look at me,” Brinley said, spreading her legs a little wider. She took her hand and placed it between her legs. There was no need to motivate her any more as she ran her fingers through the wetness that was the clearest sign that Brinley wasn’t asking her for something she really didn’t want.
“You feel so good,” she said, stopping at her hard clit. Brinley lifted her bottom a little and took her hand again so she could position her fingers.
“It’s been so long,” Brinley said as she guided her inside. “So long since I’ve wanted anyone this much.”
Reed’s bicep tightened when Brinley came down on her and then stopped as if enjoying the fullness. The stillness didn’t last long when she moved her thumb to press against her clit, and Brinley’s hips started moving. She went exquisitely slow, as if wanting it to last, but when Reed put more pressure on her clit, Brinley squeezed her other hand and started moving faster.
The way she didn’t lose eye contact with her made it more special, at least until her body tensed and she pressed her hips down hard. She lifted their joined hands and caressed Brinley’s breast, making her moan louder.
“Jesus,” Brinley said, lifting up slightly and coming down again hard. “So good.” She sounded breathless and sexy. “A little more, just a little more.”
That was all she said until she relaxed and came forward to lie on her again. “Thank you,” Brinley said, as if she’d just taken her to dinner or something.
“Why are you thanking me?” she asked.
“Because since the moment I first saw you pointing that gun at me, and after everything we’ve had to do to kill me,” Brinley said, making air quotes, “I’ve been as worked up and tense as I’ve ever been in my life. Right now there isn’t a tense part of me, so thanks.”
“I’m not sure of the etiquette here, but I’m pretty sure I should be thanking you.” Brinley lifted her bottom again so she could move her hand, which was a relief since the pain in her side was starting to throb.
“Learn to take a compliment, Reed.” Brinley yawned and curled against her.
“I’m trying my best.” She started moving her hands up and down Brinley’s back soothingly and it didn’t take long for her to fall asleep. The weight of her was what heaven must be like. She kissed Brinley’s forehead and was content to hold her. All she needed now was for her to keep sleeping to make this easier on both of them.
An hour later she moved Brinley carefully and stopped when she grumbled a bit, which was what Finn did when she picked him up and brought him back to his spot in the big pile of blankets on the floor. She took a shower downstairs so as not to wake them, then went back up one more time.
“Thank you,” she whispered as she kissed Brinley’s forehead again. “And I’m sorry for everything, especially this.” She left the note on the nightstand and picked up the bag she’d placed in the closet. It was time to let them go and for her to get back to what she knew. She closed the door behind her and felt something break inside that she hadn’t even known could be broken anymore.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Mano, this isn’t a punishment,” Remi said when he didn’t seem to take what she’d said well. “We’ve got too much going on at home for you to be here. I’m not going to force you, but I do want you to come home and think about running the casino in Biloxi, as well as a few other things.”
“Are you sure it’s not charity? I know I could’ve handled the last few months better, but I don’t need you and Papi to hold my hand.” Mano stared out at the Strip. The fire at the Terzo house had been two months ago, and the police had been like locusts on everyone trying to find answers, but with no luck. It was finally starting to die down so everyone could get back to business.
“Is the heat getting to you? Why in the hell would you say that? The shit that went on here had nothing to do with us. You know what our merger with Cain has done to our business. We’ve more than tripled our operation and there’s room for expansion,” Remi said, not moving from the conference table. “I either talk you into coming home, or I’ve got to hire someone else, and that’s asking me to trust someone new. I’d rather the man running things with me be beyond reproach, and you’re the one person in the world I trust as much as Papi.”
“What about Dwayne and Steve?”
“They’d split their time between the studio and our gambling operations, which means a move to New Orleans as well. Papi wants everyone to start taking on more responsibility at the Pescador Club as well.” New Orleans had voted in legalized gambling, but that’s how Ramon had made his money for years. The Pescador Club was named after the place he’d owned in Cuba and had dancing and drinks downstairs, and a full-fledged casino on the second floor. Harrah’s might now be at the end of Canal Street in downtown New Orleans, but their crowds at the club had never thinned.
“He’s full of crap,” Mano said and finally laughed. “We’ll take him out of there in a pine box one day, and not until then.”
“I knew you’d say that,” Ramon said, coming in from Dwayne’s office next door. “Your mother wants to start traveling, and I have no more excuses. Mijo,” Ramon said, “my grandchildren are growing up without me spoiling them, and your wife’s family is in Miami, which means you have no one here who’s important. It’s time to come home to family, and to the position that’s been yours from the beginning. All this I’ve built isn’t solely Remi’s responsibility.”
“Besides, Dallas already t
old Sylvia and she’s packing. You can either come with them, or stay here and find a showgirl to keep you company,” Remi said.
“I do that and Sylvia will fillet me with Mami’s and Dallas’s help. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, though. It was good building Gemini to what it is now.” He embraced his father, then her. “We’re not selling this place, are we?”
“I’ve got something else in mind, but I need to do some more convincing. I think I’m pretty good at it.” She grinned and punched his shoulder.
“This wasn’t convincing, it was a hard sell,” Mano said, shaking her.
“Hey, if that’s what it takes.” She left Mano to catch up with their father and left with Simon to head back to the house. Her guest was due in an hour and it had taken a threat to get her to agree to come at all.
“Are you sure about this?” Simon asked as they drove back.
“I’m not, but what she did really impressed me. You don’t often see someone who has everything to lose give it away so effortlessly to save someone she barely knows and was actually hired to kill. That shows me there’s loyalty there that can’t be bought unless it’s to protect something she cares about.”
“That’s the problem, Remi. This woman has nothing she cares about,” Simon said, following the GPS. “She has no family, no ties to anyone, and is nothing more than a contractor for hire.”
“She’s a survivor, and she thinks she owes me one. Let’s give her a chance before we throw her back into the wild. And you’re wrong about her not having anything she cares about. Her sacrifice says otherwise.” She went inside and found Dallas with one of the studio’s staff, running lines for her next project. It was slated to start in Vegas, which meant if Reed was open to what she had to say, they’d be around for a little while. “I’m back, but I’ve got a meeting in a few.”
“Your meeting is early, and waiting in the office. She was surprised to see me, but she seems nice.” Dallas stood and kissed her. “Don’t take too long. We’re supposed to hit the tables later so I don’t look like a dork when we start filming.”
“Impossible,” she said, slapping Dallas on the ass. “And I won’t be late.”
* * *
“Reed,” Remi said, not surprised to find Reed sitting in a chair across from the desk but not looking at anything on it. “Thanks for coming.”
“I wanted to thank you, so I’m glad you called.” The time since they’d seen each other seemed to have been enough to heal Reed’s wounds, based on the way she moved. “I’ve kept an eye on Brinley without her seeing me, and she’s doing great. She’s working for a tech company and her mom visits a lot. The police bought her story, and I haven’t heard any chatter about her.”
“Brinley is doing fine,” she said, nodding. “I promised you she’d come out of this as best I could manage, but I also wanted to keep my word about keeping her safe, so I’ve had a couple of guys keeping tabs. She’s under my protection as well as yours.”
“Thank you,” Reed said, clenching and unclenching her fist. “She’s really special, as is her son, and she deserved another chance.”
“She’s not the only one,” Remi said and winked. “I wanted to talk to you about something, but not necessarily about Brinley just yet.”
“That’s all we have to talk about.”
“Have you taken any more contracts?” Remi asked, already knowing the answer.
“I’m thinking of retirement, but I haven’t decided yet.” Reed hesitated but didn’t say anything else.
“Retirement is for people who think golf is an exciting day, and you don’t fit that bill, Reed. What happened, though, should tell you there’s more to life than living for the next contract.”
“What do you have in mind? It sounds like you have a suggestion,” Reed said, and it was a good sign she wasn’t leaving.
“You seem to know a little about the casino business,” she said as a start. “The way you explained Wallace’s mistakes means you can spot a thief, and you’re familiar with the players that are left.”
“You have to remember, I am a thief,” Reed said.
“I do remember that, but I’m thinking you’d only take something you were hired to take. Sofia hired you to take something as well as Victor’s life, but this isn’t about that.”
A week after the deaths of the Terzo family, Diego and Sofia disappeared. The police were still investigating that as well, but Angelo had assured Remi when he’d cleaned house, it had been an all-encompassing kind of thing, even though Diego didn’t work for him. That meant the Moretti family was missing but they’d never be found.
“It’s a shame about Sofia, but the police have no leads,” Reed said, as if knowing what happened.
“That’s not anything you ever have to worry about. Whatever business you had with that family is fulfilled.” Reed nodded and it was good she understood nothing else had to be said on the subject. “Knowing that, let’s talk business.”
“I thought you understood I’m not taking contracts right now.”
“I realize that, and I’m not offering you one. What I am offering you, though, is a way out of the shadows. You’ve proven yourself, and it’s time to start living, don’t you think?”
“My life has always been about the shadows. That’s where I’m comfortable.”
“Your life is a testament to survival, Rebel.” The name made Reed’s head whip up, but more from surprise than anger or embarrassment. “I make it a point to know all about the people I want to work for me.”
“Work for you how?”
“My brother’s coming home to New Orleans, but we have a casino in Vegas. We’re not getting rid of that since it’s essential to our business, but without him here, it’s going to need a manager.”
“You have a manager,” Reed said, sounding like she knew as much about them as she’d found out about her. “His office is a floor under your brother’s, and he’s the face of Gemini.”
“Elliott is the face of Gemini, but he’s not the brains,” she said of Elliott Walsh, who’d worked for them for years but knew his place. “I need someone in Mano’s chair who knows not only how to run things, but how to handle problems in a unique way. Snake Eyes can’t be everywhere at the same time.”
“So you do want me to kill for you?” Reed said, smiling.
“I want you to not waste your talents on people who don’t appreciate you. With me you can start to see the possibilities outside what you’ve been doing, and I’ll give you a home, figuratively and literally.”
“What do you mean?” The house in Henderson was already on the market and she had a tentative contract to sell.
“My family would become your family, Reed, and you’re sitting in the home I could provide. Mano’s not going to need it, and my girl loves room service, so we’ll be happy to stay at the Gemini when we’re in town.” She motioned around the room. “Mano’s taking all the family photos and some stuff with him, but the house comes with the job. You can’t live with Oscar forever.”
“You really did do your homework.”
“That’s what you do for people you want to take care of, and I know how you feel about Oscar. He comes as part of the package. Anyone who can make you disappear off my security system is someone I want working for me.”
“Can I think about it?” Reed appeared to be confused, as if this wasn’t something she’d ever considered, much less been offered.
“No.” It was a chance she had to take, but sometimes pushing someone was the only way to get them to the watering hole. “I need your answer right now, and the smart play is yes.”
Reed laughed and she finally looked her age. This was someone who’d carried a heavy load for way too long. “You don’t fuck around, do you?”
“Not when I see someone who will be an important part of my life. You won’t be happy going back to what you’ve known, so why not take a chance on something that could make a good change for once?”
“Yes,” Reed said, holding her ha
nd out. “And thanks for Oscar.”
“Oscar would’ve missed you if you’d turned me down,” she said and winked again. “He already agreed.”
Over the next two hours they worked out the logistics of what she wanted and Reed left with a firm offer in hand. Reed would take over the operations at the Gemini, with Oscar at her side, and she and Mano would take a few months to get them up to speed. Reed might’ve been an unknown, but she was worth the risk. In turn, she and her family would help Reed see what good things friendships could bring into her life.
“Thanks, Remi, and not just for this,” Reed said, stiffening at first when Remi hugged her. “I never imagined Sofia Madison would land me here.”
“Dallas keeps telling me to throw good things out into the universe, and she’ll answer by giving me good things back. Maybe you should try it.”
“This is about as good as it’ll get, I’m guessing.”
“You need to tune your universe a little then,” Dallas said when she came in. “I threw out my wishes and reeled this one in.”
“Maybe one day, Ms. Montgomery, but I doubt I’ll be as lucky.”
Epilogue
Three Months Later
Reed flexed her hand after punching the idiot from Utah who’d thought it was a good idea to steal chips off one of their tables. Granted, there were people on their payroll who could’ve given the moron a lesson, but it was nice to get some action every so often. “Take some friendly advice. Next time, it’s going to take surgery to fix those sticky fingers. You understand that?”
“Yeah,” the guy said, holding a tissue to his nose.
“If I see you in here again, your fingers will be a treat compared to what’ll happen to you.” She motioned for the security guy to show him out. “Make sure you pass around his picture to the others and make them understand he’s not welcome.”
“You got it, boss.”
“Anything else tonight?” she asked Oscar over the phone. It was only eight, but she’d had months of late nights working with either Remi or Mano learning the ropes, and she was looking forward to a beer and maybe a game on television.
