While Stella is having a day with Mandy, Aaron and I have to conduct some business. We are at the point in our casino career where we’ve started to move to being a bit hands off and delegating where we can. Some things still require personal attention, and it’s part of what we love about owning the Cortez.

Some things we don’t love are favors we do for friends. The poker tournament is going strong again in the morning as some of the games have lasted all night. Thank God today is the last day we are hosting, because the media circus surrounding it is a nightmare. Don’t get me wrong, we love publicity, but we get plenty of that without the celebrity drama.

After Aaron and I make the rounds and avoid Natasha as much as possible, we go out front to our waiting driver. We had Mandy set a meeting with Charles, so he’s expecting us at the Snake Eyes soon. On the way over, Aaron is silent as he looks out the window.

“You okay?”

He doesn’t look at me when he responds, just keeps staring out of the window at the passing Vegas strip. “I just can’t stop thinking about her. Every minute we’re away, I’m counting down until we can see her again.”

I smile so big my face hurts. When I don’t say anything, he looks at me and sees my big goofy grin. He rolls his eyes and goes back to looking out the window.

“Try to tell me you don’t feel the same.”

I can’t keep the excitement out of my voice. “Of course I do, I’m just not brooding about it. I’m happy as fuck we’ve got her waiting on us. I hate the time we have to spend away from her too, but doesn’t it feel amazing? Doesn’t it feel like your heart is about to burst any second because it’s so full of love?”

Aaron looks over at me, and his smile slowly grows to mirror my own. “I never thought it would feel this good. Jesus. We’re in love.”

I throw my head back and laugh because it sounds crazy. It is crazy, but that’s life, right? Good things take time, but great things happen all at once.

After a moment of us sitting in silence and smiling like idiots, we pull up to the front of the Snake Eyes.

“Get your game face on, brother. It’s time to deal with Charles.”

Aaron follows me out of the limo, and we walk side by side into the casino. The difference between the Snake Eyes and the Cortez is like night and day. Where we are light and glass, the Snake Eyes is dark and leather. Everything in here looks sultry. It’s as if you took your darkest erotic desire and made it into a place for people to drink and gamble. Charles Townsend is a legacy casino owner, meaning his family has been in the business for decades. From what we know about him, though, he went against his father and built this casino on his own the way he wanted it. It’s hard not to respect a man willing to step away from his rich family to break off and make a name for himself. It’s probably why this casino isn’t connected to the Townsend properties throughout Vegas.

If I wasn’t so annoyed with how Charles handed out loans to Frank in Stella’s name, and then bid on her at the auction, I might not hate him. But as it stands, he’s crossed a line, and the three of us need to have a conversation.

As we walk through the pit, we are immediately greeted by Cupid. He’s the liaison for the Snake Eyes, and basically the know-it-all of Vegas. There isn’t anything that happens on the strip that Cupid doesn’t hear about, and when he steps in front of us with a beaming smile, I just extend my hand and wait for it.

“My, my, my. As I live and breathe.” Cupid is a short, chubby, bald guy, and I don’t know if that’s how he got the name or if he was already named that and is destined to look this way because of it. He reaches out, taking my hand with both of his, and winks at Aaron. “Seeing the Cortez brothers grace us with a visit is something to celebrate. But may I offer congratulations on your other good news?”

I raise my eyebrow, and his smile widens.

“Oh, I assumed the damsel you have locked in your tower was to be the future Mrs. Cortez. Or are my sources failing me?”

I look at Aaron, and he rolls his eyes. People think what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. They’re sadly mistaken. Everybody knows everything. And if you’re out of the loop, you should be worried.

Cupid doesn’t seem bothered when I don’t confirm his suspicions. “No worries. I’ll just wait for my wedding invitation in the mail. This way, gentlemen.” He turns and leads us to the back of the pit and to a set of private elevators. They are covered in black leather, and the red number above the door looks ominous. I never realized it before, but the whole casino has the feeling of hell. I think anyone wanting to come to Vegas to find sin would find it here. And from what I hear, for the right price, the casino offers a list of debauched pursuits to choose from.

Cupid scans his pass and enters the elevator with us. Once inside, the black mirrors enclose us, and we ascend silently to Charles’s office. When the doors open, I expect to see sunlight, but again it’s how one might picture a dungeon. The room is bigger than a conference room, and Charles is at his desk at the far end. The only light comes from glowing black sconces on the wall. The walls look like they have been lined with black crocodile skin, and the carpet is blood red. Aaron and I are dressed in tan suits with light blue shirts, and it feels like we’re angels coming to meet with the devil. So be it.

Charles is sitting at a massive desk made of shiny black wood with a black onyx top, a small laptop and his phone sitting tidily atop it. Nothing else. He leans back in his chair, and Aaron and I approach, taking the two seats in front of him. Charles just looks at both of us, and I turn to Aaron and sigh. I guess we get to start the party since we called this meeting.

“Why were you at the auction?” I don’t want to beat around the bush because we all know the reason we’re here.

“I was there bidding on Stella. I wasn’t the only one there that night. Are you visiting all the other casino owners who offered to pay for her as well?”

I’m annoyed at his tone, but Aaron decides to speak first. “None of the other owners were trying to raise the price.”

Charles leans back in his chair. It’s easy to see he’s getting angry. He’s a big guy, and not just in height. He’s as tall as Aaron and me, at just over six feet, but he’s got width and weight on us. Where we are slim, Charles is bulky. I heard he played rugby in college, and I believe it. His size, however, isn’t intimidating. When it comes to Stella, nothing stands in our way.

I lean forward, and I hear Cupid clear his throat behind us.

“Gentlemen. There seems to be some miscommunication happening here. Why don’t I help clear the air?” We all look at him, and then Charles waves for him to continue. “I believe when you two were here last month you cleared up everything owed in Stella Johnson's name, correct?”

Aaron pulls out the paperwork and lays it on the desk in front of Charles. “That’s correct. We didn’t touch the debt owed in Frank’s name; that’s for him to fix. There’s no business left between this casino and her.”

Cupid looks down at the paperwork, and then makes eye contact with Charles. Something passes between them, and Charles nods his head. “It seems Mr. Townsend isn’t of the same opinion.”

I stand up at his words, and I’m followed by the two other men. Charles slams his fist down on his desk, and Aaron grabs my arm to keep me from going over the top of it.

“You come in to my casino and demand things. You throw your money at people and they just do what you tell them to. Is that how you think you can talk to me?” Charles looks livid and ready to attack both of us. “You two see someone like her in trouble and you pay off the problem, only to enslave her. Is that how you think women are to be treated? I didn’t know she wasn’t aware of the loan when her father took it out. He forged her signature on the paperwork, but I only just found that out. I would never try to hold something over her to keep her for myself like the two of you have done.”

Aaron squeezes my arm tighter, but he’s the one that answers. “You don’t know shit about us or about our situation. And you sure as fuck don’t know anything about Stella.”

“I don’t need to know anything about her. I know what you two are capable of, because I’ve seen you do this before. You take a young innocent girl and make her beholden to you so she’s unable to get out from under your control. You two just walked into that auction and bought what you couldn’t have. I’m tired of sitting by quietly while you both getting everything you want.”

I look to Aaron and then back to Charles. “What fuck are you talking about?” I’m completely lost.

“I want Mandy.”

“What?” Aaron and I say in unison, his demand coming out of left field.

“You’ve just paid ten million dollars for Stella. Don’t tell me you need two of them. I’ve heard the stories about you two, so I know you only want one. Obviously you’re done with Mandy, and I want her.” I can tell by the look on his face he’s not fucking around.

“You think we kept Mandy as a…what? A slave?” I say, still confused as all fuck.

“I don’t give a fuck what you kept her as. All I know is that her time is finished with you two, and I want her.”

“No,” Aaron grits out. She’s like a sister to us, and we wouldn’t hand her over to anyone. She’s not a piece of property.

“You’ll do it or I’ll buy out every debt in Frank Johnson’s name, take that farm and burn it to the ground.” I look at Charles in shock. He meets my eyes. I can tell he's dead fucking serious. “And the tapes of you and Natasha Woods go public.” He lands his killer blow.

My face must turn white, because his face is smug now, some of the anger fading from it. “Don’t worry, nothing happened. But it won’t take much editing to make it look like it did. From what I’ve seen of the video, she drugged you and had a camera guy take you to her room, but I had a man outside the door waiting to bust in as you came out. Despite my reputation, I wouldn’t have allowed that to happen to anyone, even you.”

“But you have the video?”

“I have it for now. As collateral.” He gives us a cocky grin, knowing he has the upper hand.

Suddenly, Cupid comes over and lays a sheet of paper on the desk.

“This contract states that Mr. Townsend would like to hire Mandy on a temporary basis at the Snake Eyes casino, and in turn you would hire me. Think of it as an exchange, but with a dramatic flair.” I’m surprised he doesn't throw glitter in the air as he says it.

“Why would we do this?”

I look at Aaron in shock. “Are you seriously considering this?”

He gives me a look, and I understand. That farm is everything to Stella, the whole reason she was even doing this, and burning it down would be the ultimate slap in the face after her years of dedication to it. Not to mention the media scandal it would cause if that video leaked. She has known enough pain, and the need to keep her from feeling any more of it is like a driving force for us.

Cupid lays three pens on the desk. “The terms are simple. Sadly, there are no sexual servitude clauses. I would’ve loved to have tried on the two of you.” He smiles at his own joke and continues. “One month of service to the casino. Mandy and I will be treated as any employee and made to do only the required tasks. At any time during the month, if either of us feels too much is being demanded of us or we are asked to do something we aren't comfortable with, we can terminate the contract on our own and go back to our previous employer. It’s that easy, and believe me, I know the demands you two make of Mandy, and I wouldn’t have agreed to it without a way to get out.”

I pull my arm out of Aaron's grip and pick up the contract. It’s one page long and easy to read. There are a few rules, but they are all standard and nothing looks out of the ordinary. Still, I don’t get it. “Explain this to me, Charles. Why are you doing this? I don’t understand why you want Mandy.”

“I have my reasons, and ultimately I want to make sure she’s happy where she is.”

Mandy’s been with us since she was nineteen, and though she’s been wonderful, we’ve been selfish. We’ve demanded a lot from her, and she’s sacrificed everything for us and our casino. Maybe Charles is right. Maybe we have enslaved her. It’s clear he means her no harm, maybe he just wants to be near her. I understand the feeling— being willing to do anything to just be near the woman you want. I’m standing here for that reason. Plus I know Mandy can hold her own. I’m not sure he knows what he’s biting off.

I look at Aaron and he nods his head, looking to Charles. “One month, she can leave anytime she wants, and we get Cupid as a replacement?”

“That’s the deal.”

I take the pen and sign the paperwork, hoping Mandy understands. Aaron grabs his pen and looks at Charles one last time. After a moment he must see something and decides to go ahead. Charles signs last and passes the contract to Cupid.

“Now, if you two will excuse me, I have some phone calls to make.”

Charles sits down at his desk, and Aaron and I turn to leave. Just as I do, I realize I’m still holding his pen in my hand and I turn back to drop it on his desk.

It’s then I see a picture of Mandy on his phone. Before I can comment, he hits a button and the image disappears. His eyes meet mine, daring me to say something.

No man would go to these lengths for a woman he doesn’t care about. I know because I’ve gone to these lengths before. It’s then I see what Aaron must have seen. His need for Mandy is raw and real, and if this were a poker game, I’d have his casino.

I just nod my head and go to the elevator, joining Aaron. Cupid stays behind and waves goodbye to us as the black mirrored doors close.

Once we are out of the Snake Eyes and in the back seat of the car, I look at Aaron and smile.

“Why are you smiling now?”

“You know, the answer to that question is another question.”

“Which is?”

“Think Mindy would enter the Mistress Auction?”