I stare at the rock against the light. It’s a flawless diamond solitaire. It will look perfect on my goddess’ little finger.

I was loath to leave her, but I had to. She was dozing off again when I left the penthouse. Poor baby got worn out after our mad session this morning that had me coming inside her twice. I gave her three and a half orgasms in return. On the last one she called time out because her clit was already hyper-sensitive.

I can’t believe I spent thirty-six hours in the company of one girl and didn’t feel the slightest urge to make her leave. It was me who wanted to be with her every damn minute.

I can’t wait to get back to her, but I got business to do this morning. I told the hotel chef to send her a special breakfast.

I put the ring back in its tiny box, snap it closed and shove it in the inner pocket of my suit. I leave the Cartier store, thanking the manager for letting me in very early in the morning. I came in before the opening time.

I make my way to the elevator leading to the casino, my two bodyguards trailing me. I hate being followed like this but it’s necessary. The gambling industry is full of unhappy losers. I can’t have myself getting shot at by some poor bastard who lost his entire life savings with one roll of a dice, or by some rival in the business who wants to get ahead of the game by eliminating the head of the competition.

This is the life my brother Luc and I have inherited from our father, Luciano Gabrielli, the founder of the Golden Crest Casino. Luc is my half-brother, the legitimate son who grew up with our father, acquiring the formal education and the proper training to handle the family business.

Me, I’m my father’s bastard from a married waitress he’d slept with while having a good time one night. A one night stand. The son he didn’t know about.

I learned about who my real father was just before my mother died. I finally understood why the father I knew as a child didn’t love me. He probably suspected I wasn’t his spawn. He did punish my mother and I for that all those years. My poor mother was emotionally crippled from all the verbal and physical abuse she eventually took her own life. I cursed fate for dealing me the worst cards, but I felt relieved that motherfucker wasn’t my real father, after all.

Even then, I didn’t go to Luciano Gabrielli asking to be accepted into his powerful family. I chose to make my own name as a fighter in the mixed martial arts arena. I became a champion many times over.

When I retired, I was already a part-owner of a new casino owned by Luc, who didn’t know that time that we were brothers. I met him when I became the biggest draw in MMA. He was my fan, and he was running the leading betting business in Vegas. I’ve known for some time that I was a Gabrielli, but I had too much pride to tell my father or Luc. It was probably an act of fate that Luc became my friend without him knowing we shared the same blood.

Then Luciano Gabrielli suddenly died from a massive heart attack, leaving Luc to run his casino empire. I deeply regretted that we didn’t even get the chance to acknowledge each other as father and son.

I’d finally decided to tell Luc the truth.

When Luc found out—I told him while celebrating my last fight in the octagon as a champion— he was so furious he landed me a big one on the chest that sent my ass crashing to the floor.

I thought he wouldn’t accept me, so I told him, ”I’m not telling you this because I want to take part in the Gabrielli empire. You know I’ve built my own fortune through sheer hard work, Luc. I’m just telling you because I want you to know you don’t only have a friend in me but a brother. A real brother.“

“For more than five years you’ve kept this from me? How could you, Bron?!”

I knew then that he was furious that I didn’t tell him sooner.

“I’m sorry, Luc. I was just—”

He didn’t let me finish. He picked me up from the floor and hugged me tightly, tears in his eyes.

“I don’t pray much, and with the kind of business we’re in, I’m ashamed to pray, but if there was one prayer I’d uttered when Father died leaving me all this to run by myself, I asked for a family. A real family who’ll have my back no matter what. Nobody knows this, but I will tell you now, I was scared shitless of failing. The old man is a tough act to follow, you know. He’s a fucking legend in Vegas. But I have you now. I don’t deserve it, but you’re an answered prayer, Bron. And if that’s the only one I’ll ever have from above, I’m happy. I’m very happy. Welcome to the family, my brother.”

Every word has been etched into my mind, and they’re still as vivid as that moment when Luc uttered them. It was a major turning point in my life.

Luc. My brother. My best friend. I love him more than my own life.

“Aren’t you going to ask for a DNA sibling test?” I’d asked him belatedly.

Luc had laughed. “Nah. The test might go wrong, and I’m quite happy with the knowledge that I have a blood brother now.”

From that day forward, Luc and I ruled our father’s casino empire with iron fists and unwavering loyalty to each other. He runs the Asian expansion of our business now, having more experience in establishing new territories. I remain in Vegas to man the flagship.

I enter the casino and head straight to my office on the mezzanine. It’s a glass-walled room that has an entire view of the action below.

My appointment is already waiting there with his associates, sipping whatever my secretary served them. It’s not coffee.

They stand up when I enter the vast room. My bodyguards discreetly fade into the background.

“Gentlemen,” I address them and sit behind the massive mahogany table, my father’s throne. I take pride that I’m a Gabrielli by blood, but I still use my mother’s last name, O’Riordan. I’m equally proud of that, too, that I’ve carved my own name as bright as my father’s in Vegas, and probably the world.

I fix my eyes on my main guest today. “To what do I owe this honor, Peyton?”

He tries to hide it, but I know he’s not pleased that I’m addressing him with less deference than what is usually accorded him. Bill Peyton was after all one of the richest men in Chicago. Yeah, was. And he doesn’t impress me one bit.

“Your brother knows why I’m here,” he says.

“Well, Luc’s not here. He’s in Macau.”

“We’ve come to an agreement when he visited Chicago last month. I called him to follow up on it, and he told me to talk to you. So, I’m here.”

“What for? I’m sure my brother can decide whatever he wants to do with you on his own.”

Peyton clears his throat. “He said that the final decision is in your hands.”

Trust Luc to dump shit on my lap when he can’t fucking decide on it.

“What exactly did you agree on?”

Of course, I know what this is all about, but it was Luc’s deal from the beginning, and I didn’t want to meddle. I think my brother is getting soft on this fucker, so he’s passing the executioner’s machete to me.

“He agreed to give me an extension.”

Ah. Just what I thought. “But?”

“But only if you agree.”

I nod. “I see.”

I pick up my father’s old pen. I keep it on the table as a memento of the great man. I twirl it between my fingers as the seconds tick by. Peyton can’t sit still in his chair now. He stands to lose everything if I pull the fucking plug on him.

“So what is it you want, Peyton?”

His face is blotchy with his agitation. Bill Peyton, a kingmaker, now reduced to a pauper. It boggles me how can one man who had it all lose everything with just a few bad decisions.

“I want you to lend me more.”

I pierce him with the stare I used to bestow on every opponent inside the octagon just as the bell rang to signal the first round. It usually won me half the match, before even drawing first blood. Peyton swallows nervously.

“You mean to say, apart from the two hundred million you owe us, you want us to lend you more?”

“I have a proposal. Luc knows about it.”

“Ah, that congressman you’re supporting. He’s the key to your salvation.”

“Congressman Spencer promised to help me land a huge government contract. I will be able to recover after I get it.”

“How long is this recovery you’re talking about?”

“Two years at the most.”

I lean back in my swivel chair. “I don’t know…”

“Why don’t you visit me in Chicago? I’ll introduce you to Spencer,” Peyton volunteers, desperation on his face.

I shake my head.

“Please, I’m asking you to reconsider. The project is a done deal. The budget is two billion dollars. It’s all in the proposal I sent Luc.”

I stare at him harder.

“I’m marrying his daughter next week,” he adds.

I smirk. “All in the family, huh?”

“Just think about it. You want to recover your investment? Then allow me this leeway. Once the project is awarded to my company, I’ll immediately give you back half of what I owe you, plus interest.”

“I’ll have to think about this. I’ll call you.”

“When?”

“I’ll call you.” I stand up. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an important meeting to attend to.”

I leave the man to his miseries. I have far better things to do than listening to some fool’s empty promises. Like getting my cock wrapped in the sweetest little box in all of Vegas.

Fuck, I miss her already.

I massage my chest as the taxi brings me to the airport. I can’t seem to breathe with the huge lump in my throat that won’t go away no matter how hard I’ve been swallowing. I fight the urge to bawl my heart out to ease the pressure in my chest.

Why do I feel like this? Like I’m leaving a huge part of me here?

So, I spent almost two days with the sexiest stranger in Vegas. He made me scream as I reached heights of pleasure I never knew existed. I could never ask for a more wonderful first time with a man. It exceeded my wildest dreams.

This morning, he woke me up with his face between my legs, worshipping my pussy. It was the most wonderful feeling, to wake up like that, on the verge of orgasm. When he pushed his hard cock into me, I came immediately. I reveled in his passion as he quickly took his own pleasure in my body.

He murmured to my still sleepy head that he needed to meet an early appointment and would be back shortly after. I just smiled and moaned, my heart breaking. I didn’t want to say goodbye.

He kissed and tickled both my feet before he left, making me giggle.

When he was gone, I put on my clothes hastily and ran out of the penthouse like a thief. I was afraid the man I saw at the mini-lobby of the private elevator, who was clearly Bron’s employee, would question me. But he didn’t. He just nodded, seemingly used to women coming and going in that place.

I rushed to my own suite, crammed my belongings in my carryall, and checked out of the hotel like the devil was after me.

Bye-bye Vegas. It was good while it lasted.

I had my freedom. My walk on the wild side.

Now it’s time to fulfill my duty.

I wipe the tears that have pooled in my eyes and breathe deeply.

No drama, please, girl. Time to wear your big girl pants and face your future, no matter how tough it is. You can do it.

Five years. It’s nothing.

I can handle it all.

I enter the mini-lobby.

“I don’t want to be disturbed, Bobby,“ I tell my bodyguard again.

“Boss…” he starts to say.

“I said I don’t want to be disturbed.”

He nods and shuts up.

I board the elevator and punch the ‘close’ button. I stare at the digital pad, counting the floors. This is a zoom elevator, and yet it’s not going fast enough for me today. Shit, I’m a goner. Every second away from my goddess is a huge waste. I don’t know how I’m going to function in the next days now that she’s in my life. Luc is going to laugh his ass off at me. But it’s a reality I must face.

I need her in my life. I will make a huge room for her in it.

I finally reach the summit. I step out, my hand snaking into my suit’s inner pocket, closing around the small box. I can’t wait to give it to her.

Women love diamonds. My goddess will not be an exception. Especially if she’s getting the biggest rock that could be found in the Strip.

Speaking of rocks, I have another big one for her, too. Fuck, I’m like a boy around her, perpetually horny.

I enter my penthouse and walk straight to my bedroom. She should be awake by now.

But the bed is empty. No sign of her. She even made the bed.

“Baby?” I call out, walking toward the bathroom, expecting to see her soaking in the tub.

She’s not there.

“Leigh?”

I stand still and listen.

The entire penthouse is quiet. Awfully quiet.

She’s left.

I pull out my phone and punch a number. Bobby answers right away.

“Where is she?” I bark.

“She left almost an hour ago, Boss. Right after you left.”

The phone nearly breaks in my hand with how hard I’m gripping it.

“Find her and bring her to me. NOW!”

Aria is waiting for me at the airport. I’m so glad to see her. I need a pick-me-up badly.

“Leigh!” She’s waving her arms at me, her dress billowing around her.

We hug like we haven’t seen each other in years.

I pull away and frown at her outfit. “What the heck are you wearing?”

She grins. “It’s boho with a rock chic twist. Like it?”

I grimace. One would think Aria is into fashion design, but she’s a double-major graduate with a full scholarship. We met in college and had struck an unlikely friendship. The difference in our lifestyle didn’t matter.

Aria comes from a lower-middle class family while I’m…well, I’m a Spencer. My parents used to be suspicious of Aria, but they’d gotten used to her, especially when they saw how Aria had significantly influenced my studies. We both graduated with the highest of honors. “You look like the 80s Madonna morphed with the 70s David Bowie.”

“Girl, are you okay?”

I pick up my carryall bag. “Let’s go.”

We walk toward the parking lot.

“I have the feeling you’ve lost your V-card in Vegas.”

My cheeks flame. How can she be so astute?

She stares at me. “Don’t tell me…?”

I walk faster ahead of her. I see her car, a beat up Ford Focus, and rush toward it. Aria clicks the key fob. I open one door and throw my carryall into the backseat. I look behind me and catch my best friend grinning at me knowingly.

“It’s time for a tell-all,” she sing-songs.

“Get in the fucking car,” I growl.

She gasps exaggeratedly. “Was that the F-bomb I just heard?”

I roll my eyes, going around to the front passenger side.

Minutes later, we’re on the road.

“I’m waiting,” Aria says, the grin still on her face as she navigates the car at moderate speed.

“Can’t it wait until lunch? I’m starving. I didn’t eat breakfast.”

“Just tell me, already! I can’t stand the suspense!”

“Okay, I lost it!” I admit exasperatedly.

“Ohhhh my gawwwd! I knew it!”