I’ve never been so fucking nervous in all my life as Kara and I head down to the Grand Ballroom on the third floor. The charity dinner and “Casino Night” will both benefit clean water initiatives, so I plan to gamble away a ton of money before I propose to Kara and leave gambling, booze, and women behind me.

“Are you okay?” she asks as we approach our table at the head of the ballroom, where my parents are already seated. “You look tense.”

I attempt to swallow, but my mouth is dry. “I’m fine, baby,” I say, adjusting my bowtie uncomfortably.

She doesn’t look convinced, but she maintains her composure as I introduce her to my parents.

“Mother, Father, this is…” I pause for a moment, as if I’ve forgotten her name or how to introduce her. “This is the love of my life, Kara Langley.”

“Smooth save,” she whispers, turning my mother, who’s seated at the table, wearing a sparkling silver dress. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Westbrook.”

“Please call me Anne,” my mother replies, rising from her chair to pull Kara into a brief but warm embrace. “Oh, none of that shaking hands nonsense,” she insists, grabbing Kara’s hands as she lets her go. “Look at you. You’re absolutely marvelous. Just as beautiful as I imagined. I can’t tell you how pleased I am to meet you, dear.”

Kara’s face is flame-red as she smiles back. “Thank you. I… I didn’t know what to expect, but this is a very warm welcome. Thank you.”

My mom offers her the seat next to her, and my chest swells with pride as they proceed to chat all throughout dinner. They discuss Kara’s gorgeous red dress and how we met at the Billionaire Club. I’m surprised at how Kara maintains her enthusiasm when the conversation shifts to clean water initiatives, my mother’s favorite charity topic. As much as I enjoy watching them get to know each other, by the time we’re finished with dinner, I want my girl back.

“I hate to interrupt this gab-fest, but I believe Kara owes me a dance,” I say, grabbing the napkin off her lap and placing it on the table as I stand up. “Shall we?”

She smiles as she puts her hand in mine. “We shall.”

Her hand trembles as we walk toward the small dance floor, where a half-dozen other couples dance to the sweet sound of “Black Coffee” by Sarah Vaughn. As I place my hand on her hip and take her other hand in mine, she’s frozen as she stares at my chest.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, tilting her face up.

“Nothing,” she replies, wrapping her free arm around my neck. “Everything is perfect. I’ve never…felt this happy.”

I kiss her forehead as we sway to the music. “I’m just getting started, baby.”

After a few more dances, Dex interrupts us to tell me he’s meeting the new security team in the lobby to lead them inside. Kara and I retreat into the adjacent ballroom, where a dozen tables have been set up for “Casino Night.” We purchase some chips from the cashier station, then I lead Kara past the poker and craps tables, heading straight for the blackjack tables near the bar.

“Teach me how you play blackjack,” I say, pulling out a stool for her to sit.

“You already know how to play blackjack,” she remarks with a look of sheer skepticism. “Besides, I thought you were giving up gambling.”

I chuckle as I straddle the stool next to her. “I am. After tonight, my gambling days — and nights — are over,” I say, tracing a cross over my chest. “Cross my heart. I just want to see how you play.” I lean in to whisper in her ear, “It’s sexy as fuck and you know it.”

She smiles as she shakes her head. “I need some chips,” she says, holding out her hand.

I dig four $10,000 chips out of my pocket and place them in a neat stack in her palm. “Show me how it’s done, sensei.”

She places the stack of chips on the table and bets one on the next hand. As the dealer places two cards in front of her and the man sitting on her other side, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Pulling it out, I’m surprised to see a text from my father.

I glance around to see if Dex is coming back yet, but I don’t see him anywhere.

“Who’s that?” Kara asks as the dealer pays out her $10,000 winning bet. “You didn’t even see me play that hand.”

“It’s my dad. He says the board has good news. Dex should be here any second. I’m just going outside to chat with them. I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere, okay?”

She shrugs. “You’re going to miss out as I school this dealer,” she says, winking at the guy as he deals her another hand.

I lean in and whisper in her ear, “No flirting with the dealer or I’ll really go caveman on you when we get back to the room.” I kiss her cheek. “I love you, baby. I’ll be right back.”

She laughs, but she never takes her eyes off the cards as I get up to head toward the terrace. As I step out into the clear desert night, I look around at the small groups of people chatting, but I don’t see my father or any board members anywhere. Sliding my phone out of my pocket again, I shoot off a text asking my dad where he is. I watch Kara through the glass doors as I wait for my father to reply, but he never does.

As I begin to head inside, a man with slicked hair and an ill-fitting tuxedo steps in my path. “Excuse me,” I reply, suppressing my urge to clock the guy.

“Are you Cash Westbrook?” the guy asks in a Russian accent as two huge meatheads appear at his side. “I’m Mykhail. Benny’s cousin. You know my cousin Benny Bagramov? Because he knows you and your girlfriend.”

“I don’t know what the fucking you’re talking about,” I say, trying to squeeze past them, but they block my path. “You don’t know who the fuck you’re messing with here. I suggest you let me through or this is gonna get ugly.”

Mykhail laughs. “What are you going to do? Going to call your little bodyguards? I think they’re a little tied up at the moment.”

I laugh. “Where’d you learn English? Did you go to super-villain school, or something? Get the fuck out of my way.”

Mykhail pulls his jacket open, showing me a semi-automatic Glock in a holster on his waist. “You can go with me or we can take Kara. Your choice. If you leave with me, Kara and her father will be unharmed.”

I shake my head. “Your guys will never get past Hector. He was special forces, SEAL team six. He’ll rip your men to shreds.”

“And how about your other bodyguard. What is his name? Dexter? Do you know where he is right now?” he asks, his smile widening as he sees the fear in my eyes. “Don’t do anything stupid, Mr. Westbrook.”

I glance over their shoulders into the ballroom, my heart hammering against my chest as I watch the man sitting next to Kara look directly at me and smile. Kara is too busy concentrating on the blackjack table to notice anything. If the man were to pull a gun out of his jacket, she wouldn’t see it coming. I couldn’t get her attention right now unless I shouted her name at the top of my voice. Even then, she wouldn’t be able to react fast enough.

Where the fuck is Dex?

I let out a heavy sigh as I turn around. “I’ll go wherever you want, but you leave Kara and her father out of it. They don’t have anything to give you, but my dad will pay anything ransom you want to get me back.”

But as soon as these words come out of my mouth, I realize it was my father’s phone that texted me to meet him on the terrace.

“Where’s my father?” I ask, unable to hide the tremor in my voice.

Mykhail and his men laugh. “He’s fine. A little banged up, but he’ll survive.”

The hairs on my arms stand on end as my body floods with adrenaline. They took my father just to get his phone. Now, they’re getting away with me and who knows what they’ve done to Dex. I’m an idiot if I think they’re going to take me for ransom and I’m going to live to see another day. I’m an even bigger idiot if I think they’re not going to hurt Kara or her father as soon as I’m out of the picture.

With all the power and adrenaline I can muster, I shove the heel of my hand into Mykhail’s hooked nose and take off toward the ballroom as his slow goons chase after me. I hear a crackle of static and one of them shouts in Russian. I watch in horror as Kara’s head turns toward the man sitting next to her, nearly falling out of her stool as he pulls his jacket back and retrieves a gun from his holster.

I burst through the door into the ballroom and another guy next to him grabs her around the waist. The other guy stands up, points his gun at me, and fires. I duck behind a craps table as the ballroom erupts into panicked screams and people running in all directions. Glancing behind me, neither Mykhail or his goons are anywhere in sight. They must have changed tactics and decided to take Kara instead of me.

Without any regard for my safety, I stand up and race toward the guy with the gun as his friend drags Kara kicking and screaming toward the exit behind the bar.

“Somebody stop him!” I shout, painfully aware I’m not going to get to her in time as I dodge the other guy’s bullets. “Fuck!” I roar as I duck behind the same blackjack table where I just left Kara.

I fucking did it again.

I cover my face as I try to block out Vanessa’s blue skin and glassy-eyed stare.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.