I walked across the floor of the casino, silently saying goodbye to the building that had housed all my dreams and aspirations. From a young age, I’d always been ambitious, always wanted a better life for my family.

I accomplished it.

Not only was I wealthy, but I had power.

I’d been powerless to help my mother when I was young. She’d had to beg for jobs to make ends meet, and one time when she couldn’t, we were kicked out of our apartment. I never wanted her to feel powerless like that ever again. I didn’t want to feel powerless either.

But now I was walking away from all of it.

Without a hint of bitterness.

I looked at the men playing at the tables, holding their hands of cards while cigars stuck out of their mouths. The women danced overhead, and topless waitresses couldn’t get drinks served quick enough.

I remembered when this room was empty. The day I bought it, it was a rathole.

Now it was an empire.

“Hey, Bosco.” Ruby’s sexy voice emerged from my right. She stepped from the shadows of one of the power tables, walking through the cloud of smoke that made the room hazy. “Where’s your lady friend?”

I kept walking. “Home.”

“She’s feisty, isn’t she?” She smoked a cigar as she walked, wearing a red gown with a sweetheart neckline.

“I’m gonna cut to the chase, Ruby.” I stepped forward and faced her, not attracted to her curves anymore. “I’m marrying her. This—” I pointed between the two of us “—is never gonna happen again. She’s the woman getting my money. Stop wasting your time and find someone else. I’m selling the casino, so I’m probably not interesting to you anymore.”

She hid her disappointment at my speech. “Who are you selling it to?”

“Ronan, obviously.”

“Oh…so now he has the moneybags.”

He always had the moneybags since we split the profits. But it didn’t matter. “He’s all yours.” I walked away from her, hoping that was the last time I would ever see her again.

I took the elevator to the office to meet Ronan. It was strange to see him sitting behind my desk. He’d changed a few things in the room—but kept the picture of the three of us. I sat in the leather chair where Carmen and I had once slept.

Ronan eyed me. “You’re sure?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“This must be hard for you. I can tell you don’t like me sitting behind your desk.”

“Your desk,” I corrected. “And no, I don’t.” I grinned. “I’ll get used to it.” I had a lot more to look forward to.

“So…marriage…babies… You still want that?”

I tapped my fingers against the armchair. “Yes, eventually. But right now, I’m happy with the way things are. Carmen is a lot younger than me, so there’s no rush.”

“I don’t know…she’s twenty-five. She probably wants to get started soon.”

“Well, she knows my dick is available at her command, so I’m ready whenever she is.”

He chuckled. “Ain’t that truth. Well, I’m gonna miss seeing you around here. You won’t come by for a game or two?”

“No. I told her father I wouldn’t be associated with this place anymore. My goal is to disappear.”

“I hope that means you won’t be disappearing from my life too…” It seemed like a joke, but I knew there was a hint of seriousness to it.

“Never. We’ll have you over for dinner once a week.”

He grinned. “Now, I’m down with that.”

“Carmen really likes you. She wants you around as much as I do.”

“That woman is lovely. You fucked around for so long, but your dick knew when it found the right one.”

I placed my hand over my heart, even though it was cheesy. “No. My heart did.”

Ronan laughed, but he didn’t tease me. “I’m happy for you. I hope I find that someday…not that I’m in a hurry.”

“When the time comes, you’ll know.” I never walked anywhere, and the one time I did, I came across the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen—my future wife. “Let me know if you have any questions, even though I know you probably won’t.”

“I know this business like the back of my hand,” he said. “But maybe I’ll use it as an excuse to call.”

I gave him a slight smile. “You don’t need an excuse, man.”

Carmen’s apartment was packed up and empty. The lease was broken, and she’d redirected her mail to my penthouse.

She’d officially moved in.

I didn’t ask her to marry me because there didn’t seem to be a rush. The diamond was still in the box whenever she was ready to wear it. We were happy, so it didn’t seem like I needed to hurry.

“Are you okay?” she asked when I walked in the door.

It was the last time my suit would smell like cigars. I would actually miss that. “I’m fine, Beautiful.”

“I know it must be hard for you…” She pushed my jacket off my shoulders and rubbed my chest. “And that’s okay if it is.”

I stared at the beautiful woman who loved me, loved me for me and not my money. She didn’t care about my power and was intimidated by it most of the time. This woman only wanted me. I knew how lucky I was to have her, that not all men could have such an extraordinary woman. “It was a little hard when I left the office. But when I remembered what I was coming home to, it wasn’t so bad.” My hands gripped her hips, and I held her against my chest, treasuring the petite woman I would love the rest of my life. She was the only woman I would fuck, the only woman I’d ever made love to. The thought wasn’t scary at all.

Her eyes softened in the most adorable way. She cupped my cheek and placed a kiss on my lips. “I love you, babe.”

I loved that nickname. It was a pussy name, but I liked it anyway. I liked the affection, the way she called me that by accident the first time she said it. It was the first time I knew she loved me, the first time I understood how possessive she was of me. “I love you too, Beautiful.” My hand slid under the fall of her hair as I enjoyed her lips. “I’ll love you for the rest of my life.”