Chapter 35

Greyson

I was resisting the urge to try to find some of Skylar’s social media profiles on Friday morning when someone knocked on my office door. I exited out of the browser on my computer and called for them to come in.

Meek stepped inside. His expression was unreadable. “There is someone here to see you, Greyson.” His tone suggested it was not the usual sort of meeting I should expect.

“Let them in,” I said.

I was surprised to see Don Bravo step in behind Meek. He was dressed in a plain blue suit. Gold rings still flashed on his fingers, and there was a feather in his blue fedora. Had he been anyone else, the look would have been comical. But on Don Bravo, it was somehow intimidating.

I stood as Don Bravo looked around my office and approached my desk. When his eyes fell on me, I swallowed.

“Mr. Kline,” Bravo said with a smile. He held out his hand, and I shook it. “It is nice to see you under more normal circumstances. You look well. Much better than the last time we saw one another.”

“I should hope so,” I said lightly. “I don’t make it a habit to get in fights I know I can’t win.”

Don Bravo chuckled as he sat down across from me. He undid the buttons of his suit jacket and crossed one leg over the other. His arms rested on the armrests, and he watched me as I took my seat.

I nodded for Meek to leave. He did so without objection, but I could see his shadow on the other side of the door. I knew that was where he would stay for the duration of the meeting with Vegas’s biggest crime lord.

“What can I help you with today, Mr. Bravo?” I asked.

Don Bravo pressed his fingertips together and regarded me over the tops of them. “I heard through the grapevine that a certain casino on the Strip might be going up for sale in the next little while. Did I hear correctly?”

“Perhaps,” I said.

Bravo nodded and smiled wryly. “Your father would be surprised to see you selling it, I believe. He invested a lot of time and energy into this place. Not nearly as much as his son, I will admit, but a lot. He was a good man, your father. I was sad to hear about what happened to him and your mother.”

“Thank you,” I said, unable to think of anything else to say when a mob boss pays his sympathies.

“I knew your parents quite well, Mr. Kline. Your father was a brilliant man. A very brilliant man. He knew the ins and outs of almost every aspect of building this place. Everything from architecture to guest services. It was impressive. You inherited your business smarts from him, no doubt. And your mother, Gwen. What a beautiful woman. She was quite the charmer, you know? Your father always used to tell me he had no idea how he managed to marry her. He always thought she was way out of his league. I told him numerous times that she was.”

I laughed. Hearing inside details about my parents was refreshing. I had only known them as a child. I wasn’t aware of the intricacies of their marriage.

Bravo continued. “Gwen and your father made quite the exceptional pair. They used to dance, you know? If ever I was out with them and a song came on, Gwen would be on her feet begging to dance. It didn’t matter where they were. If your mother wanted to dance, your father would make sure it happened. He would take her hand and lead her to any open space they could find, and the two of them would dance together song after song, regardless of who was watching. They became the talk of the town. It became expected of them if they were seen out in public. I think your mother loved it because it gave her an excuse to wear all her fine dresses. Your father loved it simply because she did. And he was not a good dancer. Do you remember?”

“Vaguely.”

Bravo nodded. “The man had no rhythm. None at all. He was like an overcooked noodle when he moved. Lucky for him, all eyes were on Gwen. It was like he didn’t exist. I found myself wishing I could find a love like theirs on more than one occasion.”

I was wishing for that exact thing right then and there. “What else can you tell me about them?” I asked.

“I wouldn’t know where to begin, son. Your father was a good friend. A trustworthy man. He was passionate about his business and his creations. He adored his staff. Somehow, he managed to devote equal attention to his work and his wife. Then you came along. He never loved anything the way he loved you. I wasn’t around much after that. Your dad didn’t want my influence around his son, you understand. I respected him for it. I knew Gwen wanted the same thing. I have lost many friends because of who I am, but your father still called me every now and then to see how I was doing. Maybe to see if I was still alive. He worried about me, you see. He tried to talk me out of the mob several times. I don’t think he quite understood how the whole thing worked. I couldn’t walk away. Walking away would get me killed. Your mother knew, though. She used to tell me your father was just a worrier. He worried for everyone except himself.”

“I remember,” I said.

“And your mother was a singer. She performed on Friday nights in the lounge. You would have been too young to ever see her, but she was a delight. No matter where your father was in the building or what he was doing, he was always there for each and every one of her shows without fail. It astounded me. She was his top priority. I think she sang to him, rather than for her audience.” There was a brief moment of silence. “I still wish I could find a woman like Gwen.”

Talking about my parents was making my jaw ache. “The casino,” I said to change the topic. “Is it something you would be interested in taking over for me?”

Bravo shifted in his seat and eyed me. “It wouldn’t be a bad investment.”

“That doesn’t really answer my question.”

“It isn’t a decision I wish to make right away. You need to give a man some time before he leaps into a business like this. There could be repercussions. If the public knew I was the one you sold it to, they might boycott the place.”

“Would you change anything about it?” I asked.

“Why change something that is outperforming all its competition?” Bravo asked, one eyebrow arching dramatically.

“Then perhaps you could run it, but I would still own it. Or you buy out half of it.”

“It depends,” Bravo said. “Why do you want to sell it, anyway?”

Telling all this to Bravo felt odd, but I didn’t suspect him of any foul play. He had been my father’s close friend. I knew he didn’t wish any ill intentions upon me. “I need to get away from this place. I need to live my life. The way I see it, this was my father’s dream, not mine. I’ve done it justice, I think, in the time I’ve spent here. Now it’s time for me to pursue my own dreams. I’m tired of giving up the things and people I want for this place.”

“The girl,” Bravo said knowingly.

I refused to meet his eye, but I nodded.

“She has left an impression on you, then,” Bravo said.

“More than an impression. She’s ruined me.”

Bravo chuckled and rested his chin on his knuckles. “A woman with that sort of power doesn’t come around often. It sounds to me like you might have found your Gwen.”

I stared at the mob boss.

“Love is a tricky thing,” Don Bravo said, getting to his feet. “No one can tell you what to do, Greyson. You already know it. You’ve probably known it for a while now. Do what your gut tells you. Trust it. That’s what your father did, and it granted him the most wonderful life. He was a happy man. He was fulfilled. He did not deserve the death he met, and neither did your mother. They were wonderful people. It just goes to show that you never know what could happen. If this casino isn’t your dream, let it go. Chase the things or the people you really want. If it’s the girl you want…” Don Bravo trailed off as he turned to the door. He looked back over his shoulder at me as he prepared to leave. “Call me if you decide to sell The Citrine.”

I nodded, and he left.

Meek stepped in a few minutes later and stood with his back to the door. He crossed his arms over his chest and regarded me skeptically. “What was all that about? I don’t like him just dropping in like that unannounced. I thought this whole thing was behind us.”

“Don’t worry, Meek,” I said. “I think he’s a friend.”

“A friend? Really? Don Fucking Bravo?”

I nodded. “I know it sounds crazy, but he knew my parents. I think he might be the one I sell the casino to.”

“I’m not working for that ass hat,” Meek growled.

“You’re a free man, Meek. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. But I don’t think he’s as bad as you believe him to be. Talking with him was actually kind of pleasant. He told me some things about my parents that I didn’t know.”

I smiled as I thought of my mother and father dancing in the middle of a restaurant to a song they had probably never heard before. My mother would probably go out wearing one of her pleated dresses that she loved so much. I had caught her twirling in the living room a few times when I was young, and she had taken my hands and spun with me. I cherished those simple memories.

That was what I wanted. I wanted to make memories like that of my own.

My phone rang. I grabbed it out of my pocket. I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered anyway.

“This is Greyson,” I said.

“Hi, Greyson. This is Renee. Skylar’s sister.”

My heart started pounding in my chest. My palms were sweaty. All the hair on my arms stood up. “Renee. Hey. Is everything okay? Is Skylar all right?”

Renee didn’t answer me at first. I could feel her hesitation through the line. She was nervous about something.

Meek was staring at me with wide eyes.

“Renee,” I said again. “What’s going on?”