Making her way over to the elevator, she slides her card in and the door opens. I follow her in.
“Everything you need is in there. That room key does everything for you. There isn’t a door in this entire building that won’t open for you. Keep it close because I’m not kidding. There are only two other keys like it, Aaron’s and Justin’s. Not only is it your key to get everything you want in this building, you flash that thing in the jewelry store downstairs and they will load you with diamonds until they cover every inch of you.” She says it like it’s no big deal.
I just stare dumbly at her, not quite sure how to respond to that. Why would they give me a key like that? There must be a mistake or something. Maybe when they told her to get me a key to their room, she thought one like theirs.
“I think I just need a key to the room.”
“Nope,” she says as the elevator doors slide open and she quickly exits through them.
“Does everyone around here walk so fast?” I whisper, mainly to myself but Mandy hears me.
“Sorry, I’m kind of excited about the spa. I can go anytime I want, but I’m kind of a ‘go-go’ person and never really seem to let myself find the time. Today I’ve been actually ordered to go to the spa, so I’m a little excited.” The same warm smile she flashed in the closet slips across her face.
“I’ve never been to one before.” A virgin once again, I think, but I keep that part to myself.
“Well, I say we order some champagne and get this started.”
I nod in agreement.
8
JUSTIN
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?”