Chapter 170
Vegas is hotter than hell, you could fry a breakfast on the tarmac here and even though we only walked
into the hotel minutes ago I’m already sweating and gasping for air like I just ran a marathon. I have
never been to this city and I’m already wondering how people can live here. The airport was busy and
hazy with heat rising from the ground upon arrival that looked like mysterious, magical dimension
aberrations, and I feel like I have literally been turning to a puddle in my clothes since we stepped off
the ne. It’s stifling.
Alexi is looking suave in a short-sleeved white shirt, beige chinos and shoes while I’m dripping makeup
down my face into my sweater and jeans. I thought it might be afortable travelling outfit. It now
exins the strange look when I said I was putting a woollen sweater on for the journey. Tosser could
have told me it’s three thousand degrees the second you walk off the ne.
Mr Tan never seems to feel the temperature, be it hot or cold, and isn’t remotely affected right now. He
also never mentioned that we were hauling Gino and Alessandra on the trip and we are stood waiting
for them in the foyer because they came in on another flight from elsewhere and are rendezvousing
before we go to our room.
“Lexi, I’m too hot … I need to strip off.” Alexi is dealing with the check-in and I’m holding onto the back
of his shirt to stop myself keeling over with dizziness. Holding on because I feel faint, ustrophobic
and exhausted from travelling, and using his body as a post to steady myself against. Propped behind
him at the huge curved wooden desk of the massive open entrance of this five-star establishment.
“Take your clothes off then.” He smirks and throws me back a cheeky smile that gets an eye roll. All too
devilishly handsome and devoid of any effects of this suffocating temperature. He’s been in a happy
mood sincest night. Obviously chipper about something.
“Sure … I’ll just get naked in the lobby and you won’t have an epic shit-fit over men staring at me.” I
point out, sighing moodily, and he shrugs and looks back at me over his shoulder again from his
leaning position, on the smooth walnut surface.
“You’re mine now … I ain’t got nothing to worry about.” It’s a cocky little sentence and I just gawp at
him, trying to understand the logic in that. I don’t think a jealous, possessive side is an easy thing to
switch off.
“Dickhead,” I mumble at him as the desk clerkes back from doing whatever she was doing at the
computer to the side. Bringing all attention back to her small curvy frame and huge bug-like eyes, all
glowy and blue with threeyers of heavy fakeshes, roaming him a little too greedily. She smiles
brightly, swishing her hair back seductively behind an ear, all while staring right at his mouth. Salivating
at the thought of what she could do if she had a chance.
“Here are your room cards, Mr Carrero, and the driver and car you requested will be parked out front
for you in the morning.” She flutters those long spiders at him and perks her boobs up a little as she
hands them over, giving him the full-on ‘fuck me’ act I can spot a mile away. It instantly grates on me
and answers my theory … jealousy isn’t cured by being together.
I will rip that bitch’s throat out.
I just re, seething inside with a dull, tight intensity that makes me want to test the strength of my
acrylic nails on her face.
It doesn’t seem random either, judging by the edgy little looks ande-on eyes. It’s notpletely
unbelievable to assume he has been here before and this one endured a night of being tied to his bed.
I can almost taste it on her with thisck of professionalism; while his cold demeanour and ignorant
behaviour only confirm the suspicions. He seems a little too starchy and closed off, and to me, that
screams the loudest. I know him well enough to read how he behaves with past conquests. They mean
nothing more to him than an irritating fly buzzing around his head. He’s been there, had what he
wanted and lost all interest. He doesn’t waste manners on disposable ythings either.
Alexi takes them from her without really acknowledging her and slides the cards into his shirt pocket.
Avoiding eye contact so she backs off, and I literally prate the side of his face with an intense
unamused stare, knowing full well he has had sex with her on a previous trip to Vegas. He likes to use
familiar hotels and circles menus. It’s no shock toe upon old conquests on getaway trips.
“Thanks. Can you book a table for four in the restaurant under my name for eight?” He smiles emptily,
not meeting her eyes at all, and instead messes with his watch strap. She almost gushes as she
catches his hints of dimples. Over-familiar as hell; definitely fucked him.
MY dimples bitch. Back the fuck off.
I swear I’m growling at her over Alexi’s shoulder but it’s like she hasn’t even seen me. I’m clearly not in
her line of vision and she only has eyes for someone she thinks she might get a second pop at. I’m
guessing he had a datest time he bedded this shameless hussy, so I’m no deterrent to her.
“I shall do. Any requirements? Such as near the band or the veranda again?” She flutters some more,
twirling her hair in a disy of obvious flirtation and leans in suggestively so more cleavage pops out of
her tailored jacket. I can’t take anymore. The proof is in one word.
AGAIN!!
“Preferably anywhere you are not,” I snap and push past him to put myself between them aggressively.
Alexi just steps back, raising a brow as her face turns scarlet and gives up his prime position at the
desk so I can stomp my way to it instead. Straight up, cold ring, hoity-toity stance, and I tap my nails
on the table between us impatiently. She clears her throat instantly and evades my snarling eye
contact.
“By a vent with cold air would be exactly where I need to be. So, any air conditioners in the room, I
want to be right under it. Comprende? If that isn’t too much trouble!” Cami’s sarcastic, venomced
tone is oozing out of me and I lock a nasty gaze on her face to make her even more nervous as she
stutters and messes with papers in a bid to evade my razor-sharp scowl. Standing tall with one hand on
my hip and an aura that screams ‘Not in the mood, bitch’.
“Umm.”
She falters, turns to shuffle over something on the desk, dark hair falling messily from behind her ear
over that overly made-up face, and blinks a polite and stunned smile my way.
“Certainly, Miss err … umm. I shall make sure your party of eight is under one of the ceiling units. Our
whole dining room is well ventted.” Her previous husky and flirty tone shrivels like an overcooked
tenderloin and just adds to my irritation with her.
Little tramp making moves on a guy when he has a woman right beside him. She needs to learn her
ce.
“Good … maybe go stand in there for a bit, dahling, and cool the fuck off. I doubt you have time for a
cold shower while tending to your little desk, despite obviously needing one.” I snatch the leaflet she
has pushed out in front of us, detailing the hotel; venom and ice in y and turn on my heel to slide my
arm into Alexi’s as I pass. He’s smirking at me, totally amused and allows me to lead the way as the
nearby bellboy grabs our bags. Letting me tug him with me as I cast back another snide look at
miniature, perky boobs behind us and catch her ncing away quickly.
“Penthouse suite.” She calls after us, at our luggage escort to inform him where to take them, in a weak
voice that highlights I made her ufortable.
“Someone’s grumpy fromck of sleep and a long flight … or is it the heat?” Lexi taunts me smugly,
walking in step with that confidence of the smart arse he can be, and I just scowl at him.
“Don’t pretend you haven’t screwed her before! It’s written all over you. So, grumpy, yes, as you didn’t
let me sleep at allst night, so we almost missed our flight. You then had to make sure I was a
member of the mile-high club, so I didn’t even get to nap … remember? I’m ming you for any mood I
may have from here on in because it’s your fault. You need to be neutered.” I snap at him, tightening
my hold on his arm while my prickly skin and rattled temperament try at cooling off in sweltering heat.
He has me sulking, well she does, and I pull my sweater off as we walk, so done with sweating like I
have run a marathon. Letting go of him to sweep it up off my body in a gush of much-needed relief.
Taking it off leaves me in the silky nude coloured vest top underneath and finally, I manage to catch my
breath with a little waft of air on damp skin. I have no bra on so obviously the first thing Alexi’s eyes do
is home in on them and he frowns.
Maybe a little jealous after all that my ample double Ds are swinging free in a loose and slightly
revealing top that at first nce makes me look naked. He says nothing about it though, seeing as he
told me to strip off.
“I forget how intuitional you are. If it’s any constion I don’t rate her as more than a one at the most.
Definitely wouldn’t do her again, even without you in my life; besides, you would miss it too much and it
wasn’t all one-sided.” He winks, dismissing my attire with another nce at my breasts, another frown
and then looks at where we’re walking. I just shake my head at him. Simmering back to a better mood
and unable to argue with that. Impressed that he kept his control freak side under wraps despite his
obvious disapproval at my undergarment.
Not that I care. Alexi will never dictate what I wear. I dress for me and me alone.
I may be as bad as him in terms of giving in to his sexual advances too readily, but I’m ming him for
everything, regardless. He has a high sex drive, and when he wants to go at it, he has too much
stamina in the sack. Sometimes you just want a five-minute screw and some sleep. Alexi rarely seems
to manage quickies.
“Shut up. I need to cool down and take a nap.” It’s less irritated in tone, but I’m not fully over the blue-
eyed pper making eyes our way. Still tetchy and irritated at everything in general.
“I’ll let you sleep on one condition.”
“Don’t even …” I warn with a scowl turning to face him head-on when we stand to loiter. We now have
to await our apanying duo, they texted minutes ago to say their cab was almost here.
If he is daring to try and tell me what to do in terms of much-needed sleep, I will p him in the face
with his own dick and enjoy doing it.
“No mention of anything about ‘business’ in front of Alessandra. She has never outright asked Gino,
even though she must know something, or at least have suspicions. She travels. She likes to pretend
I’m nothing more than a businessman, and Ginoes from a virtuous Catholic family with no
skeletons in the closet.” He points out with a hushed tone as we catch sight of the pair walking in from
outside hand in hand, with the most perfect timing. They look casual and rxed and more
ustomed to this heat than me in matching cream coloured summer wear.
Alessandra has her dark hair swirled on top of her head in a sleek bun and a loose-fitting dress that
grazes the floor as she walks, with a peek of sandals below. Gino is in a white tee and cream shorts
over flip flops and looks more like a guy on a summer holiday.
“I get it … an extension of how your mother likes to live? Fine by me. The only person I don’t want to
have lies hanging over me with is you. A little pre-warning that you fucked the desk clerk in future if you
don’t want me moody!” I point out and give him that intense look he gives me when he is trying to put a
serious point across. Simmering, jealous, and maybe overreacting because I’m truly shattered from not
enough sleep, but it bothered me.
“I never wanted my parents’ rtionship of smoke and mirrors and fake lifestyles. I will never lie to you
and don’t want you to lie to me. As for her, she wasn’t worth mentioning, and I forgot until we walked
over there. She wasn’t memorable.” His tone is barely a whisper as they literally get right up to us and
Gino lets go off Alessandra to take a step towards Alexi for a man hug. Our conversation meeting an
abrupt end with the arrival of ourpanions. I swallow down thest of my mood and apply my bright
smile, ready to y the part of happy girlfriend. Appeased by the fact the desk girl was not memorable.
“Something we finally agree on … we should celebrate.” I smile sarcastically at him quickly, before
moving away to face them and I get one in return from him as he and Gino embrace. Alessandra
shocks me with a hug too and I awkwardly embrace her, pulled into her slight body and almost kissed
half to death as she attacks my cheeks one after the other.
“You two look … tired.” Gino grins annoyingly, all know-it-all and smug and then turns and gives me a
cuddle that just feels weirdly Alexi. It’s odd that they have so much of them that is the same, yet they
are nothing alike. I mean I can tell by touch alone it’s not Alexi, but he fits me in the way his brother
does, with an rmingly simr hugging style.
Build, body, height, testosterone. How they squeeze you half to death with a bear grip cuddle. Still
eerie.
“You look very cute.” Alessandra steps forward and tweaks Lexi’s cheek before leaning in and giving
him a kiss to follow it on one cheek, not overly enthusiastic like she was with me and I get the vibe
she’s drawing an appropriate line in the sand. She doesn’t want me to feel jealous by being overly
soppy with my newfound boyfriend. I think my respect for her just shot up another ten points and it
rxes me fully, knowing there’s at least one woman in the world who poses no threat to what we have
growing. He has definitely never had sex with her either.
I know it’s hypocritical that I’m bothered by that, given I have easily slept with hundreds of men in my
lifetime, but it matters, nheless. Something I have to work on, I guess.
“So, you finally stopped fucking about and got the girl.” Gino beams, cocky and obvious, and I just eye
roll. I should have known this wasing, and I’m not really in the mood for the dissection of ‘Camlexi’
while it’s too hot, and we still have some hoe’s eyes on us. Not to mention, an overwhelming desire to
lie down and nap right where I stand.
“And we are very happy about it too.” Alessandra cuts in with that heavy ent, a hint of scorn in her
tone and nudges her man in the ribs, casting him a warning look. I’m guessing they’ve had a
conversation about not bringing this up.
“When’s the wedding?” Ginounches in and I give him the filthy look of ‘shut up’ this time. Alexi
doesn’t even blink.
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“When she has slept, cos damn this woman is cranky as hell today.” Alexi shoves me in the shoulder to
stop the way I’m making dagger eyes at his brother and then hauls me against him and drapes his arm
loosely around my shoulders. Pulling me tightly to him possessively, yet affectionate. I just curl up and
lean into that warm mass and exhale heavily to try and stop the weary mood I’m in. Instantly calm when
in his arms though. Surrounded by that heady scent that is uniquely his.
“Ha ha.” It’s apletely sarcastic response from me,cking tone and emotion with a deadpan face
and it gets me augh from Gino.
“When in Vegas, baby …” That cheeky look, as he reaches to tug a strand of my hair, so like his
brother, and I shove him away. pping at his hand as it makes a grabby motion and I just cower
under Alexi’s arm. Moulding into him for some protection from his annoying as shit brother.
“What? Hit a strip club and get an STD? Fuck a busty desk clerk?” I snap with less attitude this time,
deflecting the hint away as my heart rate ups a level at his weird suggestion. I give him a short look and
he turns around and pulls his woman into him mirroring our pose. Amused with himself, and I’m left
scowling at how much of an annoying prick he can be.
“Ouch, I sense thatst one is loaded. I find it interesting that my brother has made no rejection though.
Can’t miss an opportunity to get hitched in a rush … no big white wedding, no fuss. Might even talk this
one into it.” That smirk and wink, as his own cuddle buddy ps him in the abdomen with a look of ‘not
a chance’. Gino flinches and rubs his stomach then grins like a goofy teen at her reaction.
“I want big and white and showy. So, you can get that thought out of your head, right now.” She
chastises him, pointing at his face like a schoolmarm, unamused at the suggestion. She shoves him
when he whispers something else in her ear and points him towards tits and eyshes over at the
check-in desk, motioning they still need to.
Meanwhile, I’m here swirling his observation about Alexi around in my overly suspicious brain and turn
usingly to him and scowl. A little hint of panic seeping into my bones and restricting the oxygen from
filtering to my lungs.
“I thought you were allergic to marriage?” I ask haughtily, knowing that the man I met over a year ago
most definitely wasn’t one for settling down. Gino is right. His silence is at odds with who he is and
suggests that there is zero opposition on the matter. The Alexi I know would have shut him down in a
nanosecond and yet, this version let it slide with nothing to weigh in.
“Allergic to saddling myself with the wrong women sure; not allergic to marriage with the right one.” He
leans in and kisses me swiftly, knocking me silent with a quick peck of lips on lips. Last thing I ever
expected from his mouth and despite my knee-jerk need to reply with something sarcastic to knock this
topic on the head, my insides do something weird and fluttery.
“Don’t be picking out your dress just yet. White isn’t your colour. Not sure it will ever be mine.” I half
mock him, half seriously shitting a brick and try to turn this conversation into something else. The
thought of a shotgun Vegas wedding scares the bejesus out of me. That’s a very permanent tying of
yourself to someone and not easy to undo.
Especially tying yourself to a man you’ve only just started to want, trust and rx with. My head is
nowhere near anything beyond that. We have barely grazed the surface of co-existing in a rtionship.
I mean it’s only been a week since he turned me on my head and told me he loves me. A lot has
happened that makes it seem like weeks, but the reality is, we have been doing this for all of five
minutes, and I only just came to terms with the fact we are in a rtionship with a possible futurest
night.
Marriage is a NO, for a million reasons.
“I hear you can get married in ck here, wearing a gun and carrying your wench kicking and
screaming over your shoulder. I do, is merely a suggestion.” It’s said in the deadpan, emotionless
manner he excels at, but I can tell it’s his version of humour. I don’t find him funny at all, looking at me
in that straight-faced, cool way of his with those pale greys eating my soul to death. I raise a brow and
just stare right back. An unamused look in return as if to say, ‘you even try it and I will maim you’.
“It’s only legal if she says I do.” I point out drily. Heart thundering out of my rib cage even though I know
this is only in jest. mmy palms and trembling limbs follow abruptly, and that breathless feeling adds
to my heat-induced dizziness.
Alexi just smiles and shakes his head at me.
“Calm down feisty. No one is kidnapping you to throw you down the aisle with me. We’re here to see a
casino and take a break from normal life while Mico does more digging on the events of yesterday.
Marriage will be a conversation for another time.” That shuts me up and I continue to blink at him in
stunned silence when he turns his attention to his brother and then checks his watch.
“I’ll take you upstairs and you can go to bed while I work out the arrangements for visiting the casino
tomorrow and make some calls. I have things to do before we explore. Plenty of time before dinner.” He
reaches into his pocket for his vibrating phone and moves me back a little while he swipes the screen.
I’m literally mute as my head pulls apart this conversation, summarises a ‘not in hell’ and leaves me
feeling oddly surreal and nervous.
“Why do you want a casino all the way out here, anyway?” I ask, still trying to cool myself as I adjust to
the heat and pull at my top which is now sticking to me. Alexi’s eyes nestle on my breasts for a second
before he goes back to his phone and types on the screen.
Typical man.
“Retirement n. I thought I told you this. When I’m done in New York, then Vegas is my final
destination, to live out my days in a casino I lord over. The one we look at tomorrow.” He continues
talking, frowning at his phone and doesn’t even nce at me. Just assumes this is information he has
previously divulged and I slide up beside him to prise his attention back on me. Sliding my arm in his
very muscr one and press him against my left breast. Needy for his touch when I’m feeling oddly
fragile.
“Why are you buying it now if you have no intention of retiring for a long time?” I croon. Distracting
myself from anxiety-ridden thoughts of shotgun weddings and determined to return to my normal mode
of sexypanion.
“Because I can, and I have the family in Vegas to run it for me and build up a reputation in the right
ces until I want toe out here.” He just continues typing, and yes, it vexes me that my wiles have
zero effect on this man at times. Although he did say something interesting.
“Carreros in Vegas?” My attention piqued to find more of them in existence.
“We’re everywhere. Not all of our rtives settled in New York, some didn’t settle in the USA at all. I
have family in Europe.” Finally, he throws me a sideways nce and the second those sexy soulless
grey eyes connect with mine I smile, heart all a giddy, satisfied with a morsel of attention and lean
against his upper arm possessively. Resting my head on his upper bicepfortably.
“In London?” My head turns over with his confession about going there, and I wonder if that is how he
knew he could freely get away with heading to a new turf and torturing a scumbag to death.
“The very ce. Cousins, second cousins … they operate under the name rke. “
This time I lift my head in startled recognition and blink at him. A name I had heard when moving in the
underworld circles in Ennd, and now it makes sense, they were always big, burly, foreign-looking
men. They all have that same bloody DNA.
Carreros … you wouldn’t fucking believe it.
They have been connected to my life since I was born.
Rick avoided them like the gue and kept out of their way because they were ruthless bastards who
had reputations for being as cold and sadistic as my very own Lexi. Go figure. They were known for
running things, being the heavy hand and taking care of business in the worst ways. It doesn’t even
surprise me that they share a bloodline.
I now wonder if he did a little digging to see if any of them knew anything about me when visiting his
British family. I wouldn’t put it past him. His whole trip to London, being able to locate Rick and do what
he did without worrying about repercussions. It all makes sense now. Alexi had his family over there to
assist him.
“Right, we ready to go upstairs?” Ginoes back, manhandling Alessandra from behind with a
bellboy in tow to match ours, who is still waiting patiently. He has our bags on a trolley and is standing
with his arms folded behind his back. Knowing better than to hurry the big spenders who rent out
penthouse suites.
“About time.” Alexi throws him a cheeky look and pulls my body into his arm again as we turn to lead
the way, cuddled against him as we walk. He slides his phone back into his pocket and I get that
undivided attention I wanted once more.
It’s amazing how quickly this is bing normal and second nature as my dependency on his
affections grow stronger. I rest my head on his shoulder as we move, inhaling him andmitting his
touch to memory. All nerves and anxious energy fluttering away on the gentle breeze as the air
conditioners catch us from above as we get out of the open grand entranceway.