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The dress went loose, holding his arm as I stepped out of it. I turned to face him, kissing his cheek. “I think the third dress I tried on. I’ll go with that one. Can you pass me my bra?”

He stood there, blinking at me. For a second, I thought maybe he hadn’t heard me because his response was so delayed. Finally, he reached beside him, handing it to me.

Something was definitely different with him this morning.

VINCE

“Busy night, brother?” I looked from the half-beaten man to the gun in his hand.

This wasn’t like Bastion. Wired. Angry. I gestured for the three men behind him to leave.

“So. What did he do?”

Bastion looked at me. “Stole a shitload of drugs from me. Made me look like a fucking idiot.”

I nodded. So, a bruised ego and embarrassment. Never a good mixture for making a clear decision.

Reaching for my gun, I pointed it at the back of the man's head, pulling the trigger.

“What the fuck, Vince!” Bastion shoved me. “I’m not a fucking kid!”

“Look at me.” grabbing him, “Every drug sold, every dollar embezzled, and every life taken. The decisions we make we have to live with.” I pointed at the body. “I couldn’t give a fuck what that man did. Hear me? If killing him takes you from us. You stop. You call me, you call Nikolai. You wait and organize a hit. You do not let anyone take you from us?”

He shoved me away. “I could handle it.”

“There will be a time you can, but this isn’t it.”

One look at him and I knew he wasn’t thinking right. Anything can be justified in the moment. Living with it, though, when the rage is gone, that’s completely different.

This is why Nikolai and I had rules in place with them. How many times have we told them? We think our decisions through. I wouldn’t lose him to another man’s ghost.

I pointed to the side room. “Get cleaned up. They’re waiting for us at the casino. And Bastion,” I cut the ties off the man’s wrists. “This fucker won’t care if you can’t close your hands for a week, or that your knuckles burn every time you wash them. You only use your own fists when you want the reminder you handled it. Understand?”

In a few days, I’d pick this conversation backup. Right now, it wasn’t the time.

All night she had been gone. I never hated a game as much as I hated blackjack for taking her from me.

I grinned while holding the side of her face. Damn, I had missed her smile all night. “How much did you lose?” Touching her bottom lip with my thumb.

“Not nearly as much as you’ve had to drink.”

“I’m good, Rome though.” I scoffed. “Went way too hard early. We’re going to a new, um.” I clicked my fingers at Bastion.

“Club?” Madeline finished my sentence.

I nodded, running my hand up her side.

She stepped in front of me. “I can’t come; I have a debt to settle.”

What?

“Maddy caught a fish,” Rome grinned.

“More like a shark.” She winked at him.

Huh. Since when did she like seafood? Maybe I had drank too much. Or they had.

“Behave, Vinny, okay?” She kissed my cheek before stepping out of my reach.