Page 95 of Fall of a Kingdom

He opened the glass door of the shower and stuck his wet head out. I handed him a towel and he used it to wipe his hand dry before taking the phone. He pressed a button and put it to his ear.

“Campbell,” he said into his cell. “Aye, I’ll be right there.” He clicked off and immediately jumped out of the shower.

Fear skated down my spine. “Flynn?”

“A bomb was found on The Fifteenth Floor.”

Chapter33

RAMSEY

The visionof the woman on the security camera screens of The Dallas Rex Casino was impossible to ignore. She stood at the roulette wheel in a gold sequined dress. I could only see her profile, but it was enough. More than enough to take in the blade sharp cheekbones and the honey blonde waves of hair begging for my fingers.

And her mouth…Christ, her mouth. Painted red. Made for sin.

Thank God she was blonde. I didn’t sleep with brunettes anymore. Brunettes were nothing but trouble.

I strode to the door of the casino security room and opened it. Sounds of conversation and laughter drifted to my ears. A jazz band played in the corner of the room to enhance the casino’s ambiance.

Flynn had known what he was doing when he opened the first Rex Hotel in Manhattan so many years ago. It had given every hotel he would own thereafter a blueprint for total success, and now his empire was a well-oiled machine.

I nodded my head in greeting at men and women I recognized, but I didn’t stop to chat. I was a man on a mission.

Even in heels, the woman only came to the spot just below my chin. I sidled up next to her but didn’t speak.

She didn’t look like she’d seen me; her gaze was riveted to the roulette wheel.

“Place your bets,” the croupier announced.

“One hundred thousand on black 24,” the woman said, her voice husky and heady.

“All bets are in.” The croupier spun the wheel. There was a heightened sense of excitement, a collective holding of breaths as the ball traversed the wheel until it landed with finality.

“Black 13,” the dealer announced. “Sorry, miss.”

The beautiful woman turned her head and looked at me boldly. Her eyes were the color of sable fur.

“This is all your fault,” she said lightly, a slight smile curving her bright red lips.

“My fault?” I repeated.

“Yes. I was on a winning streak until you showed up. You just cost me a hundred grand.” Amusement flashed in her eyes as though she didn’t care about the money. And by the way she was dressed it was clear that she had it to lose if she wanted. Most of the patrons in the casino were of the same ilk. Occasionally a desperate low-level gambler came in with everything they were able to swindle or steal, hoping to win big. They usually lost bigger. Gambling and emotion didn’t mix.

“Can I make it up to you? Let me buy you a drink.”

“That better be one hell of a drink,” she said with a smokey laugh.

“I guess I’ll have to do something else to get into your good graces then.” My eyes lowered and roved over her. She was beautiful and held her composure against my gaze.

“Shall we?” I asked, offering her my arm.

She took it and then we walked toward the elevators.

“Where are you leading me?” she asked.

“Astray.”

She laughed again. “Why do I have a feeling that I’m going to lose more than money tonight? Like my clothes, perhaps?”