Page 3

Kade

Rico and I have worked together for ten years. Became best friends almost immediately. We know each other, how we’ll act or react. It’s like looking in a mirror sometimes, even though he’s dark and I’m light. Brothers, family, bonded by danger and experiences.

We always get the job done. Our superiors noticed and have left us mostly to our own devices as long as we don’t stray too far outside the lines.

Tonight is going to be one of those nights.

This time, Rico’s the player in our operation. He’s been at a table or in front of a machine the whole time we’ve been on location. Hobnobbing with our known targets, getting noticed, standing out with just the right attitude.

Intent on getting the lay of the land, finding ways into places we needed to see and assessing exit routes on the first night of this assignment, I noticed her as I scoped out the casino.

She was behind the hat check counter, alabaster shoulders exposed, her black and gold corset hugged the most perfect body I’d ever seen. An old guy with stooped shoulders and shaggy white hair was talking to her. Her smile was perfection.

Then she laughed and I heard her speak. My god, that voice went straight to my dick. Husky, rich, seductive.

Over the next three weeks, I loved learning the different facets of her personality just by gauging her smile and customer interactions. Sometimes sweet, sometimes kind, when she greeted the average customer or engaged with all the old folks, giving them her best smile and friendliest tone.

Occasionally sultry if the gentlemen was polite or someone she appreciated.

Frosty as hell when some schmuck thought she was fair game and tried to get handsy. And if pushed, downright ferocious.

Sweet and sassy. Just how Rico and I like ‘em.

I told Rico how perfect she was and I’ve been talking her up to him since. But there’s nothing like seeing her in person and experiencing her draw firsthand. Playing his assigned role, he hasn’t been able to see her in person until now.

Now, when she’s in danger. Fate. Sometimes it works in our favor, sometimes not. Damn, I’m hoping this is a good one. This woman totally does it for me. Now that he’s finally seen her in person, I can tell by the glint in his eye he’s interested too.

Somewhere along the path of our years working together, Rico and I realized sharing an occasional woman was part of our dynamic. I mean hell, we’re always hot for the same ones. We’ve had a few short, shared relationships, just nothing that’s stuck. We still hope for something more someday.

I refocus on the mission at hand. First line of business is us sticking by her side until she’s safe. If something more comes of it….

The young man with the tray of rings pauses in front of us and gives us his schmoozy smile. “Who’s taking this lovely lady as their bride?”

“I do,” Rico and I simultaneously respond. I look over Fancy’s head, meeting Rico’s gaze. He raises an eyebrow and smirks. I know what he’s thinking.

“We do,” I reinforce.

The young man shrugs and opens his case. “These are?—”

“We’ll take three of the titanium bands with the milled infinity mark if you have the right sizes,” I cut him off.

Fancy’s eyes go wide. “But?—”

“We’ll get you a nice diamond later, babe. But we want there to be rings tonight to signify our union.” The jeweler looks at me as I continue schmoozing it on. “I don’t want there to be any doubt who’s watching over you. You’re ours now.”

Shaking her head, she drops into an empty seat while the salesman sizes and fits her ring.

“She’s the one I was telling you about,” I whisper to Rico. “The hat check girl. She’s got spunk and sass. I’ve also seen her help out some of the younger women just starting at the casino. Giving them advice and tips for staying safe. She’s a good person.”

“Not to mention those mile long legs, tight ass and—damn those tits,” he adds.

“I’m not blind, but she’s more than looks.”

Rico covers his smile with his hand while muttering, “Works for me.”

Sobering, he glances around. “She’s scared. Doesn’t really trust us. Smart girl. We need to get her out of the open. I say we go to the hotel suite tonight since it’s closest and wait a couple days to move her to the secure house.”

I nod, glancing around the hall, looking for anything threatening and making sure we’re still safe.

The jeweler comes over and fits our rings and hands me hers as well.

She’s sitting quietly, head down, clasping and unclasping her hands in her lap.

A shiver wracks her shoulders. The night’s events are catching up to her.

“It’s not going to be legal.” I remind Rico. “But I got one of the guys to get us a marriage license that will pass. It’s enough for now and we can do all the legal shit later, if this sticks. I think it will.” I pause, “It also gives her an out if she wants.”

“And if we convince her to stay?”

I smile. “Already got that planned out.”

“Doesn’t have to be immediately. Tonight, we play the part, so does she,” he says. “When this assignment is all settled, then the three of us work it out. It doesn’t matter to anyone else. If the three of us ultimately agree, it’s just between us anyway.”

He pauses. “This is fast. But the look in her eyes, I—it’s like the first day you and I were assigned and shook hands. I knew we’d be partners, brothers, for life.

I trust his feelings, they’ve saved our ass more than once.

“We need to protect her,” I say. “The symbolism is one way. It also buys us the time to see if this could work.” I watch as she fingers one of the roses. “I got a feeling, too.”

Together we join her.

It’s as much a hope as a feeling. I’ve been drawn to this woman for a couple weeks. So much so that when I’m working, I need to catch a glimpse of her often during my night’s work. I’ve been frustrated when she’s slipped out before I can check on her one last time.

Rico and I deliberately started this assignment separately.

I’m the ghost, he’s in the limelight. At some point we’d plan to make it look like we met up at the club and are beginners planning a ‘recreational business’ and looking for contacts.

We wanted to seem like easy prey for Lorenzo Adorno to recruit or use as his lackeys. We just need a foot in the door.

The clerk approaches us. Stopping to fill out the paperwork, with the clerk who is now three hundred bucks personally ahead and has our paperwork to file.

We stand before the officiant and proceed to repeat our vows.

If Elvis wasn’t so drunk, he might have questioned the three of us saying ‘I Do’ and exchanging rings, but he was feeling no pain at the time and just scribbled his signature next to the three of ours.

Leading Fancy and Rico toward a different side exit I stop.

“I ordered a limo. Fancy, Rico is going to carry you. Keep your arms around him and snuggle your face into his neck so you’re hidden.

We’re taking you somewhere safe where we can talk.

” I look over her head meeting Rico’s eyes.

“Give me a second to make sure the streets are clear.”

Because of our precious cargo we switch cars once before making our way to our own vehicle and then our hotel suite. I do a quick sweep of the hall and then the inside. None of our sensors or trip wires have been disturbed. Rico hands her off to me and goes down the hall for a few minutes.

I carry her across the threshold. She feels so right in my arms. Crossing to the couch I sit with her cradled across my lap, her back against the arm cushion. “What do you need, babe?”

“A do over on tonight.”