Queen of Hearts (22 page)

She twisted her lips and hummed. “I didn’t bring a suit.”

I waved her off and went to the dresser. “No worries. I bought quite a few when I got back. You might be able to find one you can fit into. You’re taller than I am, but it’ll work.”

I pulled a few out and placed them on the top of the dresser. I couldn’t imagine what the girl looked like in a bikini. She was killing me in the soft shorts and T-shirt she had on. She was effortless beauty, unsoiled and ripe. God help her.

God help any man that caught an eyeful.

“Let me go talk to Vince for a minute while you get ready,” I said as I slipped my bottoms up my legs. I pulled my dress up and over my head and grinned when she turned her head. “You have bigger boobs than I do, girly. Suck it up.”

Once I had my top tied around my neck, I pulled a sarong out and wrapped it around my waist. “There’s some wraps in the drawer, too, so you can grab a cover up if you’d like. I’ll be in the other room.”

I rubbed her arm as I walked out and found Vince rummaging around in the kitchen. “You don’t have any fucking food. Good idea making us stay here.”

I leaned against the counter and watched him rifle through the shelves. “I don’t think I invited
you.
I was going to have Flynn get his lapdog to do some grocery shopping later on.”

He pulled his head out of the fridge and smiled. “That guy is such a cocksucker.”

I nodded. That was a brilliant way to describe him. I usually just went with creep or asshole. “What is his deal anyway? You have the scoop on him.”

He pulled out a banana and a cup of yogurt and sat at the wraparound bar. “He’s worked for Doyle since Flynn was a little kid. He started following Flynn when he moved back to Vegas after college. I think he’s a snitch.”

“Mmm hmm.” I nodded. “Was he really in Oklahoma? How did he find me?”

He laughed, peeling the foil off his breakfast. “He followed you that night. You lost him somewhere, for a few days, but he found you eventually. Fucking sniffing hound.”

I leaned on my elbows on the counter. “So why didn’t Flynn tell you where I was? Why did you have to go to Pamela?”

“Flynn’s a dick. He didn’t want me telling you he was trailing you, so he hid you from me. We’ve taken care of that shit, by the way. I don’t care if you’re carrying his baby and his last name, you’ll always be mine to watch over. He gets that shit now.”

I fluttered my eyelashes. “You Neanderthals really know how to creep a girl out. I’m not a trinket. That drives me crazy that you treat me that way.”

He pulled the spoon from his lips and pointed it at me. “Kid, I’ve known you since you were still playing with dolls. You’re my family; I will always own the right to protect you. Him, on the other hand... you can work that out together, but he knows never to get in my way again.”

“Did you hit him?” I said, laughing.

He shrugged. “Since you left? Countless times. I’ve pretty much been pissed off for the past year.”

“It wasn’t his fault,” I said honestly. “I know that now. I was so hurt and dazed before I left that I wasn’t sure what to believe. I thought I hated him. I tried to hate him.”

“Yeah, well, look at you now.”

“Look at me now.”

In that moment, I couldn’t help but think about my dad. Would he be happy for me? I was almost sure he would be, but then again, knowing my old man, he’d just see me being with Flynn as a big fat dollar sign. He’d use my relationship to his advantage, consequences be damned. I wanted to believe that he’d want the best for me, but the truth was, he truly never had.

“Do you think I’ll ever find out what happened to my dad, Vince?”

He sighed and slid the food out of his way. “I don’t know. Would you really want to? God only knows what happened to him, so I think it’s better if you just put your imagination away. He’s gone. There ain’t nothing you can do about it.”

He was right, but Ellie’s words rang through my head on repeat. I needed to take a little control. I wanted to put him to rest once and for all. “Do you think it’s stupid that I want to... I don’t know—give him a burial?”

He nodded slowly, looking at me like I’d grown three heads. “Yeah, I think it’s really stupid. Why are you getting so sentimental all of a sudden?”

“He was my dad,” I whispered. “I think if I can just put an end to it in my heart, I can forget about it. Ellie said...”

“Ellie’s nuts,” he interrupted. “She was a clinger. She doesn’t need to be putting these things in your head. Let it go.”

I knew he was right, and I wanted to. I wasn’t sure how, though.

“I’m ready,” Kelsey said.

Vince and I both turned, and I grinned when I saw what she’d put on. I took a quick glance at Vince and laughed under my breath at the way his throat bobbed as he swallowed. His eyes were pinned to her, his gaze locked. I was pretty sure that I was watching something amazing unfold.

“The pink one is good. I told you your boobs were better. Come on, let’s head out.”

Vince jumped up and stood between us, giving me a furious stare. “I thought Flynn told you to stay put. You two need to stay here.”

I pushed at his chest. “We’re going to spend the day at the pool. It’s safe up there, and I have a plan.”

He started to argue, but I wasn’t letting him. I grabbed Kelsey’s arm, picked up my bag, and steered us to the door. “I have my phone if you need us. You’ll know where we are at all times—I promise.”

I blew him a kiss, and Kelsey giggled. “It’ll be fun. I swear it.”

~~***~~

T
here were more people at the pool than usual, but I found us a nice spot in a secluded area heavily shaded with foliage and trees. The pool had two coves, and we took over the furthest one.

“Let’s get in the pool first and cool off. It’s got to be at least one hundred and twenty degrees out here already.”

The air vibrated with the heat. It was the kind of heat that could melt your skin away. I untied my sarong and threw it on the chair while Kelsey peeled her cover-up off. I could feel about ten sets of eyes on us, and when I looked up, I saw Flynn storming toward us.

He was wearing a pair of tan pants and a light-colored linen shirt. His hair looked like he hadn’t bothered to brush it, and his sunglasses hid what I could only imagine were eyes that danced with fire.

I dipped my toe in the water, trying to ignore the butterflies in my belly. I probably should’ve called him before heading to the pool, but it was isolated up here. Five guards stood at the entrance to the patio, so I didn’t see what the big deal was.

A loud, piercing whistle startled me, and I watched as he pulled his fingers from his mouth and barked into the area. “Everyone get the fuck out. Now. The pool is closed.”

I heard murmurs and arguments, but when a man like Flynn said jump, you better bend your knees and get your ass in the air. As he passed a section of lounge chairs, the blonde—the constant thorn in my side—sat up and grabbed the leg of his pants.

“I just got out here, and I want my tan even.”

He swatted her hand away and snapped. “Get. The. Fuck. Out!”

She jumped back like he’d bitch-slapped her—which verbally, he had—and grabbed her belongings. She complained and threw stares at me, but I had bigger problems.

“I thought I asked you to stay put.”

He pushed his glasses up on his head, and I was right. He was fuming. “Wait,” I said, stepping forward and placing my hand on his chest. “I did what you asked. I’m still here. I thought it’d be okay to be up here. Is there something you’re not telling me?”

His jaw ticked as he stared me down, literally taking in every inch of me with his eyes. “My dick can’t take seeing you in that.”

I looked down, running my finger between my breasts and smiling a sly smile. “This thing?”

His finger replaced mine, and he leaned down to whisper in my ear. “You’re in so much trouble when I get back. Have this on, and only this, and be on my bed. Ready.”

He bit down on my shoulder and licked the pinch away with his tongue before standing up and smirking. “I’ll call you when I’m on my way.”

“Okay,” I said. I was suddenly breathless, and my knees were ready to give out.

“Kelsey,” he said. He gave her a nod, and I had to hand it to him. He managed not to drool.

But he looked.

“Be careful,” I called out. He waved over his shoulder and stormed across the now empty patio.

“Wow,” Kelsey laughed. “I thought he was going to hit you.”

I turned sharply and frowned. “Real men don’t hit, Kelsey.”

She looked injured by my tone but nodded. “He really loves you.”

I nodded, frowning. “Let’s get in the pool and talk.”

The tone was uneasy again, but I couldn’t help the anger that brewed inside of me knowing that someone had raised their hand to her. I’d known more than my share of those types, but it didn’t mean I thought it was normal or okay. She seemed so detached from what was wrong or right. It pissed me off.

“Who hit you?” I said bluntly.

We were up to our shoulders, bobbing in the cool water. She pushed her long hair behind her shoulders and ducked her head. “It was only once, but he was my boss.”

I gulped, suddenly sick. “Were you whoring?”

She shook her head, eyes wide. “No! It was when I was working in a club. I’d only been there for about a week, and I wouldn’t do a lap dance for this guy. He scared me, you know? So I refused, and he backhanded me.”

“How long were you there,” I asked.

She waded around, pushing the water around between her fingers and avoiding my eyes. She was ashamed. I knew that feeling.

“I only worked there about six months. I came out to stay with my sister, but I couldn’t find her. This guy I met told me about dancing, and I really didn’t have any choice.” She paused, shrugging “I hated it, but what was I supposed to do? I couldn’t go home. My parents disowned Kristine when they found out what she was doing, and they told me if I left, I was never welcome to come back.”

“You don’t have to do that anymore. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

She didn’t look convinced. “Like what? Vince has been so nice to let me stay with him, and now you, but what happens now?”

I swam closer to her and smiled. “Whatever the hell you want. How old are you, Kelsey?”

“Nineteen.”

I nodded. I was pretty close to being correct about that. “You have your whole life ahead of you. Whatever you want to do, wherever you want to go, we’ll make that happen.”

There was hope in her eyes. She wanted something out of life, and if there was anything in the world I could do, it was to make sure the world didn’t fuck that little girl over. I was so angry with her sister for pulling her into the cesspool of garbage we lived in, but that was beside the point. She had it coming no matter what—if it hadn’t already caught up with her. Kelsey was a good girl with a good heart. She was going to be my responsibility. More than anything, I wanted to make sure she had choices—choices I never had.

Her chin started quivering, so I decided to steer the conversation into lighter subjects. I wanted her to chill out and enjoy herself. There was no reason for her to live in constant fear. If I could feel safe, then so should she.

“Have you ever been here? The Maguire?”

She smiled. “When I first got here, I tried to go to all the big casinos just to look around. I came in once, but I got kicked out because I didn’t have I.D.”

I laughed. “Well, at least you tried. I never got caught, but come to think of it, everyone in this town has been under the impression that I was born twenty-five. No one has ever hassled me.”

Grabbing onto the edge of the pool, she kicked her legs out and cocked her head, looking at me. “Do you work for Vince?”

I mimicked her position and turned my head to face her. “Definitely not. I don’t work, period. I’m retired.” I smiled as I said it; the triumphant thrill ran deep throughout my soul. “I never worked for him, just to be clear. He worked for my father, but I’ve always worked for myself. He did always keep an eye on me, however.”

She wouldn’t look at me, and I knew she wanted to ask the
big
question. I figured it would be easier to pull the bandage right off and avoid anymore awkwardness.

“I was a prostitute. That’s what you wanted to ask, wasn’t it?”

She gave me a doleful expression. “I didn’t want to insult you, but I wondered.”

I tapped my fingers against the tile behind me and leaned my head back. “You wouldn’t insult me. Just about everyone around here knows what I was. It’s the only reason most of them know me, Kelsey.”

“I’m sorry,” she said softly.

I laughed through my nose. “Honey, what are you sorry for? I chose to be a hooker. It was easy money, and I really liked money.”

‘’Did you know my sister?”

My belly twisted with nerves. This was it. Kristine was the motivation behind Doyle’s actions, and any information I could get would only help. I just didn’t want to hurt Kelsey. I had to play it very careful.

“I didn’t know her well, no. She dated my father.”

Kelsey’s eyes bugged out of her head, and she turned so that she was completely facing me. “Shut up!”

I lifted my head, shaking it slowly. “It was brief, but yes, they were together. My dad was quite a ladies’ man.”

“So he doesn’t know where she is?” Concern and disappointment etched her features, and I felt so bad for her.

“He’s gone, Kelsey. He passed away last year.”

She covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry.”

I pinched my lips together, a tug of pain battling in my heart. I had to push through it, though. “Why did you come out here to be with her? What brought you out here?”

She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. “She called me about three weeks before I left. She’d broken up with her boyfriend, and she was really upset. I was worried about her. That was the first time she’d ever told me what she was doing. I was scared, so when I didn’t hear from her, I came out here to find her.”

“So where is she now? Why did she leave you alone?”

“She was already gone,” she said, sniffling. “I went to the address I had for her, and the lady said she hadn’t lived there in months. I didn’t know what else to do. When she first moved out here, she had a roommate, so I tried to find her, but I couldn’t.”