Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
I fall onto my back, throw my arm over my face, and sigh in defeat. This week is trying to fucking kill me! And tonight, it might succeed.
_______________
I allow her to pull me around town for most of the day. She takes me to a salon for a spray tan, then I had my hair washed and fixed to perfection. Got my nails and toes done. It was the works. I’ve been nervous most of the day. Even the two margaritas I had before we left the salon haven’t helped me much. I kept wondering how I was going to pay for everything, but when I reached for my purse, she refused to let me help. She said it was on her since she signed us up for this. I hated that I couldn’t pay for it but was thankful for her kindness. I plan on paying her back for my half as soon as I get paid for whatever the fuck we’re doing tonight.
My knees start to bounce when I see Kingdom ahead of us.
Please don’t let me see him.
“You are literally sweating,” she observes in the driver’s seat with a laugh.
“This is not funny,” I snap and lean forward to move the vents, so the cool air hits my face in her Aston Martin DB11. Placing my hands on the dash, I allow it to also hit my underarms. Fuck, can you actually sweat to death?
She smiles. “You’re gonna run into Bones sooner or later.”
“I just don’t want it to be today.” She doesn’t know that I saw Titan last night. I’m pretty sure she slept with him back in college. Hell, maybe she still does. I’ve been gone for a long time. And I don’t plan on staying in Las Vegas long. There’s only one thing for me here, and it won’t be here much longer. I would have already jumped on a plane and gone back to Chicago if not for my mother, since my apartment hasn’t sold yet. But I can’t abandon her now.
She pulls off the Strip and up to Kingdom. I look up at the buildings in awe. “Wow,” I say, taking in the scene before me.
“Yeah.” She chuckles.
Kingdom has been here for years. Their fathers started it back in the late eighties; they were known as the Three Wisemen. But it’s had some major upgrades since I saw it last, which was before the Kings took it over.
Four black, glass-tinted buildings tower before us—side by side. It reads Kingdom across the top in the middle with gold letters.
She pulls under the carport-like structure, changing my view from the towers to bright lights that light up the four lanes. Cars are lined up, and a few limos. Tourists stand on the steps and by the curb with their luggage in tow. Others are getting out of their cars, just arriving for the weekend. She brings her car to a stop at the valet stand.
Two men open our doors, and I thank them as I get out. She all but runs up the stairs, but I take them slowly, gripping the handrail, just taking it all in. Cars honk in the distance on the Strip and in line waiting for their turn to enter the hotel and casino.
“Come on, slowpoke,” she calls out, holding open one of the glass doors for me.
I enter the hotel and look down at the white marble floor. A golden K sits inside a black circle. People walk around, talking to one another. Black columns are placed throughout the lobby, with lights wrapped around them. A massive rectangular rug runs along the entrance over to the front desk, lined in white stitching. We entered on the hotel side. To the left of the front door, the marble flooring changes to carpet, and you can see slot machines lined up one after another. You can hear the ringing from the machines. People cheering at the poker tables and waitresses walking around with full trays in their hands.
She grips my hand and pulls me over to the far right where there is an inclinator. She steps onto the moving sidewalk. Mirrors on both sides are lit up with round bulbs, and I stare at my reflection. My dark hair is down and in big curls. My makeup is caked on—more than how I usually wear it—and my eyes are lined with black eyeliner. My lashes have three extra coats, making them heavy, and my lips are covered in a nude gloss. I feel like we’re in college all over again, and I’ve allowed her to talk me into sneaking out to go barhopping.
The walkway comes to an end a couple of times where you have to walk the small distance to get on another. When the last one ends, she takes my hand and leads me down a long hallway. “What exactly are we doing?” I ask.