Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
I glare at him, annoyed. How am I supposed to explain that Casey isn’t like the pampered, spoiled little rich girls he prefers? Con’s been fucking his way through every actress, every model, and every heiress in L.A. He probably forgot that most normal women need jobs.
Some even like them.
“It’s her decision,” I say even if that’s not the best argument. The Costa family isn’t exactly known for its progressive gender politics, and nobody would be surprised if I didn’t take Casey’s preferences into account.
“Who gives a damn?” he says, surprising absolutely nobody. “She’s your wife. She’s the goddamn Don’s woman, and she’s dealing roulette!”
“Blackjack,” I correct. “Sometimes craps.”
“Even worse. Come on, Adler, we have an image to uphold. What the hell does the staff think about your wife working as if we couldn’t afford to let her sit around covered in money for the rest of her life?”
“They think what they think and they’re too smart to say anything where I can hear it.”
“Spoken like a true Costa.” He sighs, his laughter dying down. We step out onto the games floor and he’s quiet for a second, surveying the action. People sit at slots hitting buttons, drinks flow, cards slide across felt. I notice the movement now, the way there’s always someone coming, always someone going. It feels like I’m seeing things through Casey’s eyes for a moment, and it’s strange. I’ve been jaded toward this place for a long time. Con says, “The Sunrise gets older, but this never changes.”
“It’s good, isn’t it? I didn’t notice it for a long time.”
“Good and bad. Fucked us up, that’s for sure.”
“Can’t disagree there.”
“You ever think about him?” Con glances at me.
He doesn’t have to specify who. “I haven’t thought about Dad since the day we buried him.”
“I can’t believe that’s true.”
It’s not. I think about him all the time, but against my wishes. He haunts this place. Every detail, every fixture, every corner’s got my father’s stamp on it. “Dad’s gone. I run the family now. That’s all I care about.”
“Sure thing.” He claps my shoulder, but he’s not unfriendly about it. “Come on, take me to her.”
I steer him into the crowd. For a moment, I feel like a kid all over again, running through the clusters of bodies, weaving my way through the action with my brothers. Con was always the most outgoing of our group—a grumpy bastard most of the time, but charming in a way none of us could ever manage—and he got into the most trouble. But he was also able to talk himself out of it more often than not, though it helped that his last name was Costa. Nothing ever quite stuck to us the way it did to other kids our age.
And the times when life wanted to fuck us, we closed ranks and protected each other.
That’s how my father wanted it. Four brothers looking out for the family. Competing, fighting, bickering, but always united in the end.
I wonder how he could feel about the way things are now, with all four of us separated by so much distance, barely seeing each other a few times a year.
I spot Casey up ahead. Con angles directly toward her, which annoys me; I had no clue he knew what she looked like, but he must’ve done his homework. That, or it’s obvious since she’s the only dealer with two security goons lurking behind her. I’ll have to talk with those two about being more discreet. They aren’t helping with Casey’s gossip problem.
Here I go, worrying about her feelings again.
Before Con has a chance to derail her too badly, I gesture at Big Dan and motion for Casey to get rotated out. Big Dan sends another one of his dealers over and Casey gets pulled off the table. She looks around, confused, before she spots Con coming straight for her.
“You’re my brother’s new wife,” he says, thrusting a palm at her in his easygoing way. “My name’s Conlan Costa, but you can call me Con. Everyone does.”
“Uh,” she says, shaking his hand. She gives me a panicked look. “Hello, Con. My name’s Casey.”
“Oh, I know all about you, Casey Kiernan. Though you’re not too active on social media, which I admit made it difficult to do my normal deep stalk.”
“Should I feel flattered that you’d go to the trouble?”
“Absolutely.” Con beams. “I only research those worthy of my attention.”
“Casey, Con is my youngest brother,” I say before this conversation gets even weirder. “He came in from Los Angeles.”
“What are you doing out there?” she asks.
“Running the family properties.” He slowly walks with Casey by his side. Because the floor’s crowded, I’m forced to trail them. “When Dad died, we split up the empire and each took a corner. Adler here got the Sunrise since he’s the boss and this place is still the heart of the family, while I was shunted out to our overseas holdings. I think my brothers are embarrassed of me.”