Page 48 of Secret Seduction

Kane, who’s sitting the closest to Lorenzo, snorts out a laugh, telling me he can hear everything that’s being said, and I feel my face heat up.

“Everything okay?” Dominick asks.

“Yeah.” I try to get up, but Lorenzo tightens his hold on me, and for some crazy reason, I give in and sigh back into him. “The guy at the blackjack table … the one closest to us,” I murmur, leaning in so nobody else can hear, “he’s counting cards. Has been doing it for several rounds.”

Dominick’s gaze flits over to where I’m talking about.

“How do you know that?” Matteo asks.

“She’s a shark,” Lorenzo says with a smirk, kissing the top of my shoulder. “Kicks my ass in blackjack damn near every time we play.”

Dominick, Matteo, and Kane all look at me with renewed eyes, and I shrug, not liking the spotlight on me.

“I’ll handle it,” Matteo says, standing.

I nod and push off Lorenzo.

When he pouts like a child, I shake my head. “I need to get back to work.”

“Or … you could come home with me. I’m sure I could find a way for you to earn some money that didn’t involve you flaunting those perfect tits and ass around for other men.”

My eyes widen at his words, and I take a step back.

“Did you just offer to pay me for sex?” I hiss.

“Oh shit,” Kane says with a low whistle.

“What? No,” Lorenzo splutters. “I was just⁠—”

I lift my hand to silence him. “Stop talking. You’ve said enough.”

I go back to the bar, and because it picks up, I don’t pay attention to what happens with the guy or notice when Lorenzo leaves. But when my shift ends, instead of the manager giving me my payout for the night, I’m met with Dominick.

“You were right,” he says. “My security went over the footage. They’re usually good about catching that shit, but he was damn good.”

“I guess it takes one to know one,” I mutter.

“It could’ve cost the casino a lot of money, and he’s a regular, so who knows how many times he’s done it or planned to do it in the future? We also found out he was paying off the dealer.” He hands me my envelope. “I put a little extra in there as a thank-you. I appreciate when our employees are loyal.”

“Thank you.” I reach out to take it, but he doesn’t release it.

“Lorenzo’s been through some shit,” he says. “His parents being murdered in their sleep, his ex being a conniving bitch. Then some woman shows up and cons him into marrying her.” He quirks a brow.

“Lorenzo’s a big boy.”

“He wears his heart on his sleeve. Just go easy on him, Vanessa.” He releases the envelope and takes a step back. “What he said earlier … he’d been drinking, and I think you’ve gotten his head all fucked up.”

I can relate, I think, but don’t voice out loud.

Instead, I hold up the envelope and thank him again and then hightail it out of there.

Sal is waiting for me, and once I’m back at the condo, I tiptoe through the place, not wanting to wake Lorenzo or Leo.

But when I peek into Leo’s room to check on him, his crib is empty.

“He’s spending the night at my sister’s,” Lorenzo says, leaning against the doorway.

Tonight, he’s sporting his usual basketball shorts, sans shirt, and I’m given an up-close look at the ink that dances across his skin.