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“Do you ever think it’s odd that you just hang out with criminals all day and it’s your life?”
He laughs again. “Yeah. All the time. Going to college at Yale was a really interesting wake-up call to the fact that not everyone is a criminal and that there are good people in the world. I’ve justified how I live my life because I’ve never really run into people I thought of as good. Even the politicians, doctors, lawyers, the police, people who were supposed to be helpful and ethical all proved to be very unethical and most times downright evil. It made no sense I should follow some code of morals that they all preached about when they didn’t follow them themselves.”
“Funny, that’s pretty much how I felt about the church. There was so much hypocrisy, and I never got the vibe that any of them wanted to actually help people. And helping people is really all I’ve ever wanted to do. Even in my job, I find ways to help people.”
He stands and pulls on his boxers, and I think I’ve upset him.
“What did I say?”
He chuckles. “Nothing, lass. I just noticed the time and we need to get back out there. I’ve barely spent any time in my area tonight.”
With a laugh, I roll out of bed to pull on my clothes, but he stops me and pulls me to him. “You’re mine. I hope you know that.”
“I’m no one’s.”
He brushes hair from my face and glares. “You’ll come to realize before too long that I always get my way, Zara. Argue all you want, but you’re mine now.”
Chapter 15
Zara
Ahandnudgesmyshoulder, and I bat it away.
“It’s too early,” I moan.
But the nudge comes again, and I crack open an eye to find a very different Luke standing in front of me. His clothes are still impeccable, but he’s wearing a band t-shirt and a pair of tight jeans. When I sit up and look at his feet, he’s wearing work boots.
“What the hell are you wearing?” I blurt.
He laughs. “Get dressed. Something casual that doesn’t stand out. I’m taking you somewhere special today.”
Confusion makes me wrinkle my forehead, but I climb out of bed and go to the closet to find something to match his casual look.
I settle for a solid blue blouse and a pair of jeans and slip my feet into a pair of black flats, then I go to the bathroom to brush my teeth and pull my hair back into a ponytail.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
He smiles. “It’s a surprise.”
Thirty minutes later, we’ve had breakfast at the coffee shop in the casino, and we’re climbing into a car. This time it’s just a Honda civic. A surprising choice, but it matches the rest of his look today.
As we drive, I stare at the strip and look around. It’s gorgeous here.
Very familiar. We haven’t talked much about the fact that I grew up here. But I’m sure we’ll have to at some point. Eventually, we’re going to run into someone who knows me.
Possibly even my sister.
As she crosses my mind, we pass a group of homeless people gathered under the bridge and I find myself scanning the crowd of unkempt people for her.
Hopefully, she’s turning her life around and isn’t living on the streets anymore. That’s what I would like to believe. But it’s unlikely.
We drive until we reach a racetrack and I frown when he parks next to a minivan.
As he steps out of the car, a teenage boy comes rushing at him. “Luke! You came. I didn’t think you could make it.”
Luke gives the boy a one-shouldered hug, clearly uncomfortable with the affection but he grins. “I got back into town sooner than I expected. Figured I would surprise you. Hope you don’t mind, I brought a friend.”
I smile at the boy. “I’m Zara.” Though Zara is the name I use with clients, it’s the one I’ve always preferred to my legal name. I plan to use it even after I retire.
