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“Obviously, no one. We’re only used to men sitting at the table. It was a surprise to see that she was the fourth player.” I know, right! She won the game fair and square. Smitty was just an asshole.
Batista sat his shot glass on the bar, then waved the bartender over. “We need another shot,” he said.
“Yes, sir,” the bartender said while pouring us another shot.
Turning to my friend, I stated, “Batista, I think you’ve had enough. It’s time for us to go home.”
Batista stood up straight with his eyes wildly surveying the room. “Dom, because of your family, any family I have in the future will be financially taken care of.” He tilted his empty shot glass towards me. “And so will yours. It’s time for you to start thinking about building your legacy with a wife and children.”
I don’t know where he was going with this, but they say a drunken mind speaks a sober heart and at this moment Batista was speaking his. So, I sat back and listened.
“For instance, Ms. Morgan, she may be the type of woman you need by your side. She isn’t afraid to put down those who disrespect her, so what do you think she would do to those who would do the same to you or your future children? She is what you would call a Boss Lady, and that’s what you need.”
Batista dropped the shot glass on the bar, then said, “I know I might be slightly fucked up, but I’m going to tell you this, ‘If you let her go, then you are a fool. A woman like that is only presented to you once in a lifetime. The time is yours. Do with it as you please.”
Picking up my shot glass, I tossed back the contents. After making a hissing sound as the liquor moved down my throat to my stomach, I peered at Batista and said, “And I will. Sydney Morgan might’ve walked in here to play poker tonight, but before she left, I already had claims on her.”
The bartender refills my glass.
“And I can’t see it any other way,” Batista returned, lifting his refilled shot glass. I pick up mine, then tap it against his.
“Let’s unofficially welcome the newest member of the DeLuca family,” I announce before we toss back the liquor.
“Shit,” Batista barks before tapping the end of the shot glass two times on the counter. “Let’s get the fuck out of here. Tomorrow is a brand-new day.”
“Yes, it is. I want you to reach out to our IT person and have him find out everything about Ms. Sydney Morgan. The shit between the two of us is far from over,” I proclaimed.
“And you will have it,” Batista promised.
After two o’clock in the morning, we left the casino with more gamblers coming in, hoping this was their night to hit it big. I know some think the machines are rigged, but the ones in my establishment are not. I’m an equal opportunist gambler, so however the slots, cards, dice, or balls lay, then that is the outcome of your bet. Don’t blame me if you didn’t win. You took that risk and that happens every day with life.
After my driver dropped Batista off at home, he drove to my house. The three guards I kept on duty at the property flanked the vehicle as the driver pulled up to my driveway.
“Sir, is there anything else that you would require from me?” the driver asked. Like my guards, he was also a sharpshooter.
“No, I think I’m good. I’ll see you tomorrow once I have my schedule finalized.” I told him before getting out.
Eying the men I had around me, I walked to my front door. Pressing my thumb print to clarify who I am, the door unlocked, then opened. If a person wanted to get inside of my home, then they would need my thumb print and that only lasted one hour before the appendage went cold from blood circulation. Only three people have access to my house, and they are my daddy, Batista, and Jefferson.
Once on the inside I closed the door, leaving my men to go back to their posts until they were relieved from their replacements in the morning.
After falling asleep, my dreams were filled with Sydney and our potential future together. In each dream I saw us living a beautiful life with a little boy and girl. I’ve never wanted anything like that with any of the women dated in the past. I needed to find out why I’m having these types of feelings about Sydney. It was an unknown territory for me.
Now I sit with my back against my headboard, wondering how my day is going to unfold. I didn’t have to think long when I got a text message. Tapping on the screen of my phone, it was from Batista with information about Sydney.
Our IT guy found out Sydney is having dinner at Ruby’s Kitchen at three this afternoon. He’s still working on getting her background information.
Letting my fingers speak for me, I respond,“Be here by two-thirty. We’re going to surprise her.”
“Will do,” Batista replies with a laughing face emoji.
He might’ve thought the situation was funny, but I didn’t. Sydney walked away last night before I had the chance to prove my case, but today I’m not giving her any other option but to sit and have a conversation with me.
With plans on how I was going to approach Sydney jumping around in my head, I got out of bed and threw on a pair of basketball shorts and sneakers. I decided to get a quick workout in. On the way to my home gym, I ran into Jefferson. When he asked what I wanted for breakfast, I told him I only wanted a strawberry protein shake.
Two hours later, I left the gym soaked with sweat, but my muscles felt amazing. Jefferson met me in the hallway with my shake.
“Thank you, Jefferson,” I said, taking the glass from him, then took a drink.
