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"If there’s something you want to get done, then you have to be willing to get out there and do it yourself," she had told me when I was a teenager. Back then, I had likely just rolled my eyes at her, but now I could see she was right. And I was grateful for how much she had inspired me to pursue the career I had. She'd been involved in charity work all over the city, especially when it came to supporting women, using every little bit of clout and influence she had to try to make a difference in this world. There weren’t many people out there who would have gone as far as she did to try and make things right, but her commitment was what was keeping me going these days. If she could do it, I could, too, right?
"What’s on your mind?" Shelby asked, tipping her head to the side and raising her eyebrows at me. I shook my head. I didn’t want to bring down what was meant to be a fun night with my solemn thoughts. Besides, with a few drinks in me, maybe I could loosen up a little and focus on having some fun.
And if there was anyone I could have fun with, it was Shelby. She had always been the kind of girl who knew how to let loose and party. Born and raised in Las Vegas, just like me, she might as well have been made for this city. It was a miracle she had managed to last as long as she had without getting caught sneaking into clubs with fake IDs, but I figured she didn’t have to worry about it any longer.
"Nothing," I replied, shaking my head. "Come on, let’s get another drink, I want to have fun tonight."
"Yeah, seems like your whole family is going that way," she remarked, cocking an eyebrow. "Mark’s setting up a casino, isn’t he?”
"Yes, should be open by the end of the month," I replied. She frowned.
"Sorry if this is over the line," she told me. "But...how are you guys affording that? I mean, everything you told me about your family, it seemed like your parents didn’t leave you much more than the hotel. Not enough to open up a place like that, anyway."
I shrugged.
"I’m honestly not sure," I replied. "I haven’t asked him about it. He wanted to take over the hotel, and I’m not going to stick my nose in. Besides, I think a casino would be good—I mean, this is Vegas, after all. People expect there to be one in every hotel."
"Yeah, don’t get me wrong, it’s a great idea," she replied. "And I’ll get free drinks there, too, right?"
"You’ll have to talk to him about that," I laughed. "But I don’t think he’s going to be throwing around the free booze if he can help it."
"What, even for a beloved family friend like me?" Shelby cooed, planting a hand on her chest.
"You’ll have to sweet-talk him if you want that," I pointed out, and she pulled a face.
"I’ll pass," she replied and lifted her glass to her lips again.
Just like that, we turned the conversation on to her dating life. She always had some guy on the go, most of them sure they could tame her, and swiftly finding out they didn’t stand a chance. Ever since we’d been in high school together, she’d always been the one the guys paid attention to.
It had never really bothered me then because I got to hear all the juicy details while I could actually spend my time focused on my studies and getting the grades I needed to win the scholarship to NYU. But now? Now, I was starting to wonder if I should have been looking for someone. Maybe it could have eased the pain of losing my family if I had another half, someone I could share my emotions with.
But I didn’t want to jump into anything just for the sake of it. There had been plenty of offers when I was in college, given that everyone was pretty much trying to hook up with everyone else, but I had never wanted to fall into bed with someone just to say I had. There’d been a few guys, a few dates, and even a few fun nights, but none of it had ever really turned into anything more than that. I had been too focused on my work to let some fling get in the way of it, and most of the guys I liked seemed to sense that from a mile away. They didn’t want to get involved with me, because they knew I never would have put them first—not when there was so much about the world I wanted to change.
We drank till late into the night, and I walked Shelby outside so she could get a cab home safely. She lived in a little studio on the other side of the city, though she spent most of her nights with the random guys she hooked up with. She gave me a tight hug before she climbed into the car, as though she could tell there was a lot on my mind.
"If you need to talk about anything, just let me know, okay?" She said to me, looking me up and down. She knew me too well to let me get away with how quiet I had been this evening, how in my head I had let myself get. It wasn’t that I wanted to be, of course, I didn’t, but I was just...there was so much going on in my mind, and most of it was so dark I could hardly even think about putting it into words. I wouldn’t have known where to begin.
"I will," I replied, offering her a smile, hoping it would be enough to get her off my back for the time being. She had already been there for me so long as it was. She didn’t need to be burdened with anything more than she already had.
“What a fucking idiot.” The stranger said.
And just like that I am back to the present. My eyes wide in surprise at all the blood. Shelby’s gone and I’m looking up at the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.
Chapter Two Scott
Fucking idiot.
That was all I could think as this fool made a lunge for me. I spiked my hand into his nose in a split second, sending a spray of blood across his face and dripping down his shirt. He had been drinking so it poured from him like a fountain as he staggered back, groaning in pain.
"Now, the two of you, get the fuck out of here," I ordered them. The other assailant had hung back this whole time, and he grabbed his friend and muttered something to him. When he looked back at me, his eyes widened, and then, he rushed off, seeming to think better of the whole thing. Good. Better for them to figure that out now rather than wait and get themselves in more trouble than they could handle.
I turned to the girl, who was shaking hard. Her face was pale, and her whole body was tensed, shoulders drawn up to her ears.
"Are you okay?" I asked as I reached out to touch her arm. She jumped as soon as I laid a hand on her, and her eyes flared.
"I’m sorry, I just—" She blurted out.
"It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize," I assured, pulling back so I didn’t put too much pressure on her. I had to remind myself that not everyone was used to this kind of thing—used to those kinds of thugs bursting out of nowhere to cause trouble. For me? They’d been background noise for my whole fucking life. They were downright average to me by now.
