Page 10 of Gang of Roses: Dice

Back to that night…

I watched from afar…her beautiful red curls, her round face, long nails, juicy lips, and doe-shaped eyes. A man like me didn’t normally move the way I was about to move on this thick-ass pound cake tonight, but I planned on surprising my damn self with my best work. I considered myself a patient man, but when I watched her blow through her own money and then turn around and burn through the loan too, I knew something wasn’t right.

And I was correct.

When the elevator dinged, I walked over and took the paper from Yogi. Before I could thank him, he was already headed back downstairs to watch the entrance.

“Here you go, G-Baby.”

She looked down at the paper.

“That was quick.”

“I don’t like wasting time.”

“Your communication skills are impeccable,” she said dryly.

I smirked.

“We’ll talk more later. Right now, I need my night.”

“We don’t have to say another word. Today has been painful enough.”

I didn’t know exactly what she was going through, but just because I wasn’t much of a talker didn’t mean I couldn’t listen. For tonight, I planned on giving her a reason to forget whatever had been weighing her down, though.

“Sayless, beautiful."

She tilted her head.

“Hmmm. What happened to G-Baby?"

“You catch on quick.”

“If an alpha leads, I will follow.”

Her smart ass had my mans bricking up.

“Good to know.”

I motioned for her to follow me so she could freshen up in a guest room while I headed to do the same.

The penthouse sat above Monroe Casino and had become my second home. Truth be told, I spent more time there than I did at my actual house, which was three times as big as this one.

I worked hard, so when I did splurge, I went all out. Some folks called my workaholism dedication. Others called it an obsession or a form of control.

I called it setting up wealth so I could rest later.

The three-bedroom penthouse overlooked the city through floor-to-ceiling windows. Between the private rooftop terrace, wine room, gym, and media room, it had everything money could buy. So my work paid off. Two homes were way too much space for one man, but growing up without having much made me feel accomplished.

But what Global didn’t know was that she was the first woman I’d ever brought here; others I would occupy elsewhere. She would be the only one to come where I lay my head most nights.

I didn’t play that. I guess some parts of the streets in you just never leave, and that fact alone should've told me she was already becoming a problem.

I went into the master suite bathroom, stripped down to my birthday suit, set the temperature, and stepped into the shower. Thinking about the sad look in her eyes made me want to send my men to take whatever pained her off this green earth. It was crazy because normally I couldn't care less about feelings, especially a woman I was entertaining for one night, but this girl had me moving differently.

From sending Yogi to get her to asking if she wanted to talk about whatever was bothering her. I was attracted to her, not because she had me bricked up; that was just a nigga’s natural reaction, but because she made my heart beat differently the moment she stepped into the casino. That shit was crazy, and it was a first.

The calls to the staff helped because everything had already been laid out for her in the ensuite. I started preparing feminine items the moment I saw that plush figure walk into my casino. I didn’t know if she would accept or not, but I still made sure everything was convenient for her, just in case. It might have been odd for others, but I never moved like anyone else.