Time to go.
I tuck the keycard to my room inside my phone wallet, tuck my phone in one of my back pockets, and head out the door to the elevator.Since I’m in a suite, the elevator is close, and as luck has it, a door is open, waiting for me.
I head down to the lobby level.
The door opens, I walk through the marble lobby toward the casino, and—
Chaos!
People mill around everywhere, screaming and raising drinks.What the fuck?I arrived only a little over an hour ago, and while the casino was crowded, as casinos usually are, it was nothing like this.It’s freaking sensory overload—especially for my heightened senses.Bright flashing lights, earsplitting sounds, and hordes of people milling around the slot machines.
For a split second, I doubt my intuition.I’ll never find Victor Rogan—or anyone, for that matter—in this mess.
I squeeze through the throngs of people to get to the bar.A glass of red wine will help ease the blood lust that’s hitting me thanks to the rhythmic heartbeats in this crowd.I should’ve topped myself off before I came down.Hindsight.
I finally make it to the bar when a young man in a tuxedo shirt hands me a glass of what appears to be sparkling wine.
“No, thank you,” I say.
“On the house.To celebrate.”
“Oh.Okay.”I take the flute.It’s not red, but it’ll do for now.“What are we celebrating?”
“Some lady won a progressive on the slots.Four million dollars.”
“Oh.Nice.”I raise my glass.“Cheers!”
He smiles a pretty damned dazzling smile.I inhale.Fuck.He smells good too.Musky and manly.My gums itch, but I will the lust away.Not the time to produce fangs in this crowd.
I take a sip.A little sweet for my tastes, and the bubbles tickle my nose.Still, I down the glass and set it on the bar.I signal to a bartender.“Syrah, please.”
“California or Australia?”
“California.”
A minute later he sets a goblet of dark red wine in front of me.I take a long sip, letting the tannins coat my tongue.
There.That helps.
Another sip.Then another.
And it’s gone.I set the glass back down, my blood lust under control.I’m here for some reason.Time to find out what it is.
The crowds haven’t dissipated a bit.
Maybe best to stay put.I have a place at the bar.
“You want another?”The barkeep nods at my empty glass.
“No, thanks.”I turn to face the milling people.
“Pretty cool, huh?”
I turn back to the bar.“Sorry, are you talking to me?”
“Yeah.”He gives me a smile.“Pretty cool.I hear the winner is a grandmother living on a fixed income.Nice for her.”
“If she’s on a fixed income, what’s she doing at a casino?”I can’t help asking.