It had been a blow when he’d stepped down and severed all ties to me. But then again, he’d spent most of our friendship undercover as another man. He was CIA, and the only way to start over was to kill the life he’d lived, including all relationships. It was cleaner and safer that way.
“Keeping Ana from overdoing it. Pregnancy has made her a bit impatient to finish projects before her due date and moody when we tell her to sit down. Adrian takes the brunt of her wrath.”
The mention of Ana had me cringing inside. It was a risk bringing Isa here and having her find out I’d slept with one of her close friends, but it was a risk I was willing to take.
Being around the Lykaios and Kipos families would keep her safer than any other place I could think of. They took protecting their loved ones to a level like nothing I’d seen outside of organized families.
I’d sent word to Adrian that we needed to lay low, disappear in the world of Vegas. There were too many high-profile people here for anyone to notice two Germans.
“Is everything arranged?”
“Yes. Nothing will happen to her while you’re here. Your men arrived and are in place.”
Which meant no one would know they were around unless they wanted to be seen. They were a mixture of Weber soldiers and members of security agencies who took on jobs between assignments.
“I’ve set you up in the penthouse at Ida. It has a separate elevator system and entrance.”
“I appreciate you accommodating us.”
Hagen narrowed his gaze. “I know you helped save Ana when her assignment went south. You helped bring her home. That debt can never be repaid.”
Well, I wasn’t expecting that. I wasn’t going to question how he’d heard about the details of the assignment—that was information Adrian and Ana managed.
“It isn’t a debt. Ana is Adrian’s, and that’s all that mattered.”
“We’ll agree to disagree.” He turned. “Let’s get your lady settled.”
Chapter Sixteen
Isa
As we pulled up to the curved drive of the Ida Casino and Resort, I was struck by the sheer size of the place. It was like an elegant sculpture of towers and buildings designed to stand out against the light of Vegas without looking gaudy.
“It’s pretty incredible, isn’t it?” Penny asked, with a hint of pride in her voice. “You should see it from the main entrance. Then you’ll get a real feel for the place.”
The hotels and casinos of Monte Carlo and Saint Tropez were elegant and had an aura of old-world money that made you feel inadequate to enter, but this one drew you in and made you want to explore.
“I’ll take her around the hotel once we settle in,” Sebastian said, taking my hand as the door opened.
Attendants immediately approached us, pulling the bags from the back of the SUV and carting them inside the hotel.
“We will see you both for lunch tomorrow at my house,” Penny said. “Don’t keep her out too late, Sebastian.”
“I make no promises.” Sebastian stepped out first before helping me onto my feet.
I waved to Penny as the car drove away and tucked my arm into Sebastian’s. He guided me into the residential lobby, and I couldn’t help but gape at the extraordinary chandelier hanging from the ceiling. It was a striking mixture of clear and reddish-gold glass and nearly took up the entire space of the ceiling.
“Holy shit.” I tilted my head back to get a better look.
“I thought you said you’ve been to Vegas before.”
“I have, but under disguise and never as a guest at the hotel. I stayed at the tower apartment Ana had before she married Adrian. We tended to avoid any place the Lykaios brothers would catch sight of us.”
“Then when did you meet them?”
“At Sunday brunch. It’s a thing they do once a month. It was a lot of fun. I beat the brothers at poker when we played. I even beat Penny, and she’s ruthless. Though I lost every time to Henna. The woman is a card shark.”
Sebastian stared at me as if I’d grown two heads.
“What?”
“You played poker against the Lykaioses?”
“Why are you so surprised? They play cards after brunch when the younger kids are napping.”
“And you beat them?”
“All of them but Henna.”
“Who taught you to play?”
“Papa. He’s a great strategist. He always said I had to think ahead and keep my cool. So that’s what I did.”
Sebastian tugged me toward him and kissed my head. “You’re one insane woman.”
“Well, yeah. I’m with you.”
Before he could retort, a tall, golden-tanned man approached us wearing the hotel uniform. “Mr. and Mrs. Kohl. I’m Eduardo, the desk manager. Welcome to the Ida Residence. Your personal elevator is over this way. If you would follow me.”
We stopped in an alcove housing a single elevator.
“Mr. Kipos programmed the code per your specific request for the elevator and penthouse. Please enjoy your stay.”
Sebastian inclined his head in thanks and then set a hand on my lower back to guide me into the elevator. When the doors closed, I studied Sebastian’s reflection in the mirrors lining the cab walls.
Damn, he was one hot man. Not just in looks, but in the way he carried himself. He had this dangerous aura that would make any woman want to get closer. It was probably what drew me to him in the first place. If only I could trust this thing between us to be more than one sided. He’d gotten me to confess my feelings, but he’d never said the words to me.
I needed the words. But then again, could I trust him if he said them?
“What?” he asked, giving me a curious look.
“I was admiring the man who belongs to me. You’re beautiful.”
His lips curved as he held my gaze. “You’re the one who’s beautiful. Those eyes that grow to a deeper shade of blue when you’re aroused, the mouth that gives a man visions of lips wrapped around his cock, and a body meant for
