Trick Roller

by Cordelia Kingsbridge

  He exhaled slowly and concentrated on the things he did love about the Strip: the diversity, the giddy high spirits, the pulsing, vibrating energy of thousands of people out having fun. These people in particular had braved the hellish heat of the Nevada desert at the height of summer for their vacations, and they weren’t going to let anything stand in the way of their good time.

  Following Aubrey’s texts, Dominic resumed Rhodes’s trail inside the blessedly air-conditioned upscale mall. He caught sight of her a hundred feet away; she gave him a barely perceptible nod and melted into the crowd.

  Rhodes seemed more like he was killing time than doing purposeful shopping, just ambling around the mall and browsing the window displays of the various high-end stores. Dominic stayed well back, utilizing natural cover and reflective surfaces to his advantage whenever possible. Though he had a button camera on his jacket, it wouldn’t be much use at this distance. He kept his cell phone in one hand; it was an easy way to look realistically occupied, and it also let him keep in constant contact with Aubrey.

  When Rhodes stopped outside Bottega Veneta to fool around with his own phone, Dominic narrowed his eyes.

  What kind of phone does Rhodes use? he texted to Aubrey.

  iPhone 6. Why?

  Because right now he’s texting on a Samsung Galaxy.

  Ooh, secret phone, she wrote back. Nice catch. I’ll see what I can dig up tomorrow.

  Rhodes wandered around the mall for forty minutes, checking his phone frequently. Dominic and Aubrey traded places multiple times. When it was his turn to tail Rhodes, Dominic had no trouble staying on task, but whenever he handed the guy off to Aubrey, he found himself more and more distracted. His thoughts kept straying to what lay just outside the mall’s doors—this building was literally surrounded by casinos on all sides. At one point, he spent a good two minutes staring slack-jawed at an ad for the Bellagio, fantasizing about blackjack, before he was able to shake it off.

  Dominic was the one on point when Rhodes finally made his way to the Todd English P.U.B., so he was the one who saw Rhodes remove his wedding ring and slip it into his pocket as he walked.

  “Asshole,” Dominic said under his breath.

  He followed Rhodes into the restaurant, hanging back to watch him shake hands with a mixed group of men and women, all relatively young and attractive, before the hostess showed them to a table. After he updated Aubrey, the two of them ended up sitting together at the long bar in the middle of the restaurant with their backs to Rhodes’s table. Aubrey had a hidden camera sewn into the lining of her purse, so when she set it on the bar at the right angle, they were able to monitor Rhodes’s every movement via the feed on her cell phone without ever looking at him directly.

  She was thrilled with this turn of events because they could expense their entire meal to the client, but Dominic couldn’t muster up the same excitement. His stomach was too unsettled to do more than nurse a non-alcoholic beer and pick at the appetizers she’d ordered, trying to pay attention to the story she was telling instead of remembering the last poker game he’d played in vivid sensory detail. His foot tapped anxiously against his bar stool until the woman on his other side gave him the evil eye and he made himself stop.

  “You okay?” Aubrey asked after a while, frowning at him. “You’re sweating.”

  “It’s hot in here,” he said, which was true. He drained a long swallow of his beer and wished it were the real stuff.

  She glanced down at her phone. “Rhodes isn’t displaying any signs of intimacy with these women. I don’t think any of them could be a girlfriend or mistress.”

  “Me neither.” Dominic had been watching the feed too; Rhodes was flirting with all the women at the table, but only in a casual way, and with none more than any other. “I don’t think any of them really know each other, actually. I saw them meet up—there was no sense of familiarity.”

  “Business dinner?” she said, though her tone was dubious.

  “He wouldn’t have taken his ring off for that.” Dominic raked a hand through his hair. Why the fuck was everyone being so goddamn loud?

  His mood steadily worsened through the rest of Rhodes’s leisurely two-hour meal. When the group got up and left together in a happy, tipsy cluster, Dominic and Aubrey trailed along behind, arm-in-arm like a couple on a date.

  It was clear that the night was far from over for Rhodes and his friends. Go to a bar, Dominic thought, glaring daggers at the back of Rhodes’s head. Go dancing, go to a strip club, go anywhere but—

  They walked out the back of the Shops at Crystal and right into the Aria Hotel and Casino.

  Rhodes’s group made a beeline for the casino floor, which was adjacent to the main lobby. The noises reverberated inside Dominic’s skull, all of them deeply ingrained triggers—ringing bells, electronic beeps and whirrs from the slot machines, euphoric shouts around the craps tables. Bright lights were flashing everywhere and Dominic couldn’t breathe.

  He halted mid-stride just steps from the threshold. Aubrey, who was still holding his arm, stumbled against him with a startled yelp.

  “I can’t go in there,” he whispered.

  He wanted to, though. Right now, he wanted to go inside that casino more than he’d wanted anything else in his entire life.

  “What are you talking about?” she said, disentangling her arm from his.

  “I . . .” The word came out a dry croak. He swallowed and wet his lips. “I’m a compulsive gambler. I’m sorry, I can’t go in there.”

  She stared at him. “You’re addicted to gambling?” she said incredulously. She didn’t have to say anything more; he could see the accusations in her eyes, because they were the same ones bouncing around in his own head. He should have anticipated that this might become a problem. He should have warned her.

  “I’m in recovery, but I’m hanging by a thread. If I go inside . . .”

  If he went inside, he’d feel amazing. That rush of adrenaline, the full-body thrill—gambling was better than alcohol, better than drugs, better than sex. Why was he trying so hard to resist it?

  Dominic groaned in frustration and gave his head a sharp shake.

  “Okay,” Aubrey said. “I won’t have any trouble keeping an eye on Rhodes in a casino. You go back to the car and wait for me. I’ll keep in touch via text and let you know what’s going on.”

  “All right.” He realized his hands were shaking and hid them in his jacket pockets. “I’m really sorry.”

  She nodded, and he trudged away, feeling like utter shit.

  He kept his head bowed the whole walk back to the parking garage, straining against the lure of the surrounding casinos as if they were emitting a tangible magnetic pull. Every step was like slogging through knee-high mud.

  By the time he reached Aubrey’s car, his breath was coming hard and fast. He got in the passenger’s seat, threw his jacket in the back, and buried his face in both hands.

  He could feel so good, if he just gave in. Poker, craps, even roulette—the game itself didn’t matter, never had. It was the thrill that obsessed him, the euphoria of taking risks, laying everything on the line, chasing the big score and feeling brilliantly, powerfully alive.

  Just one game . . .

  Except it wouldn’t be just one game. It never was for him. Most people could gamble with no problems, win or lose a little money and walk away whenever they wanted. For whatever reason, be it biological or psychological, Dominic couldn’t do that. Once he started, he couldn’t stop. And that was why he could never start again.

  He slammed his fist against the dashboard so hard it rattled the car. That snapped him out of his fugue a bit. He went for his phone, then realized it was in his jacket pocket. Once he’d retrieved it from where it’d fallen out on the floor of the backseat, he called the first person who came to mind.

  “Hello?” Levi said groggily after a few rings.

  It was only a few minutes past midnight, but Levi had to get up early for work. Of course he’d been as
leep. Dominic hadn’t even considered it.

  “I’m sorry,” Dominic said, cursing himself for his thoughtlessness. “I shouldn’t have called—”

  “Dominic?” There suddenly wasn’t a trace of sleepiness in Levi’s voice. “What’s wrong?”

  “I . . .” Part of Dominic wanted to hang up and pretend this had never happened, but he knew he needed help more than he needed his pride. “Aubrey and I have been tailing Rhodes on the Strip. He—he went into a casino.”

  Blankets rustled and bedsprings creaked on the other end of the line. “Did you gamble?”

  “No.” Dominic closed his eyes, and the rest came out all in a rush. “But I want to, Levi. I was right there. It’s pulling at me like it’s hooked into my guts. I can’t stop thinking about it, and I don’t know how much longer I can control myself.”

  “Where are you right now?”

  “Aubrey sent me back to the car to wait for her.”

  “I’m coming to get you,” Levi said over the sound of drawers opening and closing.

  “What? No!” Dominic was torn between tender warmth at Levi’s reaction and horror at the idea of Aubrey thinking he needed his sort-of boyfriend to rescue him because he couldn’t handle himself. “That’s not necessary. I’m in an empty parking garage with nothing to trigger me. As long as I stay here, I should be okay.”

  “Did you and Aubrey drive there together?”

  “Yeah. My truck is back at McBride.”

  “Uh-huh. And when Aubrey drops you off and you get behind the wheel all alone, are you going to drive home?”

  Dominic clenched his jaw and banged his head against the headrest a couple of times. “I don’t know,” he said through gritted teeth, hating himself.

  “Then I’ll come pick you up at McBride whenever you’re done.”

  “That could be hours from now—”

  “I’ll be there,” Levi said, implacable.

  Dominic’s shoulders sagged, his anxiety subsiding somewhat. “Thank you,” he said, though words were a weak way to express the depth of his gratitude.

  “You’re welcome.” Levi was quiet for a moment. “We’ve never talked about this before, but . . . If you ever do try to gamble, would you want me to stop you? Physically?”

  Dominic blinked. The possibility had never occurred to him—mostly because if the tables were turned, he wouldn’t be able to make the same offer. He doubted there were any circumstances in which he’d be willing to use genuine force against Levi, even to prevent him doing something terrible.

  Levi, on the other hand, had a streak of ruthlessness in him that Dominic didn’t share. Dominic knew all the way down to his bones that if he gave his consent now, Levi wouldn’t hesitate to do whatever was necessary to stop him from gambling. He wouldn’t let Dominic ruin his life again, no matter what it took or what anyone else thought.

  That was exactly what Dominic needed to hear.

  “Yes,” he said. The constriction in his chest eased, and he drew what felt like his first truly deep breath in hours. “Please.”

  “Okay. I’ll stay on the phone with you until Aubrey comes back.”

  Dominic leaned back in his seat, trusting Levi unreservedly, believing now that he would be all right.

  Levi was startled awake by the alarm clock on his phone. He slapped at it blindly until it shut up, then ground the heel of his hand against his dry eyes. Normally, he didn’t mind getting up early, but he hadn’t slept much last night.

  He shifted onto his back underneath the covers. At the foot of the bed, Rebel lifted her head to look at him, then dropped back down with a tired doggy sigh.

  Dominic was still asleep next to him, facing the opposite wall. The blankets had slipped down a bit, exposing the plane of his heavily muscled back and the tattoo of the Ranger crest that Jasmine had done for him.

  Before Dominic, Levi had always preferred men with lean builds, and it wasn’t until he’d slept with Dominic that he realized that wasn’t a coincidence. Subconsciously, he’d always been disturbed by the idea of having sex with a man who could physically overpower him. But after everything they’d been through together and the multiple times Dominic had saved his life, Dominic’s size and strength only engendered positive feelings in him—safety, comfort, and an aching lust he was still struggling to get a grip on.

  Levi traced his fingertips over the colorful lines of the shield and the motto beneath. Dominic didn’t react—he was a heavy sleeper, Levi was coming to learn—so Levi spooned up against his back, wrapping an arm around his chest and kissing the nape of his neck.

  Dominic stirred and made a sleepy noise.

  “Hey,” Levi said, nuzzling his shoulder.

  “Hey,” Dominic mumbled. “What time is it?”

  “Early. I need to start getting ready for work.”

  Dominic put his hand on top of Levi’s. “I’m sorry you had to—”

  “Shh. I didn’t have to do anything. I chose to do this because I wanted to. We talked about this last night.”

  They’d talked about it far more than was necessary, in Levi’s opinion. Dominic had been miserable when Levi picked him up at McBride Investigations; Levi hadn’t seen him so on edge since the Seven of Spades had sent him that teasing gift basket back in April. He’d alternated between morose silence, snappish irritation, and self-flagellating apologies the entire drive to his apartment and even after they’d gotten in bed. Levi’s repeated reassurances had gone in one ear and out the other.

  Dominic was just as tense now, but he didn’t say anything more. A few seconds later, he turned over in Levi’s arms so they were face-to-face, hitched Levi’s leg over his hip to pull him closer, and kissed him on the mouth.

  “I forgot to ask you this yesterday,” he said, “but you know the party I’m going to at Jasmine’s parents’ house on Saturday?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Do you want to come with me?”

  “Really?” Levi pulled back a little. “Am I invited?”

  Dominic laughed, looking like his usual self for a few seconds. “Of course. Carlos and Jasmine want you there.” He squeezed Levi and added, “So do I.”

  Levi was pretty sure Carlos and Jasmine didn’t care about his presence so much as they did about making Dominic happy, but either way, he appreciated the gesture. “I’d love to,” he said. “But you do know there’s always a chance that something will come up at the last minute and I won’t be able to make it, right?”

  That had been a major sticking point in his relationship with Stanton, who had never been able to accept that his job entailed a 24/7 commitment. He wanted to be upfront about the possibility now, so it didn’t become a problem down the line.

  Dominic was giving him a strange look. “Well, sure. Obviously catching murderers takes priority. Chances are they won’t bother you on your day off, though, and we can have a nice relaxing Saturday.”

  Levi brushed his hand over Dominic’s jaw and then kissed him, uncomfortable with the swell of emotion in his chest. It would be nice to have something to look forward to this weekend. On Monday, he and Dominic were both testifying at the trial of Drew Barton, the man who’d tried to pin his wife’s murder on the Seven of Spades and then assaulted Levi when he realized he wasn’t going to get away with it. That was going to suck, so Levi would welcome the opportunity to decompress first.

  He broke the kiss before things could go too far. Though his body yearned for more, he didn’t have time, and he doubted Dominic was in the mood anyway.

  His cell phone chirped, and he unwrapped himself from Dominic to roll over and grab it. Dominic sat up beside him.

  “Who is it?” Dominic asked. He patted his thigh, and Rebel squirmed up the bed to put her head in his lap for an ear scratch.

  “Natasha.” Levi scrolled through the texts and sighed. “The girl I told you about last night—Adriana—she called Natasha this morning and said she needs to speak to me about the Hensley case. She won’t talk to anyone else, and she has a meetin
g with Child and Family Services at nine thirty, so it has to be as soon as possible. I won’t have time to drive you back to your car first.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll ask Carlos to help me pick it up.”

  Dominic was an excellent liar, but Levi knew him well enough by now to be certain he would do no such thing. He would have hesitated to impose on Carlos under the best of circumstances; asking for help with this would mean explaining what happened, and he hated talking about his addiction even with his close friends. Either he’d pay for an Uber to take him to McBride or he’d just sit in the apartment all day, stewing in the same self-loathing Levi had seen last night.

  Searching for a compromise that wouldn’t hurt Dominic’s pride, Levi said, “Why don’t you just drive me to work and use my car this morning? We can do the swap on my lunch break. No need for Carlos to go out of his way.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah. I don’t actually need my car at work; Martine and I always take hers if we have to go somewhere.”

  “Okay.” Dominic leaned over to kiss Levi’s cheek. “I’m gonna take Rebel for a walk while you get ready.”

  At the word walk, Rebel perked up, leapt off the bed, and spun in excited circles before regarding Dominic with bright eyes and a wagging tail.

  Chuckling, Dominic got out of bed as well. “All right, all right, let me get some pants on.”

  “You didn’t have to walk me inside,” Levi said as he and Dominic entered the substation.

  “I want to say hello to Martine.”

  That might have been true, but Levi suspected that Dominic was delaying their separation because he still felt raw and didn’t want to be alone. He’d been uncharacteristically clingy all morning.

  They’d made a quick stop for coffee on the way—at least, Levi had. Dominic was drinking a syrup-laced, milk-loaded monstrosity that he insisted on calling coffee despite Levi’s horrified protestations to the contrary.