Call Me Sugar

by Sage Nyx

  “I can work with that,” he says, giving me one of those sexy winks I find so endearing.

  “And the answer to your question is yes! There’s nothing I would love more than to stay here with you. I don’t know how or why we met each other, only that it’s right. As if it were always destined to happen.”

  “Our life is wide open with a million prospects,” he says. “Together, there’s nothing the two of us can’t accomplish. The sky’s the limit!”

  “Where will I live?”

  “What kind of crazy question is that? With me. Where else? If you can tolerate living in a hotel suite. For the time being, I’m stuck there because of my contract. It won’t be forever though. We could start searching for a house of our own on the outskirts of town.”

  “A house?” I echo. “Are you serious?”

  I’m overwhelmed.

  Everything is happening at lightning speed and I can’t keep up. A brand-new, exciting relationship with Sugar, moving to Vegas and now house-hunting?

  “Sure!” he replies. “Maybe a house with a swimming pool, so I can watch you walk around in a skimpy bikini. The house would need to be big enough for Elsa to have her own room to fly around in, too. We could set up a separate office for you. If you’re interested, I would love for you to help me with my show. With your smarts and my talent, we could dream up the craziest illusions the world has ever seen.”

  I smile up at him. “I see you’ve already put some thought into this.”

  He grins back. “Making big plans for our future is all I’ve thought about. I would be the happiest man in Vegas if you were here with me. My wild, partying life is getting old.”

  “Is this for real or another elaborate illusion of yours?” I ask, unable to believe how much my life has changed in the last month.

  “It’s as real as it gets, baby. I’m all yours, if you’ll have me.”

  “Oh, I’ll have you,” I tease. “Wait until after I get my midnight kiss, then you’ll see. I’ll have you all night long, if you can handle it.”

  “Is that a dare?” he asks, arching an eyebrow at me. “Who cares if my brand-new blockbuster show starts tomorrow? Sleep is for sissies. Give me two hours of sleep and I’ll be good to go.”

  A short man wearing a dark suit moves up behind Sugar and taps him lightly on the shoulder. A multi-colored mask with a big, yellow bird’s beak for a nose covers his face.

  “Excuse me, sir,” he says politely to Sugar. “Can you point me to the direction of the bar? What does a man have to do to get a decent drink around here?”

  Sugar whirls around at the sound of the man’s voice. He quickly hands me his glass of champagne to hold before engulfing the man in a tight hug.

  “Dad! Is that really you? My God! I can’t believe my eyes! What are you doing here?”

  The man wraps his arms around Sugar and hugs him back. They stay that way for a long time with their eyes closed, holding each other. Sugar draws back slightly without turning loose of him, his eyes damp with unexpected tears.

  “How did you get out?” he asks. “Why didn’t you call me to pick you up?”

  The man chuckles softly. “Apparently it was a last-minute decision by the parole board to cut me loose. I don’t know if they were trying to clear the prison out before the end of the year or what. I didn’t ask questions. When they told me I’d been released, I gathered up my bag of stuff and got the hell out of there. I didn’t give them time to change their minds.”

  “How did you get to Vegas with no money? I can’t believe you didn’t call me.”

  “I wanted to surprise you. Besides, there was a car and a driver waiting for me outside. I didn’t even need to use the bus ticket the prison gave me. The driver brought me here to the Imperial.”

  A shocked expression crosses Sugar’s face.

  “A car with a driver picked you up from prison? Who sent the car?”

  “Mr. Giovanni,” he answers. “Who else? He offered me a job here at the hotel and gave me a free room until I get back on my feet. You and I will be neighbors. I’ll be in the next tower over. As a bonus, he gave me an extra ticket for the ball tonight and furnished me with a tuxedo.”

  A curious glance passes between the two men. I wonder what the deal is between Sugar’s dad and Mr. Giovanni.

  “What will you be doing for him?” Sugar asks, his tone growing serious.

  “No clue.” He shrugs. “Guess I’ll find out soon enough.”

  Sugar reaches over to take back his champagne flute that I was holding.

  “Dad, I want to introduce you to an incredible woman.” He draws me closer. “I’d love for you to meet Jade.”

  “Jade, this is my dad, Saul,” he says. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that he’s here tonight and able to meet you.”

  His dad gives me a warm smile and reaches out to shake my hand.

  I smile shyly at him. Sugar hasn’t told me yet why his dad was in prison and I didn’t want to push. All I know is that he thinks the world of him. That’s enough for me. I’m happy he’s here.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” he says. “Anyone who is a friend of Sugar’s is a friend of mine, too.”

  “Thank you,” I reply, already more comfortable around him.

  Sugar can’t stop beaming at the two of us. He reaches out to drape his arms over our shoulders.

  “Why don’t we find the bar and get you a drink, Dad?” he says. “This calls for a night of celebration! I’m so happy I’m about to burst. What are you in the mood for? Scotch? A martini?”

  “Anything alcoholic will be perfect,” his dad replies. “It’s good to be home, son.”

  We move through the crowd toward one of the many bars placed strategically around the room.

  “There’s Leroy!” Sugar says when he spots him moving through the crowd. “He’s hard to miss, even in a mask. What the fuck is he wearing?”

  Leroy’s face is covered by a giant cat mask that is three times larger than it should be. It doesn’t do one thing to conceal his identity. Not when he’s several inches taller than any other guest.

  “Leroy! Over here!” Sugar yells to him and waves.

  Leroy grins when he sees us and hurries our way.

  “Nice mask,” Sugar teases him when he reaches our side. “What are you? A background dancer in a Broadway production?”

  Leroy laughs good-naturedly. “I borrowed the mask from my nephew. He was the lead in a high school play.”

  “It suits you, Leroy,” Sugar’s dad says.

  Leroy gapes at him. He reaches over to pull the yellow beak away from Saul’s nose to get a closer peek.

  “Saul! Is that really you? You’re out of jail?”

  “It’s me, Leroy. In the flesh. I’m a free man.”

  “Holy shit!” Leroy yells, grabbing him in a bear hug. “This will be like old times again. Damn, am I glad to see you! I’ve tried my best to keep Sugar straight while you were in prison. It’s a hard job. I’ll be glad to let you do it for a change.”

  Saul claps Leroy on the shoulder. “You did good. I’m grateful to you for taking care of him.”

  “I can’t believe the team is back together,” Leroy says. “The three amigos and a pretty lady, too! Let’s go find the bar and ring in the new year right! This calls for some heavy drinking. Is your favorite drink still a dry martini with two olives, Saul?”

  “Are you joking?” Saul replies with a laugh. “I haven’t had a drop of liquor in years. I’ll drink anything that isn’t gasoline with no complaints. I’m a new man with a second chance at life. Let’s go celebrate!”

  “I’ll drink to that,” Sugar says with a broad smile. “Everything is finally perfect with the world.”

  After ordering a round of drinks at the bar, we find an empty table in a corner to sit and talk. While the men catch up on the local Vegas gossip, I watch the door.

  Eva and King are impossible to miss when they walk in. Making a grand entrance is King’s style.

  He’s
dressed in a polyester, white jumpsuit with gold buttons and a three-inch-wide gold belt. The sequins sewn into his jacket twinkle under the bright lights. A white cape flows from his back as he strides across the room with Eva on his arm.

  Natasha is following close behind them. She’s stunning as always in a low-cut, long black evening gown. Her blonde hair is pulled up high and elegantly styled. Dangling diamond earrings and a black mask with feathers completes her outfit.

  She glances around the room. When her gaze lands in my direction, I lift my hand in greeting. Smiling slightly, she nods discreetly back at me.

  “Are you ready for the last dance of the year?” Sugar turns to me. “It’s almost midnight and we haven’t danced a single time tonight. We should end the year properly.”

  He stands and reaches down a warm hand to me.

  I don’t tell him the last dance of the year is also my first.

  Taking his hand, I allow him to lead me onto the dance floor. He slides one hand around my waist and clasps my hand with the other.

  “You’re beautiful this evening,” he says to me as we sway softly to the music. “Dad is impressed. He thinks you’re great. I can tell.”

  “I hope he likes me.”

  “He’ll adore you. How could he not?”

  “What makes you so sure?”

  “You’re perfect for me. Anyone can see that.”

  He pulls me close into his arms and I loop my arms around his neck. We dance slowly until the music ends.

  “Only one minute until midnight!” the emcee on stage announces into the microphone. “The countdown is ready to begin. Is everyone ready? Here we go! Ten…nine…eight…seven.”

  Sugar smiles down at me.

  Tonight is perfect and everything I ever wanted.

  “Six…five…four…three…two…ONE!” we count together.

  “Happy New Year!!!”

  Showers of confetti and colorful balloons drop from the ceiling as the crowd erupts into loud cheers.

  Sugar gently cups my face with both hands and plants one of his long, soft kisses on me.

  “Happy New Year,” he whispers when he finally breaks the kiss. “I love you.”

  “Happy New Year, Sugar,” I reply with a big smile. “I love you, too. You know…this would be an excellent time to tell me your real name.”

  He grins at me, showing a dimple in his cheek. “The moment you agree to legally become Mrs. Sugar, I’ll tell you,” he replies. “Until then, you can call me Sugar.”

  “Mrs. Sugar? Really? Is your last name Sugar too?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” he replies, chuckling. “This year will be amazing for us, Jade. I can’t wait.”

  “Me, either.”

  “Speaking of not being able to wait, can I steal you away now?” he asks, already taking my hand to lead me off the dance floor. “It’s a new year and I want to start it off with a bang. Literally and physically. Let’s find Dad to tell him we’re leaving. Then we’re out of here.”

  “No arguments from me.”

  Laughing, I follow close behind him as we make our way through the celebrating crowd. The guests are packed in tight, still cheering wildly and blowing paper horns. It’s a slow process trying to make it across the room.

  Glancing back over my shoulder, I try to spot Natasha one last time before we leave. I hope she’s having a good time tonight with Eva and King. She deserves a chance to have a little fun.

  I see her on the far side of the room. She’s alone and moving fast through the crowd. Her head is ducked down low as she squeezes her way quickly between the celebrating guests.

  Why is she leaving now?

  Skimping out on a great party doesn’t seem like Natasha’s style. Especially since she seemed so excited about coming tonight.

  “Natasha is leaving,” I say to Sugar, dropping his hand. “I want to catch her. I’ll meet you back at the table in a minute.”

  “Are you sure that’s safe?” he asks, concerned. “Don’t you dare disappear on me again. Now that I’ve found you, I can’t lose you.”

  I lean up to give him a quick kiss on the lips.

  “Never again,” I promise. “I’ll be right back. I’ll make sure no one sees me talking to her.”

  I head in the direction I last saw Natasha, hoping to catch her before she leaves. After everything we’ve been through together, it doesn’t seem right not to wish her a happy new year.

  For a second, I lose her in the crowd before I spot her again. She’s moving too fast for someone who is simply bored with a party.

  Something is wrong.

  Before I can catch up to her, she disappears through the back door of the ballroom.

  “Happy New Year!” An inebriated man blows a paper horn in my face and then grabs my arm as I try to squeeze past him. “Where are you going in such a hurry?” he says. “Want to give me a New Year’s kiss?”

  “Hell no!” I reply, wrenching my arm away.

  I shove past him and finally make it to the exit leading out of the ballroom. Hitting the door’s metal bar hard, I push it open and rush into the hallway.

  It’s empty.

  She’s gone.

  Disappointed, I abruptly stop walking and turn around to go back inside. In the corner, a crumpled black mask is lying on the floor. Several of the feathers are torn off and scattered nearby.

  I rush to pick it up.

  It’s Natasha’s.

  What the hell is going on? Where is she?

  Reaching into my clutch purse, I pull out my cell phone to call her.

  I’m too late.

  The screen shows she sent me a text only five minutes ago.

  Dimitri’s men are here. He knows about Peggy Penguin.

  I read the message slowly a second time.

  Dimitri? What does he have to do with the slot machine?

  Then it hits me.

  Oh my God!

  Why didn’t I put this together before now?

  All the pieces of the puzzle were there, and I blindly ignored them; Natasha’s personal knowledge of the Russian mafia and the slot machine scam, her vague explanation of where she got Peggy Penguin and her obvious fear of a man named Dimitri.

  No wonder Eva and Natasha kept the slot machine hidden in the basement.

  They were afraid.

  Not of the police, but of forces much more sinister and dangerous.

  Natasha didn’t bring the slot machine to the United States with her like a suitcase full of childhood mementos from Russia.

  She stole Peggy Penguin from Dimitri.

  A man powerful enough to take a young girl who was only a child from an orphanage.

  A man who never allowed her to be alone.

  A man who has now sent his thugs here to Vegas.

  For her…

  Stay tuned! The next book in the series, Call Me Wild, featuring Natasha is releasing soon! The preorder is available on Amazon:

  Preorder Call Me Wild Now.

  The book contains a placeholder cover which will be replaced with a sexy, hot cover before publication.

  Would you like to know more about Sugar? To receive a special bonus scene from Sugar’s childhood that isn’t available anywhere else, sign up for it here along with the Sage Nyx newsletter. Sugar and Jade will be in the next book along with all your other favorite characters.

  If you have questions or would like to chat, contact Sage Nyx on Facebook here or by email at sagenyxromance@gmail.com.

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  About the Author

  Sage Nyx is the alternate pen name of two New York Times & USA Today bestselling authors who put their wickedly devilish minds together to bring you sassy romance with a splash of sin. Okay...more than a splash. More like a double shot. They've been plotting out the Call Me Series for two long years over pitchers of margaritas and fish tacos.

  The Call Me Series books are fast paced with outrageous, hilarious characters
and steamy hot action. Once you step inside the Las Vegas world of Sugar, Kit and Vulcan, you'll never want to leave.