Mine (Club Sin 7)

Dmitri nodded. “As long as you don’t mind holding the responsibility of this, then I think it’s our only choice.”

“Nah, like I said before, I don’t care.” An inner light slowly began to form in Miles’s dark eyes. “Running a nightclub, hmmm?”

Dmitri waited for Miles’s decision, not pushing him either way.

Miles finally said, “While I am intrigued by this idea, I don’t know anything about running a bar.”

“Luckily, I am well acquainted with many in the clubbing industry because of the casino. We could hire managers who would run the show. You would be the CEO, nothing more, nothing less.” Dmitri lifted a hand to Miles’s shoulder. “I know you like a good party. I also know you’ve been looking for something else to do with your life. This place would have your stamp on it. You would be in complete control.”

Miles grinned. “Well then, we both know how much I like control.”

—

An hour later, and exhausted to his bones, Dmitri strode through the long lavish hallway of the casino’s hotel. A dark red carpet led past white doors with gold handles. His steps were heavy and slow, and he shoved his hands into his pockets, attempting to ease the emotion coiled inside him. Tonight he needed to explain to Presley what had happened, but he remained hesitant. While he had resolved most of the issues so far, he still had a few more loose ends to tie up. Everything needed to be settled, so that she wouldn’t feel obliged to take responsibility for any of it. Perhaps he could tell her half-truths, merely letting her know that the person behind the threatened exposure had been bought off.

His conversation with Micah still echoed in his head. He loved Presley, loved her with everything that he was. Dmitri sensed a sudden peace wash over him. The biggest problems were settled. Miles was considering Dmitri’s offer to open a nightclub. And Steven was no longer a threat; Dmitri had checked on the flight home and seen that the funds had been transferred into Steven’s account. Dmitri wouldn’t miss the money; the relief that this was over meant more. He hadn’t realized how much responsibility the club was on him. How much he thought about the members on a daily basis. How much they affected his life.

Now he thought only of Presley, and it refreshed him.

When he reached the end of the hallway, he pulled the key card from his pocket. As he opened the door and stepped into the living room, he called, “Presley.”

Silence.

Confused, he moved to the bedroom, and that’s when his perfectly controlled emotions began to unwind. The closet doors were open and Presley’s clothes were gone. He heard the click of the front door opening behind him, and as he hurried back into the living room he spotted Kyler entering the suite.

“Where’s Presley?” he demanded.

“She’s at Aidan’s,” Kyler replied, shutting the door behind him.

Rapid thoughts spun in Dmitri’s mind. He grasped the table next to him, feeling weak-kneed and winded. “Has she left me?”

“She’s devastated.” Kyler took a seat on the couch, only then sliding his glance to Dmitri. “Miles texted a bit ago indicating that you were back in Vegas, so I thought it best to come and let you know what’s going on.”

Dmitri dropped into the chair in front of Kyler, running his hands through his hair. Words escaped him. She’s left me? Of all the scenarios he had expected to come home to, this hadn’t been among them. He shut his eyes, cursing his decision not to take out his frustrations on Steven. The man deserved worse.

Beyond that, the blame rested on Dmitri’s shoulders. In wanting to protect Presley, he’d driven her away. He’d thought he’d taken large strides toward resolving the situation, only to discover that something else had unraveled.

Kyler finally broke the silence. “The decision to leave you is not making her happy. Do not doubt that.”

Dmitri lifted his head, staring at his closest friend. Presley had done this to make a statement. To make it clear that she wouldn’t allow Dmitri to shut her out. Yet little did she know he hadn’t been pushing her away to hurt her; he’d done so to protect her. “This whole fucking thing is exhausting,” he admitted.

“I know.” Kyler crossed his ankle over his knee. “Are club matters resolved now?”

“Most of them.” Dmitri ran his hands over his face, hating the shake in his hands. “I should have some definite news in a couple of days.” He dragged his fingers through his hair again, wondering what in the hell to do now. Of course, he could go to Presley and explain all

that had happened. But the damage was done—he had put her second. Even if Dmitri couldn’t have stopped it or controlled this mess, he had put others before her.

That could never happen again.

For so long, Club Sin had been his life, and he’d accepted that responsibility. Just as Sawyer had seen with Chloe, Dmitri saw now that to get Presley back, he had to change. Things had to change. And they were changing—the knowledge that soon the club would be a responsibility shared between him and Miles, and not just his alone, lifted a huge weight off Dmitri’s shoulders.

“Good. I’m glad this shit is over,” Kyler grumbled, drawing Dmitri’s gaze. “What are you going to do about Presley?”

Dmitri paused, considering. Ideas rushed through his mind, everything from going to Aidan’s right now and bringing her home to groveling until she forgave him. But deep down it wasn’t enough. “I need a week to fix all this.”

Eyes tight, Kyler warned, “Dmitri—”

He raised his hand, unable to think of the now, thinking only of the future. Seven days was a blip in time compared to a lifetime. “I need a week,” he repeated. “Please watch over her until then.”