“Tell me about your life,” Lucas said, as he picked up his fork.
I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable with this line of conversation. “There’s not much to tell. I live in Vista, a small city near San Diego. I run a florist shop there.”
“A florist shop?” He let out an amused chuckle. “How appropriate.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that. Was it an insult or a compliment? I decided to ignore it and instead took a bite of salad. Flavor exploded across my tongue. Wow.
He barely touched his food, but instead continued his interrogation of me. “And you said you live with this friend, Brandy?”
“Yes, after she got divorced she needed some help with her son, and I was struggling to pay the rent on my apartment. It worked out for both of us. But now her mom’s sick too…” My chest ached as I thought of my second family and how they were all counting on me to find Brandy—before it was too late. “I’m just really worried about her.”
He tilted his head as he studied me. "I can tell you truly care for these people.”
“They’re all I have. Well, them and my sister, but she lives in San Francisco and I don’t see her very often. She runs a company and she’s pretty busy with that.”
Our plates were swept away by quick-fingered servers, and another course laid in front of us. This one was some fancy scallops dish with potatoes, and it was also delicious.
“So you’re not in a relationship then,” Lucas continued.
I let out a nervous laugh. “What’s with all these questions?”
He pinned me with an intense gaze. “Answer me.”
His directness and abrupt focus on my relationship status startled me, and I considered lying to protect myself, but I couldn’t do it. Honesty was important to me and I prided myself on never lying. Not even to someone who probably had no trouble bending the truth…or worse. “No, I’m not in a relationship right now.”
He leaned forward. “But you’ve been in relationships in the past. How many? Were any of them serious?”
His tone sounded so possessive it made my spine stiffen. I shook my head, setting down my fork. “That is really none of your business.”
He sat back, languid and casual again. “I’m simply trying to understand you. Are you the type of woman who has long-term relationships, or are you more into casual flings?”
I snorted. “More like the type who sits at home and reads books instead of going out on dates.”
That got a laugh from him, low and husky and sexy as sin. “Lucky for me then that I have such an extensive library. Still, I find it hard to believe you’ve been single all this time. You’re a gorgeous woman, Hannah. Surely some men or women have taken an interest in you in the past. Did none of them strike your fancy?”
“I’ve dated a few guys before, but it never got serious,” I admitted, my cheeks flushing at his compliment. “It never felt right with any of them, and besides, all my time is spent managing the shop.”
Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes at my answer. I expected him to continue this line of questioning, but instead he sipped his red wine and asked, "You're the manager? Or the owner?"
“Both.” I paused, debating how much to reveal. What could it hurt? This would only last seven days and then I’d never see him again. “It was my parents’ shop, but they died five years ago. My sister and I inherited it in their will. Jo is too busy with her own business, so I run the place myself.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your parents,” he said.
My throat grew tight with that familiar sadness and the loss I felt every time I thought of the accident five years ago. Not because I missed my parents, but because I didn’t remember them at all. Not only were they taken from me, but I’d lost all my memories of them too, in an especially cruel twist. Was it any wonder I would fight tooth and nail to hold onto my loved ones now?
Before he could fire off any more questions about my parents, I asked, “What about you? Why does the King of Las Vegas need to bribe a woman into spending a week with him? I thought you were a billionaire playboy. That’s what the internet says about you, anyway.”
“Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.” His expression became distant as he looked out at the water as the fountains splashed a playful rhythm. “I had a great love once. The kind they write books about."
"What happened?" I asked in a hushed voice.
He turned his hypnotic eyes back on me. “I lost her.”
“I’m sorry,” I found myself saying, echoing his words to me a minute ago. The tone of his voice made me think that his great love had passed away, and my heart squeezed in sympathy. I couldn’t imagine having something like that and then losing it.
He gazed at me with unblinking intensity. “Perhaps it will be different this time.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, so I took a long sip of water just as our next course was brought out, some tiny pieces of steak with figs and honey. I’d already forgotten what course number we were on. All I knew was that the food kept coming, and it was all amazing.
I pushed another button in the little box and the fountains started up again, this time dancing to that Celine Dion song from Titanic. Soon another course came, some lamb with kale and asparagus, but I was already so full I could only take a few bites.
“Tell me about your life,” I finally said, once I gave up on trying to eat anymore. “It’s probably a lot more interesting than mine.”
A perfect eyebrow arched up. “What would you like to know?”
“How did you do all this?” I asked, gesturing around us. “This restaurant is obviously very expensive, and we’ve got the place all to ourselves, plus control of the fountains at Bellagio. How?”
“Easy—I own it all.”
My brow furrowed. “I thought you owned The Celestial.”
“That’s what I want most people to believe, but for you, the truth.” He gestured toward The Strip, where I could see the glowing signs of the other casinos through the mist of the fountains. “I own nearly every luxury hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Some through shell companies, so it doesn't seem as though I dominate The Strip quite as much as I do, but for all intents and purposes, Las Vegas is my city."
I sat back in my chair, stunned. I knew he was a powerful billionaire and that he controlled Las Vegas, but to own all of that—damn. “Is that why they call you the King of Las Vegas?”
“One of the reasons.” He paused before sipping his wine. “But that’s not what you really want to know, is it? You want to know why they call me the devil.”
My face grew warm, embarrassed that my thoughts were so obvious, or that he could read me so easily. Of course that was what I wanted to know. I’d heard those whispers—the ones people muttered when they thought I’d turned away and was no longer listening. There were also the rumors about what happened to people who crossed him. “Why do they?”
His eyes flashed with dark humor for a second before he answered. “Because I am the devil. My true name is Lucifer.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Seriously? That’s your birth name? No wonder you go by Lucas. Your parents must have hated you.”
“My father certainly does, but that’s beside the point. I am the Lucifer, formerly known as the Lightbringer, also called Satan, the Prince of Darkness, Father of Lies, King of Hell, and a number of other titles that people have bestowed upon me over the years.”
My laughter faded as I realized he was completely serious. “I’m sorry…what?”
Our server brought our final course, a fruit tart for dessert, while I stared at Lucas. As soon as we were alone again, Lucas picked up his fork, as though we were having a normal conversation. “I realize it’s difficult to believe, but I only speak the truth to you.”
While he took a bite, I could only watch him, my stomach twisting. “You’re trying to tell me you’re actually the devil. Fallen angel. Evil incarnate.”
“You absolutely must try this tart, it’s truly divine. I should know.” He met my eyes again, and this time the look in them made me tremble. “Evil? Probably. Fallen? Definitely.”
Shit, what had I gotten myself into? My thoughts swirled chaotically, and I poked at my tart with my fork as I tried to gain control over them. I was being held captive by a crazy billionaire who believed he was the devil. I should run away right this instant and never look back. But I couldn’t. He was probably the only man in Vegas who could find Brandy, and I’d sacrifice myself any number of times for the safe return of my friend.
“Is that why you make deals?” A nervous laugh bubbled out of me. “Are you going to steal my soul? Should I be afraid?”
“Oh, Hannah. Your soul already belongs to me.” His eyes smoldered and a villainous smile spread across his lips. “And you should be very afraid.”
5
Lucifer
My spoon guided my coffee into a slow swirl in my mug—an exercise in controlled chaos—as I skimmed the newspaper front page. A relic of an older time, but one I refused to give up, even if I managed most of my business online these days. Hell, I still remembered when newspapers were invented. To see new technologies change the world and then become obsolete years later—such was the curse of an immortal.