35. Brie

CHAPTER 35

Brie

A few days later—and too early in the morning—I get a call from Phil Reynolds.

“Are you kidding me?” I ask, exasperated at the news.

“I was planning to handle it myself?—”

“I’ll go in first,” I tell him, and then end the call.

“Trouble?” Nik asks. She’s been waiting for me to finish dressing. I’ve had to craft a new look for my new persona: casino owner, Mob Boss, most powerful woman in Vegas. It’s taken some skill to make my fashion story really come together, but today I think I’ve perfected it. A blazer in my signature gold with sharp shoulders and a nipped-in waist over a black cami: powerful but feminine. My high-waisted black leather pants—precisely tailored—are a nod to traditional ’50s gangsters. Louboutin stilettos in dark gold leather with their iconic soles the color of fresh blood. And as a final touch, the diamond earrings Terry gave me as a wedding present, which I’ve always cherished.

If he’s watching from anywhere, I hope he’s proud of me.

“No trouble,” I tell Nik. “Just an HR issue. Let’s head down.

When I head down to the corporate offices, the first office I head to is Sophie Johnson’s. She’s back at her desk despite everything she’s been through, despite the fact that she’s been given time off to recover fully. She looks pale but determined, fingers flying over her keyboard like nothing happened, but she jumps when I come in.

“Good morning, Mrs. Colombo,” she says, leaping to her feet. “And Ms. Kusek.”

Nik nods her hello, but stays near the door, alert as always.

“Sophie!” I exclaim, throwing up my hands. “Phil told me you were here, but I couldn’t believe it unless I saw you with my own eyes. What are you doing? You should be resting.”

She gives me a wan smile. “I’m fine, Mrs. Colombo. There’s so much work to catch up on?—”

“Sophie,” I correct her gently, “you’re not fine. You nearly died.” The words catch in my throat as I remember finding her, thinking we were too late. “And it was my fault. I want you to take the rest of the week off, fully paid.”

“But—”

“No buts.” I perch on the edge of her desk, lowering my voice. “Spend some time with Banks. I’m giving him a mandatory paid vacation, too, so I’m sure he’d appreciate having you to himself for a few days.”

Sophie’s face drains of what little color it had. “You know about?—?”

“I do.”

“But the workplace relationship rules?—”

I can’t help but laugh at her stricken expression. “Honey, we’re way past worrying about that. You and Banks saved my life—literally. You’ve both been instrumental in helping me over the last few weeks. As far as I’m concerned, you two could get married tomorrow on the casino floor and spend your honeymoon in the Golden Sands’ bridal suite.”

A blush creeps up Sophie’s neck as she stammers, “That’s very generous of you, but?—”

“Seriously, you need a break,” I tell her, patting her hand. “Because when you get back, you’ll have some new project responsibilities. We need to completely overhaul our financial systems so that what happened before will never happen again.”

She nods fervently. “That sounds like a good idea.”

“And I also want to discuss a significant pay raise for you.”

“Oh!” She looks startled—then pleased.

“It’s settled then,” I say, standing up. “Take the week. That’s an order from your boss.”

There’s a knock at the door, and Phil Reynolds pokes his head around with that usual air of efficiency. He hesitates when he sees me, but I give him a warm smile. “Good morning, Phil. Everything okay out on the floor?”

“Yes, Mrs. Colombo. The numbers are looking good from last night. We had a high roller drop nearly half a million at the baccarat tables.”

“That’s what I like to hear.”

“I just wanted to see Ms. Johnson alone for a moment,” he goes on. “If that’s alright. I have an apology to make.” Phil has been feeling guilty for suspecting Sophie, and told me he wanted to clear the air as soon as he could.

“And I have one of my own for you,” Sophie says, gathering her jacket and handbag. “I’m heading home, Phil—boss’s orders—but maybe we could sit down over coffee before I leave?”

I’m about to bid them goodbye when Nik steps forward to talk to Phil. “Once you’re done with Sophie, we need to talk. Casino security is pretty tight, but I’d like to implement some new protocols across the board.”

Phil’s eyebrows shoot up, and I can see him trying to figure out how to respond to what sounds like an order from my bodyguard.

“Nik will be taking over security operations,” I explain smoothly.

Nik tilts her head to one side. “Since you have a casino to run, Phil.”

I can’t read her expression at all, but Phil seems amused, a slow grin spreading across his face. “I’d be delighted to hand over those responsibilities,” he says. “Because, as you say, I have a casino to run.”

“Perfect,” Nik says, all business. “I’ll need access to all security protocols and staff files. We can figure that out later today.”

“Of course,” Phil replies, then turns to me. “And will you be taking Mr. Colombo’s old office, Mrs. Colombo?”

I nod, feeling a flutter in my stomach at the thought of claiming Terry’s old space as my own. “Time for some changes around here.” I turn back to Sophie, who’s watching everything with wide eyes. “Go on and enjoy your coffee,” I tell her gently. “Then go home and relax. Everything will still be here when you get back, I can promise you that.”

Nik and I head back out to the hallway, where I actually hug Sophie tight. “Thank you for everything,” I whisper in her ear. “I owe you.”

She just hugs me back harder.

Once they’re gone, I look at Nik.

“Family time?” she asks with a grin.

I give a nod. “Family time. Still a lot to get through.”

“You’ll get there,” she says confidently.

And with Nik in my corner, I know I will.

We head up to the conference room, where Vince is already waiting, feet propped up on the table. At my entrance, he quickly drops them to the floor and sits up straighter.

“Good news, Boss,” Vince says, flashing his trademark grin. “Larry and his boys have all cleared out. Watched ’em pack up myself. Gone to Reno, just like you suggested.”

“Any problems?” I ask, settling into the chair at the head of the table—Terry’s old spot.

“Nah. Larry might be dumb, but he ain’t stupid. He knows when he’s beat.” Vince leans forward. “Want me to keep eyes on him in Reno?”

I consider it. “For now. Just until we’re sure he’s staying put.”

Frank comes in at that moment, and I see Nik tense up slightly as he does, before recognizing him as friend rather than foe. She’s insisted on watching over me most of the time until she can fully train her replacement—something she wants to do personally.

“Good morning, Frank,” I greet him.

“Breezy. Sorry I’m late, I got held up.” Frank clears his throat. “There’s a delivery supposed to be coming in today. The Novak Consortium is asking about arrangements for those, uh, flowers we ordered.”

“What’s the usual protocol?” The nuts and bolts of the business are where Frank shines. Terry never spoke much about the practical aspects of the Family, such as organizing the delivery of a small arsenal without alerting law enforcement. And as Frank explains it, I feel happier than ever that he’s sticking around to help me. Frank Colombo might not have the brains of his late cousin, but he has something just as important: experience.

He goes through all the options and lets me choose one. “You handle the arrangements,” I tell Frank. “But make sure Nik oversees the delivery personally.”

Frank glances at Nik before he looks back to me. “Word is, Eva Novak is leaving Vegas today.”

I can’t help feeling a little relieved at that.

“She’ll be back,” Nik warns from the side of the room. “Every year. Like clockwork.”

But that gives me a year. A year to cement my position, strengthen my Family, and build my empire. And when Eva Novak does come back to Las Vegas, she’ll find a very different Brie Colombo waiting for her. One who doesn’t need quite so many favors, at least.

I know Nik still worries about me being in Eva’s debt for those calls with Big Joe. But that’s next year’s problem.