The Devil’s Plaything

Chapter 5

Gabriel

Birmingham, England



I walk among the old gravestones of Brookfields Cemetery, just a few minutes’ drive from the house where I was born and raised. This place brings back good memories. When I was a child, I used to sneak away to spend time alone. I preferred the company of the dead to that of the only family I had.

I stop in front of the same grave as always and search for the inscription on the dark stone, worn down by the passing years. There is only one name.

I squeeze my eyes shut and adjust my tie with a tense gesture.

“Your time hasn’t come yet,” I murmur to myself.

I walk backward and follow the path that leads me to the exit in absolute silence. As I get into the car, I promise myself that this will be the last time I come here. This stopped being my home a long time ago; however, I know it’s a promise I won’t be able to keep. In a couple of months, I’ll cross the Atlantic again, enduring more than twelve hours of flying just to check whether there is still only one name on the gravestone. It has become a habit I’m incapable of avoiding.

It should be simple. My life could be perfect. At only twenty-five years old, I’m the director and owner of thirty-three percent of one of the largest casinos in Las Vegas, and one with some of the highest annual profits. Yes, I may not have earned any of it by myself, but I work hard to make it grow more every day.

If only I could leave the past behind…

After driving for a little over twenty minutes, I leave the car parked in one of Birmingham Airport’s long-stay parking lots and make my way to the boarding area without any luggage. On the private jet that will take me back to the city of Las Vegas, I have everything I need.

I greet the pilot briefly before settling into one of the cushioned seats and take the opportunity to answer several emails as well as a couple of messages from my brother. I’m about to put the phone into the inside pocket of my suit jacket when it starts vibrating.

It’s Xander again.

I answer the call while fastening my seat belt.

“Hello, Xander,” I greet him.

“Hello? We just talked through messages. You know you don’t always have to be so f*****g polite, right, brother?”

I ignore his jab and wait for the flight attendant to approach and offer me a drink while my brother continues chattering nonstop on the other end of the line. I don’t feel guilty for not paying attention to him because, in truth, it’s not as if he’s saying anything important either. As always, he’s only making fun of me and my manners.

As if being polite were a bad thing.

I move the phone slightly away from my ear to ask for a bottle of sparkling water and try not to pay too much attention to the provocative smile the flight attendant gives me. However, when she turns around to leave, I’m unable to stop myself from glancing at her ass.

My visual inspection is interrupted when I hear Xander repeating my name.

“I’m still here,” I say, returning to the conversation. “Does your call have any other purpose besides making fun of me?”

“Yes, but it’s not nearly as fun.” I hear him laugh, and I roll my eyes.

“Get to the point. I have things to do.”

“I might have found a good place for your new project.”

“Where?” I ask, watching as the flight attendant returns with my drink.

“California. It’s huge and secluded. I’ve scheduled a meeting with the owner for tomorrow. Do you think you’ll make it in time?”

The girl reaches my side and bends down to place the glass bottle and a glass on the table. The way she stretches to give me a good view of her cleavage doesn’t escape my notice. I can even see part of her underwear.

“I’ll be there in twelve hours,” I state. “Everything all right at the casino?”

“Everything’s in order. The same little problems as always, some cheater, a couple of drunks, and not much else. Do you want me to send someone to pick you up at the airport?”

“No, I’ll get there on my own,” I reply without taking my eyes off the girl as she slowly straightens and gives me that provocative smile again. “And Ren?”

“That’s another subject we need to talk about. He’s making his caregiver’s life impossible.”

“We’ll discuss it when I arrive. I have to go. Goodbye.”

I wait for Xander to say goodbye before ending the call and stare at the girl standing in front of me.

Blonde, tall, endless legs, and visibly receptive.

My c**k hardens instantly, and I breathe deeply through my nose.

You must not give in to temptation, Gabriel. Temptation leads to sin, and sin to damnation.

I slowly shake my head to silence the voice and exhale.

“Can I do anything else for you, Mr. Sutton?” the flight attendant asks with a flutter of her eyelashes that, if I weren’t so f*****g horny, would seem pathetic.

“You can take off your panties and sit on my cock.”

The girl looks at me in surprise.

“I’m asking politely, but if you take longer than ten seconds, I’ll take what’s been offered to me, and I’m warning you, I won’t be gentle.”

After a couple of seconds in which I don’t think she even breathes, she reaches out her hands with the intention of touching me. I move away and give her a warning look.

“I didn’t say you could touch me. Just take off your f*****g panties already, or I’ll rip them off myself.”