When I stopped, Graham did too. He stood there in his bespoke suit with his mustache waxed into twin curls like some kind of cartoon villain and his brows knitted together.

  “Luxe?” he asked. “What’s the problem?”

  My heart skipped a beat, and not in the romantic way.

  Licking my lips, I glanced back the way we’d come. At least, the way I thought we’d come. The hall was long and had a bend that obscured its end from view. But even if I could see other side of this tunnel, these buildings were massive. Some casinos could swallow you whole and still make room for thousands of machines, tables, and half a dozen themed bars. If I wandered out alone, I could get turned around fast, drawing attention from all the wrong people.

  Behind Graham, the open door yawned wide. There was a party going on inside. Some kind of private event with an exclusive guest list. But I couldn’t walk through that door. Not in an angel-owned casino with my horns peeking through my hair and my tail thrashing.

  “Graham, honey,” I said, injecting as much sweetness as I could manage, “I can’t be here.”

  He blinked, clearly confused, but I didn’t give him the chance to push.

  It was probably an honest mistake. Graham was a human and not necessarily versed in angel/demon politics. The division of Las Vegas territory had been an inside job. A quiet agreement. Better the mortals thought they still had a stake in this place, or we might have a war on our hands. Humanity had a long history of fighting for the sake of proving a point, and often the point was that they valued principles over people. I’d witnessed that distinction personally. Painfully.

  Graham’s frown deepened. “But, Princess, I wanna show you off. And my buddies are waiting…” A cheer burst from the room, and he leaned toward the sound.

  There could have been anything from a kink club to a craps table in there, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t welcome in this place. All it took was one angel thinking I was here to make some kind of statement, and Graham’s big surprise would become a hill I might die on.

  My tail—always the most honest part of me—flicked as I slipped closer. “Are you really going to make me wait to wrap my mouth around that thick, gorgeous cock of yours?” I purred, fingers walking up his chest. “I’ll blow you right now, in the car. Then again when we get back to your hotel. You want that, don’t you?”

  Graham’s eyes glazed. “Yeah,” he said hoarsely, “I want that.”

  “Of course you do.” I traced a lazy circle on his lapel, manicured nails grazing the fabric.

  He glanced back at the doorway, pitching slightly toward it. “What if we duck in for just ten minutes?”

  How long had we already been meandering around this casino? And who had seen?

  No. I couldn’t put this off.

  I shook my head, eye ticking with stifled irritation. “I’ve been waiting all day,” I coaxed. “I’m so ready for you. Don’t you wanna play with your pretty demon princess?”

  Graham swallowed, torn between temptations until he threw his head back and groaned. “Come on, Luxe. Just a few minutes. We’ll make a lap around the room, then we can disappear, yeah?”

  Stepping back, I folded my arms over my chest. “Sorry, but I don’t mingle with angels. Good and evil. Oil and water… You get the idea.”

  Graham flashing a crooked smile, applying charm instead of pressure. I couldn’t blame him; I’d been doing the same thing.

  “You look like an angel to me,” he crooned.

  “Yeah,” I grumbled, letting my voice flatten, “not to them.”

  His smile faltered as realization dawned. “You’re really not coming?” he asked, then repeated, “Really? After everything I’ve done for you today?” His tone turned sharp, wounded pride bleeding into frustration. “I’ve been spoiling you! Lunch, drinks, the whole fucking Strip⁠—!”

  “And I’m gonna spoil you right back,” I countered. “In the car. In your bed. Hell, I’ll ride you on the fucking roof if that’s what you’re into. But I’m not walking through that door.”

  Graham’s face darkened with both shadow and tint.

  “I see how it is,” he snapped. “You’re just a cunning little slut trying to milk me dry. Smile pretty, shake your ass, then disappear the second it’s not convenient…” He lunged toward me, fingers curling like he thought he could just take what he’d paid for.

  My tail shot out and coiled around his wrist, halting him mid-lunge. His eyes went wide, and he tried to pull back, but I held firm.

  “You’re showing your ass, darling,” I warned him.

  The hallway filled with silence. Graham’s gaze dropped to where my tail gripped him, then flicked up to meet my eyes. My heart was pounding, but Luxe remained composed with his head high, expression polished, and spine straight.

  I tilted my chin just slightly, then I released him and turned on my heel.

  I’d been brought into this blind, and it looked like I would be leaving the same way.

  As I departed, Graham’s voice chased me. “Princess, I’m sorry! Luxe? Luxe!”

  My heels thudded dully against the carpet as I made a rapid exit. Despite his protest, Graham stayed behind, clearly more drawn to whatever was in that room than to the guarantee of getting his dick wet. His loss.

  Now it was on me to get out of this casino without causing more of a stir. The place was decently crowded, enough to offer some cover. I’d stand out, sure. I’d spent too much time crafting a look meant to be noticed, and my face was currently grinning down from at least two Stripside billboards. But I didn’t need full camouflage. Just enough of a blur to slip through.

  The hallway curved ahead, and I rounded it at a rapid clip, then nearly collided with a wall of authority.

  Three uniformed men stood in a line. Casino security. Broad-shouldered, clean-cut, and trained for intimidation. Their combined gaze snapped to me the second I came into sight.

  The lead guard was tall and square-jawed with a comm unit tucked discreetly behind his ear. He stepped forward.

  “Ma’am… or, uh, sir?” The question hung as he looked me over. At five-foot three wearing makeup and women’s clothing, my gender was anyone’s guess. I passed for whatever my client paid me to be.

  The guard recovered quickly, deciding my pronouns were less important than my presence in this establishment. He beckoned to me. “What’s your business at the Basilica?”

  Graham brought me to the fucking Basilica?

  If angelic properties were a beehive, then the Basilica casino was where they kept their queen. Antonella Rossetti ruled the heavenly half of Vegas with her loyalists and a brood of Nephilim. I’d never had the displeasure of meeting them, and I didn’t intend to start today.

  With the way forward thoroughly blocked, I had no choice but to stop.

  I could have thrown Graham under the bus. Might should have. The moment he started with the name-calling and grabby hands, he was on my shit list. But these casino commandos wouldn’t blame a human for a demon’s folly. It was up to me to explain myself.

  My tail gave a sharp flick, betraying what I didn’t show on my face. “Lovely day for sightseeing,” I replied through a smile. “I was told this place was not to be missed, but now that I’ve seen it, I think I’ll just… miss it.” I nodded in the direction I believed the exit to be and added, “If you don’t mind.”

  I advanced half a step toward a narrow gap near the wall, but the trio quickly filled it.

  Thwarted, I sighed and settled back as the man in front spoke again.

  “You mind telling us who’s out there advising demons to come onto our property?”

  “No one in particular.” I shrugged. “People talk.”

  One of the flanking guards grunted, then spoke up. “The same people who haunt that hellhouse you dance in?”

  I glanced over at him. A nondescript thirty-something human with the buzzcut hair and a bulky build. He and his buddies were stamped from the same mold: military posture, tactical scowls, and more muscle than man. Antonella Rossetti definitely had a type.

  “Dollhouse,” I corrected. “And maybe. We cater to people of taste. Since you recognize me, you’re obviously one of them.”

  Buzzcut sneered. “I didn’t recognize you, hell spawn. I smelled you.”

  The leader tipped his head toward a shallow side corridor. “Why don’t we continue this somewhere private?” His tone was calm, but it had that don’t make this harder than it needs to be edge.

  I turned to glimpse the area he indicated. No windows. No guests. Just a shadowy alcove and a heavy-looking door.

  My smile tightened. “Tempting, but I have a whole list of places on my tour, so I can’t spare another minute here.”

  All three men pressed forward, hemming me in. My tail coiled around my calf.

  “Gentlemen,” I began. My voice held the slightest waver. “I think there’s been⁠—”

  A hand seized my arm. Not rough. But firm.

  Final.

  My heart gave one hard, stuttering beat.

  Shit.

  Preorder the next book in the Sinful Nights and Neon Lights series HERE!

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  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I am surrounded by a small army of people who helped shape this book and this series into what it is.

  Thank you first of all to my husband, who is and always has been my number one fan. He sets my standard for love, and I enjoy fitting pieces of us into every romance I write.

  Second, a massive shout out to those who let me jump in your DMs at odd hours of the day and night with unhinged ideas and roaming plot bunnies. You guys are the best.

  Additional digital hugs for the other creators I have met and befriended on this crazy self-publishing journey. This community is amazing, and I’m so happy to be part of it.

  Lastly, to all the readers and fans who share their enthusiasm and support, you are incredible. It’s a privilege to get to share my boys and their stories with you.

  - Quinn

  ALSO BY QUINN CAMERON

  The Marionette Series

  Pulling Strings

  Capitol Matters

  Brother’s Keeper

  Looking Grimm

  The Hounded Duology

  Fire & Brimstone

  Ashes to Ashes

  The Bone Men Series

  coauthored with C.J. Tuma

  First Oaths

  Solemn Vows

 

 

  Quinn Cameron, Airborne (Sinful Nights & Neon Lights Book 1)

 

 

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