The Billionaire's Bet #3: A Risky Raise (Erotic Romance with alpha male) by Clarissa Wild Read Free Book Online Page A

himself. “I told you my dad left me some serious shit when I got the casino. I wasn’t joking.”
    “Well, why would it involve me? Why would I be in danger? And what does that woman have to do with it?”
    Dominic stomped up and down, his nostrils flaring, almost as if he was exploding with anger. “She has everything to do with it.”
    “Why? Who is she?” I came up from the bed, my arms still folded, and stood in front of him, my posture rigid. I tried to match his dominance, but he still towered above me.
    “A goddamn private investigator, alright?”
    My eyes widened and my breathin g stopped for a second. “What?”
    “You heard me.” He put his phone in his pocket and straightened his collar in the mirror. “I don’t want you involved. It’s bad enough as it is.”
    “Well, I’m involved with you. I guess that warrants the fact that I’m already in that shit of yours quite deep.”
    He took a deep breath. “Listen, Julie.” He turned around and grabbed me by my arms. “I don’t want you hurt. What I said yesterday … I meant it. I want to protect you and that’s the only reason I’m doing this.”
    I looked him in the eye, and he seemed very worried. Still, it didn’t justify the fact that he refused to give me more. Almost as if he thought I couldn’t handle it, and it made me feel like I wasn’t on the same level, even though he’d made me feel I was.
    “Don’t go outside,” he continued. “Close the blinds in front of the windows. Lock the doors, don’t open them for anyone. Don’t pick up the phone and don’t answer any emails.” He pecked me swiftly on the cheeks.
    “You’re going again? You can’t be serious. You expect me to sit here and be quiet?” I said, furious he was leaving me again without telling me what he was doing.
    “ I have to deal with this, okay? Just promise me you’ll do what I say. Do this for your master, please.”
    The word please had an imploring tone, which I had not heard from him before.
    I swallowed and closed my eyes. “Fine.”
    He ki ssed me on my forehead. “Good.”
    His fingers slid over my cheek, and he lifted my chin. “I do love you. That didn’t change and it won’t, no matter what happens.” He kissed me tenderly and then left my lips empty , as he rushed downstairs and closed the door behind him.
     
    ***
     
    I tried so hard to get my fingers to type something, but they kept hovering over the keyboard without striking a key. I couldn’t muster the will to push them. Nothing good would come out anyway. I hadn’t written anything since Dominic left. I’d been sitting here all day, mulling over what he was doing, and it was eating me up inside.
    D amn it! Why does this have to be so hard?
    The doorbell phone rang , and I stood up to answer it, even though I remember Dominic telling me not to do so. I didn’t really think there was any danger in it. Sure, some shit was happening with him and the casino, and he’d hired a private detective, but what in the world would that have to do with me or his home?
    I shrugged, and picked it up. “Hello?”
    “Is this Miss Julie Fury?”
    I flushed. “Excuse me?”
    “Fury? Julie Fury?” It was the doorman down below, I recognized it.
    “No, my name’s not Fury. Just Julie. Julie Valentine.”
    “Oh. Well, I’ve got a package here for you,” he said, his voice sounding oddly hoarse. “I’m bringing it up in a second.”
    A package for me? Who in the world would know I was here?
    “Ah, no thank you,” I said. “I’ll pick it up later today.”
    “Sorry Miss,” he said, stuttering. “But I insist. I will bring it up right away.”
    I sighed. “If you have to.”
    There was no response. The bleeps were already audible.
    Did he just hang up on me?
    I counted down the seconds it took for the elevator to arrive. If he really was in a hurry and went in the first one that was available, he would be here any moment now. I walked over to the door and opened it. A short guy, our