It’s 1955, Las Vegas is swinging, and David Lonergan has the chance of a lifetime when he accompanies his cousin to be the headlining act at the Thunderbird Casino. A pianist who cut his teeth in the jazz clubs of Chicago, David is a dazzled by the lights, the music, and the “anything goes” attitude of Las Vegas. But he’s not knocked off his feet until he meets Vincent “Shorty” Accardo.<br><br>Vincent is a full-time bodyguard and sometimes hitman for the mob-controlled casino. He doesn’t indulge his interest in men very often, but there’s something different about David from the moment they meet. He’s attracted to David’s talent, his surprising innocence, and his easy smile.<br><br.There are a million reasons to stay away from the young piano player, but Vincent can’t help himself. Even when there are lives at risk.

The Bad and the Beautiful

“You okay?” Vince asked once the door was closed behind them.


The question surprised him. “Me? I’m fine. I’m not the one who got himself sliced up out there.”


“Yeah, but you said yourself, you’ve never been caught up in this sort of thing.”


His dressing room was tiny, barely enough space to navigate around Vince without bumping into him, but David did what he could, grabbing a cup to take into the bathroom and fill with water. When he emerged, Vince had taken off his jacket and hung it on the back of the lone chair. Without it, he suddenly seemed even bigger.


“Sit down.” He was glad when Vince complied without arguing. Scooping up a hand towel from the dressing table, he knelt on the floor in front of him, grasping one strong wrist to turn the injury upward. “It all happened so fast,” he said, dipping the towel into the water. “Maybe it just hasn’t sunk in yet.”


Chapter 13