Page 32 of Jackpot Joker

“Regardless, do you really think it’s in our best interest for you to pursue anything with our attorney?”

I shake my head. “It wouldn’t matter. She’s bullheaded, and since we’re clients of hers, that means I am strictly off-limits.”

“Probably for the best,” Gio says with a sigh. “Especially with the shit we’ve found ourselves in this morning.”

My eyebrows narrow in question, and Gio tosses photographs on the desk. The grainy images show men lying in their own blood inside a warehouse. Our men.

“What the fuck is this?”

Gio runs a hand through his graying hair—this past year has truly aged him. My father may not be completely out of the game, but when he stepped down from most of his duties last year, Gio stepped up, and the mafia life isn’t too kind. “It’s the reason I’ve been visiting families all morning and giving my condolences to new widows and orphans. Fuck, guys, I don’t know what has been going on or how whoever it is that’s after us is always a step ahead, but we have to fucking do something.”

“We have no leads? Surely you got something out of Matty’s girl.” I look over at Luca, who somehow manages to frown even deeper than usual.

“Just bullshit,” he mutters, and I look back to Gio for an elaboration.

Gio takes another swig of his drink. “She squealed like a fucking pig, giving us everything we could ever want on the Matarazzos, only for it to all be fucking lies. She fed us misinformation, and we looked like fools following her leads. Fucking Matty is probably lounging on one of his mattresses he can’t fucking sell, laughing at us.”

“Where is she now?” I ask Luca.

“I let her go.”

I blink at my brother, surprised at the news. “Someone crossed us, and you just let her go.”

He hangs his head. “I’m not a monster.”

Gio and I glance at each other with knowing looks. After a moment passes, I blow out a breath. “So, what do we do?”

“We watch our backs. We don’t go anywhere without telling each other. And we pick up every last member of the Matarazzo’s crew until this shit stops happening.”

I nod in agreement, but Gio isn’t finished.

“And Dario,” he says, and I look up at him. “We stop fucking with our attorney.”

Chapter 16

Jasmine

Iglance at the time on my computer monitor as I close the file I’ve been working on. My weekly wrap-up meeting begins in ten minutes. It isn’t enough time to grab a lavender latte from the coffee shop around the corner, so I’ll have to settle for a cup of coffee from the break room. The caffeine will have to be enough to keep me awake as I listen to Todd drone on as though none of us in the room have any clue how to do our jobs.

Reaching for the coffee pot, another hand brushes against mine. I look up to see Todd with a smile on his face. “Ah, Jasmine. I believe you may be as much of a caffeine addict as I am.”

I give him a small, polite smile, and he removes his hand so I can refill my mug. When I place the coffee pot back on the base, Todd grips my wrist and steps into me. “You may have tricked Jim Jorgensen, but I know exactly what you’re up to. You won’t whore yourself to the top of the ladder here at this company.”

My eyes widen as I stare at him, the smile falling completely from my face. “I’m not trying to do anything to get to the top. I’m only trying to do my job.”

He smirks cruelly. “Could have fooled me.” I jerk my wrist away from him and Todd walks out the door. “We have a meeting, Miss Baker. You’re late.”

I jab the number sixteen as the elevator doors close, anxious to get to my condo and stay there for the weekend. With the exception of Dario being completely inappropriate and taking me to his sex club, the week had gone off without a hitch. That is, until Todd decided to be vile in the break room, then make digs at me in the meeting.

My body trudges slowly down the hall, mentally and emotionally spent from work. This position was supposed to be my dream job. It was giving me my chance to be on my own and take on the corporate world. I should be expanding my horizons and invigorated by the entire experience. Instead, I’m defeated and wondering if it’s time I pack up and head home.

When my key unlocks my door, I open it, and an instant sense of eeriness comes over me.

“Hello?” I shout out, but there’s no reply.

I shake my head, telling myself it’s simply the dread of work creeping in, and I’m being paranoid. I place my keys on the hook beside my door and head straight to my life source—the coffee pot.

In the kitchen, I still can’t shake the feeling that something is off. I open the cabinet door for my favorite coffee mug, only to find it isn’t there. Glancing around, I find it sitting in the sink. I could have sworn I rinsed it out and placed it back this morning. I must be more exhausted than I thought.