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Chapter 1
Dante
Icrossmylegsunder the table and lean back as Michael deals the cards. Wisps of cigar smoke flow up to the ceiling where a giant chandelier dangles from a beam, illuminating the poker game. The room is dark except for this light, and I see Rico, my second in command, leaning against the doorway. The exit sign illuminates his body from above.
I reach out and check my cards.
Two kings.
Looking at the table, I notice a queen, a jack of hearts, three sevens, a two of hearts. Then Michael puts down a ten of diamonds.
When I glance up, I see all the players and observe them. Sitting next to me, Jesse is one of those people who talks with his eyes. He’s not sure he’s got a great hand. Lincoln, who sits beside Jesse, exudes cockiness. His ever-present arrogant expression leaves you uncertain whether or not he's bluffing. Massimo, my employee for years, has nothing. His lips curl down, tipping off his hand. He has the face of a man underwhelmed.
I keep a blank expression as I push all my chips into the pot. Jesse does the same. Lincoln smirks and shakes his head before tossing his cards onto the table with his tattooed hand.
“Fuck this,” he says. “I fold.” He leans back in his chair, folding his hands behind his head, ready to watch how this round will play out.
Massimo folds as well, leaving Jesse and I to reveal our cards. Jesse has been on a hot streak tonight, but I’ve got a full house. Michael tells us to show our cards, and Jesse goes first. Everyone at the table is holding their breath. Sure, we’re friends, but we’re competitive and don’t like to lose.
Jesse flips both his cards up at the same time. He’s got two tens. So, three of a kind.
I take a deep breath and grin as I flip over my cards, revealing the two kings.
“Full house,” I say, and the table is silent for only a second before everyone starts cheering.
Jesse is always the man to beat. And this time, I got him.
“Well, Jesse. I guess today is my lucky day,” I say, rubbing my bearded chin casually.
Jesse narrows his eyes at me, but he’s smiling. He didn’t like that, but we can all accept when we’ve lost.
Michael slides all the cards his way and starts cleaning up as Frank, one of Rico’s main security men, comes up behind me.
Fuck. This can’t be good. These games are one of the only times we get to relax. We all have taxing jobs. That’s why no one discusses work at these things. You only get conversations about wives, food, and cars. If Frank’s interrupting us, it must be important.
And I can think of such a thing. A few weeks ago, I discovered a man who’d come to my casino owed a ton of money. One hundred thousand dollars, to be exact. But now we can’t find him. I take a sip of scotch as Frank whispers the situation into my ear.
“Sir, we still can’t find him. However, I looked around, and he’s got a daughter.”
“Who is she?” I say quietly.
“Not sure. It looks like he kept her hidden. One of Tanya’s friends works with her at one of your hotels.” Frank procures a tablet over my shoulder with a picture of the man’s daughter. She’s wearing the hotel uniform that people in my restaurants get. She’s got long dark hair tied up in a ponytail, and she’s smiling.
“Do you want us to pick her up, Sir?” Frank asks.
Typically, we don’t touch civilians. Women and children in particular. But Gregory Brockman is no longer a minor problem we can just whisk away. We could take her and tell Gregory that if he can’t get us the money, his daughter will have to pay the price.
“Go to her. Get her to tell you if she knows where the old man is. If she doesn’t know… bring her to me. And make sure she is unharmed.”
Frank nods, and I nod at Rico, who goes with him. Massimo gets up from the table and joins them.
“Well, friends, it’s been a nice night, but I have to go.” I shake Lincoln, Michael, and Jesse’s hands.
“Don’t want to risk giving me my money back?” Jesse jokes.
I chuckle as I collect my winnings. “No, no. Just want to make sure you leave here with that nice watch on.”
There’s a rumor that the expensive watch Jesse’s wearing comes from the wife of another boss. A fling that no one seems interested in hiding. It’s a stupid thing to do, but if there’s anything that Jesse’s good at, it’s not losing.
