I feel Kieran’s eyes follow me as I march through the club to the private room where the boys are playing, only to find the room is filled with the Santucci brothers instead. They own a chain of mattress stores that spreads throughout the country. It’s all a front of course, but in this club, that’s sort of the theme. No one is who they appear to be on the surface.
I must have read the list wrong, or there was a change. Kieran can’t play with these guys.
Knowing him the little that I do, he’ll have a card stuffed up his sleeve. The Santucci brothers would see it as more than a slight, they’d want his head. Which would solve my Kieran problem, but while I might be on the cusp of selling my soul to the devil upstairs, I still possess one now.
“Hey, you don’t have leave.” A short man with less hair on his head than I have on my entire body, pulls my arm.
My heart skids to a stop. It’s Anthony Santucci, the oldest of the brothers, and the most likely to gut Kieran like a fish if he thinks he’s not on the up and up.
But, to use Kieran’s own mantra…that’s his problem, not mine.
“I’m sorry, I was looking for another party. I must have the wrong room.” Anthony looks mildly irritated when I take my arm back.
“I gotta run, guys. Carlotta’s water just broke.” One of the guys I recognize as Frank Santucci snuffs out his cigar in the ashtray and grabs his suit jacket from the back of his chair. “Firstborn son. I can’t miss it. I can’t!”
The other guys congratulate him as though he’s managed some great feat by getting his wife pregnant—and with a boy no less.
An old memory sucks the breath from my chest. Derek had been so proud when we’d found out the baby I was carrying was a boy; he’d danced around congratulating himself. It had been a happy day against a dark backdrop. Things were looking up for us finally.
Only a few months later my world ended.
“Hey, hon. You okay?” Anthony rests his sweaty palm on my shoulder. “You look like you need to sit down.”
“What? No. I’m fine.” I force a small smile and clear my throat. “But it looks like your short a guy for your game?”
He glances at the poker table. “We could use a fourth, you want in?”
“No, sorry, I’m still on shift. But if you’re looking for another player, I might be able to find someone.” I take a small step out of the doorway, like it’s not really a big deal to me one way or the other.
Except it is. And I’m desperately praying this guy is open to taking money off a stranger.
His face is unreadable while he thinks it over. “You guys okay with an outsider joining?”
“Yeah. Whatever. With Frank gone, we gotta delay our little conversation anyway. Might as well. But get someone with deep pockets,” one of the other men already settled at the table says. “Lost my ass at the track yesterday, wouldn’t mind recouping my losses.”
“Oh, then I think I might have someone. He’s new around here and pretty desperate to sit at a high rolling table like yours.” I tilt my head a little, leaning in toward Anthony. “Poor guy, he’s lost at every table he’s played at but looks like he has the cash to burn. You know the type, just wants to sit with the big boys.”
I have no idea if what I’m saying even sounds remotely sly to anyone else. To myself, I sound like an idiot who is blowingthis chance. If I’m not careful, Kieran and I both could lose our heads.
“Oh yeah?” Anthony rubs his chin, thinking it over. “I mean, a sucker’s born every day, right?”
“Yeah.” I giggle, hoping it sounds somewhat flirtatious.
Heaven help me, I even bat my eyelashes at him.
“All right, if you got someone, send them this way. Oh, and if you’re not our girl, can you find her too? We need some drinks and food in here.” He rubs his hand over his protruding belly. “Fucking hungry tonight.”
“Yes, of course.”
Hurrying through the lounge, I ignore my tables, much to their annoyance. This little errand for Kieran is going to cost me serious tips. Though, after tomorrow night, most of my debts will go away, and I’ll be able to breathe a little.
I don’t have time to unpack that whole situation. I’ll deal with it when I get home. Maybe when I look at the bills again it will help dissolve the lead ball in my stomach.
“Okay, room five. They’re playing poker.” I catch his gaze. “You can’t go in there and start winning right off the bat. You need to lose a few hands.”
“You think this is my first hustle?” He frowns.
“Did I hear you say room five? I’m in there with the Santuccis.” Caroline smiles as she butts up to me. “You need me to show you where it is?”
