All In (Russian Cardroom #3)
Prologue
LYRIC
“If you love me, you’ll do this for me,” he commands, his voice raspy as though he’s smoked packs of cigarettes daily all his life. He stops pacing and stares me down. I hold my spine straight, determined not to let him know he intimidates me.
“Why?” I ask him.
Why should I have to prove my love for him by hacking into a casino? Especially one where my sister works. Aside from it being illegal and facing possible jail time, he just confirmed that the Russian Bratva has a stake in it. The owner is the son of the Pakhan back in Latvia and the brother to the Pakhan here in Vegas.
“Because I’m your father, and you’ll do as I ask,” he barks, making me flinch.
“Daddy, she didn’t mean to upset you.” Ainsley is quick to calm him, though I’m unsure if it’s for his benefit or mine.
I love my twin, but she has always put herself first. It’s a result of being raised in group homes and foster care. She’d step over my body to get something she wants. She’s never been humbled and lost something that meant something to her. We struggled until I found our half sister, Lennon. She’s helped us with rent and loans Ainsley money. However, my twin has no ambition to pay her back. Ainsley says we are due the money because we suffered in the system while Lennon lived it up with her father.
“How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?” he shouts as he advances on Ainsley. She cowers, bracing for the blow, something we’ve both experienced from him in the past couple of years. “If my wife finds out about either of you, I will lose everything.” He turns to me. “Now do what I told you to do. He stole that casino from me, and I’m tired of watching him reap its benefits.”
When I discovered that the notorious Jimmy Duncan was our biological father, Ainsley couldn’t wait to go to him. She thought he would welcome us with open arms and raise us alongside his sons, but that wasn’t the case. He kept our existence hidden, like the dirty secret our mother was to him. He only reaches out when he needs something from us. He initially disapproved of Ainsley working at the Lucky Dice Casino, until he realized her employment there could benefit him.
Pain washes over Ainsley’s face when he grabs hold of her arm and squeezes. Unlike her, I won’t step over her body. Despite her being the older sister by four minutes, I’m the protective one, and I’ll protect her now, just as I’ve always done.
“Okay.” I open a browser window and begin working my way to their server. “It’s going to be more difficult, but I can do it. I’ll need some time,” I tell him.
“I’ll check back with you.” He releases Ainsley with a shove toward the wall. When he slams the door to our apartment, I rush to her side.
“You shouldn’t have interfered,” I say.
“This will work for us too. We can kill two birds with one stone.” A sinister smile spreads across her face. For months, Ainsley has had a deadly plan to bring some of Vegas’s men to their knees.