Burn for Me (Chaotic Love)

26. Twenty-Six

Twenty-Six

9-3-2024

God, I could use a drink right about now.

-Sam

I continue to stare at the spot where the man just vanished. It sounds ridiculous, but it's as if something hardwired in my brain is screaming that I know him. There's a physical pull, not just from a random encounter or as an old acquaintance. It’s like my body is hardwired to follow him, but I survey the area instead. As expected, all eyes are on the woman attached to my arm. I don’t blame them—she's absolutely beautiful. But for their sake, I hope they think twice before trying to touch her.

I lean close to Jasmine's ear and whisper, “I need to find the gambling table.”

She nods in response and starts to pull me along but stumbles when a man wearing a black face mask, with only his eyes illuminated and crossed with X's, steps in front of us. I’m getting sick of these fuckers popping up out of nowhere.

“Ah, Sam! The masks look even better in person!” I immediately recognize Casey's voice as he claps a hand on my shoulder. My little devil tightens her grip on me, and I can feel her recoil—not out of fear, but probably because it confirms that they were indeed watching us. I stay silent with a narrowed glare, and he shifts his attention back over his shoulder.

“Tough crowd. The fun is this way.”With that, Casey turns around and guides us deeper into the crowd.

“Who the fuck is that guy?” Caspian grumbles.

Like at the restaurant, we enter another area of the mansion separated by a large archway, but there’s no curtain to hide what’s happening. The dim lights make me squint to try to make out the setup. Neon lights line the bottoms of the tables, but they are mostly blocked by the people surrounding them. All the gamblers dealing cards wear white ski masks that glow while red lights line the ceiling, making the girls in shimmering lingerie stand out as they pass out drinks. I clear my throat and look back at Jasmine, whose lips are pulled into a tight line.

God, I could use a drink right about now.

“Good news, we still have visual confirmation; there are no cut-offs like last time. We just need to know if you can still hear us.” Sharkie’s voice comes through, and I rub the back of my neck, trying to figure out how to give them some sign. Jasmine mirrors my gesture but smooths her hand over her hair instead.

“I’m going to take that as a sign,” Moe says, his voice a little more cracked than it should be.

As my shoulder bumps into someone else’s, I slide Jasmine’s body in front of me to ensure she doesn’t get pulled away as we approach a wide table. Glowing cards glide across the surface from the dealer, ready to be clasped by hands adorned with rings that shimmer on the fingers.

“Please, have a seat, Mr. Morana.” My head snaps toward the voice, and I instinctively pull Jasmine closer. Curious, I tilt my head as Casey’s mask blends with the others at the table. The only distinguishing feature is the color of the Xs, but from the voice, I know the one wearing blue is Rurik.

“Go grab us some drinks, Darlin’,” I whisper, pressing my covered mouth to the side of Jasmine's head.

“Try not to lose our fortune.” She teases, and I let out a forced chuckle to maintain the facade, even though my body is itching to snap at her for how quickly she pulls away.

“This is quite the event.” Pulling out a chair, I track Jasmine's figure through the crowd. Her flaming red dress makes her easy to spot, but it dips in and out of the crowd of people as she weaves through.

“She's free to mingle if she wants,” Casey says, unbuttoning his shirt as he sits. My attention is drawn to the motion, and I glimpse his pistol.

“That won't be necessary. I prefer to keep her close.” I like to know she's safe. Leaning back in my chair, I clasp my hands over my abdomen and spread my legs.

“Where were we, boys?” A man in the corner claps his hands impatiently. Judging by his posture and demeanor, he is older than the rest at the table, yet he wears the same mask.

I roll my neck and glance back at Jasmine as she leans against the bar.

“Well, Rurik was bitching about his house, and Diego…” Casey raises his hand irritably towards the man on his right, “was kicking our asses.”

The dealer sets some cards in front of me, and I reach into my pocket for my wallet, but Casey stops me with a harsh scoff, causing me to pause.

“We all have enough money,” Casey whispers, leaning back in his chair and lifting his mask just enough to take a drink. A nasty gash runs along his lip, and he winces as the liquid touches it.

“Then what's the point of gambling?” I huff in response.

Diego leans forward on one elbow, raising his mask to rest on his head with the other hand. His expression is unreadable and slightly unsettling, especially since his eyes seem to be two completely different colors in this lighting.

"Secrets. Who cares about a penny when you can hold years' worth of blackmail over government officials and celebrities?"

Jasmine returns, and I pull her into my lap, wrapping my arm securely around her waist. Her presence seems to shut the idiots up; they lean back in their relaxed seats and pick up their cards. Jasmine takes a sip from a tall glass and taps my arm, prompting me to lift my hand so she can see my cards.

“And just to specify, I wasn't ‘bitching’ about my house. I can build a new one. It's the fact that those bastards not only took something but endangered Dove in the process.”

Jasmine suddenly goes stiff, prompting me to check if I’ve placed my hand awkwardly. I squeeze her waist, but she doesn’t respond. Instead, she scans the area as if looking for someone.

Not now, little devil. She needs to focus on the mission. It feels hypocritical to say that when I can’t concentrate on anything but her behavior.

"I think the only danger around Dove is you." Casey huffs out a laugh. Rurik growls something under his breath as he throws a card at the dealer, who scrambles to pick it up off the floor before handing him a new one.

"Where is she, anyway?" Diego mutters, waving his hand with the cards, prompting the dealer to turn his attention toward me. Jasmine seems to have regained her composure; she taps the Ace in my hand and takes another sip of her drink.

“Got pissed about me unintentionally scaring her… again . Told her father she wasn't coming.”

“Yeah, like Connor will let that happen. There's no way he'll let his daughter out of sight after what happened to the last. Besides, I'm sure you gave them a warning .”

As he speaks, Casey tosses another card onto the pile, and Rurik shakes his head.

“What happened to the last one?” I ask, unable to sit silently without drawing attention to myself. The room goes still, and I can sense I’ve touched a nerve. Even Jasmine freezes, her breathing becoming noticeably different.

“Connor's wife, Lacy, pissed off the wrong people. After their house was burnt to the ground, he shipped the oldest off somewhere.” Rurik mutters quietly, barely audible, over Diego's cursing. I notice Jasmine has won my hand, but she doesn't appear happy when I look at her. I take a deep breath, easing my hold on her and gently brushing my fingers against her skin as I finally process the fact that we're discussing her life.

“So, who hands over the secrets?” My voice is monotone as I lean my mouth to the side of her head, trying to calm her down. The dealer steps away from behind the table, and no one provides an answer. Instead, they all continue their conversations.

“We’re losing time like this,” Caspian says.

I clear my throat and move my hand to Jasmine's thigh, slipping it beneath the slit in her dress. She takes the hint and lets out a long sigh.

“I thought you said this was going to be fun.”

“Darlin’, I’m sure it will be.”

“You’re bored?” Casey perks up, and I grip her leg a little harder. Mine . His focus shifts to the motion, and he tilts his head back with a laugh.

“I'm sure it will get exciting soon. B promised a huge surprise for the winner of tonight's jackpot.” His voice trails off at the end, quieter than the rest.

The dealer steps back from the table, holding a metal card and pointing it toward me. “Please write your name and tally how many times you win.”

“The information that will shatter this perfect society everyone thinks we live in.” Diego adjusts his mask back into place and tosses his card onto the table as he stands but doesn’t quite walk away. The older man beside him throws his cards onto the table and stands up so abruptly that he almost knocks over a cozy couple behind him.

“That's highly unlikely now. B was supposed to pay me for what I had, but since it’s gone, he’ll have to try to get it from Mr. O’Hanson, which will be difficult.” Rurik shrugs and glances in my direction as he continues, “He doesn’t trust newcomers.”

“How did you get it anyway?” Casey asks with a laugh, taking another drink from a tray, smacking the waitress on the arse.

“He’ll give me anything I want, except—” Rurik starts to say, but he’s quickly interrupted by Diego’s laughter.

“Everything except his daughter.” Diego chimes in.

Rurik stands up, slamming his hands on the table, but not one person flinches. Jasmine begins to wiggle in my lap, so I give her a warning squeeze.

“Just wait,” Rurik says slowly, flicking his suit jacket back as if trying to warn Diego with the knives lining his hip. He then casually buttons the bottom of his coat.

“If he has a vendetta, then I'm sure we can use—” Tide begins to say, but I cut him off.

“So, no one else has this stuff besides you two?” I scoff, as it's an idiotic thought—because it is. With as big as these arseholes egos are, I'm sure at least one has slipped up.

“Walk with me, Mr. Morana? I'd love to give you some insight into how business is handled here.” Rurik rounds the table, Casey stands, and I can’t help but grin. They may not be trying to intimidate, but they certainly come off that way. Little do they know how long I’ve waited to add another life to my list. I pull my hand away from Jasmine's dress and gently pat her hip, encouraging her to stand as I do the same—straightening my shoulders, I easily cast a shadow over the poor guys.

“I need to powder my nose,” Jasmine whispers, and I nearly laugh. Was she fidgeting because she needed to piss? I nod, and she kisses the fabric of my cheek before rushing off. I consider following her, but the team is in her ear. She’ll be okay because if she’s not… I shake my head and start to follow behind the boys.

We slip further back into the red light room and come to a set of large doors, similar to the front, but these have stained gray glass instead of wood. Casey and Rurik are talking among themselves, occasionally trying to include me in the conversation. When Rurik said he would talk about business, I didn't think he meant it. Now I'm stuck wondering about long rows of tall hedges, wishing I had just drunk that damn whiskey.

“That room, Jasmine.”

I nearly stop in my tracks, but I continue walking anyway. They don't have her searching this place alone, do they? They didn’t say anything through the comms, so either this was planned, or she went off alone, and they're just following her lead.

“Nothing.” Jasmine sighs with some shuffling in the background, “If Rurik is telling the truth, then the only other person with the stuff is…”

Her words trail off, causing my stomach to churn. I need to get back to her; my superiors don’t understand how deep this situation goes or what it means. Since Rurik hasn't lied yet, that suggests her father is the last loose end.

“He's there. Find him. If we can isolate him, we’re set.” Caspian says.

As Rurik and Casey move deeper into the hedges, I rush back toward the entrance, knowing every turn and twist by heart.

“Sam?” Jasmine's voice comes through, a pleading, crackling whisper.

“I’m—” I begin, but suddenly, something slams into my side, choking off my words. I glance at the strange-looking respirator as a small body tumbles back. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I start toward my destination again. Just then, another person emerges from the door, raising a pistol.

“Fuck. Hold on, Sam, we're coming in.”

“What's happening?”

Caspian and Jasmine’s voices come through. I chuckle and slowly raise my hands in mock surrender as more figures appear from the opposite sides of the building. They both sound worried, but I've been waiting for a moment like this.

“Find the girl!”

My humor fades, and in an instant, my weapon is pulled from my holster as I assess the situation. These idiots just sealed their fate with their choice of words. In a matter of minutes, people are coming from all around, trying to knock me off my feet. I don’t know where one body begins and another ends. All I know is that I’m surrounded by red, and so much of it pools around my feet and clouds my vision.

“I'm coming. Hold on.” Jasmine pants, and I shake my head as if she can see me.

“Keep your arse inside.”

I can handle this, but we are leaving as soon as I’m done. Screw the mission, screw our factions, screw the world. It can rot for all I care as long as I know she's safe and by my side. Various screams surround me, and my muscles ache in protest. Instead of feeling free, I only feel panic. With each body that drops, another appears, and I can't seem to keep them off long enough to catch my breath.

“Just hold on, Sam!” There's too much commotion to hear Caspian properly, but the voice that follows comes through loud and clear, making my heart sink into the pit of my stomach.

“Please…”

This may be one request I may not fulfill for her as I am crushed into the pavement from behind, and a cloth is held over my face. Not like this. No matter how many elbows I throw or how hard I thrash, more bodies pile on me as that fucking rag stays pressed on my face.

“There you go, Sammy, breathe.”