The Truth Hurts: Part Two: The Twisted Betrayal Duet

Chapter 21

“Istill don’t like this plan,” Enzo mutters as we all step out of our respective cars. He hands me my earpiece, hesitating for a second when Giovanni joins us to take his.

“You don’t have to like it,” Sera replies nonchalantly, brushing a palm over the front of her dress. “But you do have to follow it.”

Her no-nonsense attitude leaves little room for argument. Since we’re already on a tight timeline, we can’t afford to delay things. Sera steps towards Enzo, resting her hands on his shoulders. They stare at one another for a moment that makes me feel like I’m intruding on something intimate, and while it should stir up some feelings of jealousy, I know by now that there’s no stopping Sera from getting what she wants. And if she wants Enzo, there’s more than enough of her to go around. There’s no room for petty jealousy in our dynamic, even if I still haven’t forgiven him for what he did.

“Just stay out of sight,” she murmurs, fiddling with the lapels of Enzo’s suit jacket. “You’re our backup if anything goes wrong.”

Though we’ve all traveled in convoy, there’s a reason we’re splitting into two teams. Below the casino is a vault. It sounds like something out of Ocean’s Eleven, but that’s how things actually operate. Where better to conceal a tunnel than in a basement full of protected cash? That’s our first hurdle; to get in unseen, though Raf has assured us he has that covered. The last thing we want to do is get into a war with the Russians since they pretty much run Las Vegas.

Although Enzo will be with us, he’ll be taking a back seat in the farthest corner of the casino. His presence is still unknown to most, and we can’t afford for his cover to be blown just yet. So he’s going to be our lookout while Giovanni continues his pretense as the betraying bodyguard. Should things go awry, he’ll ensure we all get out safely.

And though I don’t like the idea of splitting up from Luca, I know he’ll be safe joining the twins to get Luisa.

The plan is water-tight, we just have to hope no cracks form.

Enzo affirms with a gentle nod, stroking his fingertips across Sera’s cheek. He pushes the long dark strands from her face, and that simple gesture conveys his immense respect and adoration for our leader. Pushing the earpiece into her ear, he leans down and presses his lips to her cheek. “I won’t be far, baby,” he whispers.

The twins and Raf are lingering behind our vehicle, leaning back against their own as they patiently wait for Luca, who insisted on driving with us before departing with them. He rounds the vehicle, securing his own earpiece before pinning Sera to the side of the SUV, in that sexy as fuck, brooding way he has perfectly mastered. His hard body cages her in, and the sight alone is enough to get me hot under the collar, memories of our weekend resurfacing and reminding me of what we shared together.

“Stay safe, Dolcezza,” Luca orders Sera, leaning in to plant his lips briefly on hers. His words are weighted with a commanding tone, but there’s also adoration underscoring his words. It’s hard not to fall even harder for the man since he’s taken it upon himself to oversee my sister’s rescue. At the same time, he’s making sure we’re safe. I’m pretty sure if I was a cartoon character, I’d have hearts in my eyes right now, because Luca Fontana is doing all the right things while looking downright irresistible in his black mission gear.

I didn’t know a bullet-proof vest could be so damn sexy, yet here I am, resisting the urge to drool because he wears his black cargo pants and tee so well. The sleeves cling to his tanned, toned biceps, the vest itself looking weightless upon his muscular form.

Luca turns to me and gives me the same treatment as Sera, cupping the back of my neck as he presses his forehead to mine. “Il mio sole, don’t do anything stupid.”

I roll my eyes, trying to ignore the way my heart flips at the dark promise flashing in his eyes. This side of Luca is something I’ll never get used to—nor do I want to. Because Luca never says things for the sake of it. There’s thought, sincerity, certainty behind every word he says, and an even deeper meaning hidden within.

“I’ll see you soon, Pretty Boy,” I smirk.

Luca scoffs inaudibly, dropping his lips onto mine briefly before pushing away. The emptiness he leaves me with is always so alien, like my body craves his presence. I shouldn’t feel so reliant on one person’s company, but since Luca and I started this journey, it’s been anything but ordinary.

As soon as Luca and Enzo split off to head to their respective positions, Sera turns to me. She loops her arm through mine while Giovanni takes his position as bodyguard behind us. To an outsider, this is just an outing with me and my leader. To everyone in Sera’s circle, this is our distraction.

Giovanni made contact with the Verdis two days ago. He planted the seed by telling them he had information on where we would be tonight and they took the bait. No doubt they’ll be coming to us, thinking they have the upper hand. They won’t though, because we’ve teamed up with The Vultures, who have also split up into two groups: one helping the twins and Luca, and the other surveilling the casino, waiting for our signal if shit gets ugly.

All we need to do is buy enough time for the twins to get into the compound and get my sister out. After that, we’re expecting things to get messy, but we’re prepared.

“Let’s go,” Sera mutters, nudging me gently. That one single action sets the wheels in motion, and before I know it, we’re approaching the steps to the obscenely expensive building.

Guards stand by the entrance, glancing our way as we amble towards them. Seemingly, these men don’t need to know who we are, and if we look like trouble, they haven’t noticed. The two men open the glass doors they’re guarding, nodding and muttering into their earpieces as we glide through–no doubt alerting Don Verdi of our arrival.

Once we step inside, I have to blink a couple of times just to clear my vision. The main entrance gleams with opulence, bright lights and freshly polished metal shimmering against glistening marble floors. Even the overhead chandelier looks like it’s been hand polished to perfection with the way it shines above us. We step through another set of gold embellished glass doors, immediately met with music and laughter and the distinct ringing of slot machines.

Staff weave between tables, carrying silver trays displaying an assortment of food and drink. My eyes follow several waiters until I spot a poker table in the far corner, away from prying eyes, but not so shadowed that we won’t be found.

With Sera still hooked onto my arm, we pace through the red carpeted room. It’s no surprise that heads turn as we pass by, eyes gleaning curiously. But it’s not me who has their attention, it’s the beautiful goddess beside me.

She looks radiant tonight, dressed in a tight black dress with thick straps over her shoulders. The way the material wraps around her is almost like a bandage, clinging to her body and accentuating every sultry curve that I’ve had the distinct pleasure of touching and tasting. It should be a crime for a dress to look that good on someone—she looks sexy as sin and it’s distracting as fuck. Maybe she wore it tonight for that very purpose, though she’s going to be distracting the wrong people judging from the way everyone’s attention is currently fixated on her.

“Have I told you how stunning you look tonight?” I murmur as I guide her to the vacant poker table.

“No.” She smiles brightly as she rests her purse atop the red felt, then turns and leans back on her elbows, allowing me to tower over her and get a magnificent view of her cleavage. “But you can start.”

Cupping her neck, I tilt her head upward to trace her lips with my own. The scar on her cheek makes her look alluringly fierce. Like a black widow about to trap her prey; it’s too irresistible.

“Get a room.”

I pause, just a hair”s-breadth away from her mouth, and roll my eyes. “Later, Bellissima. Wouldn’t want Big Man to get jealous.”

“You know I can hear you,” Enzo huffs into the earpiece.

Sera lets out a giggle before twisting on her stool, cutting our interaction short. She’s already tapping her fingers along the table as I round it, stopping in front of Giovanni before I take my seat.

“You remember your role?” I ask with a hint of warning.

He nods in affirmation, standing resolute with his arms crossed at his front. Just like Luca, he’s wearing all black, though the bodyguard is wearing a suit that I’ve seen Sera glance at appreciatively one too many times.

I won’t lie, the guy is good looking, but the past discretions of betrayal are still raw for me. Once upon a time, I would have trusted him with my life, with Sera’s too, but in the blink of an eye he showed us who the real Giovanni Cruz is. It’s not something I’m willing to forget about as easily as Sera, which is why I insisted on coming with her. He can’t be trusted to be alone with her, despite his compliance so far.

Taking my seat opposite Sera, I cast a wary glance at Giovanni, clearing my throat as we wait for the dealer to hand our chips out. Once he starts to shuffle the cards, I’m in the zone—or at least I try to be. Having Sera as my opponent is never a good thing. She’s good. Too good.

“I’ll go easy on you,” she smirks, checking her cards.

“Easy?” I reply, sarcasm lacing my voice. “I’m going to wipe the floor with you and then I’ll have you on your knees.”

“We’ll see,” she smirks confidently.

With our two cards dealt, the game begins. I’m looking at an Ace and a five of hearts. When I look up at Sera, she’s got her eyes locked on me, her chin resting in her palm as she taps her fingers against her jaw.

“Raise,” she says, tossing two maroon colored chips into the middle of the table.

Lifting a brow, I observe her carefully. The last time we played poker together, we ended up naked. Calling each other’s bluff seems to land us in those sorts of situations—not that I’m complaining.

“Call,” I challenge, tossing my own chips onto the table.

The dealer lays the flop, an Ace and two fives. I have two pairs.

The dealer looks to Sera, who is flawless as she loses herself in thought. She never used to be able to conceal her expressions, especially when she had a good hand. It’s like I’m looking at a completely different person because she isn’t giving away one single tell, and that makes me nervous. Though this is just a way for us to pass the time until the Verdis join the fun, I’m not looking forward to losing my money.

“Raise,” she declares, adding another two chips to the pile. She’s confident, I’ll give her that. Too confident. I’m struggling to get a read on her, which only makes me second guess myself.

“Fuck it,” I mutter. “Raise.” I toss five maroon chips into the pile.

“Call.”

We’re sitting on sixteen grand, which leaves a nauseating sensation in my stomach. Though I know we can both afford these bets, my competitive side doesn’t want to lose that much money.

“I thought you were going easy on me?” I chuckle, rolling a chip between my knuckles.

She shrugs bashfully. “I was bluffing.”

Damn. This is going to be harder than I realized, even though I try to convince myself I shouldn’t be taking this so seriously. Sera just upped the stakes and I’m considering my odds.

The dealer draws the turn card, a nine of clubs. I might just be able to win this hand. But that’s all dependent on whether Sera stands her ground. Who am I kidding? She’s the one who’s going to wipe the floor with me.

Another round of betting has the stack sitting at twenty-four grand. I swallow back my nerves, sliding my gaze to Sera. She’s relaxed, eyeing up the cards in front of her boredly.

The dealer lays the final card, six of spades.

Sera’s eyes light up, but that’s all she gives away. She raises me another five grand, confidence oozing from her as she slides the chips across the felt, tapping with her nails once they meet the middle.

I take another look at my cards. I have a good hand, but there’s a chance Sera has a better hand. There’s also a chance she’s bluffing, and I can’t decide which I’m pissed at more; the fact she might beat me or that I don’t know her as well as I thought. I consider my options. Raise my way out and risk losing more money, or cut my losses now, because there’s no way in hell Sera is folding.

Decision made.

Huffing out, I throw my cards into the center of the table. “Fold.”

Sera’s eyes widen, her mouth gaping as she shakes her head. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

My brows furrow as she turns her cards over, and I drop my shoulders in defeat when I see what they are.

Two nines.

“Best out of three?” she asks coquettishly.

Nodding, I watch as she scrapes the chips back onto her side of the table.

The dealer shuffles, his hands moving at lightning speed before he deals our cards. I swallow back my nerves as I look down at my hand. A king and a seven. This time, I’m not going to second guess myself.

“I taught you well.” I hear Enzo say into the earpiece, sounding smug as fuck.

Sera doesn’t shift her gaze from her cards, but I don’t miss how she smiles to herself. “The only thing you taught me was not to get caught with the wrong hand.”

“Touché.”

Clearing my throat, I toss my chips into the center, tapping my fingers on the felt impatiently— or maybe it’s nerves. Either way, I’m determined to win this hand.

“Call,” Sera says, matching my bet.

I watch the cards land on the table and battle my excitement. A seven and two kings. There’s no way Sera has a better hand. The odds of her having the other king and a higher card are slim, but I won’t put it past her to bluff her way out of this.

Tossing a few more chips onto the table, the stack is at thirteen grand. Sera is looking a little more thoughtful—probably working out whether she can bluff her way out of this or if she should fold.

She picks up her chips, stacking and unstacking them rhythmically. She chews on her bottom lip, a sign of her uncertainty peeking through.

“What’s the matter, Bellissima?”

The glare she sends my way is filled with playful agitation. She rolls her eyes, raising my bet again. I can tell by the way her eyes dart across the table as the dealer reveals the turn card. Eight of hearts.

Another round of betting gives us thirty grand on the stack. I lick my lips through nerves alone because I’m prepared to go all the way, but Sera’s stubbornness might win out here.

Finally, the dealer turns over the final card, revealing the two of clubs. Sera huffs, exposing her two queens.

The breath I didn’t know I’d been holding eventually bursts out of me as I slam my cards over on the table to display my hand. Full House.

“Unlucky, baby.”

Call me a bad winner, but I’m laughing up my success, snatching the chips away before anything happens to them. I feel bad for Sera losing this game, but it’s a one in a million chance I get to beat her at anything, and if I held back on her, she’d know and make me pay in other ways.

Which reminds me; we agreed to best of three and we’re one apiece now. The next winner gets to decide on the loser’s forfeit. Though I don’t think either of us will be losers with what I have planned.

A waiter arrives at the table, dropping two glasses of whiskey onto it. Sera glances at him, frowning as a silent question floats between them.

“It’s from the gentleman over there.” The waiter points to a table a few yards away, my mood immediately souring as soon as I see him.

Ronaldo.

He raises a glass in our direction, instantly dampening the atmosphere with his smug look. At least we know the plan has worked, and now the next step in retrieving my sister can start.

“Looks like you’ve been spotted,” Enzo remarks.

“Unfortunately,” I mutter, lifting up my tumbler and raising it in the air. The whole gesture is fake, a facade I have to force upon myself because I can’t afford not to. The man has my sister—probably had her doing all kinds of sick shit. I don’t even want to think about it, so I just knock back the whiskey, allowing the alcohol to burn its way down my throat.

Abruptly, the dealers change. A new guy takes his position with the cards. And though he’s wearing the correct uniform, he seems to stick out like a sore thumb amongst the rest. I narrow my eyes on him. There’s a vague familiarity about him, something I can’t quite pinpoint.

“He’s one of Verdi’s men,” Enzo’s voice sounds in my ear.

That’s one thing we didn’t prepare for, but then again, it doesn’t hinder our plan in the slightest. As if it doesn’t faze Sera, she nods at our new dealer, commencing a new game.