Unspoken Betrayal (Casino King)

3. Vitorio

Iadmire the way Nicki is handling the very obvious threats Luca is throwing at her. No matter how subtle he thinks he is, it is clear she is here against her will.

I can't figure out what he meant though, regarding something happening to her sister.

Our family business is this casino, along with weapons import and export. I can't see how her sister fits into the picture. My brother does have a few small side businesses that I have nothing to do with -- one of those being a loan shark business. Perhaps it has something to do with that.

I don't like it one bit. I don't like the way Luca grips her arm in a threatening manner when he whispers in her ear. And I don't like the look in her eyes when he speaks to her, as though she feels hopeless and trapped, yet still tries to remain poised and in control.

Her beautiful hazel eyes are filled with so many emotions it is difficult to read her. But what I do see is strength -- the type of strength that most people don't have. She brushes a stray blonde curl from her face and tucks it behind her ear. I watch her elegant moves, the way her perfectly manicured fingernails shine in the light, and I notice how soft her hands look.

How would it feel to have her fingertips trace across my skin?

What would it be like to brush my own hand across her cheek?

And to press my lips against hers.

Who is she?

How can I make her mine?

Nicki is managing to hold her ground against my brother though and is almost managing to calm him down. I can't imagine why he would take the time to bring such a beautiful woman as his own date for the evening, but then try to use her to satisfy other men. That is what it sounded like he wanted from her. For her to flirt and be suggestive to one of our possible clients to gain business on Luca's behalf. He is practically trying to use her as an escort. He could have hired an actual escort for that bullshit. Why put Nicki through that, when she is so clearly too good for it.

"There are no arrangements for another night. Tonight is the night, Nicki. Why do you force me to keep reminding you of your obligations to keep your family safe? I won't even mention the debt. Or do you want to talk about them? Do you need that recap of what it is your family owes me?" Luca whispers in a threatening tone, speaking against her ear in the hopes that no one can hear his nastiness.

Her attempts to redirect him have not worked. Her eyes narrow and she bites her lip, a gesture I find very seductive. I can see that Luca is reaching that point of no return. He gets so blinded by rage when he does not get his own way, and I know that look in his eyes. He is becoming dangerous. I imagine his next move might be to drag her out of here, and then I might never see her again.

At least I am beginning to understand what she is doing here with him. There are apparently some debts owed, and there is some underlying threat if they are not paid.

Inside me, my blood is boiling. All my brother cares about is money and material possessions. That is why he treats this absolute beauty as if he owns her because that is how he views everyone -- as an object that he can manipulate and use towards whatever goal he has in mind.

He is disgusting.

I can't let that happen to her.

I have to help her. I have to do something.

This girl is far too good for him to use like this. She is smart, beautiful, sharp-witted, and has this underlying strength that shines through no matter how much she tries to play it down to appease my brother.

Someone like her belongs with someone like me. She belongs with me.

She would not be wasted on my pathetic excuse for a brother and his physical indulgences.

"The client you want to introduce her to… is he playing in tonight's game?" I ask Luca, intervening in what is fast becoming a dangerous situation between the two of them. Nicki is at risk here, and I have to help her.

"He is. Why? What has that got to do with anything?"

I grin, speaking louder than before to attract the attention of the many people we know standing around us. "Then, brother, I propose a counter-offer, a little game within the game. Let's make this more interesting. You have this beautiful woman here with you tonight, but what if you and I both enter the game as well and whoever wins between the two of us, gets to spend the rest of the night with her as their date? Are you up for a friendly challenge? A bet between us, to add some spice to the game already being played?"

I smile, knowing that we have now attracted an audience. Luca glances around himself nervously, noticing how many people are watching -- allied families, powerful people, his clients, and business partners.

If he says no, he will appear weak. He should be confident in his own skills as a player. If he declines my challenge, then he loses instantly, as he will disappoint all of his guests and all of the very strong members of each of the ally families who are here tonight. It will make him appear scared and unwilling to be challenged by another man.

I know this is a risky move, and Nicki might end up having to spend the rest of the evening with someone else. But I think that almost anyone is better company than my own brother. And I need to switch the power dynamics here a bit. I need to take away his control in this scenario.

Besides - I had not intended to enter the game, but with her on the table - I most certainly will.

I know I am a damned good player, and she has a very good chance of ending up spending the night with me. That way I have more time to get to know her. I will be able to find out who she is.

It is the only way that I can think of to get her away from him, and for him to stop being able to bully her into being an obedient pawn to his goal.

Luca's eyes grow intensely dark. He is glaring at me with hatred because I have cornered him in this challenge. He has no choice but to accept.

"Oh, this is going to make the game so much more interesting." Someone from behind us chirps. "Are you going to accept the challenge?" Someone else adds in.

Luca sneers a tight smile across his face.

I glance at Nicki. She looks pale and nervous. She is standing so upright that she looks stiff. My challenge has made her nervous as she doesn't know who she will end up with for the night, but also because I have clearly pissed Luca off, and she isn't sure how that is going to affect whatever deal they have between them.

But I know that with this publicly suggested challenge, Luca will have to honor it and let go of whatever private deal they had.

"A friendly game between you and me, Luca, what do you say?" I grin.

I am playing on my brother's weakness. He hates to lose. And I know this better than anyone.

With his tight smile, he looks around the crowd, at their eager faces, waiting to hear if tonight is about to become more interesting or not. He rolls his shoulders back, lifting his chin slightly in defiant acceptance of my proposal.

"You don't stand a chance against me brother." He says tightly.

"If that is the case, then you have no reason to fear the challenge."

"Fear?" he huffs bitter laughter. "I don't fear you."

"Challenge accepted then?"

"Accepted." He snarls.

Around us, people cheer and laugh. This event just got even more exciting, which I did not think was possible. Luca is glaring at me with murder in his eyes. I have pissed him off, badly, but I don't care. All I have to do now is win the game. I have been playing and watching poker all my life. I know each of the players who have entered this evening. I know their tells and their patterns. I can do this. I just need to focus -- fully, completely, focus. And that might be difficult with such an incredibly beautiful girl watching.

Luca's grip on Nicki's arm tightens and I see her wince slightly.

I want to rip her away from him and punch his face in. I want to see him sprawled out on the floor in agony. What gives him the right to hurt her?

He is taking his anger at me out on her and that pisses me off.

Nicki doesn't react though. She gently places her hand over Luca's, and when he lets her go she slips her arm through his. It is a gesture that I assume means she is trying to calm him down again. She didn't come up with this plan, I did. She is stuck in the middle of it now though and has to handle herself in such a way that keeps her safe.

I am going to have to keep a close eye on him tonight, to make sure he doesn't do anything to her. Already he is pushing my boundaries with the way he is handling her, and I don't know how long I am going to be able to keep my hands to myself and not knock his face in with my fist to teach him a valuable lesson on how to treat a woman.

I look at Nicki, my eyes catching hers, and for a moment she looks furious at me.

The corners of her mouth are turned down and her hazel eyes are piercing into mine as though she is trying to tell me to stop whatever I am doing. But it is too late now. The bet is placed. And she is going to have to go along with it.

I feel guilty for a second, but she needs to see the bigger picture here. I am trying to help her. Once I get her away from my brother's grasp, I can find out what he is holding over her, and what she owes him, and I can help her solve that problem.

She needs to understand that I have good intentions.

I smile, as reassuringly as I can manage.

She still doesn't look impressed.

I guess I will just have to show her that I am here to help by outplaying everyone at the table.