Chapter 10 #2
I’ll have to phrase it the way I did with Reed the other night. No doubt, they’ll compare notes before they arrest me.
“When Silas and I broke up, he took something that didn’t belong to him. And he finally let me pick it up.”
It. Her. Same thing, right?
“So you saw him that evening?”
A tremble makes my voice quiver. “No-nah-nope.”
Sounded totally normal, Lila. You’re doing great.
Lying to myself is my passion.
“So you didn’t get the item? The one he took? What was it, if you don’t mind me asking?”
It takes all of my strength to avoid spouting a nonsense phrase at him. Something tells me it won’t paint me in the best light if I colorfully deflect his questions by telling him my favorite color is soy sauce. “I got the item. He left it somewhere for me. And I do mind, actually. It’s personal.”
Because it’s a person. Again, I’m not really lying.
Right?
He clasps his hands and nestles them under his chin, staring me down like a disapproving . . . Yep. You know what’s coming. I’m gonna say it.
He’s staring at me like a disapproving father.
He swipes his phone screen, bringing up another photo. “Has this man been by again since the night the other agent questioned you?”
It’s the photo of that creepy dude, apparently his name is Elliot, talking to Silas.
Same photo they showed me in Mr. Votaw’s office after the accidental butt groping that’s haunted me every single time I’ve seen him since that fateful night.
My butt cheek twitches whenever I think about it too hard.
Like right now. Twitch, twitch.
“No,” I answer truthfully.
Silas didn’t need to send him again to threaten me. Plus, he’s probably worried security will catch him if he shows back up. He’s gotta be in their facial detection scanners. Silas might be a monster, but he’s not stupid.
“Any idea what Silas and him are passing to each other?” he prods.
I shake my head.
Agent Dad flings his thumb in the direction of the baccarat tables. “Do you know Dana?”
Where on earth is he going with this?
“Yes, of course.”
“Did you hear what happened at her house the other day?”
My head kicks back and brows tightly furrow. “No.”
“Hmm. I’m surprised you haven’t heard. Even the cocktail waitress knew about it.”
“I don’t talk to many people here. I do my job and go home. That’s it.”
“But this is sort of big news,” he presses. “At least, I thought it would be. Maybe not.”
Ouch. This man is channeling my real father. He’s picking at all the worn edges of my childhood trauma.
Hated by my parents because I was a brutal reminder of all they lost. At school, I did my best to fill the void by becoming the fat, funny friend. Good for a laugh. Always ready to make you smile.
The type of girl the cool kids kept around so they felt better about themselves. But I wasn’t like them—not really. Different and somehow worth less than everyone else. If I didn’t interject myself into their plans, I was never invited. Always an afterthought.
Meanwhile, I was missing the part of me I lost when I was young. Chasing the connection that was ripped from me before I was old enough to know what was happening. Kenzie was the only one who took me under her wing.
Nice to see that in my thirties, I’m still stuck on the outside, nose pressed against the glass. Might as well have never graduated from high school.
Ironically, a casino is a lot like high school.
Socially, at least. A bit more debauchery.
Drinking, drugs, and constant parties. Most of my coworkers seem to love wasting away their money instead of saving it like I do.
Everybody sleeps with everybody else. Cliques and drama everywhere. And on Wednesdays, they wear pink.
Kidding.
I’m starting to like Agent Dad far less for pouring salt in my wound.
Dana probably had a big party at her house and got into some trouble.
That would explain why I don’t know about it.
I wouldn’t have been invited. Aside from Kiona, nobody here bothers to get to know me deeper than surface-level stuff.
Gus the guard likes to see my bird pictures, but that’s about it.
Forcing a blank expression, I ask, “Are you gonna share what happened, or do I need to go ask the servers since they’re in the know?”
“Someone broke into her house, roughed up her mother, and held her captive. Trashed the place.”
My palm flies to my chest, pressing right above my pounding heart. “Oh my gosh. That’s horrible. Is she okay?”
“She’s gonna be fine. Tough lady.”
A relieved exhale sails past my lips. “Thank goodness.” I blink free of my shock, adding, “I had no clue. That’s just awful.”
“Yeah, anyway. My partner has it in his head that Silas or Elliot was involved somehow.” He shrugs casually like we’re talking about the weather. “We thought you might know something about it, given your connection.”
Curiosity gets the best of me. “Why would Silas do something like that?”
“That’s what we’re trying to find out. Let us know if you remember or hear anything, okay?
We’d like to get Dana’s sweet mother some answers and ensure the people who hurt her and threatened her darling little granddaughter don’t have a chance to follow through.
And it’d be a shame if anyone else got hurt. ”
Tears prick the back of my eyes as a wave of guilt and anger assaults me, battering me from the inside out. Even if Agent Dad weren’t laying it on this thick, the emotions would still be pelting me relentlessly.
Silas might have done it. No doubt he’s capable of violence. Especially after what he did to Kenzie.
Agent Dad stands, pressing away from the table. “Thanks for your time, Lila. It was a pleasure to meet you.”
“If I hear anything, how can I contact you?” My cheeks flame again. “I forgot what you said your name was. Sorry.”
“Warren Andrews.” He thrusts his hand out toward me, offering a shake. “I hope I get to see you again. Under different circumstances, perhaps.”
Is Agent Dad hitting on me?
I mean, Agent Andrews.
Tentatively, I shake his hand. “You didn’t tell me how to reach you.”
“Pretty sure you know how to reach the FBI, Lila.”
And he winks at me.
I watch him leave, stunned into a petrified state.
Silas is out there hurting other people. It could get worse. Who knows how far he’ll go?
If I weren’t so selfish, I could stop him. I’ve already got Kenzie back. But he said I’m still on the hook to help them, despite giving her back to me. He said he has tons of proof of what I did and will pin it all on me if I dared so much as think of going to the cops.
I don’t think any amount of grabbing Reed’s crotch can get me out of the consequences of marking cards for over a month. I doubt even a blow job could cover up my role in racking up a million or more in stolen winnings.
With a heavy sigh, I scan the casino floor. Like they’re under compulsion, my eyes land on Dana. I’ve never met her mother, but I know she has a picture of her daughter in her locker. Looks like such a cutie pie.
If Silas was the one who went after her family, it isn’t hard to imagine why he was threatening her. No doubt he wants more people on the inside to help him steal from the casino. Greed and evil like his know no bounds.
If I don’t stop him, who will?