Chapter 8
Castor
The Tropicana in Atlantic City is booming tonight. Me, Big Ace, Ratchet Tony, and Yuri Patrovski sit at a blackjack table with a few other high rollers. We’ve been busting each other’s balls all night. When one of us loses, the floodgates open, and it makes Yuri belly laugh, so we’re onto something.
I held off on contacting Don Stallion and Ronny Shadow until something concrete is in the works with the Russians. So far, I haven’t made any business advances yet. But the vodka guzzling fucker knows it’s coming. He’s going to relish in it.
“Oh! Oh!” Yuri points and stands up when he notices Big Ace just bet his entire stack.
“Sometimes you gotta go big, my Russki friend.” Ace has an ear-to-ear smile, staring at the dealer’s hands in anticipation.
Honestly, I love when he does this. It brings the energy of the group flying high. He just dropped two hundred thousand on one hand. Either the casino is going to kick him out, or laugh as he starts kicking chairs over.
“C’mon you beautiful son of a bitch.” Ace clenches the ledge of the table, scratching the green felt. “Yuri, I’m talking to you. If I win this, I’m kissing that bald head.”
“Hey, I still have some hair left.” Yuri untangles a curl from behind his temple.
Ace laughs nervously.
The dealer starts the hand.
The first set of cards comes down the line. Deuce and six for the random players, king for Yuri, jack for Ace, seven for me, and queen for Tony. Dealer’s showing a queen.
“Give me that pot ’o gold, hunnie. Do it for big daddy.” Ace glances at the dealer’s eyes, then back to the cards.
I’m holding Ace’s shoulders in anticipation.
Here it comes.
Ten. Three. Six…
The dealer pauses on the big drop. Ace!
“Woo!” The Russian cackles.
“Wait,” I say. “Dealer has to check.”
“Insurance?” She looks at all of us, asking if we want to hedge in case she has blackjack.
Big Ace puckers his lips. “Let it ride, baby.”
The dealer flips a king, and no one is upset that they lost, because Big Ace brought it home! That’s a three-hundred thousand profit. Blackjack pays one-and-a-half at this table.
He jolts out of his seat and kisses Yuri on the head, as promised. Then he takes a ten-thousand-dollar chip and beckons the dealer to lean over the table and come get it.
“Ah, ah!” Ace holds up a finger, stopping her from taking the tip. “Give me a big one, right here.” He points to his cheek.
She glances over to her manager – who rolls his eyes.
The dealer smiles and plants a big kiss on him. See? I told you Big Ace is infectious. The table cheers as if we’re playing craps, and no one’s complaining about it.
“Welp! Better get out of here before I clean out the entire casino, eh?” Ace flips the two random players a thousand-chip each, and saunters toward the steakhouse at the end of the casino. I’m up about fifty-thousand, and Yuri about seventy. We’re all riding on a high, which is the perfect time to bring it down a notch.
I hang back with one arm around the Russian. “Bet you didn’t have this much fun with the Barones.”
He looks at me with a side-eye, suspicious.
“Fine, don’t want to bring up the other families? I can respect that.” I drop my arm off his back and fix my blazer.
“You know, Bullion… Don Gio and I got along once upon a time. Even before he was the big boss. Would I have went gambling over a drink with him? No. He was a little too much for me. But.” He holds up a finger. “I respected his business.”
“The son’s even better,” I say.
“Maybe yes, maybe no. But one thing I can’t stand, is that spawn of Satan that came out of Shadow’s dick.”
“You know he’s no longer a problem…”
“Ah.” He coughs. “Sometimes, that’s not enough. The Rigiano name is one I will never associate myself with again. Bad dealings led to my brother six-feet under. Shadow could crawl out of jail to kiss my feet, and I’d still kick his teeth in. Someone has to be responsible.” He presses his hand hard on the back of my neck, massaging it so I get his point.
“What if I told you, my crew isn’t a big fan of our little alliance either?”
“Oh.” He hoots, the vodka wafting off his breath. “Dangerous words from a big man. I’m listening.”
I take a beat, admiring the chiming slot machines and lavish carpets all steamed for our arrival tonight. Patrons glance at us, because we’re a sight. Big swinging dicks buzzed and getting richer. I make bold moves in business – which is how I got my name.
“Some of Loophole’s boys got rolled into other crews. Yeah, his main guys got the axe, but a few of them shouldn’t be breathing. We… might be doing something about it in the near future.”
Yuri bares his teeth. “An animal amongst the Italians. Big, big balls.” He puffs his chest. “I like that. Maybe you show me you’re not puffing smoke out your ass, then we talk about reopening some channels, ah?”
I run my tongue over my teeth, then extend my hand. He grasps it firmly.
“Now, let’s get that victory drink. No more killing the buzz with this business talk,” I say and snap my fingers once we reach the restaurant. “Table for four.”
The next two hours are full of exchanged stories about gambling wins and losses, how I had to literally drag Tony out by his loafers because he passed out at an overnight poker tournament. We hear about the night Big Ace got his name. Even Yuri shared how underground Russian poker houses go down. Ace asked if they’re played in meat-lockers, and everyone laughed.
It’s a good night, truly. And when Yuri retires to his quarters, I give the rest of the crew the green light to come meet us.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss Gia. Been almost a week now since I last saw her, but I’m messaging her as often as I can, getting what fix I can in our banter. She should be on my arm enjoying this victory. I think of that cute little smirk she gives me when she’s trying to resist me. What’s more, her savory pussy haunts my taste buds, no matter how much alcohol I drink to numb it. Can’t wait to get back home to New York and sneak a visit again.
I tried to resist her, I did. But it was just us in the back of the SUV, blocked out from the rest of the world, and her yearning was screaming just as loud as my own. How could I leave her disappointed?
Things are looking good. We’re on a sure road to double our crew’s business, and for the first time in a while, I’m excited to see a woman.
We head to the Alqui bar that Tony bought out for the after party. I walk into dim amber lighting, black marble floors, and red-felt booths with champagne iced on every table. Plopping down at the center of everything makes me realize how buzzed I am. Half my job is holding my liquor, so I don’t mind indulging after a good night.
Ace, Tony, and the others gloat about their winnings. But my chest tightens when I see Marco sauntering in. He’s so fucking brazen. He’s got clear plastic bags full of powder flapping under his belt. What’s worse, a harem of girls follows him inside our bar.
“Party’s here, bitches.” Marco winks and pretends to toss one of the women at Billy. “One for you, and for you, and for you.”
The girls giggle as he manhandles them. All escorts – of course, compliments of Marco’s grimy connection on the east coast. He struts up to us with five of the most beautiful in his harem, and presents them like he’s handing out awards.
I don’t know what’s come over me, but my palms are sweating, and I suddenly want to rush back to my room and slam the fucking door.
“This is Lisa, Bonny, Apple, Deedee, and Mia.” Marco’s irises are quivering he’s so high.
Two of the women eye me and start seductively playing with their hair. I want no part of it.
“Oh, you like the boss, do you?” Marco looks at Apple and Bonny. “Yeah, what else is new? He steals all the ladies.” He shoves them gently to sit beside me, then plops on the far side beside Tony.
I extend my hand to be polite. “Castor. Hi, Castor.” I offer a flash of a smile and nothing else so hopefully they get the hint that I’m not interested.
They don’t.
One sits uncomfortably close. Her skin-tight short dress rolls up even higher compliments of the seat, but I don’t even offer a glance.
“Busy day, Marco?” I lean forward to grab some champagne – breaking the girls’ attempt at hooking my arms.
“Oh, you know me, Cast.” He smiles wide, then eyes the women, noticing their change in mood. “Hey, what’s the big idea?” He gestures between them. “Don’t like my selections?”
“Cut it out. That’s rude,” I scold him. “We were brought up better than that.”
“What? I don’t get it. One tall brunette with wavy hair, lots of jewelry like you like. And this one, blonde southern-type bell with those weird pointy nails you like. You sick fuck.” He laughs hard at his own doing, prompting Tony to cackle alongside him.
With that, there’s no way I can sit here and entertain any more of this. I get up, politely excusing myself.
“Whoa, what the fuck, Cast?” Marco spreads his arms. “I worked hard for you.”
“Sorry. Not feeling it tonight. I’ll catch you all in the morning. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
I pour the women their first glass of champagne in apology and cheers them farewell.
“Cast, I don’t get it. They’re all dime pieces. What’s wrong with them?”
They’re not Gia.
“Enjoy the night, Marco. This old sack of gold needs to get to bed.” I turn my back before he can blurt something else. And as I raise my hand to wave the others goodnight, a piercing voice shoots through the music.
“The fuck.”
Glass shatters, and I’m forced to turn to find Marco out of his seat. The women are all leaning away from him, one with her hands over her mouth.
“You know I hand-picked these girls to celebrate Ace’s big win, and yours.” His gestures are wide and fast. “Now you’re going to tell me what the fuck is going on with you. Glued to your phone, distant, not interested in partying or fucking. What? You turn gay overnight?”
He stomps over to me, and I’m in no mood.
This has been a long time coming.
He sticks his face nose-to-nose with mine. And it’s in this coke-rushed moment he’s going to remember which one of us is bigger.
I grab his collar and twist so hard he’s immediately choking. He flails, and I block a frantic right fist and pull down on his collar harder. My teeth are gritted. All eyes are on me. Maybe they need to see this.
“You’re my fucking brother, Marco. That’s the only reason your face is red right now, and not blue. Capito?”
His eyes are wide, and I can see he wants so badly to draw his gun and put it to my head. But he’d be dead before he could pull the trigger. I let him go, grab his blazer, and wipe the wrinkles out for him.
“I’m going through something. I don’t know what it is, and I sure as hell don’t have to tell anyone about it,” my voice is low so only he can hear. “Stop acting out, and lay off the fucking coke, it’s making you nuts.” I point two fingers to his temple.
“I didn’t deserve that, Cast.” His eyes are still wide, left one starting to twitch, head tilted.
“Think first the next time you want to make a scene.”
He comes back to himself, if only a little bit, casting a wild glance at all the eyes on us, the broken glass and spilled champagne. He knows that was all him, no matter what he tells himself to justify it.
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” I say, further smoothing things over. “The girls are beautiful. Enjoy them all for me.” I slap him twice.