5. The Stakes Are High
Chapter 5
The Stakes Are High
B ellagio Casino, Las Vegas - Nevada
April 17, 2018
(4 Days Before Death)
Lamont awoke to the insistent pound of a fist on his hotel room door. His head ached thanks to the few hours of sleep he managed after the intense night with Tristan. The clock read 6:00 AM, and he cursed under his breath as he dragged himself out of bed. He was so tired when he came into the room that he never changed clothes. On top of all of it, he battled with a bubbling gut, nausea, and severe lack of rest. He ran straight to the bathroom and threw up.
“Rise and shine, kid,” came Tristan’s smooth, almost eerie voice through the door. “Time to face the music, hustla.”
Lamont splashed water on his face. He tried to wash away the exhaustion and the malignant growth of anxiety that gnawed at his insides with each day that passed. He shed his clothes, washed his dick in the sink, and then put on fresh clothes from the Louis Vuitton duffle Tristan had brought him. Lamont had no access to his previous life. His money, his phone, his family and homies, along with his past girlfriends, were all left behind. The hole in his chest from the abandonment left him crippled emotionally. Yet, he pressed on.
When he opened the door, he found Tristan and the Triad waiting for him in his suite. The three capos, who called themselves the Triad, stood with an air of impatience, their predatory gazes unsettled Lamont. No matter how much he tried to appease the three vamps, they looked at him as if he were food.
“We’ve got a big day ahead,” Tristan said, his fangs visible as his smirk spread across his face. “You ready to become a boss?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Lamont muttered. He followed them out of his suite and down the corridor. His mind raced with the enormity of the tasks ahead. All the while, he kept asking himself why: Why did Lucio choose him for this life instead of Deshawn? Why didn’t he just go to school like his mama wanted and become an office manager or postal worker? He had signed away his soul in a record deal that was anything but standard. Now, he found himself in a world where vampires and werewolves played a dangerous game of power and dominance.
They made their way to a private conference room in the Bellagio Casino. The opulence of the hotel did little to ease Lamont’s nerves. He was the only one who stumbled on his feet and acted nervous. Tristan and the Triad moved with a grace and confidence that Lamont envied. He knew he had to project that same confidence if he was to survive his first meeting.
As they entered the room, the tension became palpable. Around the table sat a mix of weirdos, vampires, and, to Lamont’s astonishment, werewolves. They all looked human enough, but there was something in their eyes—something feral and ancient. How did he know they were wolves? It was the bling. Each wore a medallion with a diamond-encrusted wolf howling at the moon. Just as Di Salvo tagged Tristan with ice. He knew. And Lamont saw someone else—the vampire who approached him when he was with the kid. He kept forgetting his name, and that was weird. He’d heard it more than once. Even so, his mind blocked all thoughts of it.
“I’m Shakespeare, muthafucka…” Shakespeare whispered with a menace into Lamont’s thoughts. He wanted to say know your name is ‘bitch’: cause I saw my boy kick your ass, and he apparently fucked your woman too . But Lamont kept his cool and his thoughts trained on his mission.
The damn vampire crawled throughout his head. It gave him a massive headache. Shakespeare leaned against the wall on the side of the vamps. Two of the Triad approached Shakespeare and gave him a fraternal hug. Shakespeare spoke to them but didn’t take his eyes off Lamont. Why was he fucking pissed at him? Tristan was the one who kicked his ass. What the hell was his problem?
Tristan noticed. He stepped closer. He whispered instead of communicating telepathically since Shakespeare was in Lamont’s head, “Remember, Lamont. Confidence. You’re the boss now.”
“My head hurts,” Lamont grunted back through clenched teeth. “Make him stop.”
Tristan's gaze slipped over to Shakespeare. And he caught the wink Shakespeare sent their way.
“Deal with it. I could push him out, but I need you to stand ten toes down. Strong.You, the man today. Prove it. Ignore the pain. We all pay a price. Conduct your business as the man you are and don’t forget to do what you’re told.”
Lamont nodded. He took a deep breath. He stepped forward and introduced himself. “W’sup folk? I’m Lamont.” He clapped his hands together loud enough to silence the room. “Leonardo is out. I’m your man going forward.”
The room went silent. All eyes were on him. Lamont forced himself to meet their gazes, one by one. The vampires’ eyes were cold in their assessment, while the werewolves had a feral intensity of predatory precision in the way they stared. He could feel the weight of their scrutiny, test his resolve.
“Leonardo’s shoes are big ones to fill,” growled a deep, gravel voice from the end of the table. Lamont’s gaze turned toward a towering figure with clear, crystal-green eyes. This had to be the Alpha, the leader the Triad had told him about. “Can you handle it, young buck?”
“Buck? Who the fuck are you calling a buck…” Lamont narrowed his eyes on the speaker.
“Chill…” whispered Tristan from behind him. “Not too much.”
Lamont took another deep breath. Shakespeare had a steel grip on his brain and was squeezing tighter and tighter. It was fucking up his cool. But he had to remain cool.
“And you are?” Lamont asked the man.
“Alaric, but Stoneclaw is what they call me. I’m king,” he replied.
“Okay, Stoneclaw,” Lamont replied, matching the man’s steady voice. “I may not have Leonardo’s experience, but I have the backing of Lucio and the Di Salvo’s, so consider the shoes filled. We’re here to ensure your operations run smoothly and to forge a new alliance.”
The Alpha’s eyes shifted to Shakespeare, then returned to Lamont and narrowed with a flicker of interest in his gaze. “And what makes you think I need your assurance?”
“Because we have mutual interests now,” Lamont said.
“Such as?” Stoneclaw asked.
“Lucio needs to extend the agreement in Reno.”
“Extend?” Stoneclaw chuckled. “He’s got all the desert I’m going to give.”
“Yea but that deal always had an expiration date. I’m here to discuss the new one. Lucio needs access to the desert and the casinos as well. You have always wanted Vegas. What if I tell you that he’s ready to open that door,” Lamont said. He pushed through his fear. “For every inch we give you in Vegas we also want to open an alternative route from Russia through Alaska into North America. This benefits us. Lucio will take on the expenses going forward—no split—he does it on his own. No check ins, what territory you claim in Vegas you run it alone. Domencio will, in all things, step aside.”
The look on Shakespeare chilled Lamont to the bone.
“ You just fucked up, homeboy .” Shakespeare shot a mental warning into Lamont with the force of a sledgehammer. For a moment, he felt his knees buckle. He visibly winced and others caught it. He remained on his feet. Shakespeare then glared at Tristan, who observed with a sly smile. Shakespeare stormed out of the meeting room. A murmur went through the room. The werewolves exchanged glances, their expressions readable. Lamont’s heart pounded in his chest, but he kept his composure. He had no choice but to wipe the blood that dripped from his nose. This was what he was told to do, but what had he done?
“Why so generous?” Stoneclaw asked, his tone measured. “I’ve never seen Lucio bend so far.”
“You get the same split and our cooperation in ensuring no one steps on your territory,” Lamont replied. “It’s all business, bro. We can provide security and ensure production is uninterrupted. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement. Don Lucio understands that this has been a messy transaction with his brother’s interference in the past. I’m not vamp, my nigga. I’m a street kid. Put in the chair just like Leonardo was to do a job. You work through me; you know the play. And as show of Lucio’s generosity he’s gifting you and your pack the Golden Nugget Casino this very night. Yours to run, uninhibited. Our people are already clearing out.”
The Alpha leaned back; his gaze pierced. “You do speak well for a mortal. But you bleed easily, so there must be a reason Lucio put you in front of me with all these sweet treats. Something in Reno he wants? Or he needs?” Many wolves in the room chuckled. “No matter what expansion I give Reno is mine.”
“North America, every tree, every grain of sand belongs to Lucio. The other side of this coin is we take what we want.” Lamont opened his arms. “I am mortal, but Lucio isn’t. And if you want the brothers to come to Reno to seal the deal their way, they can.”
The alpha’s smile dimmed. A few in the room gave a low growl.
Lawyers walked into the room. One approached the Alpha and put the contract on the table before him. His Beta quickly snatched it up and read through the document. “The Golden Nugget is ours,” the Beta confirmed.
Tristan stepped forward, his presence commanded attention. “Lamont speaks for us all. Don Lucio stands behind this agreement. The Nugget is already yours. But just the Nugget. This alliance can be fruitful if we work together only under Don Lucio’s orders. No further side deals within the Di Salvo family will be tolerated respectfully. Are we clear?”
The room was silent for a moment. The tension, however, thickened. Then the Alpha nodded. “We will see. For now, the casinos in Reno are open to you. But remember, trust is earned, not gifted,” said Stoneclaw.
Lamont exhaled, and a wave of relief washed over him. The first step was taken, but he knew the path ahead was fraught with danger. He glanced at Tristan, who gave him his approval through a nod. He looked to the Triad, and all three Capo’s gave a respectful nod to him in unison.
As they left the meeting, Tristan clapped him on the back. “Not bad, kid. You might just survive this after all.”
Lamont managed a small smile. “One step at a time, right?”
“Exactly,” Tristan replied, his eyes gleamed with a mixture of amusement and approval. “Now, let’s get to work. We’ve got a lot to do, and the underworld doesn’t wait for anyone.”
Lamont followed determination steeled his resolve. He was in deeper than he ever imagined. He felt ready to face whatever came next. Who was Domencio? Would he be a problem?