14. Caleb
FOURTEEN
CALEB
I don’t often step into the Red Heart Casino. It’s a good idea to check out the competition, of course, but there’s also no need to provoke anyone, and I certainly don’t want to give any of the Hearts an opportunity or reason to lash out at me.
“I don’t like this,” Vortex mutters beside me. He eyes the casino, which is flashy in a different way from the Roi de Pique. There are a lot of hearts, in gold and red, all around the floor and carpets.
“Blake was pretty insistent he would only meet here,” I say, but I agree with him. I would rather be meeting in a neutral location, but Blake is holding all the proverbial cards.
I head to the information counter and smile at the clerk. “Hi. I have a meeting with Mr. Heart. Could you let him know Caleb Spade is here?”
The woman nods, her braids falling over her face. “Oh, yes, we were told to expect you. Please, follow me.”
Vortex and I share a look, but we follow the woman past the many poker tables to the private event rooms.
The room she leads us to reminds me of my own private poker room, the one with the new poker table and the new carpet —although in this case, the decor is starkly modern. It doesn’t go well with the poker vibe, but that’s why this is a private room.
Blake Heart is already seated at the table, shuffling a set of cards.
Across from him is Virgil Club.
I freeze.
Virgil looks as stylish as ever, in a deep blue suit that fits him perfectly. His beard is trimmed close to his face, and his hair is styled into short locs. A diamond earring sparkles on his ear.
“About time you showed,” Virgil says, not looking at me. “I thought the game might turn out boring, with just Blake and me.”
Blake chuckles. “Boring for me, maybe. But my company is always stellar.” He looks up at me with a wide smile that doesn’t meet his pale blue eyes.
“Caleb wouldn’t bail on this meeting.” His blond hair is styled immaculately, and he’s dressed in a more formal suit than I usually wear. “Would you, Spade?”
I’m disconcerted that Virgil is here. I’d assumed this was a private meeting, and Trent hadn’t mentioned that Virgil and Blake are being buddy-buddy.
“It wasn’t in the plan, no,” I say smoothly, taking the single empty seat. Vortex goes to stand against the wall, where Virgil’s man and a casino security guard are also standing. “Texas hold ‘em?” I ask as Blake deals the cards.
“Unless you’d like to play Go Fish instead,” Blake says, grinning at me. “Is that more your speed?”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes, while Virgil chuckles.
“Nah, Caleb’s playing with the big boys now,” Virgil says. “He’s no longer jumping at his grandpappy’s command.”
I take a quick peek at my two cards, then set them down again. “I meant to thank you for the condolence cards. By the way, how’s your mother doing, Virgil? Has she sorted out that mess with the police yet?”
Virgil’s eyes narrow. His mother runs one of the oldest gentlemen’s clubs in Calamity City, but there’s been a lot of interest from the feds lately regarding her business. Something about corruption in Calamity City or whatnot.
“My mother is none of your concern,” Virgil says. “Anyway, it’s not only me. Blake’s strip joints have been raided how many times in the past few weeks? Our taxpayer dollars being put to good use, harassing honest businesses.”
Blake looks directly at me. “Funny thing, though. I haven’t heard of any interest in the Roi de Pique. Just the rest of us law-abiding citizens.” He taps his cards. “Action’s to you, Virgil.”
Virgil takes a quick look at his cards again. “Let’s start with five hundred,” he says, adding a few chips to the pile.
I don’t particularly care if I win or lose this game, so I call and wait for the flop.
“How many rounds are we going to play before we get to the heart of things?” I ask. “Yes, my business is being affected. My grandfather was murdered. You think that’s nothing?”
Now Virgil and Blake share a look.
“Funny, that.” Virgil gives me a lazy smile. “I’ve asked around, and nobody knows how that happened. Certainly not your boy’s friends from New Bristol.”
“I guess your grandfather did make a lot of enemies,” Blake says. “Especially recently.”
My heart hammers hard in my chest. They are in touch with the Lockwoods.
Blake smiles. “But all of us have made enemies, right? It’s just a matter of how we deal with them?”
Blake throws his own chips into the pile, and when Virgil nods, he deals out the three community cards.
I have nothing, not even a decent high card.
“Enemies,” I repeat. “Yes, we all have enemies, Blake. But the question is, do you need more of them? My family is not going to let the Lockwoods get away with this. If you aren’t on our side…
You like all the benefits we share, don’t you?
The nice division of the city, the many times we’ve scratched each other’s back?
” I glance at Virgil. “I know you’ve earned significantly off my family, too, and I send plenty of business your way. ”
Virgil smiles at me. “So I have. How is Earl? I haven’t seen that motherfucker around in a while.”
“We’ve warned him not to step foot anywhere near your club,” I answer calmly. “He isn’t particularly well-liked in the family right now.”
Blake barks out a laugh. “Can’t imagine why.” He discards his hand, abandoning the pretense of the game. “Well, since we’re being frank, what are you offering? What can you possibly give me that is worth more than what I’ve already got on the table?”
I take a deep breath. “Aside from continued business dealings?” I lean closer. “The Lockwoods are the ones sending people to harass your businesses. We all know it. Are you going to take that lying down? Are you going to let them intimidate you for a few dollars?”
“Intimidate?” Blake repeats, chuckling darkly. “No. Maybe they’re causing a little bit of a ruckus, but they’re also offering legit business deals that would benefit me a whole hell of a lot more than what you can give me.”
“Their offers are pretty tempting,” Virgil agrees, buffing his nails. “It’s a lot of money, and connections outside of Calamity.”
I snarl at him. “That’s all it takes? You’re going to give up what our families created here, you’re going to let some outsiders control you, because of money and a few piddly connections?
You already do trade with the Mexican cartels, and I know you’ve got lines all the way to Canada.
What can they possibly offer you? New Bristol?
They don’t have New Bristol. They’re small time players, and the only power they have is a few politicians who like to fuck children. ”
Something flickers in Blake’s expression, but he doesn’t have the horror or disgust in it that I’d been expecting to see. “Is that so?” he asks. “And what proof do you have that they’re dealing in kids? They’re too prominent, with too many powerful people, to risk that.”
Virgil is watching us both carefully, and I know I need to stay calm, but all I can hear is Seven’s quiet confession, that horrible birthday of his.
“I know,” I snap. “I’ve seen what they did to my boy , and he wasn’t the only one.
So I’m telling you right now: if you do anything to compromise his freedom and happiness, I’m not going to rest until I’ve destroyed you.
You, your families, your entire legacy. I will take you down if you get into bed with the Lockwoods. ”
“Oh?” Blake asks, arching a brow. “With what resources? You talk a lot for a man whose family is scrambling to get back on their feet right now. A few moves and…” He makes a hand gesture. “All of those dominos can go tumbling down and leave you with nothing.”
I grin at him. “Murder doesn’t take that many resources, Blake. Destroying your reputation? Even fewer. We all know the Red Heart is nothing compared to the Roi de Pique. I can steal your business and leave this place a hollow, rotted shell?—”
Virgil suddenly starts clapping, interrupting my tirade.
“All right, all right. As amusing as it is to see two white guys duke it out, we all have better shit to do.” He turns his attention to Blake.
“You really going to let the Lockwoods tell you how to do business? You’re going to bow down to the outsiders? ”
Blake’s expression has turned downright murderous, and he glares at both of us.
“It isn’t bowing down to consider other business opportunities that might be more advantageous.
You know perfectly well that the Spades are running around in circles right now.
If there was ever a time to ally with someone else, it’s now. ”
Virgil raises his brow. “You think they’re trustworthy?
Because as much as I hate both of you, I know you.
We’ve all got investments here, and we all want to keep shit going strong in Calamity.
But those kiddy diddlers? After they set up their operations here, you think they’ll respect the rules and laws we’ve established? ”
I don’t know why Virgil is helping me now, and I’m not sure I trust it, but I’m grateful all the same. Maybe Trent was very convincing when he chatted with Virgil.
“He’s right, Blake. The Lockwoods aren’t going to play nice once they get what they want,” I answer. “They already murdered my grandfather. Who’s to say they aren’t going to go after you, next?”
Blake inhales deeply, still looking pissed, but he’s at least toned it down some. “They really pedos?” he asks.
I nod. “My boy isn’t the only one they did it to. It’s their whole business, Blake. I know you’ve got your strip clubs, but those people are adults. They know what they’re getting into. The Lockwoods take kids and sell them or whore them out.”
Blake grimaces. It’s not lost on me that the rest of the arguments don’t seem to have influenced him at all, but he at least has some scruples.
“If working with them is off the table, that means I have to work with you two fuckers,” he says, grimacing.
“All right. How are we getting them out of Calamity?”
I take a deep breath. “Their contacts in the city are powerful, but power only works when people are following through. We’re friends with the police chief and the officers on the ground.
We know most of the gaming commission officers.
We’ve had dinners with the chamber of commerce members.
Blake, I know you attended the chamber president’s sixtieth birthday.
Virgil, you’ve got blackmail material on most of them and their children.
” I turn my cards over, revealing the low numbers.
“The Lockwoods think they can take over? Forget it. We’ve got strength in numbers. ”
It’s another half hour of arguing and discussion, but by the time we’re through, I’m sure I have Virgil and Blake on my side.
“You have one final problem, though,” Virgil says, holding up the King of Diamonds. “If Valentín doesn’t play ball with us…”
I set out the Ace of Spades I’d grabbed from the deck. “I’ll deal with it,” I answer. “Valentín will come around.”
I’m bluffing, but I can’t afford to be wrong. If Havoc can’t get me that meeting with Valentín, I’ll have to take some drastic measures. I’ll have to use that information I was saving for a very rainy day.
Nobody is going to endanger Seven.
Nobody.