Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
The Heights Casino is everything I expected.
Opulent, over the top, and full of people trying to strike it rich or drown their sorrows. Annabelle and I step inside, my pulse quickening as I scan the room. My eyes immediately dart to the ceiling.
Cameras.
Everywhere.
They don’t miss a damn thing. Nicholas promised Koen they’re only there to keep an eye on guests trying to cheat the house when he called him earlier to ask about it, but still, the thought of being watched sends a shiver down my spine.
This isn’t the first time I’ve had to be invisible in a high-stakes place, but tonight, the stakes feel higher. A lot higher.
Annabelle tugs at my arm, pulling me forward.
She’s the only reason I’m not completely unraveling.
Three hours earlier, she showed up at the mansion to get ready together.
Levi picked her up, which added to the chaos.
He also got us dresses for tonight, and Annabelle nearly shattered glass with her squeal when she saw hers.
The blue gown hugs her curves perfectly, and mine—soft pink, tasteful, but daring enough to show just the right amount of skin—makes me feel beautiful, not only because Koen only managed to glance away from my eyes long enough to blatantly admire the neckline.
Still, I hope we don’t have to call Nicholas to bail us out if shit goes sideways. Even though a part of me wants to see him, I don’t want to need him.
Annabelle’s nails dig into my arm as she steers us toward the slot machines. “Stop looking at the ceiling,” she whispers through a grin. “You’ll make us look suspicious.”
“Sorry.” I force a smile, willing my eyes to focus elsewhere and catch sight of Sylus at the bar, his shoulders relaxed, his casual smirk in place as he chats with the bartender. Ace is a few rows of slots down, scanning the room. They’ve been here for half an hour already, blending into the crowd.
“Should we get some champagne first?” Annabelle asks. “Would that help settle your nerves?”
“No thanks.” The answer is automatic. “I don’t drink anymore.”
Annabelle stops dead, her hand dropping from my arm as she turns to stare at me. “What? Since when?”
Right. What?
When did I decide that?
“I… I don’t know. I just don’t want to anymore.”
“Huh.” Her eyes narrow, the beginnings of a smirk forming. “I think I like these guys more and more.”
“It’s not for them.” Yes, Koen has this coercion thing on me. And, yeah, they’ve helped me keep my mind busy focused on other things. But it’s not for them. “It’s for me.”
I don’t want to hide behind it anymore.
“Well, shit.” Her expression softens as she takes my arm again, and we walk farther into the casino. “Good for you, Nova.”
Her approval makes something in me loosen, but it also reminds me that this isn’t about approval, hers or anyone else’s.
This is about me.
We stop near the rows of slot machines, and my breath catches when I spot Foster. He’s exactly where Sylus said he’d be, perched on a stool in front of a machine, his sandy hair tousled, his wiry frame swallowed by a beige suit that makes him look like a human Band-Aid.
This is the guy overseeing Veronica’s casino empire?
The guy who traffics girls?
He looks like someone who’s been losing at slots for hours. The sight of him causes my chest to get hot with anger, but I push it down.
Focus.
Annabelle slides onto the stool next to him, her smile radiant, while I linger behind them. Foster doesn’t notice us at first, too focused on feeding coins into the machine. After a moment, though, he glances our way, his gaze lingering on Annabelle before flicking to me.
His grin turns predatory. “Well, well. Can I help you two beautiful ladies?”
Annabelle laughs, light and airy. “Oh, we were just watching to see how this works. It’s our first time in a casino, and we wanted to try.”
“Is that so? You came to the right place. How about your first game is on me?” He slides a few coins across the machine toward her, his fingers lingering on the edge of the tray.
I can’t stop the subtle scoff that escapes me, but thankfully, Foster doesn’t notice.
My gaze darts back to Sylus, still at the bar, as he pretends to enjoy his drink. Ace is pacing closer now, circling the machines in a way that looks casual but is anything but.
“That’s so sweet of you.” Annabelle leans forward. “Thank you! I’ve always wanted to try one of these but didn’t know how.”
“Stick with me.” Foster puffs up like a pigeon showing off. “I’ll make sure you ladies have the best experience.”
While Annabelle expertly holds his attention, I take the opportunity to glance over his body again. My pulse spikes as I finally spot his phone tucked into the inner pocket of his jacket.
Shit.
This is going to be tricky.
I look at Ace, and he takes it as his clue to come closer as I take a deep breath, my focus shifting entirely to the slimy man in front of us.
Showtime.
Annabelle’s charm is a weapon, and Foster is eating it up like it’s the first meal he’s had in weeks. She leans closer, drawing his attention entirely to her, her tone playful and curious as she peppers him with questions about the slots.
My eyes flicker to his jacket pocket again, the faint outline of his phone barely visible through the beige fabric.
The way it presses against the thin material makes my fingers itch, but this isn’t a simple lift.
His hand brushes the pocket every so often, and with Annabelle seated so close, space is tight.
“Really?” Annabelle gasps. “You mean to tell me the more you bet, the higher your odds of winning? That’s so exciting!”
“Absolutely,” Foster lies. His hand moves to gesture grandly, and my heartbeat spikes.
Now or never.
I shift to stand behind him, reaching around, my fingers grazing the fabric lightly as I test the tension. His focus is entirely on Annabelle, who has leaned even closer to whisper something conspiratorial.
As Foster laughs, his body shifts a little, and his hand drops to the tray of coins in front of him.
The phone’s position adjusts just enough, and I see my opening.
My fingers slide into the pocket with precision honed by years of practice, and the phone comes free without so much as a whisper of resistance.
Holding it flat against the back of my thigh, I angle my arm behind me as Ace walks past. The moment he’s within reach, I extend my hand slightly, and the phone slips from my grasp into his waiting palm.
His fingers brush mine briefly, a silent acknowledgment before he continues on his way without missing a beat.
My attention snaps back to Foster, who’s still chuckling at whatever Annabelle has said. She’s good, so good, at keeping him distracted, and the love I have for this girl swells in my chest.
Ace heads toward Sylus, who barely glances up from his drink as Ace slides the phone into his palm while he walks past him. My heart pounds in my chest, but Sylus works quickly, putting the phone on top of a device he brought.
He explained to me what it does, but I understood jack shit.
The only thing I did understand was that when everything works out as planned, he can later send them a text from a burner phone, and it will appear in the text thread they already have with Veronica, looking like it was a normal text sent directly from her.
Annabelle laughs again, her hand lightly brushing Foster’s arm, and he’s too absorbed in her to notice the slight edge creeping into my expression.
Hurry up.
Sylus seems to finish just when Ace walks past him for a second time, and the phone changes hands once more. When he reaches me, I let my hand drift behind me again, and the phone is back in my grasp within seconds.
Quick, clean, flawless.
But now comes the tricky part—putting it back.
The phone is still warm from their touch, and the weight of it feels heavier now than when I first took it. Annabelle glances at me briefly, her smile unwavering, and I give her a barely perceptible nod.
“You know…” she flirts. “You’re probably the most interesting man I’ve met tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who knows the ins and outs of a casino like you do.”
Foster’s grin spreads ear to ear. “Stick with me, honey, and you’ll learn all the tricks.”
“I will.” Annabelle smiles sweetly, standing from her chair.
“But first, I want to check out the tables in the back before I come back here and—” She shifts, feigning a stumble as her heel catches on the leg of the chair.
“Oh!” she gasps, pitching forward dramatically.
Foster reacts instantly, his arms darting out to catch her.
“Easy there, beautiful.” He chuckles, steadying her with a grin. His hands rest on her waist, and she lets out a breathy laugh, one hand pressing to his chest as if to stabilize herself.
It’s all the opening I need.
My fingers brush the fabric of his jacket below where her hand rests as I slip the phone into his chest pocket from behind him, my touch featherlight compared to the distraction Annabelle provides.
“Sorry about that.” Annabelle giggles, her gaze flicking to mine again, and when I give her another nod, she straightens and steps out of Foster’s arms.
“No worries at all,” he replies, clearly enamored as he adjusts his jacket.
Annabelle hooks her arm through mine, seamlessly transitioning the conversation. “Come on, babe,” she says brightly, leading me away. “We don’t want to lose all our money before we’ve seen everything this place has to offer.”
“Don’t worry, ladies.” Foster chuckles, yelling after us, “The machines will be waiting for you when you’re ready to lose it all. Come find me if you need more help.”
The tension in my chest loosens a little as we step away from him and make our way toward the back of the casino.
“God,” Annabelle murmurs under her breath, her smile still firmly in place for anyone watching. “He’s an absolute slimeball.”
I let out a shaky laugh. “You’re telling me. But damn, Belle, you were incredible back there.”