Chapter 5 Zach
ZACH
Icalled Maria as I drove to the apartment she’d arranged for me. “I’m in.”
She sighed.
“What? Did you want me to fail?”
“No. Yes. Fuck, I don’t know. This is a bad idea, and it could compromise the whole investigation.”
Did she have to be so fucking negative? “No, it won’t. I’m trying to find a link that will bring down Ivanov.”
“Are you, or do you really want to be the one to end the Theriots’ power?”
“Can’t I want both?” I asked, blowing through a light as it turned red.
“Not if you want to focus on the current objective.”
“I’m focused.”
“Bullshit.”
Was I? Was I focused on getting Ivanov or on Rafael Theriot?
I knew my assignment. Rafe was a means to an end.
So why couldn’t I stop thinking about him?
If I was straight, he couldn’t actually pull me under his spell, right?
I wouldn’t let him fuck up my focus. “Just wait. You’ll see what kind of results I can get. ”
“That’s all I can do other than pull you off the case.”
My pulse sped up, and I turned so hard I nearly hit the curb. “You wouldn’t.”
“I would if you go too far.”
“Why are we protecting the Theriots?”
“We’re not protecting them. We’re choosing our battles. No matter how much you hate them, you know catching a child trafficker is more important.”
I couldn’t argue with that. “Like I said. Why not both?”
“Our resources are already stretched way too thin. We don’t have the manpower to go after them both. I won’t put my people in danger because you have a vendetta.”
“They’re killers.”
“They are, but you know how this job works. You have to prioritize.”
I ran a hand through my hair. He was right. We had to focus on making the biggest impact possible, and if I were honest, the Theriots presented much less of a threat to the city than Ivanov rebuilding his disgusting enterprise.
We needed to get him and the last of his allies before he rebuilt the operation and more young men and boys were hurt or killed.
Most of the people the Theriots took out were scum like Ivanov and his allies. That didn’t make me hate them any less.
“I’ll focus on the connection with Ivanov. I want to meet the other players in this game and see if I can put anything together. If not, I’ll find another direction.”
Would I really? When I had Rafael right there in the palm of my hand?
Are you really going to fuck him?
I didn’t have to take it that far. I could just keep flirting, keep leading him on.
Rafael isn’t the kind of man who waits to be led on. He’s the kind of man who fucks before he knows your name.
I swallowed hard. There was something about him. He was alluring, enticing. Did I want to fuck him?
No, that was crazy. I wasn’t really into men. I was good at faking it when I needed to.
You’re lying.
If I were, I’d keep it that way. It was better for my sanity.
When I arrived at the casino entrance Rafe had specified, I half expected security to turn me away or take me into custody, but they let me through.
I was escorted upstairs into a room that was far more sedately decorated than the main floor.
It had a black tile floor and pale, gray walls and was furnished only with a bar cart and a round table made of dark wood surrounded by eight upholstered chairs.
Four other men were already there, but Rafael was nowhere in sight. He said he watched the game. Did he mean on camera? I’d assumed he’d be present. Maybe he liked to wait until everyone was there.
Did it matter, though, for any reason other than me wanting him there? I didn’t want to think too much about why that was so important.
I introduced myself, and the other man reciprocated. None of them gave more than first names, which I doubted were their legal ones.
One of them was probably in his early seventies. He was tall and broad with a round belly pushing over the waist of his pants. He was puffing on a cigar, and I did my best not to cough when he blew the smoke in my direction.
I fucking hated that you could smoke in casinos. I’d gotten used to dealing with it, but I absolutely hated cigar smoke hanging in the air, partly because it reminded me of the games I went to with my dad.
Another man was dressed in a suit and looked like he might’ve come from a financial office or a law firm. His was nondescript and easily forgettable, but sometimes those men were the most dangerous ones.
One of the others had long hair that he’d pulled back.
He was wearing a sweater and dress pants.
He looked like someone who belonged in a game like this.
When he introduced himself, he spoke with a Russian accent, which piqued my interest. But that would be too pointed, wouldn’t it?
Ivanov wouldn’t send someone as a spy who was clearly Russian and looked like a criminal. Or would he?
The next man I spoke to was blond and fit. He looked like he belonged on a boat in New England in his navy blue sweater, khakis, and boat shoes. Was he trying to throw everyone off? I didn’t think so. My gut told me he was exactly what he seemed.
Two more men entered. They both wore dress pants and button-downs. Neither one set off any alarm bells, but I had to keep my eye on everyone.
Finally, the last player entered. He had silver hair and wore a navy pinstriped suit.
He gave off slick, aloof vibes and barely spoke when I introduced myself.
I hated him on sight, but that didn’t mean he was working with Ivanov.
I couldn’t let myself be biased. Nothing about this case was going to be predictable.
If it were, we would’ve brought Ivanov down long ago.
One of the security guards who was stationed by the door got our attention. “Gentlemen, please take your seats. Mr. Theriot and tonight’s dealer are on the way.”
My heart rate increased, knowing Rafe would be in the room.
I was eager to see him again. Obviously because I wanted to be able to see how he connected with each of the players, not because I found him intriguing and fucking hot.
No. That wasn’t it, and I was probably imagining the chemistry between us.
I was here to look for any possible connection between Rafe or the rest of the Theriots and Ivanov, not to ogle mobsters.
I also had to remember that even if Rafe was aware of someone infiltrating the casino, he wasn’t necessarily on Ivanov’s side.
He could simply be watching them. We only knew he and the other Theriots were present the night of the fire at Ivanov’s house.
We didn’t know if they were there to save him or to destroy him.
Did I want them to be guilty? Maybe, but Rafe was… I didn’t want to be attracted to a man who would side with a monster.
Attracted? No, that was the wrong word. He was seriously fucking with my mind. Maybe I did want him to be guilty.
What I was supposed to want was the truth.
Rafe prowled around the table, watching each of us, keeping a sly smile on his face, no matter what cards he saw.
He was better at that than I would have thought and also damn distracting.
I forced myself to ignore him and focus on my cards, making sure to lose the occasional hand, but by the end of the night’s play, I was the winner by a good margin.
The slick man in the pinstriped suit glared at me with narrowed eyes. “You certainly did well for yourself this evening.”
I gave him a self-satisfied smile. “Beginner’s luck.”
The man with the cigar huffed. “Wait till next week. Your luck will run out.”
That sounded ominous, but I was probably taking everything too seriously.
The Russian rose and made himself a drink before turning to face me. “It’s curious to me how you’d get so lucky. Would you like to share your card-counting techniques with the rest of us?”
I raised my brows. “That’s a serious accusation.”
Rafe clamped a hand on the Russian’s shoulder. “That is serious. Do you honestly think we’re not keeping a close eye on things? I know the cards haven’t been running in your favor lately, but your luck will change. It always does.”
The Russian looked at me and shook his head in disgust, but he didn’t say anything else.
Finance Bro looked around the table and studied the piles of chips in front of each of us. He let his gaze linger longer on mine. “I’ll be watching you next week.”
I nodded. “I’ll be happy to have the attention.”
Could I pull this off with these men on high alert? I was damn good, but these were top-of-the-line players. Had I gotten in over my head? Maybe, but it wouldn’t be the first time.
Rafe addressed us again. “Gentlemen. We should congratulate our new player on his winnings. Now that you’ve seen him play, I’m sure you’ll all be back next week with a new strategy ready. Feel free to continue having drinks for as long as you’d like. My men will see you out when you’re ready.”
Rafe left, and I followed him. When he made a turn into the private area where his office was, a security guard stuck his arm out in front of me. “No one’s allowed back there, sir. I can show you to the exit.”
“I need to talk to Rafael.”
“No, sir. He’s not available now.”
I scowled at the man. “I don’t like being accused of cheating my first night in this game. I want to speak to your boss.”
Rafael turned and walked back. He looked from me to the guard and back again. He was angry but also intrigued.
He sighed. “Let him through.” When the guard did as he said, he focused on me. “You’ve got five minutes.”
I followed him to his office. When he pulled out a key card to unlock the door, I wished I were as proficient a pickpocket as Maria. Having access to Rafe’s office would be fantastic.
He turned to me as soon as he closed the door. “Don’t come here again. Don’t ask for me. Don’t speak to me after the game ends.”
“Are you afraid you’re going to get caught?”
“No, I’m afraid I’m going to have to put a bullet through your head. I’d hate that; it’s messy.”
“I would’ve thought you liked messy.”
He raised his brows.
“What do you want, G?” He emphasized the initial in a way that let me know how much my lack of a real name bothered him.
“Tell me about the men I beat tonight. I need to know more about them if I’m going to keep winning.”
Rafe huffed. “If you keep winning as boldly as you did tonight, they’ll be sure you’re cheating. I’m not the only person here who can eliminate their enemies.”
“I’m sure you’re not. I can be rather dangerous myself. If one of them comes for me, I will defend myself.”
Rafael inclined his head. “I would expect nothing less.”
“How long have each of them been playing? How well do you know them?”
“I’m not in the business of revealing personal details about the men who play in my backroom games. This isn’t about getting chummy; it’s about winning. They’re not here to tell their life story, and I don’t give a fuck about them as long as they don’t cause me any trouble.”
“You can’t tell me you didn’t vet all of them. I know there are people you wouldn’t want in here.”
“Damn right, but I’m not giving you their details. I don’t need shit like that getting around. When these men lose, they lose big, and we take the profit. This is a business, you know.”
“And that part of the business is far from legal.”
His eyes narrowed. “Are you planning on ratting me out?”
“I hardly think the New Orleans police care much about backroom poker games. They’ve got a lot more on their minds.”
“Fuck right they do.”
“So you won’t give anything? I thought this was going to be a partnership.”
“A financial one. It’s up to you to figure out how to keep winning. As long as you do, we will keep sharing the profits. Otherwise, I have no use for you.”
“None at all?” I gave him a slow once-over.
“None that involves me revealing personal information about my clients.”
“I see. What about my winnings? How will I collect?”
He opened his drawer and pulled out a stack of money. “Take this tonight as a show of good faith. I’ll keep what you win next week.”
I studied him, wondering what he was up to. “We agreed to a split.”
“Yes, we did, but I have no intention of telling that to anyone, even the loyal employees who serve as cashiers.”
“Right.” Why hadn’t I thought about how private this needed to be?
“Now, get out of here. The other players are already suspicious. The more they see you talking to me, the more suspicious they’ll become.”
He was right, but as usual, I need to push my luck. “Are you sure you want me to leave? You sure were watching me closely during the game.”