Chapter 17 #2
“Dixon’s been working around the clock. He deserves not to be dragged out of bed in the middle of the night for this. Leave him. We’ll go together, and Isla can come with us.”
Jace didn’t look happy about the plan, but he must’ve seen the determination on my face because he relented. “Fine, but you need to stay by my side the whole time.”
I nodded, then went to grab my coat and handbag. Jace quickly filled Isla in on where we were going, and then we were off. I noted the casino was in a dicey part of the city. What on earth had Elias gotten himself into?
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Jace said, breaking the quiet.
“I’m not sure. What are you thinking?”
“Well, I’m just now piecing a lot of stuff together. Elias is constantly playing some roulette game on one of those gambling apps. I thought it was a harmless bit of fun, but now I’m wondering …”
“If he has a gambling addiction?” I finished.
Jace let go of the steering wheel for a second to rub his jaw. “Yeah.”
“It’s possible. Those apps are highly addictive.”
“Bloody hell, what a fucking family. First me, now Elias.”
“Hey, it might not be as bad as you think. Maybe he just got himself into a tough spot and lost control of the situation.”
“Hmm.” Jace didn’t sound convinced as he quickly parallel parked and then came around to help me out.
I noted the graffiti on the building next to the casino, the unpleasant stench of urine and spilled alcohol masking the street.
A group of sketchy looking men stood outside, smoking cigarettes and talking in hushed tones.
A few of them glanced our way, taking our measure. On instinct, I sidled closer to Jace.
Isla was by our side a second later, and we approached the casino. After checking our IDs, the doorman let us in.
“Elias said they were keeping him in one of the private rooms in the back,” Jace said to Isla.
“I’ll go check it out.”
She disappeared into the casino. The place wasn’t too busy, just a few people playing slot machines, and a couple others around a roulette table.
I hated to be so judgmental, but it was a real dive.
There was a faint smell of mould and the sort of worn, dark patterned carpet on the floor that disguised a myriad of sins.
I wouldn’t risk ordering a drink at the bar since it didn’t strike me as the sort of place with good hygiene practices.
Jace’s hand came to rest on my lower back, and I peered up at him. A short, tense moment passed between us, and I sensed he was thinking about what happened on my couch before Elias interrupted with his call.
“I’m sorry for kissing you,” I blurted.
Jace’s eyebrows lifted, a hint of amusement claiming his features. “Why would you be sorry about that?”
I frowned. “I didn’t ask for consent. Plus, you’ve been through some heavy stuff today, and me taking advantage of you isn’t exactly—”
“Shannon,” he said, cutting me off as his fingers slid through mine, and he tugged me close. His breath washed over my cheeks, his lips brushing my ear. “I’m yours. There’s no taking advantage. Kiss me whenever you like. I won’t hold you to it.”
I’m yours. He said it so casually, no clue how the statement had my insides in a tailspin. But what did he mean, he wouldn’t hold me to it? Was he back to the idea that I could use him for sex? I thought we’d moved past that.
I was about to respond when Isla returned, “I found where they’re keeping him. Some dude said he owes twelve grand.”
Both Jace’s and my jaws dropped. When Jace got over the fact that his cousin had lost twelve thousand euros in only one night, he said, “Okay, and he can’t pay it back?”
I’d been about to ask the same question.
Jace and the rest of Astro had made a lot of money from their music careers.
In fact, one of the few good things my parents had ever done was offer to look through the record contract Jace had been given.
Oftentimes, musicians got screwed over with contracts, eagerly signing away their rights because they were so desperate to make it big.
Astro hadn’t fallen prey to such tactics, not with a pair of sharks like my parents going over the contract with a fine tooth comb and insisting on a number of changes to benefit the band.
Anyway, all this to say, Elias should’ve had the funds to pay back what he’d lost. He’d earned a lot of money over the years. Maybe he really did have a gambling problem. It was certainly bad if he was playing poker in a dive casino like this one.
“You’re Jace Fields,” someone said, and we turned to find a man in a black shirt with thick eyebrows and a buzzcut looking us over. There was something predatory in his eyes that had me instinctively inching closer to Jace.
“That’s right,” he replied, standing tall.
“You here to bail out your bass player?”
“Well, I don’t have twelve grand on me, so no. But I can get it for you in the morning if you let Elias go now.”
The man shot him a thin lipped smile. “I’ll do you one better. We’ve another game starting soon. We’ll let you play, give you the chance to win back what your pal lost and perhaps even make a little profit for yourself. What do you say?”
Jace stared him down. “I don’t gamble.”
“Well, then—”
“But I’ll make an exception on this occasion,” he went on, and the guy grinned like the cat that got the cream. Foolish man. He thought Jace was a mark, a famous, wealthy mark.
The slimeball chuckled. “Wait by the bar. I’ll come get you in a few.” He turned and walked away.
“What are you doing? He obviously only made that offer because he’s trying to make even more money out of Elias’ foolishness. Do you even know how to play poker?” Isla questioned.
At this, Jace and I shared a look, both smiling.
“Oh, he knows how to play,” I said, and Jace’s smile transformed into a smirk.
“We both do. In fact, the person who taught us used to frequent places just like this back in his day.”
When we were kids, Jace’s dad would tell us stories about how he’d use his magic tricks and mentalism to swindle unsuspecting gamblers out of their cash.
All the while, he’d teach us the game. The three of us, sometimes with the addition of Fran, would play for hours sitting at their kitchen table.
Poker was hardly a game for kids, but honestly, it was a cherished childhood memory.
I had no clue at the time that we’d one day find ourselves in a casino just like the ones Jay had frequented when he’d been young, poor, and in need of money.
“Let me guess, your dad?” Isla asked.
“Yep.”
“Let’s hope he taught you well enough to get Elias out of this mess,” she went on.
We went to sit by the bar, but we didn’t order anything, instead watching while a woman in her forties with giant dangly earrings won a hundred euros on a slot machine then proceeded to lose it again in quick succession.
My mind went to Elias, as I wondered how he’d gotten into gambling.
Then again, the band played concerts in places like Vegas and Monte Carlo.
They’d even been to Macao once. Perhaps he got a taste for it there, made a few seemingly harmless bets, and then suddenly he couldn’t quit.
Finally, the same guy from before reappeared.
“Come on back,” he said to Jace. Isla and I moved to follow, but he held up a hand. “No looky loos allowed. You two will have to wait here.”
I started to panic because I definitely didn’t want Jace going back there alone and getting locked in just like Elias had. Technically, what they were doing was illegal, but then again, this place didn’t seem like it gave much heed to the law.
“I’ll be fine,” Jace said, calm as a cucumber as he ran a hand down my arm. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back with Elias before you know it.” He looked to Isla. “Keep an eye on her, yeah?”
Isla nodded, and my heart gave a hard thump as I watched Jace walk to the back of the casino and then slip through a dark door.
A small quiet fell, and I realised this was the first time I’d been properly alone with Isla where we had to make conversation.
She was American, like Dixon, but other than that, I didn’t know much about her.
“Is he really that good at poker?” she asked.
“Oh, yeah. Jace is a natural. He often won even against his dad, so that’s saying something.
Only thing is, when the other players realise he’s not a rube, there could be trouble.
” I paused to glance at her. She wasn’t a large woman, but she looked like she could handle herself.
Still, perhaps having more backup would be a good idea.
“Do you think we should call Dixon to come over? Just in case?”
Isla checked the time on her phone. It was almost midnight. “I don’t fancy facing his wrath if we wake him up.”
“You two are close, though, right? Surely, he’ll be understanding, given the circumstances.”
Isla shook her head. “I mean, we’ve worked together for three years, but I wouldn’t say we’re close. Dixon is a real closed book, doesn’t like to get personal, you know?”
“But didn’t he hire you?”
“No, that was Angelica, the band’s manager. Don’t get me wrong, Dixon is cool. I just wouldn’t want to bother him when it’s my turn to be on duty.”
I nodded, dropping the matter since it was clear she didn’t feel comfortable calling her colleague.
Instead, I asked her some questions about where she grew up and if she had any siblings.
It turned out that she did other security work when the band wasn’t on tour, but it wasn’t as well-paying as looking after Astro, so in a way, being called in to watch Jace was a stroke of luck for her.
Although she was sorry about the catfish.
Then we got into a deep discussion about possible new suspects, though Isla said that personally she didn’t think it was Dean from my work.