Chapter 27
I walk the red carpet lining the sidewalk and front entry of Sinners’ Paradise, my arm linked with Alessandro’s. Our entourage is at our side, with Geovani next to me and both Maddox and Ricky right behind us. We’re all wearing Day of the Dead type painted masks, and I have my hair swept off my face, with large pink and burgundy roses pinned off to one side. A crowd has gathered, and while not everyone is in costume, most people have embraced the Halloween theme we have chosen to go with for the night.
Alessandro drops his lips to my ear. “You’re glowing tonight, princess,” he whispers in a way that lights me up inside.
“You can hardly even see my face behind this mask.” I laugh lightly.
The way people watch and celebrate us, I feel like a local celebrity, and I wonder if this is what it was like for Valentina when she was first told she would be marrying Enzo. If she got swept up in the fame of it all. Or was she always the horrible creature she is now?
I’m on edge and can’t wait to get inside. The last few days we have been in damage control, bunkering down at my apartment trying to work out which one of Enzo’s men got into the club and shot Detective Carillon right in the middle of all those people undetected. He was one of the good guys, actually helping my brother and Alex to form a case against Enzo. And that only means one thing—someone in our inner circle is really on Enzo’s payroll.
Enzo did his thing, cleaning up the mess at the club, getting the press to report it as a gang-related issue, some punk with a vendetta against the cops, his good friend Police Commissioner Palmer backing up his claims. But we all know that’s not the truth. The truth is that man was trying to rid this city of evil. He had a family, two little kids, and a wife, and now they’re without their father because of the slimy fucker currently approaching me with his obedient wife at his side.
Enzo’s in his normal sharp black suit and cunning smirk, and Valentina has on a slinky ink-colored dress, a martini glass in hand. From the dull look in her eyes, I would say it’s not her first drink of the night. “I haven’t seen this many people here in years,” she gushes, taking my hands in hers and separating me from Alessandro.
“It’s very exciting,” I agree with her as she leads me through the front foyer and over to a table. Oversized security guards stand on either side of the space dedicated for us. Normally I would say it’s overkill, but after this week, I’m grateful for the extra peace of mind.
“Best table in the house so we can see all the excitement. Some of our very best friends are here tonight, hoping to win big. And while the men play, we can discuss your upcoming nuptials.” She beams at me.
I feel the color drain from my face. I knew this conversation was coming, but not tonight, not ever actually, but she doesn’t need to know it. I just have to keep putting it off for as long as possible. I look to Alessandro to save me from her.
“Not tonight, Mother.” His hand wraps around my waist, and he pulls me into his solid body. “I want to show Vivian around my casino.”
She looks wounded. “Oh, of course, this will all be hers one day soon as well.”
I force a smile, but the sudden jealousy in her voice makes me feel uneasy. Valentina is clinging on to me because she’s fully aware that I’m about to take over her status as the most important woman in this place. And while she seems to genuinely like me, it’s damn obvious she doesn’t want to give up her position to anyone. “I have so much to learn from you, Valentina,” I say to feed her ego, even though the words make me feel sick. I will never be like her.
She smiles warmly, but I can sense it’s fakeness. “I will teach you everything I know, Vivian,” she purrs before throwing back her cocktail and tapping the glass for another. A waiter appears out of nowhere with a replacement for her. For a millisecond, I almost feel sorry for the old matriarch. She looks fragile tonight, using her alcoholism to hide the pain of her reality. It’s sad, really.
“Let the games begin,” Enzo announces like the puppet master he is, entertaining the crowd.
The warmth of Ricky’s hand moves down my side, and as he lowers his head toward me, I inhale deeply, smelling his cologne. I need his calm to center me, remind me of why I’m here tonight. “You will never be her,” he says softly so only the two of us can hear.
Glancing up at the beautiful man, a warm smile spreads across my face, thanking him. How does he always know the right thing to say to soothe my soul?
The energy of the casino pulses around us as our group approaches the high-stakes tables, watching players join the games, the air dense with anticipation and the scent of pricy perfume. I’m not surprised to see that our personal invitation to Dr. Northgate has been accepted, and there he sits, amongst the assembled group at a Texas hold’em poker table, looking quite pleased with himself already. His sharp features and assessing stare make it clear; he sees himself as a shark amongst the other players, ruthless and competent. He believes he’s here to win big tonight. If only he could sense his impending doom like I can. The chilling weight of how his life is about to change.
Enzo joins me, standing at my side. A small smirk paints my lips as I lean into him, knowing now is the time to strike and put my plan into action. “You have been friends with Dr. Northgate a long time?” I ask, waiting patiently for his reaction as the first hand of cards is dealt.
“A very long time.” He nods slowly, his gaze fixed on the players, their intense focus mirrored in his own eyes.
“Oh.”
Abruptly, his attention shifts to me, a noticeable change in his manner. His brow furrows, suspicion etched deep into his face as his eyes narrow in my direction. “Why do you ask, Vivian?”
“It’s probably nothing.” I shift my eyes down to the carpeted floor below us. “But you did tell me to come to you if I heard anything.” I glance back up at him, unsure. “This could be important. I don’t know.” I shake my head. “It’s just something his wife said at that high tea Valentina invited me to. And watching him now, I just have this sinking feeling.”
His eyes narrow further, focusing intently on me in a way that makes me feel small, a glint of something unreadable in their depths. “If you have information, speak, girl.”
I let out a heavy sigh. I want him to think I’m torn about revealing this information to him. “He’s got a real gambling problem. Like, I think he and Susanne might be about to lose it all. You know, one more bad decision and poof, it’s all gone. Every damn thing he’s worked so hard for. Years of climbing the ranks at the hospital. I just thought as his friend, you might want to know.”
He rolls his lips before responding, and I wonder what’s going through his mind. But I just laid the foundations I need to destroy another one of his inner circle. And after what happened at The Flamingo Hotel the other night, we need to move quickly on this. “I’ll keep an eye on him tonight.”
He lowers his head closer to mine, watching Alessandro as he moves around the room chatting to some of the other invited patrons as he does. “How’s your latest task going? Is Alessandro on board yet?”
With a tilt of my head, I sweep my fingers through my short bob, tucking it behind my ear. “You know what, Enzo, I think he just might be. I did what you suggested, and it worked like a charm.” I place a hand on his chest, disgust permeating right through me as I make contact. “You know that boy so well.” I laugh playfully.
His lips curl up at the corner. I’m playing right into his ego, and he’s taking the bait, hook, line, and sinker. “If only all the people who work for me were as efficient as you, Vivian.”
When Alessandro has had enough of me talking with his papa, the boys invite me to play a couple of games, their boisterous laughter echoing around me as they excitedly gather around the roulette wheel. But I’m too distracted watching the determined doctor to really join in.
There is what feels like a dramatic pause throughout the entire crowd, and I turn to see what everyone is looking at, as a stunning blonde woman and a hulk-like dude walk through the front door. They stride toward us, and I realize it’s Sloane wearing a mask. Immediately my heart races, knowing she wouldn’t come to the casino unless it was something urgent.
She hooks her arm with mine. “Let’s get a drink,” is all she says, directing me away from the boys, and I leave with her immediately. I can feel Geovani close behind us, but she doesn’t seem to mind him. “Don’t you answer your phone?”
I pull my phone out of my bag and find fifteen missed calls from her. “Shit, sorry.”
“Myriah is just as bad. She’s around here somewhere, isn’t she?”
I motion to the craps table where Myriah has been for most of the night with a blond hunk.
Sloane looks unimpressed, and I get it. She had to come all the way down here because we didn’t answer our phones. I order two espresso martinis from the young server, and he makes them quickly. We take our drinks to a quieter corner of the casino. I stare down into my drink, wondering why I bought this tonight. Normally they’re a favorite, but the smell is turning my stomach. Must just be nerves with everything we have going on tonight. I take a sip, the bitterness overwhelming my taste buds.
“Is he watching us?” she asks over her shoulder to Geovani and Onyx when we make it to the table.
“Sure is,” Geovani answers, his eyes lingering on me in a way that tells me he’s ready for a fight. He has been since that detective was killed, on edge in a way that kind of scares and excites me at the same time. Ready to start a riot in my honor.
I return my attention back to Sloane. Even though she is wearing a mask, I can see her turmoil. “What’s going on? That strange look on your face and your silence is making me nervous.”
“Laugh,” she instructs me instead of answering my question.
And I do without even thinking, throwing my head back like she said something hilarious.
“Good, keep that shit up, make it look like we’re having fun. Geo, block our view with Onyx as best you guys can. I have to talk to Viv without him seeing too much.”
Geovani drops his arms around both our shoulders playfully, and the big dude hovers a little farther back from us. We look like four friends having a fun night out.
“We’re good,” Onyx mutters.
Sloane’s eyes find mine. “Malachai managed to get audio on Enzo. You’re in more trouble than you think, sis. He’s watching everything you do. And he has only increased his measures since the mayor died. Not just you, but the boys as well. It was him who set up the murder of your detective contact. A male voice I didn’t recognize told him all he needed to know, someone he trusts thoroughly. They are conspiring to drive Alex out, that’s why he’s pushing for him to run for mayor, make him too busy to run the family business. He no longer trusts any of you, not even the boys, no matter what he says to your face. If you’re still going through with your plan this evening, you need to get Enzo out of here.”
“Fuck,” Geovani growls, his fists clenched.
“We’re not backing out now,” I mutter, glancing at him. I know what he’s thinking, that this is too dangerous and we should all just go postal now and murder them all, but tough shit. It’s happening my way whether he likes it or not.
“Okay.” She smiles slyly. “If you’re sure. I have a plan, a decoy if you will. A girl I know works for Enzo on occasions. She has come to me for help to get out. She’s risking a lot, but she wants him to pay, and she is prepared to do whatever it takes to make that happen. She said she just has to make the call, and he will come running to her bedside. The best part is whatever they get up to, Valentina likes to watch, so she will leave as well.”
I try not to imagine the disgusting scene she just painted me. Her plan sounds too good to be true, so I’m sure it is. “Can we trust this girl?” I lock eyes with Sloane, and I know she understands what I mean. She could be working for him in more ways than one. Just like Pia.
“Yes, I’m sure of it.” She doesn’t elaborate, but she doesn’t have to, there is something in the way she says it, just like when I first met her that I know there is nothing for us to worry about. But if that is the case, then this girl is really putting herself in danger to help us.
“How will you protect her? What if something goes wrong and he knows it’s a set-up?”
“That’s the best bit, they always meet at Jagger’s bar, The Precinct, in a private room. One where there is one-way glass and cameras. Anything that’s going on in that room, Jagger can monitor for us and stop immediately if need be.”
“I feel bad for him, that’s all kinds of disturbing. And Enzo is okay with this? He knows he’s being filmed, right?”
She winces, and I can see this idea is grossing even her out, and she literally runs a sex club where anything goes. “He gets off on it,” she mutters.
“Disturbing,” Geovani comments, and I remember the boys are both back there. “You think your brother might have copies of past tapes?” he asks, his mind working over her latest plan.
“Geo.” I glare at him because that shit is more disturbing. I have seen enough shriveled Enzo to haunt me for a lifetime.
He stares at me, deadpan. “Not for me, we could use them to slander his character. Just like the mayor, he does this shit because he thinks he can. He thinks he’s going to get away with doing whatever he wants to whoever he wants, but with evidence to support the story of who he really is behind closed doors, they will turn on him. If anyone still involved thinks the FBI are going to take on the case, especially men like the police commissioner, it won’t matter how entangled their pasts are, he will have to abandon Enzo to save himself. There would be no coming back from human trafficking charges for the commissioner.”
“I’m sure I can have Jagger send them to you. Just make sure tonight’s girl isn’t featured in whatever plans you have, Geovani. We need to protect her, I gave her my word.”
“Done.” He nods.
I smirk back at him. Watching his evil mind at work is sexy as hell. Things may be taking a slightly different turn for tonight. I had hoped I was setting up the doctor so Enzo would see his destruction, but we can make this work as well.