Chapter 10 #2
I feel the stares as I saunter in like I own the place.
In retrospect, I’m not unwelcome, and I have more pull here than ninety-nine percent of the high rollers in here.
We have a loose alliance with the Bratva, who run this place.
It shocked us all when they came to Matteo asking if he was okay with them buying the casino.
He didn’t want to get into that business at the time, so he agreed as long as that’s where they stayed.
Within a year, the Voron Casino was born.
I wouldn’t say we’re best friends with them, but they understand the only right they have in Ravenna Heights starts and ends with the casino property.
There’s a mutual understanding that if one of us needs something, we’ll help each other out, but that’s about as far as it goes, and I’m okay with that. So far, it hasn’t come to that.
Dimitri, the head of the Bratva here, doesn’t give a fuck how much money you owe him.
In fact, he prefers you to stay in debt to him.
If you owe him a hundred grand and haven’t paid up, he’ll send someone to collect, but if you give him a thousand with the promise you’re good for it, he’ll let you back in and borrow double what you currently owe.
It’s a complete and utter fucked-up power trip for him.
His goal is to get you so far in the hole that you have no other choice but to end up working for the Bratva for free to pay off your debt.
That’s the first thing I thought of when Bronwyn told me what her dad told her.
A man like that doesn’t have the means to travel elsewhere.
He has to be getting it from here. I didn’t want to tell her that.
She seems to still care for the guy even though he treats her like shit.
If he were a man at all, he wouldn’t darken his daughter’s doorstep with his shit.
He would figure it out for himself. And the fucked-up part about all of this is she’s never going to see that money again because he never planned on paying her back.
Bronwyn was willing to drain her accounts for him. Give him everything to her name. And what does he do? Absolutely fucking nothing. He took it and ran without looking back. This shit ends today.
I know he’s here. I didn’t recognize Brian as being one of Dimitri’s men, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t someone who is just like Bronwyn’s dad, except now he’s working off the debt. Like I said before, you can throw anyone in a suit and make them look like they mean something.
I haven’t shared my suspicions with Matteo yet.
I want to make sure I’m right and have the facts to back it up before I come to him because if I’m right, this is about to open a whole new door of a shitshow.
We aren’t going to take it lightly that one of Dimitri’s men came to our territory and tried to pull a gun. That’s grounds for ?war.
Eyes are on me as I make my way up and down the rows of slot machines trying to find her dad.
This isn’t going to be an easy feat as I’m going off memory from a picture I noticed in Bronwyn’s apartment of the two of them.
At least, I’m hoping it was him. They had the same blue eyes I’ve never seen on anyone else before. They’re the kind that haunt my soul.
“Gio,” Ivan greets as he approaches me. “This is quite the surprise. I wasn’t expecting to see you here. We have a spot at a high-roller table open if you want to join. Fifty thousand dollar buy-in.”
I let out a low whistle. “High stakes, my friend.”
I’ve never been one to piss away money on the off chance I’ll win big.
“High stakes bring an even higher prize.” Ivan smirks.
Yeah, and how many rounds do you have to play until you win? There’s a reason they say the house always comes out on top. Once you win that big jackpot, you forget how much you spent to get there. I’m not in the business of being yanked around, especially by someone with a dick.
“I’m actually looking for someone,” I say, cutting straight to the chase. I’m not here for fucking small talk.
Ivan’s smile wavers as his eyes grow alert. “Oh yeah? Someone I know?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” I shrug. “I’m not seeing him around here, but I haven’t scoped out the card tables yet.
The guy I’m looking for is middle-aged, with short black hair with silver sprinkled throughout.
Looks like he should have shaved it off ten years ago but is holding on to the last few strands. ”
“You’re describing just about every male in here.” Ivan laughs as he looks around us.
I follow where he’s looking, and he’s not wrong. Most of these guys look like they need a fucking shower.
“His eyes are a bright blue. It’s a shade I’ve never seen before.”
Ivan’s head snaps back to me, his eyes alert as he studies my face. “Are you talking about Dennis?”
“I don’t know his name, but I’ll know him when I see him. Is he here?”
“Sounds like Dennis. He’s the only guy I can think of with eyes of that color. Stood out to me the first time I met him. What do you need him for?” Ivan questions.
“Just need to ask him a few questions. If you can point me in the direction of where he is on the floor, it’d be appreciated,” I say, keeping my tone as level as possible.
It’s a chore for me because the only person I tolerate questioning me is Matteo. But loose alliance or not, if the Bratva thinks I’m here to stir up some shit, I won’t be getting very far by myself questioning her dad.
“You won’t find him on the floor,” Ivan says.
I stare at him. “Are you going to tell me where I can find him?”
“The high roller table.”
Motherfucker.
So this piece of shit really took Bronwyn’s money to get them off his back just to turn around and dig the hole deeper so he can sit at this fucking table. I’m going to fucking kill him.
“He buy in at fifty thousand?” I ask, my brow raising.
“Only way to get a seat.”
I bet he was short six grand to get a seat at the table. Fucking piece of shit.
“I’m in. I want a seat next to him.”
“Follow me,” Ivan says as he turns around, leading me through the casino, away from the loud noise of the music, bars, low-end card tables and slots. We turn down a hallway, the noise fading farther and farther away. “You know I need to tell the boss you’re here.”
He probably already knows I’m here. You don’t run this good of an operation without knowing who is in your casino the minute they step foot inside.
“You’re saying that as if he doesn’t already know I’m here.”
Ivan snickers. “Maybe, maybe not.” Ivan slows down as we approach a large double set of dark oak doors that are closed. “I know you’re good for the money, but it needs to be transferred tonight.”
I pull out my phone and wire him the money, not wanting to deal with any suspicion or hostility as to why I’m here. “Already done.”
Ivan nods his head as he verifies.
“Giovanni,” a deep voice with a slight Russian accent greets. “It’s been too long, my friend.”
I barely contain my snort as Dimitri approaches me with a low smile on his face. I don’t know if I would call our alliance a friendship, but if that’s the way to get me in without a lot of questions, I’ll roll with it. “Dimitri,” I greet, taking his hand in mine in a firm handshake.
“After how many times I’ve tried to get you and your brothers down here, you finally decided to see what it’s all about. Will they be joining you?”
“Not tonight,” I reply. “I’ll try to talk them into coming sometime.”
“Ah,” he waves it off, “gambling isn’t for every man. Enjoy yourself tonight.” Dimitri pats me on the back as he walks away, leaving me alone with Ivan once again.
“Everyone’s inside. The only empty seat is yours.”
“Appreciate it.” I incline my head at him as he raps his fist three times on the door, the knocking sound echoing.
The large doors open, revealing a room full of men smoking cigars around a long oval table, waiting for the game to begin.
All eyes turn to me as I walk in, a tense atmosphere settling in the air.
“Gentlemen,” I greet with a low smirk as I incline my head and make my way to the only empty seat at the table.
The one seat that just so happens to be right next to the man who looks like the one in the picture I saw at Bronwyn’s house.
He doesn’t look at me as I sit down. In fact, he doesn’t look confident enough to be at this table at all.
His shoulders are hunched, and his hair is coated with a thick layer of grease, allowing it to slick over the bald spot on top.
His bloodshot eyes focus on the green felt covering the table, avoiding all interaction, not that many are talking.
Jesus, the man looks strung the fuck out.
No wonder Bronwyn is so stressed out and worried about him.
It’s clear he can’t take care of himself.
It’s downright embarrassing, is what it is.
I lean back in my chair as I look around the room.
I recognize a few faces from random dealings in the past, but most of them I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting.
A cocktail waitress comes around and takes my drink order, leaving as silently as she came.
I light up a cigar as conversation lulls around me.
I can feel their eyes landing in my direction every so often.
“Gio Adduci,” I say, holding my hand out to Bronwyn’s dad.
He jerks as he looks at me with a startled expression before quickly schooling it, his eyes darting between my face and my outstretched hand. My brow raises as I wait for him to shake it.
He clears his throat, his red-rimmed eyes looking anywhere but me as he takes my hand, giving it a light shake. “Dennis,” he mumbles.
Jesus, his daughter shakes hands with more authority than he does.
“Dennis…” I trail off, hoping to get a last name out of him.
“Lewis.” He brings a fist to mouth, clearing his throat again. “Dennis Lewis.”
“Good luck tonight, Mr. Lewis. I’m sure you’re going to need it.”