Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Being stuck in this house is making me stir-crazy.
It’s been a week. I’m constantly followed around by the goons Jake hired.
Okay, they’re not goons. They’re extremely professional and polite.
I don’t know how he got my dad to agree to having them in this house, but my father doesn’t seem to care too much.
My father’s men don’t like the newcomers, though. And if the looks of distrust and disgust from Hunter and Isaac are anything to go by, I’d say the feeling is mutual.
“Why are you walking around aimlessly?” my father asks.
“I’m bored,” I tell him.
“Bored?” He smiles. “Want to play a hand?”
“You feel like losing?” I quirk a brow.
“No one else I’d rather lose to more than you, Jazzy. Come on.” Dad leads me into his office.
Settling into the plush black leather sofa, I fold my legs up underneath me and wait for him to get the cards and chips.
“How are you finding the new job?” he asks as he shuffles the cards.
“Good. It would be better if I could actually be there, you know.”
“I know.” He starts dealing. “Got any big plans for the place?”
I squint at him. “Who told you I had plans?”
“A little birdy,” Dad says.
“CJ? He’s always had such a big mouth.”
“The question is why haven’t you told me?” he asks, and I get the impression he isn’t just talking about work. But he can’t possibly know about the other secret I’ve been keeping… I know Tío E and Elias would never betray my trust.
“Because I’m not ready yet. I have a proposal to present to you and I want it to be perfect.” I pick up my hand, keeping my expression neutral, the way he taught me to do while playing poker.
“If you’ve made it, it will be perfect, princess.”
“I don’t want to skid by in this job on nepotism, Daddy. I want to earn my place.”
“Jazzy, you’re my daughter, my oldest child. There is going to be nepotism.” He shrugs.
“It’s important for me to earn it,” I repeat.
“You have. Your career in New York, the companies you worked for already… Your resume is fucking impressive, Jazzy, way more impressive than mine. If anyone is qualified to run that place, it’s you. Not me.”
“Thank you.”
“I mean it, Jazzy. You are so smart, determined. Just like your mom was.” My father doesn’t mention my birth mother much, but when he does, he only has nice things to say about her. Even though she kept my existence secret from him for six years, which I know he hates.
“She was smart. I remember when she used to take me to the library, and we’d sit and read books for hours. She said that reading was the way to build knowledge.” The memory has faded over time but it’s still there.
Dad smiles. “She was always smarter than I was.”
“You are smart. Look what you’ve achieved, and you work hard for everything you’ve got. Everything you give us. And now you like Jake, so obviously you’re getting smarter as you get older.”
“Like is a strong word,” Dad says.
“Tolerate?” I suggest.
“Better.”
I jut my chin towards the cards. “Call.”
“We haven’t even started yet,” Dad says.
“I know.” I shrug. I got dealt a good hand. And honestly, I don’t really feel like playing cards. “I should be working, not sitting here playing cards with my dad.”
“I think your boss won’t mind you playing cards.”
“I don’t know… my boss can be grouchy.” I laugh. “Sorry, Dad. Let’s do this later. I have an idea I need to start on.”
“An idea. What is it?”
“I’ll let you know once I’m ready to share.” I run out of his office and up to my bedroom, Hunter and Isaac both hot on my trail.
“Is everything okay, Miss Bianchi?” Hunter asks.
“Oh, yeah, sorry. I got excited about something. I’m just going to be sitting in here working for a while. You two should go and take a break.”
“I’m going to do a sweep and then we will be out here,” Isaac says, walking into my bedroom.
I don’t interfere. I know they’re just doing the job they were hired to do.
I told Jake I wouldn’t fight him on the security thing.
It seemed important to him. He’s been here every night this week.
He looks really stressed, and I want to be able to…
help him out. He won’t have sex in my parents’ house. I don’t know what his issue is.
He will, however, get me off using his fingers and his mouth. But when I try to return the favor, he tells me no. Not in my father’s house. As much as I like his fingers and his tongue on me, I want all of him. And I really need to get out of this damn house.
Which is the idea I just came up with. I told my father it had to do with work. And to an extent, it does. I want to get back to the casino. I want to get Jake back to my apartment. And I think I know how to convince people to help me.
I open a group message, sending it to Elias, Alfie, CJ, and all the older cousins.
Me:
Poker game tonight, 7pm. My parents’ house. You all need to come and hang out with me.
Elias:
What’s the buy-in?
Me:
Five grand.
Elias:
Make it ten and I’ll be there.
Me:
fine.
I roll my eyes. Elias always wants to be in charge of everything, and it’s always on his terms.
Alfie:
I’m in. I could use some of that cartel cash in my pocket.
CJ:
I live here. Did you forget?
Me:
How could I forget? You’re a freeloader for life, little brother. Good thing your mom likes taking care of your lazy ass. I feel sorry for whatever woman you eventually meet.
CJ:
I’m inviting Aurelio.
Me:
No.
CJ:
Yes.
Me:
Have you forgotten what happened last time he was here?
Elias:
What happened?
CJ:
Jazzy’s little boyfriend kicked his ass.
Elias:
For real?
Me:
It wasn’t good.
Elias:
Wish I could have seen that.
CJ:
I’ll make sure he’s still here when Jake comes by tonight.
Me:
No, you won’t. I’ll tell Antonia that you’ve been hiding a girl in your room. Who is she anyway?
I can see that CJ read the message, but he doesn’t respond. I have a feeling I know who he’s sneaking in and out under the cover of darkness. I’m just not a little rat and I’m not about to open that can of worms.
I have the card table set up in the games room. When Antonia heard I was hosting this little poker match, she went and made platters of food. She shows her love by feeding. I’m not complaining.
I’m sitting around the table, looking at my cousins and my brother. I don’t win every hand, but I do win a lot. I was a quick study when my father first taught me to play. I loved it.
“Why do I do this to myself?” Elias grumbles. “Fold.” He throws his hand onto the table.
My lips tilt up at the sides. Alfie is the last holdout.
“Want to make it more interesting?” I ask him.
“How so?”
“If I lose, I’ll book you a party room at your club of choosing this weekend. But you have to invite me.”
“And if you win?” Alfie counters.
I smile. “You have to find a way to sneak me out of this house and get me back to my apartment for a few hours.”
“No fucking way. Are you insane?” CJ bursts out.
“No,” I tell him. “Not insane.”
“Why?” Alfie questions. “Why do you want to sneak out?”
“Because I have something I need to do in my apartment. Something I can’t do here,” I tell him.
Elias is the first to catch on. “Jasmine, that’s just… no. I’m not letting you sneak out of here. I’m not letting you put yourself in danger just to go get your rocks off with your little boyfriend.”
“First of all, there is nothing little about my boyfriend.” I smirk when all three men screw their faces up in disgust. “Second, I’m older than all of you.
Are you telling me none of you are having sex?
” I tilt my head to the side and stare at my brother.
“I know you are because I hear it every night.”
He at least tries to look sheepish. “I like to watch porn. I’m not having sex,” he says.
“Sure. So your pornos just happen to moan out: CJ, right there.” I mimic the sounds of the woman he’s been sneaking into his room. “In an accent that’s not American, mind you.”
The Aussie accent is a dead giveaway that he’s running around with Daniella. His funeral. Her father is insane, more so than mine. She is a mafia princess. Gio De Bellis is the Don of the De Bellis Crime Family and not someone my brother should be crossing.
“You didn’t hear anything,” CJ says pointedly at me.
“Sure I didn’t,” I hum before turning to my cousin. “So, Alfie, do we have a bet?”
“Nope, sorry, Jaz. My father and yours will have my balls if I help sneak you out of here.” Alfie throws his cards on the table. “Fold. You can keep it all. Your life and your safety are worth more than a game.”
“You guys are supposed to be on my side.” I pout.
“We are,” Elias says. “I’d do almost anything you ask of me, Jazzy. But I’m not putting you at risk. Wait it out. It’ll be over soon.”
“How do you know that?” I ask him.
He shrugs, his way of telling me he’s not telling me, and stands. “This has been great. I’m going to raid the fridge for Tía Antonia’s leftovers and then I’m out.”
Alfie looks at his phone and literally groans. “I need to go wrangle up my sister.”
“Where is she?” I ask.
“About to be locked away in Rapunzel’s fucking tower when I get my hands on her.” He storms out of the house.
“I’m so glad my sister is responsible. It’s nice not having to worry about her,” CJ says. “Oh, wait, weren’t you just wanting to sneak out to have sex with your boyfriend, who has been sleeping here every night this week anyway?”
“He won’t touch me in this house,” I groan.
“Huh, I like him even more now. I should convince Dad you need to stay here longer.” CJ walks off, leaving me alone to clean up the mess. Typical.
I look at the time. It’s a little past nine, and Jake still hasn’t arrived. He also hasn’t reached out. Opening the encrypted messaging program he installed on my phone, I send him a quick text before I start tidying up.
Me:
Are you okay?
Jake:
On my way to you now.
I sigh in relief. Pocketing my phone, I collect the now-empty food platters and carry them into the kitchen. We do have house staff but I’ve never liked leaving a mess behind. I don’t expect people to just pick up after me. Unlike my brothers, who are lazy as shit.