Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
Grant
“This is Grant,” I say, answering my cell phone.
“Look what that cat dragged in.”
I chuckle as I finish putting on my tuxedo for tonight.
“How are you doing, old man?”
“Better now that I finally hear back from you,” Luke says.
“It’s been a while.”
“Ages. When are you coming back to California?”
“Soon. A few weeks at most.”
“Cara told me something similar.”
I can sense the hesitation in my friend’s voice. There’s no way he thinks we’re connected, yet both of us being absent during the same time frame is rather suspicious.
“I’m sure she’ll be back before me. How’s she doing?”
Luke sighs.
“Good. Fine. I don’t get much out of her when she’s working.”
“I’m sure she would tell you if you needed to worry.”
“Maybe…” He trails off.
“Well, tell me when you’re back in town. We’ll have to have you over for dinner or go golfing. Hell, both,” he says with a chuckle.
“Will do. Take care of yourself.”
“You too.”
I end the call and put the phone in my inner jacket pocket.
“Everything okay?” Cara’s sweet voice asks from behind.
She takes my breath away, standing in my doorway. We’ve been sleeping together in her original bedroom, but I’ve still kept my clothes in a separate room.
“Good. Just talked to your dad, actually.”
Cara gives me a surprised look.
“We’ll have to figure that out eventually. Not now.”
“No, definitely not now,” she muses.
“He said you haven’t shared much with him.”
“Don’t do this, Grant.” She sighs.
“Your dad just wants to make sure you’re okay. When did you talk to him?”
“Maybe an hour ago. He called as I was getting ready. I hadn’t answered him the past few times.”
“I won’t pry. He just loves you.”
“I know. I’ll do better. Sounds like you should too.”
“You’re right.”
“I usually am,” she says with a waggle of her eyebrows. I chuckle as I search for my watch.
“I’ll meet you downstairs,” I say.
“Okay, I love you.”
“And I love you.”
I walk over to her with my watch in hand and place a kiss on the top of her head.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asks.
“I promise.”
She hesitantly leaves the room.
I am fine. I wouldn’t lie to Cara, but talking to Luke, albeit briefly, was strange given how much has changed for Cara and me.
It’s time to focus on the game ahead of us. Tonight is one of the last steps we’ll have to take to finally get the Marlin.
I finish putting on my watch and take a last look in the mirror.
“Ready or not.”
The tournament isn’t exactly as I pictured it would be. It’s nothing like the one that Taby had hosted. As I stand in front of this dingy building, I debate taking off parts of my tuxedo.
It’s by the coast, so I can hear the faint sound of the waves crashing in the distance. The smell of the sea is prevalent, and I try to place where the beach is from here. It’s late, making it too dark to really be able to see my surroundings well.
“Everything okay?” Cara’s sweet voice sounds in my earpiece.
“Good. Just taking it all in.”
“It’s different than what I imagined.”
“Me too.”
I pause as I see someone dressed down going through the entrance of the building.
“I need to rethink this tuxedo.”
“Maybe just put your bow tie in your pocket,” she suggests.
“Good thinking.”
I quickly undo my bow tie and put it in my jacket pocket. I’m still in a nice-looking suit, but hopefully, it’ll come across as less over-the-top than with it.
“I’m going in. Taking this out for the time being.”
“I don’t think you should do that.”
“I’m probably going to be swept or, at the very least, checked going in here. This doesn’t seem like the most trusting of venues.”
“Okay. I’ll be out here in the car waiting. Please keep me posted as you can.”
“Will do, love.”
Taking out my earpiece, I try to hide it on the back of my cell phone. It won’t be suspicious if that goes off. Technology glitch or something of the sort.
As I walk up the set of dirty steps, I bang on the broken steel door. Someone looks through a glass opening right away and gives me a once-over.
The person backs away, and only moments later, the door is being cracked open. I step inside the dark room as the person shuts it behind me. It rings through the room as the door struggles to shut.
“Ace Weston. Here to play in the poker tournament.”
The man looks at me with a blank expression. I keep eye contact as I wait for any signal of what’s to come.
“Through the hall, door is straight ahead,” the bouncer says.
“Thanks.”
I give him a tilt of my head as I start to head toward the tournament. Suddenly, the door opens, and I turn back around to see who it is. Someone I don’t recognize, who looks worse for wear. He’s sporting an all-black outfit but looks weathered and exhausted.
Time to focus on what’s ahead.
As I go through the doors, I walk into a room full of chatter coming from every inch of the place. There are people seated in rows around the poker table smack dab in the center of it all.
The adrenaline rush that I feel when on a mission comes flooding through my nervous system.
I spot other players gathered near the poker table, so I head toward them.
“Ace Weston?” someone asks as I approach.
“That’s me.”
“Bucky. This here is my tournament. Cordelia or Taby tell you the rules of my game?”
“Afraid not.”
His gut spills over the top of his pants, which he starts to pull up. Bucky. He’s sweating profusely as he signals for all the other players to gather round.
The man who came in behind me steps next to where I wait.
“Roberts?”
“Joe Roberts.”
“Good. Just in time; otherwise, you would have been eliminated,” Bucky says.
“Here are the rules of my game. No buy-ins once you’re out. If you’re caught counting or cheating in any way, you’re out and forfeit your spot. That goes for tonight and the next year. Hell, for fuckin’ ever. Got it?” Bucky asks.
Everyone agrees to the terms.
“One winner. Tonight, you’ll be paid in diamonds that you can turn into cash. I don’t fuckin’ care what you do with them.”
The group of players nods in agreement.
“Good. Drinks are on the house after this. Let the game begin,” he finishes and signals for the dealer to approach the table.
We all take our seats, and as soon as I sit, I notice someone I’ve seen before since being in North Carolina. Maybe from a barbecue or the casino, but one of these players is connected to Taby’s organization. I feel it in my gut.
All these people around me must be part of some kind of criminal organization. This isn’t exactly the most welcoming crowd to step into.
I’m nervous that Cara is outside waiting. Once again, I have to remind myself that she’s used to being in these situations. Just because I want to protect her doesn’t mean I can stifle who she is.
One by one, the dealer starts to deal the poker cards, and the first game is underway minutes later.
With the tournament stretching on, I use all my skills to stay in it. Player after player is being taken out, and I can’t get overly confident with what’s happening. All it takes is one slip, and I’ll lose.
“Roberts. Weston. Final round.”
Roberts looks up at me, but I can’t make out his expression as he keeps a stoic look plastered on and wears his cap and matching glasses.
The dealer deals out the cards, and I keep my sunglasses on to hide any sign of concern from my eyes.
Roberts raises the bet. I follow next, back and forth, until it’s up to him to go once again.
His head tilts up for the first time since the start of this round.
I still can’t make out his expression. Does he have a winning hand?
I’m really not sure what to make of this.
Roberts is a professional, that much is clear, and I’m not just talking about cards.
There’s more to his story than he’s letting on.
A small tap on the cards tells me he’s made his decision. He displays his cards, and as I do the same, the results are right there—I’ve won.
Roberts stands and comes around to my side of the table. I get up to shake his hand. Around us, the crowd is loud, and it’s hard to hear what Roberts said or what the dealer announced.
Suddenly, Bucky is right by my side, pulling me as he shouts to the crowd that I won his tournament and the ultimate prize.
“Come with me,” he murmurs as he guides me into a back set of offices.
He stomps on, huffing, and I focus on getting the diamonds so that I can get them to Taby. That’s the goal. Show her I can win and hopefully find out more.
Bucky busts through a dirty door with broken blinds, and I freeze in the doorway. A woman with bright-red lips and a fake tan is giving me a smug look with a box in front of her on the desk.
“Well done, Ace.”
I stand there in shock.
“Don’t look so surprised.”
I take a step back.
“Aria.”
“In the flesh. Looks like you won my tournament.”
She leans back in her chair with her legs kicked out in front of her.
“Your tournament?”
“Why? Is it so odd that a woman can be in charge?”
“It’s not,” I interject.
“Good. That would be bad for me to report to Taby.”
“Why did Bucky claim this was his tournament?”
“He’s just my manager. Handles the day-to-day while I’m off playing with everyone else.”
“Fair enough.”
“Are you to be trusted?” she asks with a cock of her head.
“I hope so.”
“Don’t we all.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“So many questions for someone so new.”
I don’t answer.
“New people are dangerous in the games we play. I’m surprised, that’s all.”
“Well, I hope you can trust me.”
“Don’t worry about me,” she answers.
I give her a nod as I stand tall with my hands behind my back and feet spread apart.
“Here you go. All the diamonds that Taby is expecting as part of the transaction.”
“As part of my winnings.”
“Precisely. All clean. Now it’s in your hands if there are issues as to where the diamonds came from, not Taby’s.”
“Or yours.”
Aria laughs darkly as she stands and walks toward me.
“You’re such a good boy. Very clever. Taby couldn’t risk losing me or having my hands dirty.”
She pauses and then opens the door wider.
“Well, not with this, at least.”