The Joker's Forbidden Jackpot

1. Chapter 1

Dario

Where the fuck are my pants?

I snap the waistband of my silky, black-and-white checkered boxer briefs as my eyes scan the floor of the guest room. As the owner of this hotel-casino, there’s no way I’m doing the walk of shame for my employees to video and chat about.

“Do you have any idea where my pants went?”

The sated naked redhead leans over the edge of the king-sized bed, putting her perfect, bubbly ass on display. She picks up my linen trousers from the floor, then blinks dark, fake eyelashes at me as she sticks out her bottom lip. “Are you sure you want them? I’m up for another round if you are.”

She balls my pants up in front of her small stomach, using her upper arms to press her tits together. They’re small, but perky, and my dick enjoyed the way it slid between them. And how they reacted when my tongue flicked over her nipples.

I walk over to her, cupping the back of her neck and playfully pulling her pouty lip between my teeth. When I release, I snatch my pants from her grip and pull them on. “You’re so tempting, Pamela, but there are some things down at the casino I need to take care of.”

The woman scoffs and crosses her arms over the lovely view I had. “It’s Angela.”

I don’t care.

Smiling, I pull her in and plant a kiss on her scowling lips, unsurprised when she accepts it so easily. “That’s right,” I say before placing another peck there, “the maid of honor.”

She smiles at me, and I politely return the gesture as I locate my shirt and button it up. “I don’t have to start getting ready for the wedding until noon tomorrow. Maybe when you finish working, you could come back and stay the night?”

I groan internally. Sleepovers are not something I do. “It will be late, and I wouldn’t want to wake you.”

The redhead crawls to the end of the bed and begins tracing her fingers down my pecs and abs before traveling over my hips and cupping my cock. “I wouldn’t mind waking up to this.”

My phone vibrates inside my pocket, and her eyes dart to it in a glare as though it’s the sole cockblock of the evening. I pull it out and read my brother’s message.

Luca

You coming?

With a dramatic sigh, I remove her hand from where she still has a hold and bring it up to my lips so I can place a chaste kiss across her knuckles. I mimic the pout she was wearing earlier, as though it pains me to leave her behind. It doesn’t.

“I have to go.”

I slide my feet into my loafers and head toward the door, speaking to her from over my shoulder. “The room is yours for the night. On me. Feel free to grab what you want from the minibar or order room service. I’ve already arranged everything.”

Free snacks and miniature bottles of booze quickly replace me as she squeals with delight, and the refrigerator door makes a suctioning sound as it opens. I’m thankful for the distraction as I slip into the hallway.

My footsteps are light as I breeze through my stunning hotel toward the bright lights and whirring sounds of the casino.

My baby, Angelo, has been my pride and joy for a decade now, since I purchased her with my siblings, and she’s still as gorgeous as the day I acquired her.

Of course, I replaced the gaudy neon lights with elegant touches of gold and cream. Now, she’s perfect.

As I step into the casino, I breathe in the smell of excitement and desperation.

My employees smile and nod as I pass through, making sure to wink at the women and even fixing the tie of a young man or two.

A lady clinging to a plastic cup looks defeated, perched in front of a slot machine, so I slip her a $100 bill as I pass by her.

I smile as she hollers her thanks and announces to nobody in particular how her luck is about to change.

I doubt it.

Slipping around a corner, I walk down the corridor that leads to my office. I find my brother standing outside the door, arms crossed, and his face void of any emotion.

“I’ve been waiting,” Luca says by way of greeting as I approach him.

My older brother and I are quite the opposites. Where I tend to run my mouth and use my charismatic charm to my advantage, Luca is a man of very few words.

Where I’m more lean, Luca is large. How large? Let’s just say if he were in combat with a tractor trailer, I’d put my money on my brother.

“Sorry about that. I had a clinger on my hands.” I shudder dramatically, but Luca simply shakes his head and turns away, stepping into my office.

I trail behind him, wondering if he would know anything about a clingy one-night stand. In my thirty-three years, I don’t recall ever seeing Luca with anyone, intimately speaking.

Sitting across from my desk is a man zip-tied to a chair. My nose wrinkles at the blood on his wrists from where he’s struggled in a failed attempt at escaping. Better men have tried to escape my brother’s torture. None have succeeded.

“Mr. Caruso,” the man sputters when I step in front of him, leaning against my desk with my legs stretched out in front of me. “I beg for your mercy. I swear I didn’t take much, and I can pay it all back.”

I wave a hand in front of the man, recently hired as a cashier here at Angelo.

I’m not entirely sure how much he stole from me, but it doesn’t matter if it was one dollar or one million; he will learn it’s unacceptable.

“When you signed your contract with Caruso Enterprises, you signed on to be a part of a family. Whether you work in the casinos, the hotels, or one of our other ventures, we make it clear that loyalty is valued above anything. Would you consider yourself loyal?”

My traitorous employee sucks back in the snot that’s been leaking from his nose. “No, sir, but I will be, if you give me a second chance.”

“And what makes you think you deserve that?” I ask, knowing I truly don’t care one way or another. This isn’t baseball. You only get one strike with the Caruso family.

“You see, my daughter, she’s so sick,” he stutters out.

“I only took the money to try and cover some of the medical bills my family has been hit with. I was too proud to ask for help, and I made a bad decision. Please don’t leave my baby girl without a father when I was only trying to do right by her. ”

My eyes flit up to my brother, who shakes his head. “Tell me more about your daughter. How old is she?”

“She’s, uh, six.” I don’t miss the way he looks down at the floor.

I smile at him, though it doesn’t reach my eyes.

“Fun age. I bet she loves unicorns. Luca—” I look at my brother who stands with his arms crossed behind the man.

“Let’s get her one of those giant stuffed unicorns and send it her way.

” Nobody else would notice, but my brother’s lips quirk, and I smile at myself for the flitter of reaction.

“And she’s sick?” I ask. He answers with an emphatic nod. “What’s wrong with her?”

“Uh, a tumor. Yeah, a bad tumor. Biggest the doctor has ever seen.”

I nod sympathetically. “Where?”

“Her brain.”

I tsk and move beside my desk, pulling out the weapon from the back of my waistband and tossing it on the desk with a thud.

I fucking hate guns, but when your family deals with weapons, you’re expected to carry one.

I arch my back from where the thing was pressed into me. Perhaps a new one is in order.

I lean back and cross my legs in front of me in a relaxed pose that has my former cashier loosening his shoulders. “I hate to hear your son is sick. I can’t imagine how tough it must be to see him going through that.”

I twirl the gun next to me, spinning it in circles. The man immediately tenses again, staring at the piece, as though that’s the most dangerous thing in this office. I smirk, knowing that’s far from the truth.

“Yeah, it’s been awful. I just wanted to help him, ya know?”

I smile at how easily he forgot his story, then knock on the desk and stand, striding his way. “Tell you what,” I say, bringing my hand down to his shoulder. “Let’s forget about the money. You don’t have to worry about paying me back.”

A relieved choke escapes the man before he starts laughing. “Thank you, Mr. Caruso. Thank you for understanding.”

I curl my fingers, digging into his flesh until all sounds of relief cease and heavy breaths of discomfort kick up. “I understand completely. I understand that you stole from me. Then you come to my office and lie to my face.”

“I didn’t. I wouldn’t.” His words tumble from him as large tears begin to spill down his face. Luca steps up behind him, but I shake my head. It’s me he stole from. Me he treated as though I’m some sort of fool.

My hand moves to his throat, tightening around it, enjoying the feel of his quickening pulse.

“What are you doing?” he manages to gasp as I tighten my grip.

“I’m not some fool who will allow you to come into my home and steal from my family.

” I continue to squeeze, watching his eyes roll to the back of his head.

I hold my position as his body spasms against the restraints keeping him in place.

His legs kick out at me in his attempt to free himself, only causing me to press tighter.

When his last breath spills from his lips, I relax my hand. “I’m no fool,” I spit in his face. “I’m the goddamn Joker.