The Gambler by Raquel Belle

Author:Raquel Belle [Belle, Raquel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Naughty Bird Publishing
Published: 2020-08-03T04:00:00+00:00

***

By the time I make it back to the penthouse, I’m already regretting my decision. Was it wise to let two men like Tony and Bobby back out onto the streets? These men aren’t just dangerous, they’re also dumb as a ton of fucking bricks. It’s a terrible combination.

As the elevator doors to the penthouse open, my doubts leave me. Lilly is standing in the front hall, waiting on me. Her face is streaked with tears and her hair is a mess. She’s still wearing the dress I picked out for her but has kicked off her heels, which are lying sloppily by the entryway.

“David!” She rushes over to me the second I step inside, her eyes wet with tears and wide with worry. “What happened? What did you do to those men?” She pounds on my chest in frustration, looking up at me with a face full of desperation. She strikes me again on the chest with her closed fist. It’s like being attacked by a kitten.

“You can calm down,” I tell her, taking her by the wrists firmly. “And you can stop fucking hitting me.”

“Answer my questions!” She struggles briefly, trying to pull her wrists from my hands, but it’s no use.

“I will. Once you calm the hell down,” I shove her roughly away from me. What I need right now, is a drink. I go to the kitchen and slip off my suit jacket, tossing it over one of the tall barstools.

As soon as she sees my shirt, Lilly’s screams begin anew. “Is that blood?!” She gestures at the rust-colored spots on my shirt.

I don’t answer her. I’m grabbing a tumbler from the cabinet and the bottle of scotch I keep handy. I pour myself a tall, stiff drink.

“David, what the hell is going on? I played a part in what happened to those men. So I deserve to know what the fuck is going on.” Lilly’s voice is now calmer but firm. She stands in front of me, her arms crossed and juts her chin at me.

“That’s the first time I’ve heard you drop an f-bomb,” I say, once my surprise wanes.

She’s already opening her mouth to light into me all over again but I raise my hand to silence her.

“You don’t have to worry about those bozos,” I go on. I pause and take a sip of the scotch, savoring the fullness of the alcohol. “They’re fine.”

“Then what’s on your shirt?”

“You want the honest god dammed truth?” I grip the tumbler in my hand tighter, and realize I have to stop before I crush it.

“Yes. That’s all I’ve been asking for.”

“Yes, Lilly. Me and my guys roughed them up a little bit. What the hell did you expect?”

Her eyes grow wider.

“But they’re still alive, alright? They fucking shouldn’t be. In this town, cheating at cards is a death sentence.”

“That’s ridiculous.” Her voice is shrill again. “It’s just cards.”

“It’s fucking millions of dollars, Lilly. In the big picture. Billions goes through these casinos. Imagine the anarchy if every asshole with half a brain cell thought he could get away with cheating.

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