Page 11 of Wonderland

“Her father was the rat.” I recall the court case. It had been all over the news for months, years ago. “And you’re in love with his daughter.” I shake my head.

“It’s taken me five years to find her, and I will be taking her. I was going to leave her sister and father alone for the time being, but Elsa?—”

“I’ve got her.” Easton lets out a long breath. “This isn’t up for debate. Take from me and I’ll take from you.”

“Do not threaten Melody.” I smirk.

“Then we understand each other.”

“We’re to stay in contact. Elsa will freak out when her sister doesn’t come back home today.”

“Does this Melody know she’s going on a little trip?”

“You handle your woman, and I’ll handle mine.” Ledger ends the call.

I drop down into my seat. My little Ace is full of so many fucking surprises.

I knew she was going to be a handful… but for my hands only.

8

ELSA (ACE)

“Sweetheart?” I hear my dad call before knocking on my door. I roll over and grab my phone off the nightstand.

“Yeah.”

“I was going to order in. Do you want anything?”

“No, I’m good,” I call back. I yawn while sitting up.

It had taken me over an hour to sneak my way back home to make sure no one was following me. I take it as a good sign that I crashed for a nap and no one showed up at my house. That has to be good.

Bowen Knight. How the hell did I end up with him? Oh, that’s right. He sat his ass down right next to me ‘cause I was stealing from his casino. The whole time I thought I was pulling the wool over the casino’s eyes, but the joke was on me. This is not good. I have no idea what his plan was or is going forward. That in itself makes me feel very uneasy. A feeling I haven’t had since my family first went into hiding.

He must be one of those people that enjoy playing with their prey before they pounce. I’ve heard whispers of the man before. There are so many casinos in Vegas it’s hard to keep track of who owns which. I try not to stay in one for too long anyway. But it was so easy. Too easy now that I really think about it. That should have been my first sign that it was a setup.

I debate texting Reggie. I met him on the strip one night in a streak of luck. He is only fifteen. He’d been hustling people with card tricks. We started talking, and the next thing I knew I was in the back of some club on a promise that he could get me a fake ID. I was skeptical, and I took a big risk going there with him, but it worked out. He’d delivered.

His brother Micky could get you anything, but he didn’t give off the sweet, goofy vibes the way Reggie did. It didn’t take long for me to put together Reggie didn’t really need to be hustling cards on the strip. His brother has money, but it isn’t about that for Reggie. He likes the thrill of hustling and does it to get out for the night. He stays at the edges of that shiftier side of Vegas, but the kid knows everything.

I fire off a quick text, asking him about Knight.

Reggie

Stay away from his casino.

It’s a little late for that. It would have been good to know last week.

Reggie

My brother was asking about you yesterday.

Why didn’t you tell me yesterday?

Shit, I do not want to go see his brother. I met him twice: when I asked about getting the ID and when I picked it up. He made me uneasy both times.

Reggie

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