Page 83 of Casino King

Leaving the backroom through the hidden entrance, I take the short hallway that leads to another hidden door panel that takes me out to a hallway around the corner from the main casino floor.

My uncle was big on discretion and creating rooms within rooms. Everyone who plays in these exclusive games has to be escorted in and out by a member of my security team as no one but myself and my men have access to the hidden doors.

There are cameras everywhere in my casino except inside these backrooms, and each one is equipped with signal jammers so no electronic or recording devices, as well as phones, will work. I’m just as cautious as my uncle Sal, if not more so.

Pulling out my phone now that I’m clear, I see five messages from Leo, and so instead of burning my anger off on some asshole trying to cheat me, I head to the basement to call him.

“The Triads have agreed to our meeting spot for Friday,” he says right away.

“What changed their minds?”

“I don’t know, but I can’t spend the time questioning it. I’ll have the men set up and in place on Thursday.”

“I’ll leave Friday morning and get to you by noon.”

“How are things with–”

“Don’t fucking go there, Leo,” I say harshly.

Stefano and Vinny already knew, but after our dinner at my mother’s, everyone else got the memo that our family was responsible for her brother’s death, and more importantly, I was. After seeing me with her and seeing how fucking perfect she is for themselves, they’ve all offered their help in any way I need it to make it right.

“Just be ready for Friday,” is all he says, and I hang up.

Chapter 29

Tessa

I went back to rehearsal on Wednesday, and started teaching classes again yesterday. It felt good to use my muscles again. For those few precious hours, I was able to use my pain and turn it into something beautiful.

Every night when I’ve laid in bed, I was left feeling alone and empty, thinking of nothing but having my body tangled up with Alec’s. Then I would wake up after a fitful few hours of sleep and I would hate myself for feeling so weak.

I’ve never been so attached to someone before. Alec was the first man I let inside of me – the first man I wanted to let inside of me. He filled me so completely, physically and emotionally, that without him, I feel empty. Like a piece of me is missing.

But right now, tonight, I’m going to try and heal myself and take back a little of the control I’ve lost. I can’t keep going the way I have been.

I have to find a way to survive.

I have to find a way to replace the empty with something else. And tonight, that’s me dancing.

I look at myself in the mirror and dab my finger in the pot of silver glitter to add to my eyelids.

I want Alec to be at his table tonight. I want to see him. I want him to see me. For all this time that I’ve been avoiding him, the stage offers me the perfect distance to see him and know he’ll stay there.

“Line up ladies!” Dan yells to us as we all put the finishing touches of our makeup on and make sure our heels are tied well.

When the stage lights hit my skin and I hear the start of our opening song, I plaster a smile on my face, determined to be in the moment. But when my position on stage brings me closer to where Alec’s table is, I wait for the lights to dim on us girls on the outskirts and brighten on the three in the middle so I can see into the audience, and my stomach drops.

I can’t believe he’s not here. For almost two weeks, I’ve been held hostage in his home with a babysitter, and he hasn’t even tried to come to me.

I want him to try and convince me to stay, not force me. I want him to give me a reason to listen to the voice inside of me that says I can’t live without him. But his silence is speaking volumes.

Gritting my teeth, I lock my fake smile into place and finish out the routine.

When the show is over, I breathe a sigh of relief that I was even able to get through it, especially my solo. That song…that dance…it’s Alec’s. It took everything I had to push past the constant urge to break down and fall to a heap in the middle of the stage.

I sit at my station and stare at the hollow eyes looking back at me in the mirror, petting the soft petals of the black roses that were left for me. He’s not here, but he still had flowers left for me. I don’t understand him.

Lost in my head, I don’t notice that Jess is beside me until she places her hand on my shoulder and I flinch, caught off guard. “You should come out with us tonight,” she says.

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