Page 80 of Wild Ace

He looks impressed. “You’re here to play.”

“I am.”

He nods to his partner who opens the next door for me where there’s another man waiting to guide me to where the games are.

The place is still set up like a Chinese restaurant, except only a few tables are occupied, and all of the men look to be Russian and there isn’t any food in front of them. Just drinks, cigarettes, and their phones.

The men lift their eyes to me as I walk past them, and all I feel is death coming from them.

I shouldn’t be here.

A cold chill runs down my spine, and I remind myself to keep my face free of any fear I’m feeling.

These men look like they’d kill me without batting an eye or having a morsel of regret.

I should’ve told someone, anyone, that I was coming here. If I could, I would send a quick text to Cassie to tell her that if she doesn’t hear from me in three hours, to tell Vinny where I am.

Fuck, I should’ve told Vinny. But he would’ve stopped me. He would’ve just offered to give me the money rather than putting myself in this position. I couldn’t do that. Correction, my pride couldn’t do that.

We walk through the clean, no longer used kitchen, and when we reach what is supposed to be the walk-in refrigerator, he opens the metal door and there’s nothing inside.

The door shuts behind me and that spike of fear lances down my spine again at being alone in a metal box where I know no one would hear me scream if I did.

He punches in a code on a keypad on the opposite side, and when the light flashes green, he opens another door to a room that’s bustling with noise, clouds of cigarette and cigar smoke, and tables full of people gambling their money away.

Chapter 29

Vinny

“Hey, brother.” Nico slaps my back and pulls me in for a quick hug. “How’s everything?”

“Good.”

“Where’s Lexi tonight? You didn’t bring her?”

“No, she said she’s having a girl’s night with Cassie.”

“Sounds like you’re skeptical about that.”

“I am, but I didn’t want to push. Have you talked to Cassie?”

“Why? You want to know if she mentioned what she’s doing tonight to corroborate Lexi’s story?”

“You’re making her sound like a criminal.”

“Sorry.” He laughs. “Just relax, brother. Have a glass of wine. Or something stronger.” He pats my shoulder and then hugs our mother.

“Hey, ma.”

“Hi, honey.” She hugs Nico, but her eyes are on me. “Did I just hear you say something about a woman in Vincenzo’s life?”

“Yes, you did. You have ears like a bat, don’t you?”

“You know I do.” She smiles. “How else do you think I would’ve found out all the stuff you two got up to growing up? So, what’s her name? Who is she?”

I clear my throat and reach for the wine glass that’s already poured on the table at one of the place settings. “Her name is Lexi. Alexis Manzato.”

“An Italian girl?”

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