Page 26 of Wild Ace

It’s a life I would love to wake up and do every day. But my nonno always insisted that I go to college. Neither he nor my nonna had the opportunity to, and when my father chose not to, my nonno insisted that I do. He wants me to have more than he ever did, but I don’t think he realizes how much he truly has in life, and how much I want that too. The beautiful simplicity of living and loving and enjoying what you do every day while putting smiles on people’s faces is something I want too. It’s what I consider a rich and full life.

I chose to fulfil his wishes though, and my dad wasn’t around to tell me it was okay if I didn’t. I’m going to finish. I only have two semesters left. But I don’t know what I would even do with my degree.

I chose psychology because it had a lot of classes I was interested in. I love learning how the brain works, how people work, and how people think, act, and react. But I don’t know what I would do with my degree.

I think that’s what I’ve been struggling with and what’s been holding me back from thinking about anything in my life past this next year. Taking care of my nonno and finishing school is all I’m concerned with right now. Which is why I’ve been lying to nonno all week. I told him everything was okay and that the insurance money would come in once the police report was looked over and blah, blah, blah.

He was so happy. There was no way I was going to tell him his life’s savings was gone and he’ll have to start all over again. So, here I am, getting ready to go out for the first of many to win back everything that’s been lost. Plus a little extra for the improvements I know the deli has been needing.

I’m already lying to him about one thing, why not add that they’re giving him more than we expected?

I like to switch up my look every time I do this so I never catch the eye or am remembered by anyone. Which is also why I don’t go to the same casino more than once a month. It helps that there’s nine of them to choose from. Well, ten if I count The Aces, but I don’t, and I plan on staying as far away from there as I can. I don’t need to run into Vinny.

Tonight, my persona is going to be the ditzy first-time gambler who gets a little too drunk and goes on a winning streak. I’ll be all excited and confused and think it’s all just crazy luck.

But it’s never luck.

I always win.

Chapter 9

Lexi

Opening the safe in my closet, I place the $4,000 I won tonight inside, beside the $7,000 I won the previous two nights.

This was a good weekend, but I’m exhausted.

I spent the mornings helping at the deli, my afternoons reading for next week’s classes, and then my nights at a blackjack table.

It’s going to take me quite a few weekends to reach $80,000, and even more to make enough for the improvements I want to do.

After a long, hot shower, I put on my comfiest sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt, braid my hair, and crawl right into bed, with sleep finding me instantly.

My alarm comes too quickly at six, and I groan, turning over to bury my face in my pillows. But when it goes off again, I force myself to get up. I want to go to the deli for a few hours before my ten o’clock class.

I go through my morning routine and then throw on a pair of jeans, a white t-shirt, and a beige oversized cable knit cardigan sweater.

I undo my braids, but since I did them wet last night, they didn’t dry all the way to form nice waves, so I redo the two Dutch braids. After applying a basic, natural makeup look, I slip my feet into my white sneakers and grab my large shoulder bag I use for school.

I only stayed a couple nights with my nonno after the break-in and then returned to my apartment. He was back to his old self and strength, and we both love our independence too much to have me hovering around like he’s about to faint at any moment. On my way over to the deli, I’m singing along to a song on the radio, lost in my own thoughts, which is why it takes me a moment to register that the men working on the sidewalk are right in front of the deli.

They’re back again?

What the hell?

Are they doing something to the windows?

Instead of pulling around to the lot in back where I normally park, I pull right into a spot out front on the street.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

He didn’t…

He wouldn’t…

Vinny’s got some nerve.

I sure as hell didn’t schedule this, and I know nonno didn’t, so that leaves the man trying to get under my skin.

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