Page 17 of The Devil's Dilemma

“I’m not sure what time I’ll be home, Sandra. Hopefully not too late.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he’s okay. Get to work. Don’t want you being late.”

That put my mind at ease. A little.

I stepped out into the cold evening, my breath misting before me, and hurried to Joel’s house. We were planning on going in Pete’s car, grabbing a few drinks first, and then making our way to Temptation.

I wondered, not for the first time, if I’d see Dante there. His image had not left my mind since seeing it one week previously.

Maybe subconsciously, and that was another reason I’d not pulled out.

While the others knocked back their drinks, I nursed my soft drink for the best part of an hour. I preferred to be in control, and alcohol would only dull my instincts. I needed to be sharp, keep my wits about me, or else it could all end in disaster.

What was keeping me here? Absolutely nothing stopped me from getting up and walking out. Loyalty and friendship tethered me to these men in a way most people wouldn’t understand. Despite their faults, they were my adopted family, and I wouldn’t let them down.

Soon enough it was time, and I drove us to the casino parking close enough should we need to make a run for it but far enough away not to rouse suspicion.

Pete slipped into the driving seat. Joel, Freddie, and I walked up to the impressive building with the name Temptation in red capital letters on the facade.

“Holy fuck.” Freddie voiced what I’d been thinking.

Enormous glass-and-black doors led to an ornately decorated foyer, done in gold and red so bright it hurt my eyes.

“I think we’re in the right place.” Joel’s dry comment broke the tension, and we all laughed.

A redheaded woman greeted us. “Gentlemen, welcome to Temptation. Please check in your coats. I wish you a wonderful and lucky evening.”

Shit. The chip was in my jacket pocket. I’d need to transfer it without anyone seeing.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” I said and scurried to the men’s room.

I locked myself into a stall and leant against the door, breathing deeply. I slipped the chip into my shoe. A lot of these places patted you down before allowing you in. I’d spotted somesecurity monitors in the hallway before the main casino and some pretty hefty men standing guard.

This place wasn’t messing around when it came to security.

I flushed the toilet and took another deep breath.

It was now or never.

Smiling at the cloakroom assistant, I checked in my coat and tucked the ticket into my pocket.

A behemoth of a man stood by the security barrier. He had to be at least six feet eight, maybe taller. He had dark hair tied in a low ponytail, and a black jacket stretched across an impressive back. We wouldn’t stand a chance against him if anything went wrong.

I’d just have to make sure it didn’t.

One of his colleagues wafted a wand in our general direction and waved us through into the main room.

The low, black ceiling gave it an intimate feel. The small lights set into it made it look like the night sky. It also bore a striking resemblance to the back of the tarot cards I’d seen earlier in the week. Our feet sank into a thick, black carpet. This wasn’t at all like the last few casinos we’d been in. This had money written all over it. Everywhere we looked screamed wealth from the deep green leather chairs to the subdued lighting.

A long bar ran the length of the room, and smartly dressed bartenders served drinks to patrons, dressed up to the nines.

I looked over at Joel and Freddie. Yup, I’d been correct in my assumption they’d look totally out of place. At least I looked halfway decent.

“Right. Let’s grab a drink and get started. Which table do you want to visit first?”

I looked around, and my heart stopped for a moment.

Dante.

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