Page 39 of Revenge & Ruin

My brow furrows. “Landed?”

Her wide eyes dart to my face. I don’t think she’s going to continue, but evidently, she seems to find something in my expression that makes her trust me.

“He…fell. From the fourth floor, they said. From the state of him…he must have tripped or…or…” she swallows thickly, clearly holding back tears.

But my mind has immediately launched itself elsewhere.

To the CCTV footage of the Prince’s Hand. When Teo had catapulted that guard from the banister.

It couldn’t be…

And yet, I find myself drifting back into the gym, looking up the staircase that spans four separate floors,wondering why I feel so disappointed that there’s no one looking back down at me.

Feeling almost as shaken as the poor receptionist outside, I take off home at a jog. Instantly, all the work I put into dispelling any thought of Teo Vitale has evaporated.

And still, that prickly feeling of being watched persists. I run faster, push myself harder until I’m absolutely exhausted by the time I return to my apartment.

After a very long, very cold shower, dangling on the edge of being absolutely petrified and insanely anticipatory, I decide that the safest place I can be is at the casino.

It takes no time at all for my car to arrive and even less time for me to walk up to the steps of the Harlem property. Crowds of regulars and tourists alike have already gathered in the foyer as I push through the huge front doors.

I earn a few turned heads as I walk by, courtesy no doubt, of the floor-length red gown I decided to wear.

It’s an old trick, one that my mother taught me at an eyebrow-raising age. But there is little else these old-money misogynists love more than a woman in red. And if I’m going to hide out here, I may as well make the family some money.

As I take my seat at the highly visible and insanely priced poker table up on the elevated stage, I make bets with myself about how many men will join me. Sure enough, across the floor, they start to pull away from their games and their wives to come over.

Simon appears a moment later, brandishing a glass of champagne. “It’s a good turnout tonight.”

I hum in response, taking a small sip.

He smirks when he turns to look at the small crowd I’ve drawn to the table. “Go easy on them.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” I quip back.

With one lingering smile, the floor manager goes back to his duties, and my gaze slips to the now-occupied chair next to me.

Where I look straight into the midnight eyes of the man who has been haunting me all day.

“A pleasure to see you again,belle.”

11

TEO

The shock on her face almost makes the endeavor worth it.

I shouldn’t be here. I absolutely should not be here, right in the heart of enemy territory, putting far too much weight on the fact it’s a public space and that Leon is still reportedly out of town. The Prince’s Guild may very well gun me down anyway.

Dante tried to warn me. Now he waits outside with a dozen other men, waiting for me to fuck this up completely.

“You seem surprised to see me,” I muse as casually as I can, placing my chips in front of me if only to do something with my hands.

If only to stop the rest of them from wondering if she’s wearing any underwear today.

To her credit, Isabella only takes a second to collect herself. “The only thing that surprises me is your lack of self-preservation. I thought dons were supposed to be smarter than that.”

Her eyes dart to my left hand pointedly. I glance down at the bandage of cleanly wrapped gauze and flex my fingers a little.

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