Page 22 of Revenge & Ruin

I walk past with a wave of my hands, bypassing the security gate with my middle finger raised at the guard, who makes a valiant step forward to stop me. He must be new, or else he has a death wish.

Storming through the casino floor, I note the usual crowd of gamblers huddled around the slot machines where they’ve likely been stationed since the night before. Unlike the staff, who I can sense whispering behind my back, they don’t look up as I pass.

It’s usually quieter in the mornings, and a part of me is grateful not to be making a complete spectacle of myself. But I’m sure the gossip will reach everyone in an unfairly short amount of time.

The premium poker rooms are unusually empty as I slip by, but will likely fill up again before nightfall. From there, it’s only a couple of swinging doors to the backrooms. Each bears a more aggressive “staff only” sign that I dutifully ignore.

Finally, I punch in the code to the door that will lead me up to the mezzanine that overlooks the casino floor.

My brother's favored meeting room allows him to stare down at his domain through eight inches of reinforced bullet-proof glass.

I make it halfway down the corridor toward it when the door is wrenched open.

“Isabella!”

Leon Natali looks like he hasn’t slept. His usually perfect dirty blonde hair is sticking out at odd angles, and it seems he’s worried his tie all the way off, revealing far too much chest to be considered proper.

“Jesus, Leon. You look like a pimp.” I roll my eyes as I approach.

The worry and relief in his eyes instantly give way to annoyance. “Have you seen yourself?”

“Still prettier than you, though.” I give his cheek a squeeze and he immediately tries to swat my hand away.

“What the hell happened, Issy?”

I glance over his shoulder into the meeting room and groan at the sight of my brother's assembled council.

“Nothing I couldn’t handlemyself,” I bite back. “Please tell me that’s not what I think it is?” I say, gesturing behind him.

“He abducted you, Issy. What was I supposed to do?”

“Let me fucking handle it!”

Leon puts a very firm hand on my shoulder, forcing me to look him in the eye.

“Handle what, exactly? Because I sure as hell didn’t give you permission to wander off into a fucking hornet's nest on my behalf.”

I meet his glare beat for beat. “You don’t give me orders.”

“So this was what? sSome stupid attempt to undermine me?”

“Actually, she got her orders from me.”

We turn in unison to see that someone else has approached the door.

Her slim frame is adorned as always with the very height of fashion. tToday she opted for a dark Chanel dress and matching Louboutins. Her silver hair is styled in a perfect blow-out, the very definition of aging with grace.

I can only hope that such good genes run in the family.

“Mamma,”I greet her with a blown-out breath. “What are you doing in Harlem?”

She greets me with two brief kisses, one on either cheek. When she steps back, there’s a bemused expression on her face. “You smell like sex,bambina.”

I can practically hear Leon stiffening at my side. “I’m going to execute him.”

Without missing a beat, Leon storms back into the room, Every man at that table sitting straighter in their chair at the sight of his rampage.

“We attack tomorrow at dawn, starting at the fucking Candelabraand systematically burning down every property in the Guild’s portfolio,” he announces.

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