Page 113 of Give Me Perfect Love

“Business is as good as always then?” I question.

He smiles big. “Yes.”

“Antonio, this is my girlfriend, Kathrine.”

“How lovely to meet you,” he says to her.

“You, too,” she replies, looking a little overwhelmed. I nod a goodbye to him, and we walk to the closet. Opening the door, I shut it behind us after we step inside.

“He’s the owner of the restaurant. He’s also the head chef. Always trying to feed me. I’m surprised he didn’t just then.”

She laughs, sounding a little nervous. “You okay?” I ask. She nods in the dark, and I lift my hand to knock on the wall in front of us. The doors slide open and Josh, the man who checks everyone before they walk in here, greets us.

“Sir, your brother…” He starts.

I hold up my hand. “I know. Where is he?”

“Down at the roulette table.”

He looks at my guest. “This is Kathrine,” I tell him. “She’s my girlfriend and allowed in here anytime she likes.”

He nods. “Noted, sir.”

I look over at K as she takes in the place for the first time. Like the club, the basement is also massive. Plush red carpet is below our feet, descending the centered positioned staircase. Her eyes are wild, looking at everything below us.

Poker tables and slot machines. Televisions line the walls, displaying every game going on right now. Men who could make you disappear with the snap of their fingers sit with expensive cigars and bourbon-filled glasses. Servers walk around with filled trays, and at the mahogany bar sits Simon, the man who oversees everything down here.

Security guards line the walls, watching carefully, and I’ve even got a few playing themselves to keep an eye on the tables.

“Wanna play?” I ask K.

She shrugs. “Maybe some slots?”

I laugh. “Okay, but first, let’s go talk to Jace.”

She nods, and we head down the stairs, moving past tables and servers to get to the roulette table where I see him sitting alone.

“Hey,” he says, looking a little drunk.

“Hey, yourself.” I look around. “Where’s your date?”

He brings his smoke to his lips. “She went to the restroom.”

“Jace, what the fuck were you thinking bringing her in here?”

He looks at Kat. “You’ve got Harrison.”

I lift my chin, pissed that he would even say that. “You know that’s different.”

A loud commotion sounds from upstairs, and I whip my head back. My eyes narrow, and my heart beats out of my chest. K’s hand tightens in mine.

What the fuck?

My eyes quickly go to Simon, who’s now standing up. His face shows the slightest bit of concern. Everyone stops what they’re doing, and my ears start to ring.

Everything happens at once as the armed men approach the bottom of the steps. One of them walks straight up to me as people’s hands go in the air. Guns are pointed at my guests, and I look over at Kat whose face is paler than I’ve ever seen.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

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