Page 43 of High Roller

He walks in looking strong and put together, with his arm around Amarjit. No one would ever guess that Amarjit was stepping on his dick last night while he cried and begged for mercy.

“Everything OK, Mr. Serrano? Amy says you wanted to talk to me about something.”

“I should get going, I’ve been called into the hospital. I just wanted to see to it he found you,” the doctor says, rubbing her hand up and down Jacob’s back.

After they kiss goodbye, I motion Jacob to the bar where I’ve got coffee waiting.

“Jacob, I’ve got a couple of strange questions for you. There’s no wrong answer. I’m just looking for some information.”

“Of course, Mr. Serrano.”

“I’m aware that you do… work for hire. We don’t have to talk particulars. But are you ever hired for work that isn’t… final?”

I hope he gets my drift, but he’s looking at me like I’ve grown horns, so I’m not sure he will.

“Come on Jacob. Don’t make me spell it out.”

“Are you asking if I get paid to hurt people but not kill them?”

“In so many words, yes.”

He swirls the coffee in his mug and drums the fingers of his free hand on the bar top. “I’ve taken a few less than final jobs. Sure.”

“Does the name Phineas Draven mean anything to you?”

He stares blankly, not giving anything away.

“I’ve had contact.”

I’m hoping that our pull over him is stronger than whatever pull Phineas might still have.

“Would you say the nature of your work for him has been more personal or professional.”

Jacob rubs a hand over his forehead, and I can tell he’s hesitating.

“I’m not asking to cause trouble. We’re just trying to decide on a direction for some business of our own.”

The explanation seems to soothe him because he takes a drink and straightens on the bar stool “It was extremely personal. Surprisingly so, and it was a scare job more than harm, but the broad was feisty and a lot tougher than I was expecting and I may have taken things too far.”

I want to pull my knife out and gut him slowly and painfully right here in the middle of the dungeon. Matteo is usually the one who holds me back, and it’s knowing he could walk in any minute that keeps me from doing exactly that.

I keep my face as impassive as possible as I clap him on the shoulder. “Let’s keep this conversation between us, Jacob. Go enjoy your day.” Because it might be your last, I think to myself.

Jacob gives me a lazy smile and slips off the bar stool. “You got it, Mr. Serrano. Have a pleasant week. I’ll be out of the country the next couple of weekends, but Amy and I will be back soon.”

Amy aka Amarjit Singh will be back before him because she doesn’t miss a party, but I don’t know if Jacob knows that, and I’m not making trouble for the doctor if I don’t have to. She’s proved to be a valuable resource for us in the past, and if I’m going to burn a bridge, it’s going to be with Jacob.

As Jacob is leaving, Matteo rushes in. “Sorry I’m late. Did you get what you needed out of him?”

“Yes, and you’re lucky I didn’t fucking gut him right here.”

Matteo closes his eyes. “Of all days for my alarm not to go off. And Skylar was up and at rehearsal at five this morning, so she wasn’t there to wake me. Why are we killing Jacob?”

“He fucked with Lili.”

“When?” Matteo asks, his eyes narrow with confusion.

“According to Lili the incident happened a year ago.”

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