Page 69 of High Roller

“Oh? Who is that?”

“I’m having trouble placing it. But you definitely feel familiar.”

“I grew up in Las Vegas but left as soon as I could.”

“Can’t say I blame you. Not that there aren’t things to love about Las Vegas, of course. I went away for college but was quickly ushered back when my father informed me it was time to start dating Phineas and marry him.”

“How awful. Tell me what you like to do for fun.”

“I don’t have a lot of fun. But I enjoy my charity work. When I’m able to escape Finn’s side, I volunteer for a local homeless charity, and I work with victims of domestic violence.”

“Both worthy causes that I wish weren’t necessary,” Zara murmurs.

“I agree completely.”

It hits me then. “I know who you remind me of. There’s a homeless woman I befriended a couple of years ago. You could be her sister. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her in a while. I should reach out to some of my contacts and check on her.”

Zara’s face scrunches for a moment as if she might cry, but she recovers quickly enough that I convince myself I imagined it. “Checking on her would be a good thing. If I can help with that, I will,” she says in the same polished but kind tone she’s been using throughout our conversation. I don’t miss the hint of sadness, though.

I don’t recall the homeless woman ever mentioning family, but that doesn’t mean anything. A lot of homeless people pretend they don’t have a family out of shame. They don’t want their family seeing them at their lowest.

Could she be Zara’s sister or cousin? I hate not having a way to reach out and find out about her. Guilt settles in my stomach for not having checked sooner. If I ever get out of here, I’ll pull up my journals and see if I can figure out when I last saw her.

Zara lifts her long hair off her neck and picks up her phone. Watching her, I’m again struck by the similarities between my lunch companion and the homeless woman.

It’s going to bug me until I figure out if they’re somehow connected.

Chapter 23

Victor

Ipacemyoffice,wanting to storm into the dungeon and demand that Zara take Lili back to the suite. I don’t like having her out in the open. Though that’s a bit of an overstatement. There are no windows in the club space of the building. Everything is dark unless the lights are turned on. There is no way anyone can see Zara and Lili. I hope Zara has put her at ease and she’s willingly providing useful information. I’m not sure if that’s going to be the case, though. Lili has given mixed signals about whether or not she wants to help us.

Zara and I argued about the logistics of her visit with Lili, and of course Luke took her side. So now they are dining in the dungeon on sandwiches and soft drinks while I sit in my office and try not to go crazy.

It’s been an hour, and there are no reports of attempted escapes from the guards we put in place. I’m watching my phone like a hawk for Zara’s signal that I can head into the dungeon and run into them as she’s taking Lili back to her room.

My phone doesn’t light up until I’m done working my way through Bellamy’s signature requests on club paperwork, and I jump up as soon as I see that it’s Zara.

When I get to the dungeon, Lili and Zara are laughing about something.

“Ladies,” I say, as if Lili isn’t our prisoner and is just another guest in the club. “I trust you’ve had a productive lunch.”

Zara stands and gives me her best smile. “It was lovely. But I really should get back to Luke before he misses me too much.”

I roll my eyes. Their love is sometimes too sappy for me.

“I’ll walk Lili back to her room,” I offer.

Zara nods, and I offer Lili my arm.

“She’s wonderful. Makes me want to meet Bellamy and whoever Matteo is involved with. “

“What did the two of you talk about?”

Lili shakes her head. “I’m sure Zara will tell you all about it in the debrief you undoubtedly planned.”

Smart girl. I open the door to suite two, and motion her inside.

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