Page 37 of Savage Daddies

And what’s the big deal? It’s petty and not worth the energy. I’d prefer to sink my teeth into something more physical. Something more like bloodshed that requires a whip.

I’ve always been on attack. I prefer quick missions that can be solved in a day. Wake up. Inflict harm. Done and dusted. A quick kill turns the world the right way around again, and stops my brain from thinking. Venom Vultures is supposed to be a place where youdon’tthink, but that’s all I’ve been doing today—musing like fucking Poet.

And a headache starts to press against my temple from it all.

I take one more step.

Then, my ears pick up something valuable.

“Warren Warrington,” calls a man.

I take a step back and observe. Wearing all black makes you stand out in the crowd, especially when you’re the tallest in the room, so I take a seat in a plush chair nearby and concentrate on the voices.

The two suited men shake hands.

I’m unsure who the second guy is—probably a client—but the one on the left is Felix’s business partner. The one he merged with some years ago. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen his face. He’s around Felix’s age, potentially even older. Fine lines cut around his face in all directions. He wears a suit. One of the best ones here, actually. Tailoring isn’t one of my expertises, but I know a good suit when I see one.

And a bad guy too.

I narrow my eyes and study him through gaps in the line of people waiting to bet money on a game of roulette. Some nodding is exchanged. Seems like mediocre business.

Until a Louboutin heel joins the scene. The crowds of people cover everything but a quarter of the woman’s body. A long skirt brushes around her ankles, and ten pink painted toenails press into the bottom of heeled shoes.

“Hey.” My ear catches wind of their conversation again as the line shortens.

“What are you doing here?”

“I just wanted to see how things were going.”

I don’t catch the next part, but the stubborn curl of Warren’s lip as he speaks to…Zoesuggests that he’s not here to chat.

How do Zoe and Warren know each other?

And what’s Warren doing in Cash Pot Palace when he and Felix have their own casino to run? What’s he here for? Inspiration? To examine what his competitor is doing better?

Cash Pot Palace and Lucky Boy see very similar revenues each year.

So why does he straighten his jaw and look around the casino likethat?

A semicircle of people start to form around Zoe as guests recognize her. Chatter grows and two camera flashes cause her to wince, illuminating her gorgeous face.

She wears her hair up today, swirled back into a silver-gemmed clip that shines in the diamond-chandelier lighting. Glitter has been dappled in the two inner corners of her eyes, and it makes those green eyes look even more dangerous. A wide smile breaks out on her face, and she looks like the happiest woman on earth. Of course, it’s fake, if what she told us yesterday about Felix is true.

Either she’s a good liar. Or she lied tous.

Hm.

What else is she being dishonest about?

Did Felix really scald her wrist, or was that all part of the plan?

Mayb she’s trying to gain our sympathy for some reason. Why, I have no idea.

But if twenty years in Venom Vultures teaches you one thing, it’s that the truth always comes out. Could be the next day, a month, or a decade. Secrets are always uncovered.

Zoe raises a hand to the people around her, then goes to hug Warren. Her heels redirect away from the commotion, and she begins to walk away.

I shoot up and chase after her.

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