Page 16 of Devil of Vegas

“He was able to bypass the usual hoops and regulations in order to set up shop before we saw it coming,” Luc continues. “He’s got a cop on his side who helped him do it under the radar. It’ll be up and running by next week. It’s not huge, nothing to rival your operation, but it’s a shot across the bow to your business interests, especially since he’s offering a newspinon the gambling experience.”

“What new spin?”

“Not sure yet. Word is that he’s got some sort of new, high-end entertainment.”

“I have high-end entertainment at my casinos, too,” I snarl angrily.

“Apparently, not like whatever this is that Angelo Barone has got up his sleeve. This is an escalation, Vincent. He’s making an obvious play at your niche near your territory.”

“Yes, I canobviouslysee that. Who’s the dirty cop that he’s been working with?” I already know what name Luc is about to spit out before he says it.

“Detective Hal Monroe.”

Of course it is. That cop is a thorn in my side. There are plenty of corrupt cops on the force. Hal Monroe is one of the most manipulative and ambitious of them all. He likes to play multiple sides for his own personal gain, something that I found out years ago before offering to put him on my payroll so that he’d make lifedifficultfor the Barones. Although I can see that apparently, I’m still not paying him enough to buy his loyalty. Unfortunately, dealing with these kinds of situations with the cops can be tricky.

“Increase whatever we’re paying him to get Hale back in line,” I instruct.

“Already tried that,” Luc shakes his head. “He’s not biting. It’s not just about the money these days with him. I think the guy still holds a grudge against our family.”

I was only a kid back then. Hale was just a few years older than me when my father humiliated him. It was Monroe’s own fault—he was parading around the neighborhood with his father’sbadge. Talking tough about how he was going to be some “big time investigator” one day and how he was going to take down families like ours. Hearing this, my father used Hale as a warning to deter future problems. He not only got Hale’s father, theoldDetective Monroe, demoted to a desk job, but he had a few of my cousins,including Luciano,rough the kid up. To this day, I don’t think Hal has ever put that in the past. He became a highly intelligent investigator within the force, with corrupt ethics and an axe to grind. Now, it would seem, he’s ready to pay me back for the sins of my father.

I sigh and run my hand through my hair as I lean back against my chair. Angelo Barone is on the move. Dirty Detective Hal Monroe has sidled up to my rival, and the questions are swirling around the missing ballerina, aka a witness to a kill I committed. Things are volatile and need to be dealt with. It’s a terrible time for me not to have my head in the game. Thanks to the pressing distraction that Isla is wielding over me like some sort of magical curse.

“I’ll handle it,” I say, not wanting to discuss this further.

“Maybe the first thing you should do is let the girl loose,” he says. It’s an unwanted suggestion that instantly gets my ridge up.

“Isaid, I will handle it, Luc.”

He stands up, ready to leave my office, but not quite finished. “You know I love you like a brother, Vincent. Though sometimes I feel likeIcould do a better job at running things than you are.”

That’s adangerousthing to say to me, and he knows it. But Luc has felt overshadowed by me for years, and I think his struggle between envy and loyalty sometimes walks a fine line.

I extend my arms, inviting a strike.

“If you disagree with the way I run things,” I say slowly. “Then I invite you to challenge me, Luciano. You know, that’s the only way power shifts here.”

His expression changes as if he’s thinking about something else. “Of course not. You’reThe Devilof Vegas, Vincent. Despite our collective violent past, I don’t think I have the moral constitution for the job.”

I couldn’t agree with that more. Luc is more like aSaintthan anything else—lethal when he needs to be, but always looking for salvation in others.

“But speaking ofinvitations,” he says just before he leaves. “Don’t forget about all of our business partners that you invited to the gala tonight at the club.”

The charity gala is an event that I host downstairs at the casino every year. Tickets are by my personal invitation only, and the high-dollar cost of attendance does indeed go to a charity of my choosing. But the purpose of the event isn’t actually one of a charitable kind. The gala is a front for one of the largest social gatherings that brings together all of my underground business partners in a single place at once. It’s a chance for them to see my power, wealth, and influence altogether, and for me to ensure their continuedcooperationand the ongoing investment of their funds being funneled through my casinos.

For the first time, I decide that this year I’m going to bring adate.

“What’s this?” Isla asks as I walk in and hand her the stunning cocktail dress I had Zara pick up for her.

“It’s a dress,” I reply dryly.

Isla rolls her eyes at me and frowns. “I can see that, but why are you giving it to me?”

“I want you to wear it. I’m hosting a charity gala in the building tonight. One that will host many high-profile guests across all sectors of the city. I’d like you to be myguest.”

“You want to take me on adate?” she asks in wide-eyed astonishment.

“That’s a fairly simplistic categorization,” I say, feeling slightly amused. “Butyes. I want you to dress the part and look nice.”

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