Page 35 of Devil of Vegas

I take out my phone and make the rash decision to call that motherfucker up before anyone can talk me out of it.

“Hello Vincent,” Angelo’s voice booms over the speakerphone. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

I clench my fists in order to keep from losing it. I have to clench them so hard that my nails dig into the fluffy part of my palm.

“You know exactly why I’m calling Angelo,” I growl at him.

I am one wrong word away from losing control. After all these years of carefully managing relationships between the mafia families of Vegas, planning the best ways to take Angelo down without causing an uproar, that is all about to come crashing down if he doesn’t hand over what’s mine.

“Oh, yes, the dancer. I assume that you’d like her back?”

“What do you want, Angelo?” I snarl into the phone. “Money, territory? Tell me what you want to trade for her, and it’s yours.”

Alonzo opens his mouth as if he’s going to argue with me while I’m on the call, but I quickly lift my hand in the air to silence him. At least for now, he knows better than to interfere when I’m doing business and knows better than to question his boss in front of a rival.

“Well, that was a hell of a lot easier than I expected it to be,” Angelo laughs. “And here I thought I was going to have to break into your buildings and seize assets for myself. You saved me from having to squeeze any more information out of your pretty little girlfriend.”

“If you hurt one hair on her head, I swear to God, I will?—”

“Don’t get upset, Vincent,” he threatens. “It’s not a good look on you. Why ruin a good deal that’s about to happen with your arrogance and foolishness? Give me what I want, and you can have the girl back.”

Part of me doesn’t believe him and thinks that he’s lying and going to keep Isla, anyway. But that’s fine. I don’t need to trusthim becauseI’m lying, too. There’s not a chance in hell I’m going to give him anything, except an early death if I can manage it. My number one priority is extracting Isla. Everything on top of that is a bonus.

“Where should I meet you?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“My new casino. I’m sure you’ve heard that you’ve got a bit of competition in that venue by now,” he taunts.

I don’t even acknowledge him because I know now, thanks to Madame Durant, that his casino is simply a rouse. Angelo’s single club isn’t any threat to my business. But it sure sounds like his sex-trafficking operation is soon to be under threat by a bunch of women who are sick of his shit—namely, Celeste, along with his very own wife.

“Be here in an hour,” he instructs. “I want two million in cash and one city block of territory to do my business dealings in. Oh, and I’ll take that crown jewel casino club of yours as well, just as a cherry on top.”

Luc and Alonzo wait for me to argue over the terms, both of them knowing that I would never hand over my prized flagship casino. But this is whyI’mthe boss. I can see past all of this transactional bullshit and have a deeper plan in place.

“I’ll be there,” I say as I hang up the call.

When I head straight for the door, Marco is right behind me.

“I’ve got this,” I say as I turn and tell him to stay behind.

He looks shocked. “What? No, I can’t let you go into that hornet’s nest alone.”

“He’s right,” Luc says. “We’ll all go.”

“I need to do this alone,” I say. “If we all show up there, then we won’t make it past the men Angelo has standing guard. He’ll know we’re there to fight. If it’s just me, he will think I’ve come to make the deal I just agreed to on the phone in exchange for Isla.”

“You’re going to get yourself killed, Vincent,” Luc argues.

“It’s not up for debate, Luciano.” My mind is made up, and my menwillrespect my orders.

Luc and Alonzo stand down because they know it’s their job to follow my orders. But Marco is young still, and he has a conflicted look on his face about whether he can morally let me walk into danger alone.

I put my hand on his shoulder and give him a quick pat as I walk out. “You’re a good man, Marco. One day, you’ll make a fine capo.”

Before he can protest further, I leave.

I have no intention of bringing Angelo anything that he wants. The only thing he’s going to get from me is a loaded gun in his face. When I arrive at his not-yet-opened casino, he has men there to meet me.

“You’re expected,” one of them says as he looks over my shoulder. “You bring anyone with you?”

---