Page 26 of Checkmate

“Thank you, Foster.”

He nods his head and moves in silence. After that I finish packing my suitcase. Foster stops and looks at me once he’s zipped my suitcase up. “I have to say it. I think that it’s a bad idea for you to go there. It’s not safe, Vivianna.”

I give him a small smile, and as much as I appreciate his words, my mind and heart are made up. “My whole life has been unsafe, but I have to go. I have to help Luca if I can. He’s the only thing I have left.”

Foster nods, but the sad look doesn’t leave his eyes. “I’ll keep digging. I’m close to finding out who put the hit out and as soon as I find out I’ll let you know. Lay low until then, please.”

I nod. “I will. I promise.”

“Okay, then let me give you a ride to the airport.”

“Thanks, Foster,” I tell him, as I pull him in for a tight hug. Who would have thought that Foster would be the one to help me figure out Leo’s murder? Now, if I can just save Luca before it’s too late.

Twenty-Seven

Luca

I walk through the doors of the casino and instantly I’m assaulted with the sounds of slot machines, music, and people constantly talking. I never was one for gambling. I guess, gambling is okay, but I don’t like the idea of losing something I don’t have to. I guess you can call me a sore loser, but whatever. It’s packed with people drinking, smoking, and throwing their money away. There’s even a few high-end escorts on some of the older men’s arms. Another thing I don’t understand… paying for sex. Las Vegas is literally the city of sin, so I have no clue why anyone would need to pay for sex, but I guess if that’s how you want to spend your money...

The Gio Grand Hotel and Casino is one of the places to be in Las Vegas. The moment you walk through the doors, you feel as if you’re stepping onto some lavish movie set. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about the Giordanos, it’s that everything is lavish. The Gio Grand Hotel and Casino takes up the entire bottom floor of the building. The carpet is a thick, lush midnight blue color with hints of silver to match all of the silver accents surrounding. To the right, the entire wall is nothing but one giant salt-water aquarium. It really is something. It’s not unusual to walk in and see people standing in front of that wall, watching the fish swim. The ceiling is all neon blue with silver chandeliers hanging throughout. Instead of wood, all the tables and chairs are either chrome or black.

A few of the workers nod at me as I pass them. I quickly make my way to the doors along the back wall labeled ‘employees only’. I press my thumb onto the screen then key in my pass code and wait until I hear the door unlock. It’s difficult with all the surrounding noise, but eventually I hear it. I push the door open and head back to the end of the dimly lit hallway where Gio and his guys normally meet. As I’m approaching, I see some of the Colombo mafia guys leaving. We nod to each other as we pass, but that doesn’t stop me from looking over my shoulder.

As I approach the now cracked door, I hear Matteo’s voice rising in anger. “You’re going to give this to Luca?”

“I wasn’t aware you had a hearing problem,” Gio replies, his tone bored.

“This is my job! I’m you’re right-hand man, not Luca! He doesn’t deserve this privilege!”

I hear the sound of a chair, almost as if Gio is leaning back in it. “And you do?” he asks, challenging Matteo. Matteo hates to be challenged, so I’m curious if he will buckle up against him.

“You’re damn right I do.”

The room goes silent for a moment and the chair creaks again. “You have become awful comfortable in your position, Matteo, as my right-hand man as you like to say, but I still have both hands and they are very capable. Would you like to see?” I can’t see what’s happening but the next thing I hear is something being slammed against the desk followed by a cry of pain from Matteo and a grunt from Gio. I can only imagine what is going on. “I don’t need a right-hand man and this is a friendly reminder. Don’t you ever talk back to me or question my decisions again. Am I clear?” Matteo mumbles something, but it must be in agreement, because the next thing I hear is the chair again, as if Gio had taken his seat. “The job is Luca’s. It’s an act of trust and loyalty, do you understand?”

Matteo mumbles, “Yes, Sir.”

I slink back down the hallway a few feet before walking back toward the door. I make myself loud enough to be known so they don’t think I was just listening to their conversation. I approach the door and knock then wait for Gio to tell me to enter. I do and nod in his direction then take in a frazzled looking Matteo. I have to bite back the laugh that is bubbling up in my chest. Somehow, I manage. “Good evening, Sir. You requested to see me,” I tell Gio, as I turn to face him.

“Yes, have a seat,” he tells me, as he motions to one of the two leather chairs sitting in front of his large oak desk. The office is all dark wood and burgundy, much like his home office. “As you know, Humberto Villarreal will be gracing us and the Colombo mafia with his presence later this week. I know that up until now you have basically been a chauffeur, and yet you have not once complained about it. I want you to know that didn’t go unnoticed by me.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“As a result, I think it’s time that we give you a job that requires a great deal of trust. You will be moving Humberto and his product from here to one of the warehouses we own outside of town. That is where we are handling the drugs. Once he has been dropped off, you will wait and then you will take him back to his private airstrip. Can you handle that?” Gio asks.

I want to tell him that yes I can handle that because it’s just more driving around douche bags, but I don’t. I smile and nod. “Yes, Sir. I can.”

“Good. Once the times are confirmed I’ll let you know,” he tells me.

“Thank you for this opportunity, Sir,” I tell him, as I stand and head out of the office. I make it out to the car before my smile grows the size of Texas. I just got what we needed. I’m going to finally find out where in the hell the drugs are being stored. I can tell Ratliff and we can down this entire operation and then I can go find Vivianna.

I drive home feeling like I’m on cloud nine. I park my car and ride the elevator up to my floor and head straight for my door. Oddly though, when I slip the key in, the lock already feels as if it’s unlocked. My senses kick into high alert. I grab one of my guns and slowly push the door open, but I find the last thing I ever expected sitting on my couch, drinking a beer from my fridge, and eating spicy nacho Doritos. I shut the door before saying, “Vivianna?”

Her head whips in my direction and those gray eyes find mine. I sag in relief at the sight of her despite the two months I’ve spent worrying and wondering. She looks nervous and that’s so not like her, so I’m worried instantly. “Hello, Luca.” That voice, the one that haunted my dreams, both calms me while lighting an anger within me. Now that I can actually see and hear for myself that she is fine the anger comes in all-consuming waves. I’ve been so worried while wondering why in the hell she ran. My body is fighting a battle. A part of me wants to rush over and pull her into me, and the other wants to kick her the hell out of my apartment. And right now, I’m not sure which one is going to win.

Twenty-Eight

Vivianna

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