Page 13 of The Gambler

The road to hell was paved with good intentions, and a top-notch laptop with killer internet speed. Sadly, Tess was way out of her league, stuck in Luciano Detta’s condo with two infamous twins and no laptop in sight.

Crap.

The crazy twins. Angel and Damon, the Bratva leader’s most entrusted men. With their dirty blond hair and baby blues, they were like a vision of Vikings of old. Angel’s strands of hair roamed freely on his shoulders, while Damon’s stopped at the nape of his neck. The angelic named one was dressed in a suit while his demonic brother wore jeans and sneakers. They might look opposites in their fashion statement, but there was consensus on their mental state of mind. They were both reported to be slightly insane. Yep, she’d done her due diligence after their boss, Kristoff—a delicious, real-life version of Darth Vader—had tried to recruit her last year.

It had been so alluring to just say yes. After all, people like Kristoff didn’t get screwed over or threatened. They were the ones doing the screwing and putting on the thumb screws, probably quite literally.

The second she spotted the twins standing in the doorway, she knew—get the fuck out. She had a feeling if they knew who she was, they wouldn’t let her get away as easily this time. Since she had no intentions of becoming an “asset” to the Bratva, she tried to move her butt away from Luciano Detta’s house warp speed style. Regardless, she wasn’t going to let him get away with not keeping his promise. She just needed time to regroup. Adjust her plans, all while keeping a low profile while the twins were anywhere near his vicinity.

All of this was speeding through her mind as she turned her back to the front door the second they greeted Luca. Surely this place had another way out? Slowly, as not to make any sound in her Doc Martens, she walked toward the kitchen in the hope it would lead to an escape route.

Nope, nothing but a steel kitchen wall full of utensils that looked to be purely decorative. She had an inkling that Mr. Private Boarding Schools had never cooked a day in his life.

She kept a tab on the conversation in the back while continuing to look for a way to sneak out. There was, of course, a chance that the twins wouldn’t recognize her. After all, they had never met in person, only talked over the phone when she threatened to empty Kristoff’s bank accounts. Still, she couldn’t take the chance that they had looked into her. The second they came too close, she would have to make a run for it.

“Comrade!”

Tess snorted at the fake Russian accent. Those two were as much of a Russian as she was a Jedi.

“It’s good to see you guys.”

“We’re here to take you out. To celebrate not having to cover your ass anymore when bending for the soap in the shower.”

“Fuck you, Angel. Just fuck you.”

A chuckle followed. “I bet you said that to all the daddies back in the joint.”

“Just keep on talking,” Tess whispered, as she opened another door, this time to a closet. As long as they were rekindling their friendship, she still had time to get the hell out.

As she scourged the kitchen, her modified watch beeped and died. This would not make Pops happy. Great, now she had another thing to worry about, which made it all the more imperative to get home, and fast.

There was one door left she hadn’t opened yet. Then she got a message on her phone. It was from an unknown number. Her heart plummeted when she saw the picture.

Jack of Spades.

No…

She knew of only one person who would send her cards. Whatever it was behind that door probably wasn’t the way to freedom, but she had no other options left. It was all or nothing. If this didn’t provide her a way out, she would have to make a run for the front door, dodging both Luca and the twins.

She sent up a little prayer and opened the door.

Then she screamed.

CHAPTER 8

LUCA

Luca flipped Angel the bird as he gave him more shit about prison life, but couldn’t stop a grin. Life in prison had been hell, but it could have been so much worse if it hadn’t been for his Bratva connections. Despite being imprisoned, he’d had more luxury than most inmates.

“Maybe he doesn’t need us to get him women, brother.” Angel chin jerked to a spot behind Luca.

He followed Angel’s gaze, only to find that Tess had made a run for it. Well, that was an exaggeration, seeing as she hadn’t even made it out of his condo. She just pulled open the pantry door, probably mistaking it for the back door.

Something hit the floor, making athud, and Tess screamed. Oh shit, what did she find in the pantry? Rats? Spiders? Typical. She looked all badass and tough, but underneath it, she was just a girl.

“I think your girl stumbled upon something,” Angel remarked.

He needed to get the twins out, get Tess to work for him, and continue with his plan. There were still two demons he had to slay: Cruz and Grace, the dynamic duo that had stabbed him in the back. He didn’t have time for girly fits and Bratva soldiers on his back.

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