Page 52 of The Gambler

Luca smirked as he listened to how Tess’s father described him.

Lucky, rich bastard.

What was it they said about eavesdropping again? Eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves. Then again, it looked as if, contrary to his daughter, Rufus seemed to think of Luca being loaded as a good thing. Clearly, he seemed to find that the only thing worth noting about the man who he thought to be his future son-in-law. It only made the man drop even lower in Luca’s esteem.

He scraped his throat as he walked into the living room. At the same time, the intercom announced another visitor.

Tess jumped up as if her chair had caught on fire. The older man on the couch rose slowly, looking chalky white.

So this was her elusive father? The man who had given his daughter’s name to a bunch of gangsters as his safety net, fully expecting her to get him out of a jam. Father and daughter looked little alike. The man in front of him looked like a washed-out version of Jack Nicholson. Tess must have gotten her looks from her mother.

“Luca, this is my father, Rufus,” Tess said, her voice soft.

The next moment Rufus stood next to him, shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you, son.”

Luca resisted the urge to break his hand. “Good to meet you too, sir,” he lied smoothly. “Just a sec.” He went over to the intercom and spoke to the doorman. He tensed when he heard who their visitor was. “Send him over.”

“Bagel delivery?” Tess asked, her tone hopeful.

If only. “No bagels, unicorn. It’s a man sent by the Caputo Family.” Luckily for her, it was someone he was acquainted with as he’d regularly visited a casino owned by the Caputos. You didn’t get to play at a high rollers table in Vegas without having heard of that Famiglia.

Her eyes darted to her father, who merely tugged at his collar. “Dad… please tell me he’s not here for you.” Judging by her look, she held little hope for that to be true.

“Pumpkin, I… well…”

“Tess, I want you to go to the bedroom,” Luca interrupted.

“But—”

He held her hands. They were as cold as ice. “I’m going to take care of this. Please go.”

“This isn’t your problem,” she whispered, looking ashamed.

He hated that look on her. “I’m making it mine. Go.” He slightly tapped her on her butt, nudging her in the right way. He sighed when she didn’t even protest. No way in hell would Tess Gibson let herself be guided anywhere. That is, under normal circumstances.

When she finally disappeared out of sight, Luca turned toward Rufus.

The dipshit had the audacity to look relieved. “It’s a good thing you sent her away, son. I mean—”

“I am not your son,” Luca cut him off. “I’m not even sure Tess is your daughter. You’re treating her more like your personal bank than a child.” When Rufus turned red and opened his mouth, Luca held up a warning finger. “Save it. You have no idea what that girl has been through to save your ass. So, here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to take care of whatever debt you have. It will be the last fucking time I do this. See this as a second chance, Rufus. After today, never again will you contact your daughter about this kind of shit. If I find out that you did, there will be consequences. Severe fucking, breaking your bones kind of consequences.”

Rufus’s eyes narrowed. “That doesn’t sound very sporting of you, seeing as we’re practically family and all.”

“Neither is getting your daughter involved with gangsters,” Luca spat back. “Do we have a deal?”

An ominous knock followed on the door. Rufus blanched and eagerly nodded. “Deal! We have a deal.”

Luca didn’t hold high hopes for Rufus keeping his promise, but he opened the door to take care of the Caputo problem anyway.

It didn’t take much to convince the Caputo enforcer, who recognized him from Sin City, to take his check. Apparently, word had gone out that Rufus was his father-in-law. Luca didn’t have to look far to guess who had spread the word on his upcoming nuptials. Clearly, Rufus was already using the Detta name to his advantage.

Luca closed the door and turned around, only to find himself face to face with Rufus.

“Thank you,” the man said and cleared his throat. “I’ll be going then.”

He was just going to leave? Perhaps he shouldn’t be surprised that the weasel didn’t have the guts to face Tess.

How was it possible that a brave, honest to her soul, woman like Tess had come from the loins of such a foul creature as Rufus?

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