Page 7 of The Gambler

“I don’t want—”

“It’s the best I can do,” Hector interrupted him. “Don’t think we don’t know what you’re up to. You want to go at this alone? Fine. Do I think it’s stupid? Yeah, I do. But I can get a man wanting to take revenge on the motherfuckers who put him in jail. Doesn’t mean we don’t worry about your ass out in the world again. So, take the fucking car. If you don’t, I’m gonna put a few of my men on you for around-the-clock surveillance.”

His brother’s stony face told him it really was the best he was gonna get. It was going to be even more difficult to keep Vince at bay. They were the closest and he was just glad that Vince had been called to his club because of some business. It would make leaving Casa Detta easier.

“Fine,” he conceded and eyed the file in Hector’s hand. “What else you got for me?”

Hector put the manila envelope on the bed. “All you need to know about your former partner, Cruz. The asshole who testified that you knew about the falsified tax returns has gone off the grid. Got intel on your former PA as well. Grace is missing too, by the way. Quite a coincidence, don’t you think?”

“Fuck. She’s missing too?”

“Yeah, as of this morning. I would suspect shortly after the press conference announcing your surprise release.”

Luca reined in his rage. It would do no good to have a fit over this. His former PA, his most trusted employee, had turned on him during the trial. She could run but she couldn’t hide. He was going to get answers if it was the last thing he did.

“What about Tess Gibson?”

A funny thing happened when he mentioned her name. Both his brothers looked uncomfortable.

“Don’t go there, Luca.” Hector’s tone held a warning.

“Why the hell not? She’s the one who got me out. Clearly, she has the skills to find people. You want to help me out? Help me by locating her. I’m going to find her one way or another anyway.”

Hector scratched his cheek. “I don’t think you really know who you’re dealing with here. I’ve seen her once during girls’ night. She looks all nice and geeky with her ripped jeans and leather cuffs, but I’ve heard the stories. You don’t want to get on her bad side. If you’ve promised to leave her alone after she got you free, leave her the fuck alone. You need me for anything else, give me a call. For the record, I was not here when you mentioned going after Tess.”

“Whyareyou here, Hector?”

Hector sighed. “You know why. We both know Tess knows more than she lets on. I also see the fire in your eyes. The vengeance you must be wanting. I’d go after the fuckers who put me in jail as well.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I owe Tess. A lot. I can’t let you hurt her in your… quest.”

“You going soft on me, old man?”

Hector snorted. “You get out of here and we’ll take a spin in the ring. I’ll show you who’s gone soft.”

Then he was gone, leaving him alone with Gio.

Luca turned his gaze to his eldest brother. “What’s with this Tess person anyway? So, she’s a friend of Jazzy’s. Since when does wife’s friend trump brother?”

Gio scowled. “It doesn’t. But I can’t go after Tess either. Neither can Hector. She saved his daughter’s life. As such, we owe her.”

“You telling me to stay off your wife’s friend?”

“No, I’m telling youIcan’t go after her. Neither can I helpyougoing after her. Plausible deniability, brother. Plausible deniability.”

“Do I need to remind you that she was the one that came to me in the first place?”

His brother smiled. It was an evil grin, telling Luca he was on to something. Like in the old days, when he used to run new projects by him.

“Exactly, Luciano.” With that cryptic comment, Gio left as well.

Of course. All he had to do was change the rules. Makehercome tohimonce again.

CHAPTER 5

TESS

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