If I wasn’t here… she would have gotten hurt tonight. Badly. It fucking infuriated me just thinking about it.
Finally, the two mob guys at the table wandered off to cash in what was left of their chips. It was me and Cheever. I started winning. I couldn’t help it. I wanted to piss him off.
The lights flashed finally signaling it was closing time. Five o’clock had already come and gone long ago. I knew Sal was only closing the table to keep me from winning more money from the corrupt fed. I didn’t give a shit about the money. All I cared about was that Angel looked so relieved I wanted to scream. She shouldn’t be on her feet all night like this. I was sure she was ready to faint.
“What the fuck!”
Cheever shot out of his chair, going to argue with Sal about closing the tables. I heard him gripe about the scumbag taking his money. I would have laughed if I wasn’t so worried.
I was more than happy to be that scumbag.
“You need to get out of here. Right now.”
She nodded, her eyes wild looking. Scared. It hit me like a punch to the gut.
“Drake has your shit. Pretend you’re going to the bathroom and just get out of here.”
“Okay.” She closed her cash box and locked it. “Thanks.”
“Leave it here.”
She gave me a nod and scurried off. Paulie said something to her and she said something back. I couldn’t hear it, but he seemed satisfied. He turned and looked right at me.
He knew I was clocking him. Clocking all of them.
I waited. Cheever was still arguing about keeping the place open long enough to get his money back. Sal was telling him to come back tomorrow. My phone vibrated.
She’s in the car. I’ll follow.
I exhaled in relief. That was my cue. I stood up and grabbed my chips. Paulie ambled over to cash me out. Good. Everyone was distracted except Joey. But Joey was stupid. Maybe he wouldn’t notice.
He didn’t.
But Cheever did.
“Where’s the broad? I want to party.”
“She’s not part of the package.”
“Like hell she’s not!”
I had to hand it to Sal. He might be a sleezeball but at least he hadn’t sold Angel off to the highest bidder. He might cave though. In fact, the squirrelly look in his eyes made me think this was a token effort.
“She’s mine.”
I ignored his empty boast. Paulie made a soft noise that sounded suspiciously like a snort. I looked at him in surprise as he handed me my cash.
Apparently, Paulie had a sense of humor.
I took my money and left. I pretty much broke even, not counting the cash I’d given Drake. I’d been careful not to win too much until the last few hands. Joey smirked at me on my way out.
“Better luck next time, chump.”
“Sure, sure.”
Only there wasn’t going to be a next time. Because I was getting Angel out of here. Even if we had to leave the damn state. I was going to keep her safe.
I walked out into the cool night air, half expecting them to chase me outside.
I was ready for them if they did.
There was a sick twisted part of me that wanted them to.
Chapter 10
Kirsten
I was shaking like a leaf by the time I parked in front of my apartment building. The tremors had started slowly, only after I was out of the industrial district and back onto streets full of people starting their days. Almost as if my mind was protecting me until I was out of immediate danger.
It felt wrong to be coming home at this hour. I’d not only missed breakfast with my daughter, it was so late that Mrs. Keeley would have already gotten her off to school. I hated it. I hated everything I was being forced to do for money. But I had no choice.
If Lucky and his friend hadn’t been there, I would be in a very bad situation right now. Just how bad didn’t hit me until I was in town. I would certainly have been forced and maybe worse. There was a chance I might not have been coming home at all.
The shaking had started and it hadn’t stopped.
A pair of motorcycles appeared behind me.
I’d been checking my rearview mirror the whole trip. I told myself I was looking for Sal. But I wasn’t. I was looking for Lucky.
I didn’t want him to get hurt on my behalf.
I exhaled as he pulled his motorcycle up in front of my car, practically sagging in relief. Not because he was there to protect me. I didn’t quite understand it, but I knew instinctively that he would do anything to keep me safe. I was relieved because I’d been imagining them hurting him, or worse.
Killing him.
But this was the last time he would be able to protect me. If anything like this happened again, Sal would start to put things together. There would be repercussions. Vincent and Antonio had promised to protect me and my kid, but not Lucky.