ANMELDEN“How are we looking?” I asked impatiently. “How much longer?”“Ten… maybe fifteen more minutes,” Shawn said. “I can’t make it go any faster. What’s the rush anyway? We can’t start the security reset until eight P.M.”I knew he was right but I was getting anxious. I’d waited long enough to get the chance to search Charles’ office. The night of the poker game ended up being more fruitful than I had expected. On my way back into the bar, I grabbed our waitress and gave her a generous tip with instructions to strengthen his drinks the rest of the evening. While he didn’t say anything significantly incriminating, he gave some information that filled in some of our holes. I also got the opportunity to look at his phone and check his contacts.The call he had received was from a contact listed as Antoni. No last name, but I didn’t need one. There was no way it was a coincidence that Antoni Athenilis was frequenting a strip club linked to my family while that name was in Charles’ phone. Now I
The only saving grace for the evening was that my agreement to her terms was enough to keep my mother off the topic of dating for the rest of the meal. It meant I was able to compose myself somewhat normally. Even though it somehow felt like I’d made a deal with the devil.Okay, so that was a bit harsh.But it was the truth. I felt sick. My mind warred between heartache and nothingness. Logic tried to break through. My common sense telling me it would probably be better if I moved on and found someone else. That Carson wasn’t a bad choice. But it was no use.By the time I made it home, I felt so emotionally raw I didn’t know how to react. I fell onto the couch, staring off into space. Arlo climbed up next to me. Offering the only bit of comfort that could get through the chaos.I was still in the same spot when Christina came home.“Sawyer…” She came rushing to me, her arms going around my shoulders. “Was she that bad tonight? What did she say this time?”I shook my head. “It’s me, Ch
I played with the edge of the cloth napkin at the fancy restaurant my mother insisted on bringing me to. I was still expecting someone else to show up any minute despite her assurances that it would be just us tonight. She had stepped away to the restroom as soon as we were seated, so it wouldn’t be a shock for her to return with some guy she picked up for me. The possibility was the only reason I even glanced at the menu. If it was just the two of us, my mother would no doubt order for me without even thinking.“I’m back,” Mom said brightly as she took her seat across from me. I instinctually looked around. Again, still waiting for some man to join us. “I’m so glad you came out with me tonight.” She grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “I feel like we haven’t had nearly enough time together since you moved here.”“Mom, we have dinner once a week,” I reminded her.“I know,” she said. “But that’s always a dinner party or your father is with us. I wanted it to be just you and me tonight.”“
We were two hours in, and the hands were moving fast now. I was five-grand down, but the atmosphere was good. Even Charles had loosened up. It may have been the three hands I’d let him win or the constant supply of alcohol our host saw too, but he no longer seemed averse to my presence.“Meech, maybe if you put that damn cigar out you’d be able to see your hand,” I said, noticing how close he had to bring his cards to his face.“It’s no use,” Charles said. “We tell him that every time but we still have to suffer through his haze.”“Look, this is the only time my wife lets me indulge,” Dimitri protested. “And she’s the only one who can tell me what I can and can’t do.”“I never thought I’d see the day when a Drakos was a whipped man,” Mortin said gruffly. “It’s a disgrace.”“Have you seen my wife?” Dimitri said with a raised eyebrow. “If choosing not to smell like an ashtray soI can keep fucking that gorgeous woman whenever the hell I want makes me whipped, then so be it.”“I guess we
I drove to the address Dimitri had sent me for the game. I was a little confused at first when it looked like he sent me to a nightclub. However, when I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed the other half of the building was a private lounge. I stepped inside the door to find a small foyer with two large guards standing by the entrance.“Members only,” one of them stated.“I’m here by invitation from Dimitri Drakos,” I told them.The first raised an eyebrow. “And you are?”“His brother,” I stated. “Sylas.”There was a nearly imperceptible nod before he reached over and opened the door to let me in.“All the way back and to the left,” he said gruffly.I walked into a dimly lit bar. Based on the middle-aged men that were scattered throughout the place, I was pretty sure I knew what this place was. A private gentlemen-only club that catered to a very specific group of clientele. The only women allowed were the cocktail waitresses. My father had been a member. While I was never extended
I returned to the bar where I first met with Andre. I took a booth out of the way, not sure if Silvia would actually show or not. I ordered a beer and waited. Luckily, I didn’t have to wait too long.“So, it is you putting crazy ideas into Andre’s head,” Silvia said as she dropped into the booth in front of me suddenly. “I thought this was another of his wild daydreams.”“Silvia, it’s good to see you,” I greeted. “I guess I don’t need to reintroduce myself. Even though the last time we actually spoke you were what… nine? Ten?”“I was twelve,” she said. “And what… now you want to come in and try to play the good cousin? Let me guess, you’re not actually here to help us but to convince me to stay away from Andre? Maybe threaten me…? Thinking if you can take care of this thorn in the family’s side they might start thinking of you like a person… Let me tell you, none of that is likely going to happen.”I grinned. She was just as feisty as when she was a kid.“Actually, my offer to Andre w







