Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73302 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73302 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
You know the idea is crazy. She’s only trying to save you from yourself.
Was it? Had I really gone off the deep end this time? Maybe. But no one else had made any headway on this case.
For now, I was going to do what Maria said and keep looking for more ties between the casino and Ivanov’s operation. At next week’s game, I’d have my eye on my suspect, Andretti, the slick guy who’d come in last wearing a pinstripe suit. In the meantime, it wouldn’t hurt to go back to Casino Fortuna and play a game or two of low-stakes blackjack or fuck around at roulette. There was no telling what I might overhear.
I’d let myself be seen and keep an eye on the room. Logic said the infiltrator was likely a high roller. Realistically, it could be anyone.
After losing some money at a roulette table, then winning a few hands of blackjack, I got a drink and sat at the bar, sipping it slowly. I was disappointed in how mundane the evening seemed until I noticed Andretti slipping through the door from the back of the casino. Tonight, he was dressed all in black.
What had he been doing back there? Was there another backroom game he was involved in? I saw one of the guards frown when he stepped through the door, but he didn’t try to stop Andretti.
I left some money on the bar, slid from my stool, and crossed the room. I didn’t want Andretti to see me, but I needed to keep an eye on him. My instincts told me he was up to something. He was also coked up enough he was practically vibrating. He moved around the tables restlessly, constantly checking over his shoulder.
When he stopped moving, I knew he’d seen something that interested him. I followed his line of sight and saw Rafael. He couldn’t have been in the room long. I was sure I would’ve sensed him if he had. He looked incredible in dark suit pants and a white button-down rolled up to show off his forearms.
He was talking to a few men at a blackjack table. I made sure Andretti hadn’t moved. He stood in the same place, though he was twitching and tapping his foot. Convinced I wasn’t going to lose him, I indulged myself, watching Rafe as he slapped a man on the back, then circled the table to speak to someone else. He leaned over and whispered something to the dealer before turning toward the exit.
Andretti followed him. Did Rafe and Andretti have a meeting planned?
My heart pounded. Please don’t let me be wrong about Rafael. If I was, though, I wouldn’t hesitate to bring him down.
I exited the casino, keeping enough distance between us that they wouldn’t likely notice me. Rafael headed through the parking lot, and Andretti continued following him. Fortunately, they passed close to my car, so I was able to stop and get my gun. I’d entered the casino with only a small knife I’d managed to conceal, but if my instincts were right, I needed to be better armed.
I had to move quickly so as not to lose them. Thankfully, neither Rafe nor Andretti noticed me. There were plenty of other people out and about, so I didn’t have to be silent.
The more I watched them, the more certain I became that Rafael didn’t know he was being followed. Did that mean they weren’t working together? I needed to observe and not make assumptions, and for God’s sake, I needed to shut down all the soft feelings I’d begun to have about Rafe.
We walked along the waterfront for a while, then turned into a neighborhood that was certainly not where Rafael or the other man lived.
What business did Rafael have here? Was he meeting an associate or an informant? I kept a hand on my gun as I followed them down roads that were eerily quiet. I didn’t spook easily, but I was poised for someone to jump out at me. Something felt very wrong.
I noticed Andretti closing the distance between himself and Rafael, so I did the same. When they reached the mouth of the pungent alley, Andretti ran at Rafael and shoved him into the dark corridor. Normally, I wouldn’t doubt Rafe’s ability to overpower him, but the coke had Andretti buzzing and feeling no pain.
“You cheating son of a bitch,” Andretti yelled as I caught up to them.
They were fighting. Andretti had a knife, but Rafe hadn’t had time to pull out a weapon. I wanted to take a shot at Andretti, but they were too close. I wouldn’t risk hitting Rafe by accident.
“Drop your weapon,” I yelled, hoping to startle Andretti. Instead, Rafe paused, and Andretti grabbed him and pressed the knife to his throat.
I should have shot him immediately. Now I’d made things worse.