Call My Bluff: A Las Vegas Themed Anthology

by Elizabeth Knox

“You want him dead,” Tobias ground out.

  The statement hung between them.

  Seth rearranged his silverware. “I don’t think any of us are . . .”

  Tobias cracked his knuckles. “After listening to him all week I’d be happy to rearrange his limbs, but killing somebody . . .”

  Joker locked eyes with Tobias. “I’d never ask you to do something I wouldn’t do. We have a charter club in Vegas who's been very dissatisfied with the way Digger’s been handling shit here in New York.”

  “Why don’t you get one of his club buddies here,” “Daisy said. “I’ve seen the looks they give him. It’s not admiration.”

  “It’d never work,” Joker said. “Most of them are too strung out all the time to keep it together. The last thing we need is one of them bringing us all down because they’re jacked up and shooting off their mouth. It’d be way too risky.”

  Daisy shot a glance to the others. “We know some people in Vegas too.”

  “And I am missing that desert we call home,” added Sheena.

  “The Serpents are a bunch of tough bikers but they respect family,” Joker said. “They’ve been looking for an excuse to get rid of Digger, and once I tell them Digger involved my kid in his bullshit. He won’t stand a chance.”

  “The Serpents,” Seth said with an air of reverence. “They definitely have a rep out there. And nothing says fuck you like dropping a body in the desert.”

  “Now, we have to get this asshole out to Vegas.”

  “Easy.” Daisy smiled. “He kept asking me when we would start filming, and now I’ll tell him he’s the star. The idiot will jump at the chance.”

  “Right, all we need is an empty studio, some cameras . . .”

  “And Vinnie Black.” Daisy popped a fry into her mouth.

  “Exactly.” Sheena, Tobias and Seth chimed in.

  Chapter Three

  The elevator rose with an initial whoosh, and then silence until Daisy and Joker reached the fortieth floor. They exited the elevator, found their room and entered a luxurious suite at the Capri Hotel. The marble floored foyer led to an open living room with another door off to the side Joker assumed was the bedroom.

  “You weren’t kidding when you said someone would set us up.”

  Daisy flicked some buttons on the intricate wall panel, and the sheer panels covering the floor-to-ceiling windows opened. Joker admired the Las Vegas Strip, and a crystal blue sky, with a mountain range in the background. The whole thing looked fake, like a Hollywood backdrop.

  “Some of my contacts out here are still pretty good.”

  “And this Vinnie Black is the hotel manager?”

  “You could say Vinnie manages all the premier Vegas hotels. He’s the man you see for more select entertainment. Every doorman, bellhop and concierge has his number. You want it, he can get it.”

  “Sounds like an interesting guy.” Joker marveled at the waterfalls, fountains, even the Eiffel Tower. “Like Disneyland for adults.”

  Daisy joined him at the window. “I think that’s actually in some of their ads.”

  “And I’m guessing most the stuff this Vinnie gets is illegal.”

  “Some yes, some no. He only does things to benefit himself.”

  “I get that.”

  Joker wanted to soak it all in. This had been Daisy’s home before she hooked up with him in Miami, and he wanted to get a feel for the place. According to Daisy; Sheena, Seth, Tobias and her all worked for some mastermind schemer, but when the IRS caught up with him they all scattered. Daisy fleeing to Miami, and Sheena, Seth and Tobias waiting tables at the Pirate’s Cove, a theme restaurant on the Strip.

  “Do we need some fancy cover story for Vinnie?”

  “No, that’s the beauty part. I play the savvy con woman who saved his ass many times, and you play the pissed off biker who wants retaliation for his son.”

  “Do I wanna know how you saved his ass?”

  “Let’s say when two, three-hundred-pound meatheads were chasing him through a restaurant kitchen I accidentally tipped over a bubbling cauldron of boiling lobsters.”

  “Are you shittin’ me?”

  “True story. Vinnie got away, the meatheads suffered serious, but not fatal burns, and when the police came they found some agitated lobsters, then locked up the meatheads for outstanding warrants.”

  Sounded logical, but guys like Vinnie never gave anything away for free.

  “And here I thought I knew everything about you.”

  “And there were plenty of other times I saved him. Widowed and divorced heiresses he’d wronged, irate financiers he’d ghosted. Believe me, he owes me this suite.”

  Of course, she’d had a life before him, they’d dissected the seamier sides of both their pasts in Miami, but the stories he didn’t know would drive him crazy in another way.

  “That’s what scares me about you hanging with Seth, Tobias and Sheena. They know all my secrets.”

  “Looks like I’m gonna have to have a private sit-down with them.” He drew her into his arms, and when she burrowed into his chest, he inhaled her scent. Sweet and citrusy like an orange orchard. He would’ve loved to make believe it was just the two of them and they were in Vegas for a getaway.

  “We have about an hour before we have to meet up with him.”

  “More than enough time.”

  “Mmmm. You have something in mind?” Daisy snuck her fingers between them.

  “Haven’t you learned about teasing me yet?” He scooped her up and carried her into the spacious bedroom.

  “I’ve learned teasing you usually gets me exactly what I want.” She yelped when he dropped her on the king-size bed, not wasting any time as he pulled her T-shirt over her head and unsnapped the front closure of her bra. He cupped her breasts then teased her nipple with his tongue.

  No matter how many times he had her, it was never enough. Daisy saved him in Miami. Not just in the physical way, but in all the ways that counted. She’d healed the hole in his heart left by his first wife’s suicide and filled all the empty spaces that made him want to do more than just exist. She helped him realize his goal of getting out of the club, and if not for that bastard Digger, Daisy, Derek and him would be living together worry free.

  “Hey.” Daisy ran her hands through his hair. “Where’d you go?”

  “It’s nothing.” He rolled his shoulders trying to get back in the moment. Trying to shake off the anger and pain.

  “I thought we said we weren’t going to do that anymore.”

  His brow knitted together.

  “Shut down and keep it all in,” Daisy said.

  Joker drew in a deep breath. “You’ve done so much for me—”

  “Just as much as you’ve done for me.”

  “But I feel like I’m still putting you through shit. Still making you clean up my messes.”

  “Whose idea was this to come out to Vegas?”

  “Yours.”

  “And do I seem reluctant or angry about helping you?”

  “No.” But the fact remained. His bad shit was still following them.

  “Then can you please shut up about it and get busy here.”

  “Bossy little bitch, aren’t you?” Joker undid the button of her jeans, holding her eyes captive as he slid down the zipper, slipping his hands around to cup her ass. “Looks like I’m gonna have to give you exactly what you want.”

  She squealed when he grabbed her ankles, anchored his fingers in the hem of her jeans and yanked them off, flinging them to the floor.

  He fumbled with the button and zipper of his jeans, then pushed them to his hips seconds before she pulled him to her. He ground against her, feeling her heat, knowing there was nowhere he’d rather be then right between her thighs. He nuzzled her neck nipping the sensitive skin craving the little purring sounds he’d come to love.

  “Ahh, fuck.” He pushed his palms against the mattress. “Condoms are still in my duffel.”

  She cupped his face. “How abo
ut we forget about them.” She laughed at his confused expression. “I’m on the pill, and we were both tested when we got to New York.”

  “Right.” Wow that rocked him. Using condoms was the regular for him. He could be falling down drunk, but he never forgot to strap up. Taking Daisy real made her even more special.

  “I lost you again.”

  “No, babe. You’ll never lose me. I just get blown away by everything bouncing around in my head. All those feelings I thought were gone forever, and you brought them all back.”

  She nudged him closer. “You’re good with this?”

  “Taking the woman I love raw, and giving her everything I got? Oh, yeah, I’m good with that.”

  He nestled himself against her, shifting to get the right angle, then slowly slipping into her wet heat. This was the best, nothing beat having Daisy under him, surrounding him, giving him all he needed and more.

  He took it slow, until they found their rhythm. Two people in sync body and mind. His brain flashed to Miami. The crazy way they met, then running away from the cartel. Daisy acted all tough and in control until he found out she was hurting as much as him. Maybe more.

  She grabbed onto him digging her nails into his shoulders, bringing him to the present. “Look at me.” Her breathless demand snapping his face to hers.

  They’d shared all their secrets in Miami, and when Derek got shot, she vowed to help him. Yeah, his girl was loyal.

  He pumped into her harder, letting her know he was loving her. “Best fuckin’ thing ever, feeling every part of you.”

  Her body trembled under him. He sucked the soft flesh of her neck, and she shook and shattered around him.

  “So fuckin’ good feeling you squeeze me.”

  He let her ride it out, then he jerked his hips, slamming harder, growling into her neck, mumbling her name. Her body milking him making him go rigid and then exploding around her, in her. His biceps flexed, he dropped his head between his arms, panting, spent. He levered himself over her brushing a soft kiss to her lips, then breaking away because he still struggled to breathe.

  “You all right?” She scraped his wild hair away from his face.

  “Better than all right.” He smiled loving her gentle touch and the way she asked after him. Even when she was conning him in Miami there was a part of herself she couldn’t hide. The hurt little girl nobody wanted peeked out at the oddest times making her all the more vulnerable.

  It was that part of her he vowed to keep safe and protect.

  Chapter Four

  After a shower and a change of clothes Joker and Daisy made their way through the main casino of the Capri. Joker hated acting like a tourist, but he couldn’t help it. The energy in the massive room turned his head in every direction. Slot machines pinging and dinging, roulette wheels spinning, and the rise and fall of cheers and jeers from the craps tables. He’d been to Empire City in New York, but it was nothing like this place. Celebrity restaurants, indoor tropical rain forest complete with a waterfall, a collection of antique cars driven by dead gangsters, and that was just on the casino floor.

  “This place is fuckin’ ridiculous,” Joker said.

  The theme of the Capri was ancient Rome which required every worker to dress in either a toga for the women or a gladiator costume for the men complete with sword and helmet. Fuckin’ crazy.

  “Funny thing when I lived here, I hardly ever came to the Strip unless I was . . .”

  “Running a con?”

  “Look at all these tourists waiting for the next big win. Although I’m glad I’m out of the game, it was exciting.”

  “I get it.”

  Daisy led him into the main bar in the center of the casino. “You sure we can trust this guy?”

  “I’ve known him for years and the beauty part is, I have more on him than he has on me.”

  Joker understood that. In his biker days, the best allies were fuckers as badass as him. Mutual outlaws meant mutual trust.

  As they zeroed in on the upholstered, wraparound bar Joker picked out Vinnie Black, then thought, nah too obvious. Unfortunately, like most times, Joker was right. Vinnie was all sharp suit, and crisp white shirt opened at the neck with a gaze that focused on nothing but saw everything. A few gold chains and Joker would’ve thought they’d stepped onto the set of Goodfellas.

  Vinnie stood when he saw Daisy and opened his arms wide. “Charlie it’s been too long.”

  He totally ignored Joker at her side, and at six-four he was kinda hard to miss. So yeah, the guy was a douche.

  Daisy walked into his embrace but kept her arms at her side. Vinnie did not, and it took all Joker’s newfound self-control to keep from ripping her away from this asshole. Plus, it pissed him off that he called her Charlie, short for Charleen. The name she used in her scamming days, but she wasn’t that person anymore. She was Daisy now, his Daisy. Of course, the guy probably only knew her as Charlie, and Joker’s anger was irrational, but fuck him anyway.

  This new logical thinking was gonna kill him or give him a raging ulcer.

  Vinnie stepped to Daisy’s side and glanced at Joker. “What are you her bodyguard?”

  “No, he’s my . . .”

  And as Daisy searched for the word that described them Joker’s jaw tightened.

  “He’s not my bodyguard,” Daisy finally said.

  Vinnie shrugged, turned his back on him and concentrated on Daisy talking bullshit about mutual friends in Vegas. A dick move for sure.

  The female bartender circled around, shot Joker a big toothy grin, then leaned over the bar flashing her cleavage in his direct line of vision. He contained the eye roll and ordered a beer on tap. Yeah, it was only eleven-thirty in the morning, but this was gonna be a long fuckin’ day.

  His beer came, and Vinnie nodded to the bartender. “Put it on my tab.”

  Joker didn’t argue. Let the douche pay for his beer.

  Daisy opened up their little circle and squeezed Joker’s forearm. “Vinnie has everything we need.”

  She’d already filled Vinnie in on their plan when they were in New York.

  “Great.” Joker sipped his beer as he and Vinnie eyeballed each other. Joker couldn’t contain the smirk. Did this asshole think he was gonna bitch him down in his designer suit and shoes?

  “Let’s go over the plan,” Daisy said. “That is if the two of you can put that ruler away.”

  Vinnie smiled and Joker huffed out a laugh. Leave it to his girl to cut to the chase. Perceptive as always. Joker circled his arm around her waist, drew her close, then placed a soft kiss on the top of her head. A subtle move that said she was his. He enjoyed Vinnie trying to not have a reaction.

  “I’ve got a small studio out in the desert,” Vinnie said. “It’s been used for a lot of different things, but it definitely looks professional, and will work for what you have in mind.”

  “The object of the game is to get this fucker Digger out here and make him think he’s gonna be HBO’s next big star,” Joker said. “Only thing is his costars are gonna be real bikers with real bullets.”

  Vinnie mashed his lips together. “Some interesting things happened in that studio, but never murder.”

  “You don’t even have to be there. We’ve got our own people, and a clean-up committee.” Joker sneered. “Plus, you’re getting paid for it.”

  “But still.” Vinnie paused. “I’ve got a whale coming in tonight from Macau. You remember Choi?” he said to Daisy, then turned to Joker. “Macau’s casinos are even bigger than Vegas, so a few times a year Choi likes to come here to relax and kick back.”

  “And what does this guy have to do with us?”

  Vinnie shot a look to Daisy. “Back in the day, before Macau exploded into a gambling capitol, Choi spent all his time in Vegas. I guess you could say he was Daisy’s mentor.” Vinnie narrowed his eyes. “Taught her everything she knows . . . about being a card mechanic.”

  Was this fucker kidding, or what? He made sure he paused in just the right place, b
ut Joker kept his game face firmly intact. Staring down jacked up thugs in Rikers made this guy look like a joke.

  Vinnie gazed at Daisy. “He’d love it if you were the dealer at his private game tonight. Penthouse suite overlooking the Dancing Waters, premium liquor, piles of money, and all you have to do is deal the right cards.”

  Joker released his arm from around Daisy’s waist and took a half-step forward. “She doesn’t do that kinda shit anymore.”

  “Letting a man talk for you, Charlie? That doesn’t seem like you at all.”

  Joker’s jaw was aching, and if he ground his teeth any harder they might disintegrate.

  “He’s right, I’m out of all that.”

  “Hmm, shame. Choi will be disappointed. When I told him you were coming home, he was excited. Probably the main reason he made the trip. Seeing how you’ve made his former stays memorable.”

  “I sincerely doubt Choi flew all the way from Macau to see me.”

  “That might be true, but here’s another truth. If you don’t run this game,” Vinnie jerked his thumb at Joker, “he doesn’t get my help.”

  Silence as they all waited the other out. First to talk was the loser. Didn’t matter if you were a Wall Street broker, an insurance salesman, a con artist or an outlaw biker. Joker knew the rules, and apparently so did Vinnie.

  “Hey guys, there you are.” Seth sauntered toward them.

  Okay, match point. Nobody folded, but the question still hung in the air, and there was no fuckin’ way Daisy was running some crooked card game for some Asian whale. And he’d make sure he told her once they got away from this asshole.

  “All right,” Daisy said. “I’ll do it.”

  Joker’s mouth fell open, then he clamped it shut hoping nobody noticed his break.

  Off to the side, Seth quietly observed their little drama.

  “That’s my girl.” Vinnie directed the comment at Joker, then leaned into Daisy and kissed her cheek. “I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me.”

  Joker kept his expression blank. Fuck him if he’d give that bastard the satisfaction of a reaction. Vinnie smiled at Daisy, then left with the cocky swagger of a man who just got what he wanted.