Was that why Alex was doing this, for the sake of his dad? He didn’t talk to me much—or much at all when he didn’t need to—but it made so much more sense than him wanting to have ties to the mafia like I'd originally thought. He wasn’t looking to join ranks; he was trying to keep his dad alive.
It explained what Angelo, or rather his dad, had over Alex, but what did he have that they found so valuable?
"When you say genius…"
"Poker, baby. What else?"
"You mean like counting cards?" They'd been on with the scheme a while when I was pushed into it, but I didn’t think it was that simplistic. Alex and I hadn't gone to a casino in the time since I was sent in.
"Oh, no. He could do that, sure, but for a guy like him, that's old school. Plenty of people still sit in a room, around a physical table with chips and cards on it and play, but the real money is in internet poker these days. Anyone can play no matter how small their stakes and a lot more people can join in one game. The more you win, the more you advance in tiers collecting even more wins."
"But isn’t that just small money?" I asked.
"Small money, yeah. But, see, small money from a hundred to a thousand people in a day, is still a lot of money. The advancements help, too, clean out the smaller fish and go hunting for bigger prey. It’s easy free money if you know how to play. But because it's on the internet, old tricks like counting cards don’t work. Alex came up with a way to rig an online game."
"But you already earn huge amounts at the casinos, don’t you?" I knew his family owned several, some operated under the table, but the one at his father's hotel was certainly the biggest.
"We rake in a lot, sure, but think of the expense. If we didn’t have our own people in there clearing people out, we'd be losing more than we're making. Online poker is such a simple thing, fewer stakes for more profits. Hell, we had part of the casino renovated, and put in computer units and set up a whole system to encourage people to come and play there, because it was so damn lucrative. People willing to brag about their wins came to pay us to play in the casino when they could be doing it from the comfort of their homes. It’s a win-win for us. Only old veterans even do that stuff live anymore."
"So what Alex is doing is getting people to hand over money…"
"So he can rig games for them," he finished with a smile
But how did that work? Like whatever Alex sent to that client's phone? But if he was handing it over, how the hell were people still coming back directly to him to get the same thing? Unless it was a one-off thing, but he'd made it sound like special software and I was sure they had longer shelf lives.
"But," Angelo continued, pausing for dramatic effect when he realized he had my attention. "The real deal behind it all, is that it's all a trick."
"You're tricking clients?" Could they do that and not get into trouble? With the kind of people I'd seen handing over money?
"Oh, not entirely. See, they get what they ask for, but it doesn’t last long. They have to come back for more."
"Why?"
"I don't know all the technicalities so I can't explain it well. It is amazing, though, I give the kid props for that."
Why was he calling Alex kid? I thought, frantic. Weren’t they the same age?
"You know it works?" I was treading a thin line. I couldn’t afford to offend him so I bit my tongue against whatever more wanted to slip out.
He didn’t seem to mind. "I did a pilot scheme just to prove it to our more cautious clients. I collected one grand from each, with the kind of people coming to us a thousand dollars is nothing to lose. I let Alex do his thing, he came out of it with three thousand dollars, for each client."
"That's…."
"Amazing, right? They didn’t hesitate to sign up after that. They even advocated for us, got us more clients, bigger paying ones."
"How much are you guys getting?"
"Alex is asking for twenty thousand this time around, twenty clients in total. It's something of a deposit; we get the money and purchase for them a bid worth the same amount in a game that they choose. Once returns start trickling in, we get back the original amount, plus a ten percent commission of total profits they clean out.
"Even better, the software does all that for us, billing back the initial amount and taking the commission cut above it, so we just wait for cash to drop into the bank. Considering the money comes back tripled, even quadrupled, they don’t mind we're taking a cut. They are also very willing to pay more to get the same, over and over. So, we have a nice, cozy account filling with steady money, and increased profits coming in from the casinos."
He smiled, pouring himself another glass, then holding it up as if in a toast. He was smirking, but he looked different; cold, calculating and dangerous, and it made my body shiver.
"Like I said. Easy money, baby."
Chapter 6
Destiny
I was still reeling from what Angelo had revealed. Easy money? I hadn't believed there could be such a thing, but I learned quickly since meeting Angelo that that was a foolish assumption. That Alex could do all that, though, was surprising.
Twenty grand, twenty clients. That was four hundred thousand dollars, nearly half a million. And they'd been doing it longer, so it probably already hit the mark, was floating above it. And that was just what they were collecting from clients; adding whatever commission they were getting, and it was a huge sum of money, maybe three quarters of a million. If they went on with the scheme, it would be even more.
I wondered if Angelo had Alex rig any games for him.
"Have you seen Zoe lately?"
I glanced up, surprised he'd asked about her, though I didn’t show it. Was it possible he knew my real reason for coming? I hid my unease at the thought.
"Why do you ask?"
"I thought she was a little sick," he shrugged. "The two of you are friends, I thought you might know something. She's just as bad at taking care of herself as you."
He shook his finger at me, and I smiled to hide how disturbed the action—again, like he was addressing a toddler—made me feel.
"Besides that, I do wish that boy would hurry it up. He can sell it like a good con man but why won't he hurry up and finish?" He frowned, his good mood blinking right out, so fast I felt a little worried.
"Be patient, Angelo. I can assure you he's good. You should have seen him at the meeting this morning."
His smile returned, and I breathed a silent sigh of relief.
"Ah, yes. The client called me to tell me all about how impressed he was with Alex. And he's an old acquaintance of my father, they both have the same standards, so you can imagine just how hard it is to impress him." He rubbed at his lower lip with his finger, an action I'd come to realize meant he was thinking deeply. He dropped his hand, taking his glass and adding more liquor. "In any case, there are only a few more clients to go. If Alex can manage to win them over, he's done."
I felt a chill crawl down my spine at how final that sounded. With the dark look on his face, I worried a little just how this would end for Alex.
But the thing about Zoe… why would he ask me if she was sick? Unless she came to see him recently, maybe even before she came to the hotel?
Why would she do that? If he'd asked her to come, he wouldn’t have dropped her name so casually into the conversation. I would have had to look for a way to mention her that wouldn’t arouse his suspicion or attract his ire.
A sudden knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts. Angelo put down his glass and walked to the door. I drifted closer, to the side so I could look beyond his hulking body covering the doorway, to see at who it was on the other side.
It was one of his underlings, I couldn’t remember being introduced to him so I didn’t know his name. Angelo stood at the door, not allowing him entry, but he didn’t look like he expected it.
"What is it?" There was no welcome in his voice, only a command to state his business and disappear. He talked to all his und
erlings that way.
"There's been a problem."
My curiosity and interest perked up. I looked away from them just in case, pretending to be engrossed in a panting hung up on the wall. I tried to keep them in my peripheral vision and listened carefully.
"What is it?"
"I'm not sure how it happened, I only just heard of it, but there's been… an accident."
"What sort of accident."
"The fatal kind. It's not looking good at all, boss. If I'd been aware earlier I probably could have done something."
My blood went cold as I put the pieces together in my head. Whatever they meant by 'accident', I knew it was likely someone had died. It wasn’t the first I'd heard of someone dying around a Sputafuoco, but I'd never heard it while being so close to one. I could brush it off before, even when it bothered me what could I do about it? But I couldn’t shove it under the rug so easily this time.
"I'm sorry boss, but… everything might fall through."
"Hmm. I'm not so sure about that."
I felt a little sick at how calm he sounded getting the news that someone had died. It wasn’t an act; I knew he didn’t care.
"But boss…"
"Don’t worry about it, not just yet. It would only be a problem if it became public knowledge. He doesn’t need to know, not until he's done. Is that clear?"
They're talking about Alex.
I had no proof, but my intuition told me this was about Alex. Something must have happened to his dad. Out of nowhere, my body felt ice cold.
I had to warn him… but could I? And would it be of any help, really? He was doing this for Sputafuoco Senior, for the sake of saving his father. But he couldn’t just pull away so easily even if his dad was gone, they wouldn’t let him.
Fuck. What the hell am I going to do?
As I thought about my internal dilemma, Angelo finalized his little talk. The lackey was more than happy not to receive punishment for the accident, his tone urgent, and just a little relieved as he answered the unspoken command.
"Yes boss. I'll take care of it right away."
He walked off quickly, and Angelo closed the door, leaving us alone together. I wanted to call him back, even though he wouldn’t help me, not against his own boss.
"Destiny?"
"Hmm?" I turned at Angelo's call, a distracted smile spreading on my lips. I was going to play the clueless bimbo if it was the only thing that would get me out that door in one piece. The act would fucking be worth an Oscar if I had to lie through my teeth.
"I apologize for the rude interruption."
"Was it anything important?"
"Not particularly."
Of course, it wasn’t.
"But come, tell me. You came here to ask something of me, or was it just to see me?"
"Oh," I floundered internally, before hitting a jackpot. "I just wanted to know a little more about Alex, why I have to stay with him for so long. You know I would do it anyway, since you asked it of me, but he's such a bore. He won't do anything at all with me." I put a whine in my voice, tilting my head to the side and pouting like a spoiled little girl.
He chuckled. "That's because he's a smart man." He crossed over to me, and I turned so my body faced his. He stopped in front of me, his fingers touching my chin to raise my head up. "If you want that kind of entertainment, you come to me, hmm? No other man touches you without my consent."
But it was fine if he okayed it, was what I read into that statement. I smiled, letting my eyes go half lidded as I leaned just a little closer to his space, enough to be suggestive, but not too far to cross the line of impropriety.
"Can we have some fun now, then? You're not busy, right?"
"As much as I would love to, I do have prior obligations. I'm awaiting a business associate."
I sighed, affecting disappointment. "Another time, I suppose."
"Definitely." He took my hand, raising it so he could kiss the back of it, holding my gaze as he did so.
It made my skin crawl, but I smiled anyway. You're working for an Oscar, baby. It doesn’t come cheap.
"I should probably go now if you're meeting someone here. You don’t need to worry about Alex, though. I'm doing my best keeping him in check for you. Just like you asked me to."
His lips curved into a satisfied smile. "You know, that's what I love about you. I knew it was a good idea to put you on the job. You never fail me, do you sweetheart?"
I smiled as he kissed my cheek, looking up at him coyly from under my lashes. I didn’t answer him because he didn’t need me to. He didn’t ask; he wouldn’t be happy if I didn’t do as I was told, and Angelo in a bad mood was undeniably bad for my health.
I turned to leave, the smile falling off my face, and I thought my heart would freeze over from the chill.
Chapter 7
Alex
He must have thought he was good at it. The moron that was following me was nothing but an amateur, though. Unless he was using it as an intimidation tactic, then he must have been an expert. It was working.
It was also damn inconvenient. I was heading out to meet a client, one that wouldn’t meet at the hotel that belonged to a business rival, even though he was doing business with said rival. The proposed meeting place wasn’t even close; it was several blocks away. If I walked, I would make it in an hour, if not longer. I'd have to foot the bill to take a cab, but that didn’t appeal either when I could just drive myself there.
Luckily, I'd been warned ahead of time and was prepared.
I walked about a block from the hotel, trying to act natural, as if I hadn't noticed I was being followed. I kept my senses open, checking out the area as I walked. I didn’t realize just how worried I was until the tension in my chest released when I saw what I was looking for.
I hurried to my old car and let myself in. If it wasn’t such a POS I might have worried about it being left in the middle of town unlocked. But I was in the privileged side of town; the car stuck out and more people kept away than approached it.
I glanced at my review mirror as I put on my seat belt for a clearer look at the guy. I searched through the walking crowd, and when I didn’t see him, I felt a moment of doubt. Maybe he was just some guy walking the same way, he could have been waiting for some different guy outside the hotel.
It was highly unlikely though. And then I saw him. He was tall, with a lean build, dressed casually in jeans, a T-shirt and a brown leather jacket. He had brown hair, but I couldn’t tell the color of his eyes from so far away.
I didn’t know him. My memory wasn’t impeccable, but I was good with faces. He didn’t look like any of Angelo's goons, at least the ones I'd met. Or maybe he was a goon of the client I was going to meet. But there wasn’t any reason why he would have someone come to the hotel just so they could follow me.
Unless… he was someone else altogether. Fuck. I didn’t need more people coming after me, not just yet.
Lucky for me, he didn’t seem to have a ride; or expect me to have one. The piece of crap was old, and it probably spent more time in a shop than I did sitting in it. But it had belonged to my parents. I played against my dad when he tried selling it, the first win I ever made against the master that taught me all the tricks I knew.
That it happened to be so conveniently available when I needed it was because of total lucky coincidence and loyal friends. Or rather something along the lines of friends with benefits, but the kind that went for money instead of sex. More of a partnership, but not someone I could trust long term, to stick his neck out for a couple grand in a risky scheme or I would have asked for help sooner.
I reached into the glove box, pulling out the key. I crossed my fingers as I tried to start the car. It sputtered loudly, but roared to life after a second. It sounded better than it had in a while.
I grinned to myself, throwing the car into reverse. I threw an arm behind the passenger seat and looked back, my eyes sliding over my stalker. He was just standing there, talking into a phone. I saw
him glance my way, then he noticed I was looking back and turned around. I read the frustration in his face though.
For a moment, I worried about Destiny. She'd come back from Angelo's sometime last night, but I hadn't gotten a chance to talk to her. I'd stepped out for a bit, only to come back and find her asleep on the couch. I'd carried her to the bedroom, suffered through changing her and tucking her into bed before going back to the lonely couch by myself.
She'd looked exhausted. She was younger than me by at least a couple of years, but the lines on her face, around her mouth that the makeup couldn’t hide, would place her as much older. When I woke up to realize she was still asleep, I'd left her alone. Then I got the call to go meet the client, and I left her a note.
I didn’t think whoever was following me would go after her though. The hotel was secure or Angelo wouldn’t have put me there with her to begin with, not with the kind of tech I had on me. I convinced myself not to worry about her, pulling out of the parking space and watching the road ahead.
I was close, so freaking close to my goal. I was meeting client number sixteen, then it was just four more clients and the deal was done.
I wasn’t so naïve to think it would be that simple, though. I had a few tricks up my sleeve I would pull out as bargaining chips when I felt they were needed. But I wanted it all over with so I could run off and reshape my life, again. I couldn't count on both hands how many times I'd had to do that because of one of my dad's stupid mistakes.
If I didn’t give a damn about him at all, I would have hit the road when I reached eighteen, headed off to Vegas, or made my way to New York, where I could get some serious money and serious opportunities.
Don’t think about it. Just keep your eyes on the goal; figuratively, of course.
I was good at that. So long as I had a goal to work through, I could do whatever I needed to do. I didn’t feel sorry for the people losing out; if you were going to gamble you had to be ready to lose. I did, too, in the beginning; before I learned the ropes, and then spun a few of my own.
Dirty Money: A Dark Mafia Romance (Alpha Men Book 1) Page 4
