Page 86 of Gambler's Conceit
“Holy shit,”the guy recording the video says. “That’s some motherfucking justice.”
The video ends there.
Seven scowls at Caleb. “There you have it. It’smotherfucking justice.”
I think it’s more like I’m beating up an older guy, but I guess I’ll take some random guest’s approval.
“Now, Grant knows that the Roi de Pique hates to inconvenience our upstanding police force, so he will not be pressing charges.” Caleb sighs loudly. “Thankfully the video doesn’t show your face, and Grant does not have the kinds of connections that would make this more inconvenient. Please don’t do it again, or if you do, make sure there are no cameras.”
“I dragged him out of sight,” I point out, baffled and defensive all at once.
“As my grandfather says, there are miles and miles of desert around us. Just drag your enemies there and leave them to die like a normal person.” Caleb smiles. After a beat, he adds, “That was a joke.”
“So… You aren’t getting rid of Havoc?” Seven asks with cautious optimism in his voice. “And Grant’s going to stop abusing the staff?”
“Grant will think long and hard about how he treats others while he recovers,” Caleb says. “Or, I assume so. I’m not visiting him in the hospital. What I do know is that I am now down a general manager, so Havoc had better be able to keep youentertained, Seven, while I find someone to fill in for him for the duration of his recovery.”
“You already have someone,” Seven says. “Vortex.” He pauses, then says, “Wait. If Vortex does that, I have to seehimless, too, huh. Never mind.”
I’m still so confused about everything.
“You’re supposed to be horrified,” I say. “Fire me. Send me packing.”
Seven elbows me in the gut. “Havoc! Shut up!”
“Havoc, I did read the background check.” Caleb walks over and perches himself on the edge of the bed. “I am fairly sure you know the rumors about the Roi de Pique and my family. Nothing you’ve done is anywhere near the worst I’ve seen. So long as you work on the proper time and place—and don’t take your aggressions out on people integral to my business—I honestly don’t give a fuck.”
“What rumors?” Seven asks, looking between us.
Caleb meets my gaze, and I can see the dare in his eyes.
I pull Seven closer to me. “Don’t you know? Calamity City is run by four gangster families. And Caleb’s granddaddy used to be the biggest gangster of them all.”
Seven shudders, pressing in closer to my side. I realize he’s shaking, and I wrap my arm tightly around him. “Oh.” He looks at Caleb, something like pleading in his voice as he asks, “Is it true?”
“It is,” Caleb answers, his voice gentle. “It does give me vast resources… including ones that could keep a pretty little kitten hidden away, well away from whatever monsters are chasing it.”
Seven flinches, and I wonder all over again about his past.
Who’s chasing him? And why?
Neither of them gives me an answer, though. Seven only nods—but he stays by my side instead of Caleb’s.
TWENTY
SEVEN
Nacho purrs against my neck,and I scratch behind his ears as he starts to knead my skin. His little claws come out with every pass, and I find myself wishing he’d scratch me for real, harder and deeper.
I shouldn’t be wishing that on the fucking cat. He’s trying to comfort him in the best way he knows how, even if there’s no way he can possibly understand just how off-balance and fucked up I feel.
It’s only been a day since the revelation that Caleb really is some gangster, some mafia guy who probably has people like me grabbed and sold daily without batting an eye. I hate him for it, and in a way, I hate Havoc for killing any illusions I’d had of Caleb not being so bad after all.
I might’ve had my reservations when I’d first met him, but it had been easy to believe he was just the mega wealthy CEO of a profitable casino as time had ticked by.
Maybe his darker desires should’ve clued me in to something else, something more, but…
I’d been stupid.