Lucas (Texas Boudreau Brotherhood Book 5)

by Kathy Ivan

  “Alright.”

  Jill moved back to sit beside Douglas, watching Dante pace back and forth in front of the coffee table. She agonized along with him, knowing he’d give anything not to have to admit his weakness to Douglas Boudreau. Yet she recognized her brother had grown up a lot in the last few months, becoming a man she was proud of.

  “Emmanuel Benevides runs the local gaming club. He’s got a place over on the county border. He’s the big boss, rakes in tons of money from illegal gambling. I got sucked in with some of my buddies. It was easy money at first. We graduated from poker games in Junior’s garage to informal back room poker tournaments for higher stakes. Benevides promoted my friend Junior to manager, because although Junior’s my buddy, he’s also ruthless when it comes to money and power—and Benevides tempted him with both.”

  Dante scrubbed his hands over his face, and not for the first time Jill wished her brother had never given in to temptation.

  “I knew there was illegal gambling in the county, heard rumors about it for years, but had no idea where the club was located.”

  “Yeah, Douglas, these places aren’t out in the open, because then Rafe could bust ’em. It’s in a nearly deserted strip mall. Place is always packed. Heck, some nights there’s so many people there, they could get busted for being over occupancy. You can’t imagine the amount of money it pulls in on a nightly basis. Emmanuel runs the one here in Shiloh Springs, and another one in Burnet County. I’m ashamed to admit how much money I threw away, chasing after a pipe dream.”

  “I think I’ve got the picture. Your buddy Junior encouraged you until you got in over your head, right? Racked up a debt big enough you couldn’t pay it back. That’s what they do. At least, they did when I was young and stupid.”

  Dante’s eyes rounded in surprise. “You?”

  Douglas chuckled. “Son, none of us is perfect. I was something of a wild man when I was in the Army, both here and abroad. It’s easy to get sucked in. People pay attention to you, make you feel important, especially when you’re winning. Losing, on the other hand, sucks. You find yourself chasing the next hand, the next win. The fever, the rush, catches you by the throat and doesn’t turn loose. Winning is a heady, intoxicating feeling. Makes you feel like you’re on top of the world and nobody can stop you. Problem is, nobody stays on top for long, and the fall can be a killer.”

  “That’s it exactly!” Dante’s voice rose in excitement. “You feel like you’re invincible. Nobody can touch you because you’re the big man. Until reality slams you upside the head with a reality check. It certainly did for me.”

  “Dante, it’s okay. It’s over, we’re past it.” Jill walked over and wrapped her arm around her brother, giving him a gentle hug.

  “No, we’re not. I’m the one who brought Benevides to your door. You lost everything because I’m an idiot. Now that you’re in Benevides’ sights, I’m not sure what he’ll do. He might carry himself like a gentleman in front of you, but I’ve seen the real man. Trust me, he’s evil to the core. I want you to stay as far away from him as possible.”

  “I agree with your brother, Jill. I think we should have Rafe and Antonio find out exactly who Mr. Benevides is, and why he’s suddenly sniffing around you.”

  Jill shuddered as she remembered Emmanuel’s eyes, the soulless black void, and wrapped her arms across her chest, trying to ward off the sudden chill. “Excellent idea. I need to know who and what I’m dealing with.”

  “How about I spend the night on your couch, Sis? It’ll make me feel better, especially since Benevides came sniffing around. In the morning, we’ll talk to Rafe, and fill him in on everything.”

  “Yes, you can spend the night. I can’t go see Rafe first thing in the morning, though. I’ve got deliveries and shipments coming in, and I have to be at the bakery. We can call him in the morning, and see if he can come by there.”

  Dante looked at Douglas, who gave a sharp nod. Jill bit her lip to keep from smiling at the way her brother deferred to the older man. He couldn’t find a better role model and example to follow. She walked over and clasped his hand in between hers.

  “Thank you, Douglas, for being concerned about me, and coming to watch over me with Dante. Since he’s going to stay the night, you go on home. If anything happens, I promise we’ll call.”

  “I’ll hold you to that, Jill. I haven’t told Ms. Patti much, because she tends to worry about you gals. Be prepared, because when she hears about this—and she will—you’re gonna have to answer a million and one questions. Don’t be surprised if she shows up on your doorstep. She might be a sharp businesswoman, but at heart she’s a nurturer, and you’re officially one of her baby chicks.”

  “I’m honored. Thank you again.”

  After he left, she twisted the deadbolt, locked the apartment up tight, and whirled on her brother.

  “I’m too tired to deal with anything else tonight. Pillows and an extra blanket are in the hall closet. If you’re hungry, help yourself to anything in the kitchen.”

  Walking the short distance between them, she grabbed her brother’s face between her hands. “I appreciate that you worry about me, but next time, don’t leave me in the dark, okay? I’m not a fragile porcelain doll. I won’t break.” She stretched up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Love you.”

  “Love you more.”

  Emmanuel Benevides sat in his Mercedes in the apartment building’s parking lot, and watched the lights go off in Jillian’s apartment. Dante showed up on her doorstep mere minutes after she’d turned Emmanuel away, along with an older man who looked very familiar. If he wasn’t mistaken, and he rarely was, it had been Douglas Boudreau. Strange, his intel hadn’t mentioned either of the Monroe’s knowing the core family of Shiloh Springs, though he’d seen them traipsing through her new shop. Like everyone else in this tiny town, he’d heard of the Boudreau family and their foster sons. All of them held positions of authority, so-called honorable men, like their adoptive father. He doubted any of them would be darkening the doors of his clubs.

  A few bad seeds had made their way through the Boudreau clan over the years, ones who’d managed to withstand the syrupy message spewed by the do-gooders. The Texas foster care system didn’t always succeed in placing kids with an environment that matched their personalities, no matter how careful the selection process worked. One of the men who’d stayed for a short time with the Boudreaus worked with his big brother, Javier, down in Harris County.

  Might be time to dig a little deeper, and see if these Boudreaus were going to be a problem. Emmanuel chuckled, the sound echoing inside the car. Luckily, he was very good at taking care of problems. Do-gooders like the Boudreaus might think they were pillars of the community, but Emmanuel knew how easy it was for the mighty to fall. To give in to temptation. Or to threats. When that didn’t work, he wasn’t opposed to physical displays to get his point across.

  It irked his pride that Jill Monroe turned him away from her door, a thwarted suitor for her affection. She fascinated him, had from the second he’d seen her standing before him, unafraid for herself, her only concern for her brother. It had been close, because he’d almost decided to wipe Dante’s debt clear, just to see her again. But business and pleasure didn’t mix, as he’d learned the hard way. Still, he hadn’t forgotten about Jillian.

  Tonight, he’d heard the tremble in her voice, tinged with fear. Not such a bad thing, fear. People did a lot of things they’d never do, with a little motivation. She’d regret turning him away from her door.

  Turning over the engine, he pulled out of the parking lot and headed for his club. Time to get a little work done, then he could turn his mind toward pleasure. Winning the beautiful Jillian would be his greatest challenge, and possibly his greatest reward. Regardless of the cost, he would have her.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  “Hey, Luke, you ready to take a break?” Junior walked over to stand behind his chair. Lucas winced, wanting to berate the idiot for a clear faux pas. Didn’t
he know better? You never take up a position behind an active player.

  “Let me finish this hand.”

  At the turn of the next card, he folded, and stood, motioning to have his stack of chips cashed in, and headed toward the front of the club with Junior. Hopefully, it meant he was about to meet the big cheese. The noise from inside the main room was deafening, the place packed wall-to-wall with bodies, crammed into the space and playing the electronic machines, plunking down their money like lemmings.

  “Got a call from the boss. He’s on his way. He should be here in about ten minutes. Wanted to give you a head’s up, though. It sounded like he wasn’t in a real jovial mood, if you know what I mean. It’s up to you, but if you want to come by another time to meet him, it might not be a bad idea.”

  “Thanks, but I think I’ll stick around.”

  Lucas thought he heard Junior murmur, “It’s your funeral” under his breath, and almost laughed out loud. Wasn’t like whoever the big boss was would take him out back and blow his brains out. All anybody here knew was Luke was a dude from back east, who wanted to play whenever he was in town.

  It was more like five minutes before the door swung inward, and a Hispanic male strode through like he owned the joint—which he obviously did. Employees and guards reacted like they’d been gigged with a cattle prod. Postures changed, from relaxed and slouched to military-style attention. Smiles got plastered on the faces of the women moving from area to area, taking drink orders and generally helping customers. Guy apparently commanded a hearty dose of fear and respect from those working for him. Good to know.

  Lucas stood off to the side, watching, observing every movement, every nuance of the man’s aura of control. From every movement, even his stance, it was apparent he held a tight rein on his workers. Whether through fear and intimidation or excellent pay was yet to be determined. Junior rushed over, words spilling from his mouth a mile a minute. He practically genuflected, and Lucas fought the urge to roll his eyes at the display.

  Focus. Watch. Figure out who this dude is, what’s his angle, and the best way to take him down.

  Junior gestured toward Lucas, and motioned him over. He took his time crossing the distance separating them, calm and casual, but with a ‘don’t mess with me’ attitude. For now, he’d cede control to the newcomer, the boss, and learn how to read him. Figure out his weakness, because men like Junior’s boss always had one. Pride, greed, corruption of others, a need was always there beneath the surface to display their superiority. He needed to figure it out.

  “Luke, this is Emmanuel Benevides. He’s the proprietor of this fine establishment. Emmanuel, this is Luke—what was your last name again? I forgot.”

  “Stewart.”

  “Yep, that’s right. Luke Stewart. He’s the friend of Dante Monroe’s I told you about. His sister moved to Shiloh Springs, and Luke’s visiting. He wanted to meet you, because he’s got his own club back home.”

  Benevides listened as Junior rambled through the introduction, his gaze laser focused on Lucas, appraising and weighing him. Lucas couldn’t help wondering if he’d pass muster or be found lacking.

  “Welcome to my club, Mr. Stewart. Where exactly are you from?”

  “North Carolina. Charlotte to be precise. Nice place you’ve got. I’m impressed.”

  “You’re very kind. I hope Junior’s been giving you the VIP treatment.” Benevides’ voice held no hint of an accent, and Lucas figured he’d probably been born and raised in the U.S. Benevides’ gaze caught Junior’s, and Lucas saw the other man turn pale. Uh oh, looked like Junior had done something his boss wasn’t too pleased about.

  Without a word, Junior spun and raced toward the back room, the one Lucas spent the evening playing poker. Within minutes, he reappeared, holding a glass of what looked like whiskey in one hand, and a bottle of beer in the other. He gave a brief nod and handed the whiskey to Benevides, and passed Lucas the beer.

  “Mr. Stewart, perhaps you’d join me in my office. I’d like to hear a bit more about your club in North Carolina. Junior said you own your own place.”

  “I don’t own the entire club. I’m merely a silent partner. I have two others who run the day-to-day operation. You might call it an…investment in my future.”

  Benevides’ smile sent a chill up Lucas’ spine. “A profitable one, I hope.”

  “I do well.”

  Benevides opened an unmarked door, and stood aside, waiting for Lucas to precede him into what appeared to be an office. Though the furnishings were sparse, the one thing that stood out was the large freestanding safe off to the side. He could only imagine the amount of cash socked away inside. With the crowd outside, he’d wager it held upwards of six figures. Probably more after they closed out the night’s activities.

  “Junior told me Dante referred you?”

  Lucas nodded, ready to embellish his tale. “Yes. His sister is a friend of my sister. It’s a crazy story how she ended up here, but she’s happy and that’s all that matters. I mentioned to Dante I missed my poker games, and he recommended your club.”

  He hadn’t missed the strange expression that crossed Benevides’ face when he’d mentioned Dante’s sister, even though he hadn’t said Jill’s name. Something in his eyes made Lucas twitchy.

  “You’ve met Dante’s sister, Jillian. Such a lovely woman.”

  “Sure. I’ve met her once or twice, when she’s been with my sister. I didn’t pay her much attention. I’ve always made it a point not to get involved with any of my sister’s friends. Did that once. Things got ugly. It’s easier to avoid that particular complication.”

  Good thing I’m lying through my teeth. I don’t want this dude getting any ideas about Jill. I’ll have to get Dante a head’s up to keep Jill away from Benevides.

  “Tell me about your club, Mr. Stewart.”

  “Luke. It’s a little smaller than this one. The setup is on the outskirts of Charlotte. We’ve found too close to the city tends to draw more unwanted attention than we’re comfortable with. Most of our clientele prefer card games. Less poker than here; we run more toward blackjack. Although we have seen an uptick in selling lottery tickets, our own of course. Prizes vary from televisions to large appliances, automobiles, and of course, cash.”

  “Lottery tickets? Texas does a huge business selling lottery tickets, and they are legal. I can’t see spending the time or effort on something with little monetary return.”

  Lucas shrugged, and took another drink of his beer. “It’s legal in North Carolina, too, but people find the temptation of winning a prize without the requirement of giving Uncle Sam a portion of their prize is tempting. A temptation most of them are willing to indulge. I’ll be honest, probably a third to a half of our profits come from those private lottery ticket sales.”

  “Interesting.” Benevides leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled above his chest. “I may look into something like that, if the profits are as good as you claim.”

  “Trust me, they are. You might spend a thousand bucks on an enormous flat screen TV, then sell ten or fifteen thousand chances to win it for a dollar a pop. Fourteen grand profit, and your winner goes home ecstatic because they got a huge prize. Same thing with other prizes. Your return on investment can be astronomical. We’ve got a guy who regularly prints up scratch off tickets for cash prizes and the like. His work is impeccable. Looks exactly like something the state would have, at a fraction of the cost.”

  A soft knock on the door stopped Lucas from concocting even more elaborate lies. Reading the greed in Benevides’ eyes was easy, and he seemed interested in what Lucas alluded to, almost like a cobra watching the snake charmer.

  “Come in,” Benevides barked.

  Junior walked in, hold several money pouches. A slight smile curved the corners of Benevides’ lips when he spotted them. Junior moved past them, headed directly for the safe, and entered the combination, depositing the bags inside. Lucas felt the bottom of his stomach drop when he spotted the stacks of
cash inside. Looked like he’d underestimated the amount.

  After Junior closed the door behind him, Benevides stood and offered his hand. “I’ve enjoyed hearing about your endeavors on the east coast. Perhaps we can talk further, if you’re going to be in Shiloh Springs for long?”

  “I’m not sure how long I’ll be around. I know I’ll be traveling to Shiloh Springs several times in the upcoming months, both for business and to visit her.” Lucas tried to be as vague as possible. Having spent several hours in the club, he had a good chunk of information for his story, notwithstanding all the dirt he’d gotten from Dante. Yet something kept him from burning his bridges completely. He needed access to Benevides, to the club, to give to Rafe and Antonio. It was imperative they got enough evidence to shut them down. It might be only one club in a slew of many, but it was in his own backyard, which meant he knew a lot of the people who’d be tempted to indulge. Understood the lure of quick cash, the enticement of winning, making the big score.

  “Feel free to come back anytime.”

  “Thank you.”

  “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get some work done. You know how it is.”

  “Of course. I need to get back to my sister’s place anyway.”

  Lucas stepped out of the office, again being hit with the scent of stale cigarette smoke and alcohol. With a quick glance around, he spotted Dennis, the guy he’d played poker with, walking out the front door. Increasing his pace, he decided to take a chance and see if he could catch up with the guy.

  Hot air smacked him in the face when he walked outside. The day had been a scorcher, and the humidity still hung in the air. Dennis leaned against his car with his arms crossed over his chest, a speculative look on his face.

  “You seemed to have a good night.”

  “Not bad, though I pretty much broke even,” Lucas answered. “Feel like talking?”

  Dennis chuckled, his laugh deep and filled with mirth. “I’ve been killing time, waiting for you to get out of the boss man’s office. But not here, too much chance of somebody noticing us.”