by Alexa McLean
“I have.” He smiled, lips stretching from ear to ear. “Best decision of my life. I swear I’m a better man because of it. She keeps me in line, she does.”
“Good for you,” I said through gritted teeth. Although we had settled our differences years ago, I still did not like this man. There was just something about him. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it but I knew better than to get too close. He was the kind of man who would stab his friends in the back.
“So, when are you gonna get hitched yourself?” He asked as he jabbed his elbow into my side. “There are plenty of candidates to choose from around here if you catch my drift.”
I shook my head.
“Oh, so you already have someone in mind, do you?”
I honestly remember this man being so annoying. “I’m sorry, Bradley, I would love to stay but I really must be going.”
“What’s the rush?” He asked. “There’s no fire.”
I didn’t bother to answer him. Instead, I started for the VIP rooms. The guards stood at the doorway, arms crossed against their chests. I couldn’t see their eyes safe for the dark sunglasses they wore on their faces. “I need to talk to Lacey.”
Silence.
“Come on, you know who I am. Let me talk to her.” My voice emerged as a growl. Still, they did not budge. My patience was waning. I stepped forward but they stopped me in my tracks.
“A moment, I will notify her of your arrival.” One of them slipped away behind the curtain.
With no other choice, I waited.
In that time, my mind buzzed. I kept looking over at Bradley with his new wife. I could see him laughing. Happiness painted his face. I was jealous. I wanted what he had: a relationship. But I would never achieve such a relationship if I kept Shelly in the dark. So, I vowed to tell her everything. I would give her all the answers she needed – anything – so long as it meant we could be together because, at the end of the day, that’s all I really wanted.
Chapter 15: Shelly
PREVIOUSLY.
“Well, I suppose a few hands won’t hurt...” I placed my bets on the table. “After all, it isn’t even my money.”
“A boyfriend’s money, perhaps?” The man pondered.
I hadn’t even realized that I had uttered that last bit aloud. “No.” He looked like he was searching for further explanation but I did not give it to him.
The dealer looked at me, waiting for me to make a move.
“Hit,” I said. With a 13 in my hand and the dealer holding a 17, it was the logical thing to do. But, of course, I was dealt a face card.
“Bust.”
“That’s too bad.” The man commented. “But we can’t win them all, can we?” He rounded up his winnings and stacked them against the edge of the table. “Most nights, I leave this place empty handed but I think tonight’s going to be my lucky night.”
The dealer passed out another set of cards.
“And would you look at that?” His grin deepened. “A pair of aces.”
Meanwhile, I had a horrible hand. My luck had completely turned around.
“My name is Hendrix, by the way.” He reached out his hand.
“Shelly.” I shook his hand out of sheer politeness but the second our palms came into contact, I regretted my decision. A shiver ran through my spine. There was something off about this man. “I would love to stay but I have work in the morning.” I lied.
“On a Saturday?” Obviously, he could see right through my lie. “If you’re gambling at this casino, I think you can afford to miss a day at work.”
“Oh, no, you don’t understand. My boss can be a real prick. Besides, we’re working on this major project and we’re coming up on a deadline –”
“You can stop with the bull.” His voice took on such a deadly edge that I froze in my seat. Before I could respond, he snatched a drink from a server and handed it over to me. “Now, I’ve got a better idea. You’ll have that drink and keep playing with me.”
“And if I refuse?” I gulped as soon as the words left my mouth. What was I thinking? Clearly, this man wasn’t someone I should mess with.
“Well, I wouldn’t suggest it.” He pointed at the dealer to keep going.
I didn’t know what to do. With so many people around, I could probably make a scene but did I really want to risk making this guy angry? I had no idea what kind of resources he had at his disposal. After all, these people were among the richest in the world.
So, I bid my time by taking a sip from my drink. It helped ease my nerves just enough where I could play a few more rounds.
By the third, I was starting to get paranoid. I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me. But who?
And where had Lacey run off too? She should have returned by now. I kept looking around trying to find her but to no avail.
“What’s the matter?” Hendrix moved a seat closer. “You seem... preoccupied with something.”
“I just... my stomach is bothering me. Excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom.”
“Certainly.” He helped ease me off the stool. I wanted to slap his hands away but I felt fatigued. My vision blurred as I dragged my feet toward the bathroom. What was happening to me?
Sweat gathered at the back of my neck. My body began to shake.
I tried to blink back the symptoms but, of course, that didn’t work. By the time I reached the bathrooms, I could barely breathe. Had someone slipped something into my drink? No. That didn’t make sense. I had seen Hendrix grab the drink straight from the server. He hadn’t messed with it. And yet, why did it feel like I had been roofied?
Unable to take another step, I leaned against the wall. The tile felt cold and refreshing against my burning cheek.
A man accompanied by a woman in white approached me from the side. “Is everything okay, miss?” The woman asked in a soft, gentle voice. “You don’t look so good.”
“W-Water...” I stuttered. My whole body felt like it was burning to a crisp. “I need water.”
Hendrix appeared before me with a wild grin on his face. “Oh, Shelly, what happened to you? Did you have too much to drink?”
I wanted to lash out at that man but suddenly, my tongue no longer wanted to function.
What was happening to me?
Desperately, I tried to take a step forward only to trip on my own two feet. If it wasn’t for Hendrix, I would have fallen face first into the ground.
My mind was spinning causing my stomach to tighten. I was seconds away from spewing my dinner all over the floor. I bit my lower lip to keep back the feeling. Still, my stomach churn.
“Here.” The woman whispered into my ear. “Let’s get you into the bathroom.” And so, with her help, I was led into a brightly lit room but that’s all I saw before a darkness surrounded my vision. My breath caught in my throat as my chest tightened. I clutched at her dress, trying to plead for help but she just kept guiding me further and further into the room. I could no longer focus and by the time she set me down on a bench, I was out like a light.
Chapter 16: Grayson
THE GUARD NEVER RETURNED. After fifteen minutes of futile waiting, I gave up. It was time to call Lacey myself. The dial tone ricocheted through my eardrums. I lowered the volume as I paced along the lobby. A few patrons stared at me with a look of distaste. I ignored them.
“Hello...” Lacey’s deep, sultry voice came through the line.
I was just about to say something when I realized it was just her answering machine. I cursed under my breath and hung up the phone. She was definitely avoiding me. But why? What was she planning and why did I have the sickening feeling that it had something to do with Shelly’s disappearance?
The missing guard returned to his post. I was seconds away from marching up to him and demanding answers when my phone buzzed against my pocket. I fished it out and on the screen was a text displaying an unfamiliar address.
I tried to call the number but, of course, no one answered. What was going on? I tried calling Shelly but she didn
’t answer either. My jaw tightened. Something was wrong – very wrong. An animalistic instinct told me that Shelly was in danger and I was the only person in this world that could protect her.
With this thought in mind, I rushed to my car and got behind the wheel. I punched the address into my GPS. I had a hunch that this was all some sort of trap to lure me somewhere but I had no time for speculation. Shelly needed me and I’d be damned if I allowed her to get her on my account.
A few minutes into my drive, a call came in from Shelly’s cell phone. I answered it in a heartbeat. “Shelly. Please tell me that everything is okay.”
“Oh, how sweet. Lacey told me you were fond of the girl...” A thick voice came through the line accompanied by a sinister chuckle. “I bet you would do anything for her, wouldn’t you?” He paused. “But I will admit, she’s quite the looker. I wouldn’t mind keeping her all to myself.”
I held the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles had turned a bright red. “What have you done to her?” I demanded. “I swear if you have touched a single hair on her head...”
“Too late for that.” He snickered. “But don’t worry, she’s completely safe in capable hands – that is, if you comply with our demands.”
I could feel my blood start to boil. “I swear –”
“Save your breath. Swearing to God isn’t going to help you, Grayson.”
“Where is she?”
“Well, I assume you’re already on your way to the address I sent you.”
I glanced at the GPS and made a sharp left-hand turn, blowing a red light. An oncoming car narrowly missed my bumper. They honked. The sound became lost in the night as I sped down a side street toward the industrial part of town.
“Let me cut to the chase because I’m assuming I don’t have much time before you come knocking down our doors.” He spoke with a certain air of amusement that ticked me right off. I wanted to punch this guy right through the speakerphone. I was clenching my teeth so hard I thought they would break. “We have your little Shelly and she’s safe – for now. If you want her back then there’s a little business transaction you need to make.”
“Business transaction? Is Lacey behind all of this?” The taste of betrayal was bitter. I swallowed it back and kept my focus on the road.
“When you reach the warehouse, come in through the front door. We will be waiting for you.”
Click.
I redialed the number but all I got was static. Frustration crept underneath my skin and boiled over. I punched the dash and pressed on the accelerator. My car flew forward.
In a few minutes, I arrived at the warehouse. I barely allowed my car to come to a complete stop before I got out. I was just about to go charging in when I thought better of my situation and doubled back for my gun. I always kept it hidden in the glove compartment. It felt heavy in my hands. I had never used it and realistically, I had no intentions of ever using it. But, if it came down to it and it meant protecting Shelly, I wouldn’t think twice about pulling that trigger.
With a deep breath, I stowed it behind my back. I lingered a moment longer. I wanted to walk into this as prepared as possible. So, I sent out a few texts hoping they would find their recipients sooner rather than later. It was always better to be safe than sorry.
Satisfied that I had done everything in my power to make the situation better, I started for the warehouse. I kept my breathing steady. If I allowed my nerves to get the better of me, it would be my downfall.
The door opened with a loud creak. Inside, a man stood silhouetted by a bright light. “Hendrix,” I growled. “So, Bradley’s involved in all this, is he?”
I could see his smile as he held a fountain pen in my direction. “This whole nightmare can over if you just sign the contract. Bradley will get your share of the casino.”
“And why would I do that?” I asked. I had my feet planted against the ground, my stance strong and confident.
“Because your precious girlfriend is on the line. My employer has instructed me to get rid of her should you give me a hard time.”
“How do I know you’re not bluffing.” I kept my stance and locked eyes with Bradley’s little henchman. Bradley had always been a coward but this was pushing it. “Is Bradley so afraid of me that he rather hide in the shadows than face me himself?”
“That is not my concern.” Hendrix jabbed his finger to the contract. “But I suggest you hurry up and sign or Shelly is going to pay the price.”
“Where is she?”
“Sign the contract and I’ll bring you right to her.”
“No.”
Chapter 17: Shelly
I woke up to the smell of thick smoke. It made me cough. Doing so caused a fiery pain to shoot through my chest. I held my stomach feeling like I would fall apart at any moment. Each of my limbs felt like they were made of lead. I groaned and raised a hand to my head. I swear, it was about to burst at any moment.
“Oh, so you’re awake now.” The woman from earlier sat before me with one leg crossed over the other. She had her hand on her knees and a sly smile plastered on her face.
“What’s going on?” I demanded. It was then that I noticed that one of my wrists was handcuffed to a nearby table. I tugged on it but it was so heavy that I had no hopes of moving it.
“Business.” The woman said in a very matter-of-fact manner. “Nothing personal.”
“Business?”
“Do I have to spell it out for you?” She sighed. “I don’t have the patience for this.” She grabbed her glass of wine and took a sip.
“Don’t bother.” Her partner, a man dressed in black waved his hand in dismissal. “Let Lacey explain when she returns.”
“Lacey? She isn’t involved in all this, is she?” A feeling of dread washed over me. I had trusted that woman and yet, she had gone around and stabbed me in the back. “Where is she.”
“Speak of the devil.” The woman in white lifted her drink.
I followed its direction and saw Lacey emerge from a set of curtains. “Oh, good, you’re awake.”
“What’s going on.” I tried my best to sound intimidating but my voice was far from confident.
She laughed. “You’re far from the position of making demands.” She crossed the room and squatted down beside me. “But I suppose you have a right to know.” She reached for my chin and held it in her hand for a moment before I jerked away. “It’s a shame really. I quite liked you.”
“You have a rather odd way of showing it.” I snarled.
“It’s nothing personal, darling. Business is business.”
“I don’t understand.”
She laughed. “I guessed as much. I doubt Grayson told you anything.” She stood and lit a cigarette. “To answer your question from earlier, I’m Grayson’s secret partner.”
“You?”
“You seem surprised.”
“So, he really does get all his illegal money from the casino? But he’s always losing.”
“That’s the thing. It really is genius.” She smiled. “He goes around the casino, jumping from table to table. This disrupts the flow of other players and gets them on a losing streak. When this happens, they spend more money trying to win more money. It’s the basic principle of any casino, really.”
I tried to follow but my mind was still in a bit of a mush.
“Essentially, his goal is to make as many people lose as possible. He isn’t concerned with losing money himself because it’ll just be funneled back into our profits and therefore back into his pocket.”
“Okay...” I moistened my lips. “That doesn’t explain why I’m here.”
“Because I no longer agree with our trade-off,” Lacey stated. “I do most of the work and yet I still only get 50% of the profits. Grayson, on the other hand, he gets to have his fun whenever he wants and he still reaps the rewards.”
“And that’s where I come in.” The man in black rose to his feet. “I made Shelly a deal to take Grayson’s place for 25% of the casino pr
ofits.”
“Wait, so let me get this straight.” I looked at Lacey and then the man standing beside her. “You went through all the trouble of drugging me and dragging me here instead of asking Grayson to give up his share of the business.”
Lacey chortled at my comment. “Are you really this naïve?”
I tried to stand but the handcuff stopped me from doing so. I felt vulnerable among all these people. There was no telling what they could do to me.
“I know Grayson.” The man said. “And he would never give up the casino so easily.” He put his drink and took a step forward, looming before me. “And then you came into the picture.”
Lacey grinned. “You’re the perfect bargaining chip.”
I was getting ready to lash out at this people when Grayson arrived, flanked by guards. My heart sank. There was a gun to his temple. “Grayson!” I pulled against the handcuff like a wild animal trying to free herself from a cage.
“Oh, isn’t this touching.” Lacey mocked. “I guess she really does love you after all.”
Grayson didn’t say a word.
“He refused to sign the contract.” Hendrix was the one holding the gun. “What do you want me to do?”
“I think there are ways to make him comply with our wishes, don’t you think.” Lacey slowly made her way over to me.
I started to thrash against her. I didn’t know what she was plotting but I knew it wasn’t good.
“Just do as she says,” Grayson called out.
What? Had he already given up? My heart tightened in despair. If Grayson couldn’t beat these crooks then no one could.
“Just do as she says.” He repeated.
Chapter 18: Grayson
MY MUSCLES WERE TAUT with expectation. I kept my eyes peeled, prepared for the worst. Everyone in this place had a gun. If it came down to it, I had little chance of survival so I had to play my cards right.
Lacey unfastened Shelly’s handcuff from the table and secured the loose end around her other wrist, pinning her hands behind her back. “Now, don’t take me for a fool. I know how much you care for this woman. So, if you want to ensure her safety, you’ll take your own advice and do exactly as I tell you to.”