I take her to the money-changing room with its many vaults and full security staff.
“Wow!” she exclaims. “This is really fancy.”
I gesture toward my assistant’s office as we walk past it, empty now, and take her to the slots room.
She weaves up and down the aisles. “Noisy but fun. What’s the highest pot?”
“Five hundred euro.”
She lets out a low whistle. “Very nice.”
I guide her out, my hand on the small of her back. “We work hard to attract high rollers. We have less expensive options too, but we want to keep the high rollers interested enough to seek us out.”
“Smart.”
I point out some of the guards by name and the dealers, but I don’t want to interrupt them while they’re working. We wrap up with the restaurant and bar, where I offer her a drink.
“Absolutely!” she says, taking a seat on a barstool. I’m glad she’s enjoying herself so far.
“Sara! Join us!” The guys are all waving her over from a table with plenty of lobsters and a pile of crab legs.
“After my drink I will,” she calls with a sunny smile. Sunny Sara. No, she’s my Sara.
“How late do you stay open?” she asks.
“We’re open eleven a.m. to two a.m. Staff works in shifts. I’m usually here the whole time.”
“So this is like your whole life.” She gestures in a wide circle. “You work, sleep, work.”
“Basically. But I’m sure it’s like that for most new businesses.”
Her drink arrives, a martini, along with my beer. She sucks on the olive and my trousers get tight.
I take a sip of beer, trying to cool down.
“That’s not how my job goes,” she says, sipping her martini. “I’ve got lots of free time. It’s awesome.”
“And what do you do with your free time?”
“I’m networking, always looking for new players, especially fish with deep pockets. And I’m scouting out restaurants for new menu ideas and interesting locations. I try to keep it fresh.”
“So your free time is actually your work time?”
“I work out too. Daily run.”
“When do you have free time for your friends?”
Her eyes shift to the side. “I work it in here and there.” I suspected she kept to herself. Chloe is the only real connection she has, and Chloe is all grown up.
“You should work here,” I say.
She smiles nervously and sips her martini.
I lean close. “I could really use your help.”
She shakes her head.
“Why not?”
“Adrian! Again with the why not.”
“It’s a valid question.”
“Because I have a life back home. I have Chloe. And I’m not sure I could ever be comfortable here.”
“You will be. You feel comfortable so far, right?”
“Yes, but we came in at night. All I saw was the yacht, the car, and the casino.”
“Tonight you’ll see the palace.”
“In the dark. Plus I’ve never seen your room before, so I know it won’t trigger anything for me.”
“That’s good. It’ll be a new memory for you. I want to build new Villroy memories with you.”
She drains her martini. “Tomorrow’s going to be hard seeing it all in the daylight.”
“I’ll be with you every step of the way. In the meantime, think about being my right-hand woman. We can run the place together. Me more in the background working the financials and marketing strategy, you managing staff and customer relations. I’ll pay you a fantastic salary. You can live at the palace with me, or we can find you a place nearby if you’re not ready to live with me yet. I can be very patient as long as you’re in my life.”
She slowly blinks and then shakes her head like she can’t quite believe my offer. “Do you still think what I’m doing back home is all that dangerous?”
“The way you handle the money is dangerous, the way you operate alone, the personal financial risk you take to cover bets. With so much money it can attract the wrong sort of person. What if something happened to you? Then who will be there for Chloe?”
Her eyes tear up, and she blinks rapidly. “I never thought of it that way. I did this for her. It was all a calculated risk.”
My eye catches on the guys’ movements, and I jerk my chin toward them. “Your players seem harmless.”
We both watch as two of the guys battle each other with crab legs. We laugh.
I get serious again. “You’d be perfect for this job.”
She looks wary.
“It’s not a proposal. I’m just asking you to consider the job.” I tuck her hair behind her ear, stroking her cheek with my thumb. “And I want you to be with me, if that part wasn’t clear.”
Her green eyes search my face, like she’s looking for some measure of my sincerity. I am sincere, and I’m in love with her. I know she’s not ready to hear that yet. One step at a time. I can’t lose her after waiting so many years to find her again.
Chapter Eleven
Sara
The next afternoon, we’re all back at the casino, except for Chloe, who stayed in her room to study. I briefly saw the day spa this morning, but I’m not comfortable with the intimacy of a massage, so there wasn’t much of a draw for me there. All of the guys had massages, some of them even had facials. I was shocked. While they did that, I shadowed Adrian as he worked, checking on different issues that cropped up. I have to admit it’s interesting work. It’s like what I do, but in one interconnected world. I could see getting comfortable in this environment; it’s like its own little neighborhood. The staff work in a united purpose—entertainment. That’s the business I’m in.
The guys are jetting over to Monte Carlo for dinner tonight and more gambling. I plan on going with them, even though Adrian wants me to stay here with him. He doesn’t understand that I need to always be connected in my players’ minds to the game. I bring the fun. I make the arrangements. I’m Sunny Sara in the background they can always turn to with any request. Well, almost any request.
We’re all on the rooftop terrace for poker with a view when Adrian appears. He crosses to our table, leans down, and kisses my cheek. I flush with heat at his casual affection, and I suddenly realize I’m smiling. He got under my skin with his casual confidence that we belonged together. I’m starting to believe him. My Adrian, my hero.
He turns to the guys. “Anyone here a Yankees fan?”
A retired Yankees player appears on the terrace, and my guys are on their feet. They practically stampede over to him, and then a few more baseball players appear. All of them retired, some Yankees, some from other teams. Nothing like professional athletes to bring out the little boy in full-grown men.
Next thing I know, we’ve got two tables going with the ball players and my guys intermingled. My guys rotate after a round so everyone can get a chance to meet every player. I make sure I get to know everyone and let them know I organize awesome games in Brooklyn. My guys are having a blast, which makes me happy.
By the time Adrian announces the jet’s ready to take them to Monte Carlo, everyone is buddy buddy.
Ivan pulls me aside. “Thank you so much for this trip. These guys are incredible.”
I beam my Sunny Sara smile. “My pleasure. Adrian was also a help. Pays to have great connections.”
“It does. Listen, Mario invited us to his game in Manhattan next week. It’s all former Yankees players and some Mets. A few current guys too. They rotate in, depending on who’s in town. They said they have room for us. They play a room with several tables. You understand, yes? It’s too good an opportunity to pass up.”
My stomach drops. “Sure, have fun. Just one game, right?”
His eyes are back on his new friends. “Depends. We’ll see.” He meets my eyes. “I just want to be straight with you.”
Shit. I’m losing them. Pro athlete poker. Bigger pot, more fan-boy excitemen
t. I can’t compete with that, and I know it. I want to cry. The game is falling apart right in front of my eyes. The best, most lucrative job I’ve ever had.
“Still on for the following week, right?” I ask, trying not to sound desperate.
“I’ll let you know,” he mutters before rejoining the group.
I’ve lost my game. I can’t believe this. One chance meeting with a ball player and it’s all over? We’ve been doing great for more than two months. I finally felt like I could breathe, my money problems solved. Now I’m going to have to start all over again. Manhattan is run by Lee Tran. I would be blackballed or worse for trying to poach. I’ll have to try again in Brooklyn fast before someone else sets up a more desirable game. Or shift farther out to Long Island, which is basically like starting with a blank slate, trying to make connections and find the best venues. Su-u-uck!
Adrian appears by my side. “You still want to go with them to Monte Carlo? They seem pretty content with their new friends.”
The guys are all talking, laughing, slapping each other on the back.
I feel peevish in light of their obvious happiness. “Did you have to bring the ball players up here?”
“It’s the first time those players were here. I was excited to see them too. Jackson is the one who had the connection and invited them. He just didn’t know when they would show.”
I sigh as the guys file out with their new friends, so busy yukking it up they don’t even notice I’m not with them. My eyes sting. “I’ve lost them,” I say quietly. “There’s no point in tagging along.”
Adrian drops an arm over my shoulders. “I’m sure you didn’t lose them forever. They just want to have some fun tonight. And the best part is I get you all to myself.”
I shrug his arm off. “Ivan told me they’re moving to a new game in Manhattan with the ball players next week. They’ll stay there as long as they can—bigger pot, celebrity athletes. I can’t compete with that, and I can’t horn in on the game either. Someone else runs Manhattan.”
“Did you run Brooklyn?”
“I was getting there. That was the next step. There’s a few other private poker games, but mine was the best.” I look up to the sky, trying to keep the tears from escaping.
“Sara, it wasn’t my intention to ruin your game. I was trying to add to the fun with the ball players.”
I blink rapidly and dash at a tear with my fist. “They’re having fun all right.”
He gives my shoulder a squeeze. “You want to shadow me again? Saturday night is our busiest night.”
“Actually, I think I’ll head back to the palace and spend time with Chloe.” I take a deep breath. “If I can tear her away from her studies. The girl is nonstop.”
“Okay. Good luck with that. I’ll call for a car to take you up to the palace, and catch up with you tonight.”
I nod woodenly.
“Are you okay?”
“No, but I will be.” That’s me, always hustling to make sure everything is heading in the right direction.
“You can wait in my office until the car gets here.”
“I’ll wait out front.” I try for a smile but can’t manage it.
I manage to keep it together all the way out of the casino before bursting into tears.
Ugh. I wipe my tears away furiously. They accomplish nothing. I have to keep my head clear and think of next steps. I walk around the building to take in the view of the sea. It’s near sunset, beautiful, but I can’t appreciate it. And because I already feel shitty, I recklessly look over to the north beach, where most of my memories are, but the view is blocked by the spa. I remember there was a black rock. It always seemed so far off in the distance. Adrian dared me to race to it. Of course I did. I remember treading water and telling him about my parents fighting and my fear that they’d divorce, and then when we started to race back, I sliced my foot open, probably on a submerged rock.
The memory isn’t too difficult for me. Adrian stayed with me until I met up with my mom at the health clinic. I got a lot of special attention at home, everyone fussing over me, even five-year-old Chloe brought me snacks so I wouldn’t have to hobble around on my hurt foot. Maybe I could see the north beach again. I bet it’s exactly the same. Adrian said the only part of the island that was developed since the last time I was here was the spa and casino.
I’ll wait to see it with Chloe. It’s only around five o’clock. We should have time.
The car Adrian requested for me pulls into the lot a short while later and gives me a ride up the long winding road to the palace. We’re going to pass my old cottage. It’s the first time I’ll see it in daylight. This morning when I drove down with Adrian, I purposely focused on him instead of looking at it, pretending I was unaware of it. Now that I’ve already cried, I don’t feel like I’m hanging on so tightly to my control. Like it wouldn’t be such a sudden rush of emotions that would overwhelm, but more like another wave of water. My foundation is already rocked. I know I have to start over again. I don’t think I could feel any worse, and maybe it would make me feel better. A healing of sorts.
Oh! There it is! It’s exactly like I remember—white with a blue door, blue window boxes, and blue shutters. It’s a two-bedroom single-story cottage. There’s a patio out back with a view. I wonder if the elderly couple still lives there. Suddenly I want to see the inside, but I’ll wait to get Chloe first.
Adrian was right. Adult me can handle this. I definitely would’ve had a breakdown seeing all this when I was still a struggling teen trying to keep our little family together, but now it’s doable. In fact, I feel stronger already. My parents loved this place, and they wanted my sister and me to have carefree summers out in nature with fresh air and the sea, away from the stifling hot summer in the city. I’m lucky I had Villroy in my life. That was a gift they gave me, and it gave me Adrian and Silvia too. I feared Villroy and its memories for so long, but it was always just a gift.
A sense of peace washes over me. I really want to share this with my sister.
I go back to the palace and head straight for Chloe’s room. She’s not there. I text her. Where are you?
No reply.
My heart is in my throat. Okay, do not panic. She often turns off her phone when she’s studying. I find a servant and ask if they know where she is, but they don’t. Then I ask for directions to the palace library, but she’s not there either. I try the gardens. No dice. I text her again and tell her to get back to me so we can tour Villroy together. I’m ready now.
I wander through the gardens, which I’ve never been to before, and find myself down at the beach. I sit there for a while, thinking hard. I’ll go through my waiting list of players and start a new game. The problem is most of my waiting list are friends of my guys, who will probably hear about the other Manhattan game and want to get in on that. I could go back to waitressing, look for an office manager position, too, but that was such an exhausting grind. Then there’s Adrian. He offered me a job here, a place to live free of charge. It’s ideal in many ways, but it’s also a commitment to him. What if it doesn’t work out? Then I’m stuck here and he’s my boss. That could get ugly.
And then there’s Chloe. I can’t live so far from her. I know she still needs me, even if she thinks she doesn’t.
I check my phone. No response from her. I stand up and brush the sand off me. Where could she be? It’s an island, so she couldn’t have gone far. I’m too wound up to sit any longer, so I decide to do the tour of summers past by myself. Maybe it’s better this way. If I break down in tears, no one has to witness it. I’ve always tried to be strong for Chloe.
As soon as I get back inside the palace, I ask the first servant I see for a driver to take me around. It’s not long before a Mercedes pulls up to the courtyard, and I hop in the front seat. I smile at the driver, a thin man in his fifties wearing a cap over his bald head. “Hi, thank you for driving me. I’m Sara.”
“Yes, ma’am. We all know who you are. I’m Antoine.”
>
Really? They all know who I am? Maybe Adrian had to clear my stay and inform everyone. “Nice to meet you, Antoine. I’d like to see the north beach.”
He inclines his head and then we’re off. We pass my old cottage on the way down. There’s a light on in there. I imagine the elderly couple shuffling around, maybe getting dinner ready.
As soon as the beach comes into view, I see the black rock. It’s just as big and imposing as I remember. Wow. We really swam out far, considering we were only twelve. It’s way past the breakers.
“I’ll just be a few minutes,” I tell Antoine.
“Take your time, ma’am.”
“Thanks.”
I step out of the car and make the long walk down to the beach. I stop to take off my shoes and socks and let my toes dig into the soft sand, closing my eyes for a moment as memories flood my mind—sandcastles, digging for crabs, smoothing spots out for the perfect picnic blanket placement, the cabana and our sand card-playing area. I open my eyes and breathe deep. It’s all good. I’m okay.
I spent most of my time here with Adrian, Silvia, and Chloe, plus an entourage of guards and a nanny. My parents joined us sometimes, but I think they also liked having their couple time. I never asked them what they did when we were here. Maybe they went to another beach and set out a couple of chaise lounges, enjoying the peace and quiet away from the city and their two rowdy daughters. Chloe was the truly rowdy one. I was just exuberant and enthusiastic. I want to be that girl again instead of feeling so bogged down by heavy responsibility.
I keep walking toward the sea, letting the waves run over my feet. The water is cooler than it was in the summer now that it’s early October, but not too much. I bend and run my fingers through the baby waves too. I turn. The beach is empty, but I can picture my last summer here so vividly—me and Adrian playing poker in the cabana. Chloe and Silvia building an elaborate sandcastle. Bike riding. Swimming. Silvia reading.
Adrian and Silvia grew into the fully bloomed versions of their kid selves. Silvia went from bookworm to book editor, and Adrian went from an ace poker player to a card shark running his own casino. It’s just me and Chloe who don’t match up. The break in our path to adulthood was too harsh to let us bloom on that same path. Chloe should’ve been a free spirit, maybe marching for Greenpeace or something, instead of a serious no-fun student. And me? I feel like I’m just starting to get back to what I truly enjoy—poker—after slogging through a never-ending struggle.
Royal Shark (The Rourkes, Book 6) Page 14