Page 103 of Betrayed

“Sure thing.” The guy at the table stood up, signaling for the other guy to follow him. “But don’t do anything stupid, Stevo. I’ll be right outside this door.” He nodded to the driver, who backed away from me.

Stevo?What the fuck! My father had his own gangster nickname. Because that was the only word that came to mind when I thought about these guys.

I glanced behind me; the driver hovered just outside the doorway, acting like he wasn’t listening. I couldn’t see the other door to the large kitchen, but it wasn’t hard to envision the other two guys doing the same thing.

We’re not really alone.

“Princess, I’m sorry you got dragged into this.”

“What exactly is this?” I gestured with both hands.

“I, here, sit, so you’re more comfortable.” He pulled out a chair for me.

I glared at the chair like it was the reason I was here. “No. Tell me why I’m here.”

“I owe them money.”

At least he had the decency to sound embarrassed. Not that it made me any less angry.

“I know that much. Why?”

None of this made sense. If they were bribing him, why’d he owe them money? I asked him as much.

“After your mom died, I was a wreck. I started gambling to numb the pain.”

At least mom didn’t know.

I no longer recognized the man standing in front of me. Sure, he looked like my father, but the words coming out of his mouth didn’t sound like the man I’d known all my life.

“Don’t blame Mom.” My voice could have frozen a lake.

“I don’t. Gambling was an escape and winning felt good.”

Was he a gambling addict?

“I was winning. A lot. Then I started losing, but I had it under control.” He paused. “Until I didn’t. I started chasing the next win.” After a particularly heavy loss, which drained his savings, he stepped away.

“Most of my savings were gone when I married Priscilla, but I expected to inherit my father’s fortune, so I figured everything would be okay.”

How dare he blame everyone but himself? “Don’t blame this on me or Grandpa.” I wanted to cross my arms in front of me in a huff, but couldn’t.

“I don’t. But Priscilla demanded a certain lifestyle, one I’d promised to provide and couldn’t. I went back to the table thinking I could earn some quick money and then quit for good. But I messed up.”

He looked sad as he told me that after a big win, he’d doubled down with money he didn’t have. And lost.

“Roman told me he’d erase half my debt if I dismissed charges against a colleague of his. I said no, told him I’d find the money. But I had no choice when he threatened to expose my gambling addiction.”

“So you violated your oath? Committed a felony? How is that better?”

“I couldn’t let them destroy my reputation and ruin the career I’d worked so hard for. And I didn’t want my father finding out.”

No wonder I hadn’t seen the signs; I was away at college.

Is this why his relationship with his father deteriorated near the end?And how was committing a felony and betraying your family’s trust better than a little embarrassment?

“He suspected I was in trouble. That’s why he left everything to you.”

“He knew you lost all your money,” I said, more accusation than question.

---