Page 51 of Mechanic

“I appreciate this story, but this still doesn’t explain why you called me in the middle of the night asking me to come here,” Roderick says impatiently.

“Because tonight, in the parking lot of the casino, your new pit boss, Antonio ‘Tony’ DeSteffano, pinned me against my car and threatened me with blackmail.”

For the first time since Roderick arrived, our gazes lock, and he ispissed.

Chapter 29

Antonia

Roderick told me before he left not to worry about Tony’s threat.

That sentiment is easier said than done.

Sleep evades me most of the night. Exhaustion finally overtook me somewhere around noon. It is now four in the afternoon.

Going through the motions of getting ready for work, dread pools in my belly. The coffee I drank has come back up as my stomach roils.

Roderick and I might not be on the best of terms right now, but we need to work together on this. Dressing in my uniform, I climb into my car and drive to the casino. My hands shake the entire time. Stepping into the lobby, Rhodee is waiting for me. Giving me a conspiratorial wink when she spots me, I am finallyable to take a full breath. She knows. Somehow, that fact helps calm me just a little. My steps slow as she meets me halfway.

“Just keep smiling,” she says to me without moving her lips and looping our arms together.

As we walk through the casino floor Rhodee starts laughing, catching me off guard with her behavior.

“Laugh, he’s watching,” Rhodee says between laughs. There is no reason to ask whoheis.

My acting skills are the worst as I tip my head back in a phony laugh.

Keeping pace with Rhodee, we make it to the back of the casino in no time.

Reaching the Poker Room my eyes widen at the number of people already here.

“Toni,” is whispered from the back of the crowd. The crowd parts, and I catch sight of the speaker. My hand automatically covers my mouth as tears pool in my eyes.

“Shawna,” I whisper back, and we rush toward each other until our arms wrap around each other.

We cling to each other for several long moments before a throat clearing behind us has us breaking apart. Turning around to face the rest of the room, my breath hitches.

“We have a plan,” Shawna whispers.

“Give me a shot of tequila,” I tell the guy behind the bar.

He gives Roderick a look and must get confirmation before he pours me a shot. I want to do more than just one, but I can’tsmell like booze, and on an empty stomach, one shot will be enough.

Shawna, Roderick, and Aymond reviewed the plan, and it’s a good one. I just hope that I can do my part.

Not wanting to alert Tony to what was going on, once everyone understood the plan, they all left the Poker Room. The staff goes about the room like it’s business as usual. I can tell the moment Tony enters. It was recommended that he observe how this game operates as a way to lure him here.

The security guard and I check the chip trays, which I sign off on, and he gives me a brand-new deck of cards. Trying my best to ignore Tony, I set the table up for our players, who have just started to arrive. Roderick is his usually hospitable self, offering them food and drink, along with personally greeting each man.

Gradually each man makes his way over to me, handing over his buy-in in exchange for his tray of chips. As I work on shuffling the cards, putting on a show for those who have already claimed their seats, my nerves settle.

The security guard moves to the side of the room, watching over the buy-in money that will go to the winner. After each player is seated, I go through my short speech on the game and betting rounds.

Play begins.

As the game progresses, everyone keeps their cool. Various players win, and everyone is happy.

Until they aren’t.

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