Page 57 of Dante
“You going to place your bet, hon?” Sadie reminded her to move a new chip in the circle.
“No, I think I’m done.” She sighed, giving Maria back her chips.
The pit boss placed her hands on her hips. “What’s wrong?”
“Honestly, I hate gambling,” Nadia confessed to the girls. It had ruined so many of the kids’ lives who went through her charity due to their parents’ addiction. It made her feel so guilty to even be here.
“Oh, girl, I am so rooting for you.” Sadie laughed along with an agreeing Maria.
Her not liking casinos, or gambling, for that matter, seemed to be that bit of Karma that Maria was looking for, after all.
Sadie began dealing just for Maria. “So, what’s the plan?”
“The plan?” Nadia asked her, confused.
“The plan of coming here today? Do you know what you’re going to say to him?”
Damn, Sadie really was the woman whisperer. She knew exactly why she was fucking here and didn’t even need to hear it. It must’ve been written all over her torn face.
Taking a deep breath, Nadia decided to fuck it and confide in them, but before she could, a cold familiar voice greeted them.
“Hello, ladies.”
Seeing Lucca Caruso for the second time wasn’t quite as jarring as the first. Nadia found herself no longer fearing The Boogieman; she could see past the man to the child beneath. Like in Leo, she could see the trauma, but it wasn’t marred on the outside. It was deep and hidden beneath the wicked darkness, yet it was still there all the same, like it had been with Maria. Had their father been the cause of all their pain?
“I hate to interrupt, but Dante would like to see you now.”
Yikes. Him being on a first-name basis with his father told her about all she needed to know.
“You ready?” His dark voice ominously asked her when she hadn’t made a move.
Thankful that she hadn’t taken that shot of tequila, she wondered if the three pairs of eyes staring at her could see the fear and nerves on her face.
Managing to finally muster up the courage, she finally nodded and stood up from the chair. Was it weird that this felt like it was going to determine the rest of her life?
“Good luck, girl.” Sadie winked at her.
Maria, however, stopped her from leaving and, for the first time, Nadia got a good look at her bright, emerald-green gaze that matched the green in her older brother’s.
“I may be rooting for you just so you can turn his life upside down,” Maria began confessing as harsh words spilled for her pretty lips, “but I can already tell he doesn’t deserve you.”
That revelation from his daughter sent Nadia’s already fucked-up mind in a tailspin. So much so that she missed the odd look between Lucca and Maria before he started to walk her out, and the room full of people parting to give him a wide berth.
It wasn’t until she was faced with Dante’s door that everything stopped, and it was just …
Clear.
EIGHTEEN
I WILL HAUNT YOU
Walking into Dante’s office, she hadn’t expected it, but her heart had skipped a beat upon seeing him again. However, with the look of his icy exterior, she doubted his had done the same.
Seeing him start to get up, she stopped him. “You can stay there. This won’t take long.”
“This won’t take long?” he questioned, stunned, and froze in place from rising out of his chair.
“Yes.” She waited for him to slowly lower himself back down to his chair before she began. “I don’t know what you planned to say to me, whether you were going to ask to see me again or not, but when I leave this office … it will be the last time you see me.”
