Page 111 of Betrayed in the Dark
Chapter twenty-four
Eli
“We need to go to the casino.”
That’s the greeting I receive as I enter Madeleine’s house. Cold and void of any emotion. Her eyes are darker than I’m used to as they stare straight ahead. Her slender arms are wrapped around her waist as if shielding herself from something or someone. Her right foot taps anxiously in her fuck-me heels.
What the fuck happened since I left her two hours ago?
As I walked through the front door, I intended to confront her with the information Reginald had just presented to me before giving her until the clock struck midnight and letting her know that Vin would like to speak with her.
However, the anguish in her blue eyes forces me to reconsider my approach, at least for the time being.
“Of course.” I look down at my watch, noting seven hours until midnight. Plenty of time left for her to call off the wedding and tell me what the hell has been going on. “Something wrong?”
“It feels like something always is,” she says in a cross tone.
She opens the closet door and pulls out her black peacoat, aggressively tying a knot around her midsection, I might add, before stepping past me and toward the waiting car with Reginald standing outside.
After sliding onto the seat beside her, she holds out her phone, taps a few times on the screen, and then a ring fills the space.
“What’s wrong?” Alex asks.
“Jeez, can’t a sister just call her brother to say hello?”
“Is that what you called for?”
“Not entirely…”
“Out with it then. I’m in the middle of something pretty important.”
She tilts her head back, staring at the ceiling. “Can you do some digging for me?”
“Digging on what?”
“I want to see a record of every single transaction in and out of the casino, and I also want all of Angelo’s bank records.” She sighs. “It may be nothing, but my gut is telling me it’s something.”
“Angelo? Why? Is he stealing?” he asks with anger in his voice. “If he is, just tell me, and I’ll—”
“He’s not,” she rushes out. “Or at least, it’s not confirmed.” She pinches the bridge of her nose. “The numbers I have projected for this quarter seem to be off. I’ve triple-checked them, but they’re not equating anywhere close to the profit I had anticipated, even with a dip during the holidays. Could you please just send me that information? I’m heading to the casino now.”
“Madeleine, if there’s an issue, you should let me or Vin or—”
“I don’t need you guys to fix this!” she states firmly. After closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she adds, “I can take care of the problem myself. Now, can you provide me with those records or not?”
There’s a moment of silence before Alex responds. “Fine.” There’s typing in the background. “I’ll take a peek now and send you anything I can find. Just call me if you need me.”
“Thank you.” She ends the call and presses her fingers into her temple, rubbing small circles.
My hand reaches out, gently gripping her chin and turning her face toward me. “When are you going to let someone help you? You don’t need to take care of everything yourself. Not when we’re here for you.”
For a brief moment, her glossy eyes are locked with mine, but then, with a single blink, her expression becomes unfazed and unaffected by my words. She shifts in her seat, pulling away from my grip. “I don’t need anyone’s help. Least of all yours.”
The lashing of her words whips at me with anger, catching me by surprise. I rub my palm across my sternum, trying to soothe the sudden ache blooming across my chest as I face forward, giving her space.
The remainder of the drive passes by in silence until the car comes to a stop. She opens the door before Reginald even has a chance to assist her and quickly strides toward the entrance, her shoulders straight, her chin held high, but I can’t help but notice a slight tremor in each step she takes.
“Miss Alarie, what an unexpected pleasure,” Angelo remarks as he enters her office on the top floor of the casino. A room surrounded by privacy glass that allows anyone inside it to observe the floors below while allowing no one the privilege to see inside.
