Page 58 of Resurrection
"Think about it,mami." Her grin softens into something almost like sympathy. "It's not like he doesn’t deserve it, is it?"
I’m thinking about it. Too much. My heart’s pounding in my ears, and it’s hard to tell if it's fear, excitement, or both. I bite my lip, suddenly lost in a daydream where Tyler’s the one left behind. It’s delicious. And terrifying.
The sound of the kitchen staff shuffling in from their break snaps me back. Pots clatter, and voices fill the space where secrets were just hanging. Sonia's still watching me, but now there's a knowing look on her face.
"We should go over the menu," I say quickly, my voice a shade too high. The moment's broken but not gone.
Sonia shrugs and gives me a nudge. "Whatever you say, boss." The noise swells around us, but it can't drown out the new reckless idea echoing in my mind.
The thought of using Tyler Brady and then ditching him has been spinning through my head all evening.
Later that night, after the dinner rush is over and I’m on my way to the parking lot, I’m already mapping out a plan on how to seduce Ty. My imagination knows no boundaries as I walk through the casino’s electric jungle.
I navigate the chaos, sidestepping a stumbling winner and dodging a waitress with a tray of rainbow drinks. It’s a weekend night and it’s extra busy, so it’s not unusual to see Koda Monahan’s sharp suit in the background. He’s standing near the high-limit poker room, surveying his kingdom.
He spots me immediately, our eyes meeting in the space above the heads of patrons. He waves me over, and I change my trajectory and move in his direction.
"Naomi," he greets me flatly. "How’s business today?"
"Pretty busy night for us," I reply, knowing full well that that’s not why he called me over.
"Come," he says, gesturing toward a quieter corner of the floor where the electronic hum and the chatter of visitors fades to a whisper.
I follow.
There, he takes a deep breath like he’s about to scold me, then shoves both hands in the pockets of his dress slacks. His face is set in a way that tells me this isn’t a regular social call. "Your brother is becoming unhinged." His voice is low, clipped. "He made a scene again last night."
I feel my spine stiffen. "Again?"
Koda’s eyes never leave mine. "We found him yelling in the parking lot, out of control. Blue Feather drove him home since Oasis was busy. I didn’t want to bother you."
The knot in my stomach twists tighter. "I’m sorry," I say, a little defensive and ashamed. It’s hard to meet his gaze, but I force myself to look up. "I’ll talk to him."
"Talk's not enough this time." Koda's words land like heavy stones, each one harder than the last. "Sooner or later, he's going to make trouble I won’t be able to smooth over. People are starting to talk."
I stand there, my arms crossed, trying to shield myself from the truth he's throwing at me. "He's…going through a rough patch."
"We all are. Losing a parent is hard. Trust me, I know. I lost my family when I was young. That doesn’t give me the right to lash out at others."
"I’m dealing with it."
Koda shakes his head, looking more disappointed than angry. "It's not getting better. It's getting worse." He pauses. The casino's bright chaos blurs around us, and all I see is the seriousness etched into Koda's features.
I take one breath, then another. They catch in my throat, stubborn and painful. "I’m aware," I finally admit, the words scraping out like broken glass. "I’m aware he’s a mess, and I'm grateful for everything that you do for us. I promise I’m trying to get him help."
"Have you thought about mental health programs for veterans? There are counselors, groups."
"I have, but he won’t even hear me out."
Koda sighs, and the sound is almost lost under the casino's relentless buzz. "Listen to me, Naomi. You can't fix everything," he supplies, and there's a gentleness in his tone that makes it all worse. "Don't let him drag you down too. At some point, you need to stop waiting for him to want to get better and give him an ultimatum."
"How?"
Koda places a hand on my shoulder, a squeeze of understanding and solidarity. "He’s got a good job. Good pay. Good benefits. He’ll lose it all if he keeps at it. You've got a smart head on your shoulders. Use it to pressure him into getting help before it’s too late." He lets go and straightens his jacket, a businessman returning to business. "Let me know if you need anything."
I nod because my throat’s too tight for words. He gives me a final, reassuring look before disappearing back into the sea of flashing lights and ringing bells.
I stay there, rooted to the spot, alone with the noise and the weight of everything I can't fix.
