Page 2 of The Mafia's Captive

“Leave my employees out of it.”

“You didn’t even ask her. What if she’s game?”

Dante’s icy gaze lands on me. His eyes narrow. My heart thumps a bit faster. “Fine,” he says between sips, “Ask her.”

“Corina,” Hunter says. I’m too shocked to respond. How does he know my name? I’m sure I never gave it, and I don’t have a name tag or anything of the sort. “What do you think about adding yourself to the pot?”

“Adding myself, I don’t understand?” I glance at my boss, but I get nothing except a clenched jaw.

“How about,” Hunter leans in and grabs my hand. His is bigger than mine and while he’s not as good-looking as the other person sitting at the table, he has a smooth baritone that is difficult to resist, “we play for your lovely hand. Whoever wins gets to spend the night with you.”

“She’s not a hooker.” Dante grunts.

“No, but anyone can be bought if the price is right. You won’t lose out. You get to keep something of your own as well. How about ten thousand dollars?”

That’s a lot of money for me. Even though I have already made a couple of thousand in terms of tips, there was no guaranteeing my return to the private tables after my poor showing in front of the boss and his famous and rich friends.

“I don’t think I—”

“Twenty thousand.”

“I—”

My gaze darts around the room. Connor, Justin, and Nate look riveted. Jesse is subtly encouraging me to say yes. Everyone’s attention is on us except for the bartender wiping the counter as if something like this happens every day. I turned my gaze back to Hunter, who says, “Thirty thousand. And don’t think about him, between me and you,” he leaned and whispers into my ear, “he’s been eager to fuck you too, but is too shy to say it.”

I glance at Dante. “I doubt that.” Hunter sits back in his chair and laughs. “She doesn’t know, does she? This is beautiful.” He glances back at Dante. “It makes me want her even more.”

“How about this, fifty thousand dollars? Final offer.”

Fifty thousand dollars is a life-changing sum for me. There is so much I could do. I could go back to school, put down a deposit on a house. But I don’t want to sleep with him. The thought never crossed my mind. To me, he is a client, nothing more. As tempting as his offer is, I can’t bring myself to sleep with someone for money, especially a sum that large. What if he thinks I’m horrible in bed and wants his money back? I just don’t have the confidence to do it, I guess. I’m about to give him my response when Dante cuts in.

“Let’s play a game to see if you can win the opportunity to even ask her in the first place,” he says. His tone is dull and bored. You would think they are talking about a Rolex.

“You can’t just change the rules!” Hunter exclaims like a small child denied a toy. Dante doesn’t respond. The silence says, ‘Yes I can and I’ve just did.’ Hunter’s gaze is still on me and at last he flashes a cryptic smile and then says, “Deal.” To me he says, “Give us the cards darling and wish me luck.”

If I was nervous before, I’m even nervous now that I’m part of their game. This time, however, I make sure it would not show, act as professional as I can and deal.

Just as they both pick their cards, there is a knock on the door. I watch as Jesse goes to answer it and let in a giant of a man who always looked like he was about to burst into his suits, enter. Sal, the head of security at the casino. His eyes dart in my direction, unnerving me. He is part of ‘security’, but we all know what his actual job is and why he and other guys like him have unfettered access to the casino. They weren’t just security. They were also Family. That kind offamily.

Lately Sal, who never cares for someone like me, has taken to leering at me whenever I’m in proximity as he’s doing now. The Family guys never interact with the regular employees of Casino. Nevertheless, I’ve heard stories. Stories of girls who couldn’t resist the danger and got caught up in that part of the business.

He hovers near the door, standing at attention as the game continues. Maybe it’s only me, but he brought with him a tension that wasn’t there before. The cards feel like lead as I deal the river. Both Dante and Hunter have their poker faces on. If they are aware of the recent presence, they do not show it. I focus back on the game and notice that there is a potential for a flush and a three aces of a kind. I shifted in my chair; the air suddenly dry.

“I think I have you beat this time,” Hunter said as he reveals his hand. A flush. My heart races. I hope he is wrong. Even though he offered me the chance to say no, part of me thinks it’s an illusion. And who knew what he would do if I refused him? Hunter didn’t look like the sort of person who took no for an answer. Dante however places down his own hand on the table silently and Hunter, seeing what the other player has, closes his eyes defeated.

“Royal flush,” Jesse squeals. She puts a hand on her mouth as soon as she utters the words.

Sal takes this opportunity to make his way to Dante. It is clear in the deferential way he stoops down to whisper in his ear that he recognized Dante’s power, and not just as an employee, but so much more. As he speaks, Dante’s gaze shoots directly at me, his face changing, the poker mask falling to reveal anger and revulsion. The longer he stares at me, the more constricting the room feels. As if the walls are closing in, removing everyone in it until it was just a small space with me and Dante. Dante nods once, says something back to Sal, and when his eyes are on me again, his mask is back in place.

As Sal is leaving, a malicious smirk flashes across his face. Before I can parse its meaning, Dante stands up and says, “Gentlemen, I think it’s time I cash out.”

“Oh, come on,” Nate raised his hands up. His words slur as he speaks. “What happened to the plans?”

“Business that could not be put off came up.”

“And the sex, drugs, and partying all night?”

“You can have that without me. Jesse can show you where to get all of that. Sorry.”

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