Page 2 of Big Beefy Kingpin

Oh,she has no idea.

Scarlett doesn’t have a clue what happens inside a casino; the games aren’t even half of it.

“Ladies, welcome to Casino Regio,” says Quinn, and her words are drowned by loud squeals of excitement from the rest of the girls. “I hope you ladies brought your purses because tonight we are going to party!”

What she says barely registers, nothing is enough to pull my attention away from the flashing sign.

Regio. It’s Italian for Royalty.

As kids, Uncle O’Malley insisted that my cousins and I learn the language of the rival mafia families but I never quite got the hang of it. Even so, what little knowledge I have of the Italian language is enough for me to understand which crime family runs this Casino.

I can’t tell whether to be relieved or horrified.

Both.

It’s definitely both.

On one hand, the Casino is owned by the Italian mafia, which makes the chances of running into my family very low. On the other hand, they are still a crime family, and one word would get me kidnapped and sold back to my family for profit… or worse.

“Ivy?”

This is such a huge mistake.

My heart is pounding and there is a roaring sound in my ears. I shouldn’t have come here. I might lose everything I worked so hard to build…

“Ivy, are you all right?” Scarlett grabs my hand and snaps me out of my thoughts. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“I…” guilt floods in when I see the concern in my best friend’s eyes. It’s not her fault that I am in this position now. If only I’d opened up to her about my past…

No, I can’t ruin Scarlett’s special night just because of my hang-ups. We’re already here, plus, it’s highly unlikely for someone from the Italian mafia to recognize me. My father rarely let me leave the house, so I never interacted with people outside my family.

Besides, it’s been five years. Anyone I knew from back then would’ve already forgotten about me by now. Not to mention, my dyed hair should help to make me less recognizable.

I hope.

“Ivy, if you need us to go back…”

“What, no!” I say. Not wanting to ruin this for her, I quickly think of an excuse to explain away my weird behavior. “It’s just… I’m just worried about my landlord raising our rent again but we’re here, right? Who knows, maybe I can win enough money to help me finally move out of that shitty apartment.”

“Or… you could let me help you with the rent.”

I shake my head, flashing her a soft smile before looping my arm around her shoulder. It’s not the first time Scarlett has offered to help me with the rent but considering she’s getting married soon, I’d rather she invest her money in building her life.

“You don’t get to worry about that tonight. I just want you to have fun and enjoy Vegas before you and Maverick tie the knot.”

At the mention of her fiancé, her eyes turn dreamy and her smile softens, distracting her from my issues.

I look up at the sign and swallow. I wasn’t lying when I mentioned that my landlord was riding my ass with his unreasonable rent increases. Sadly, with the peanuts I earn from my nursing assistant job, the fear of becoming homeless again is crippling.

Perhaps this is actually an opportunity. If there was one thing my father did well it was counting cards. He had insisted that I learn so, from the time I was four he began to teach me. Since mistakes led to angry flying fists, I learned very quickly. If there is one thing I know it is how to cheat my way through games without getting caught.

“Ivy, what do you say we head in before Sheila empties the place of all alcoholic drinks,” Scarlett says with a chuckle, linking her arm through mine. “I swear that girl will drink anything that isn’t nailed down.”

I offer her an indulgent smile and a new sense of determination sets in. This is the easiest way for me to pay my rent, as long as I don’t draw attention to myself I could be set for months.

I guess Vegas does have something to offer me after all.

This city owes me that much at least.

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