Broken Songbird (Vicious Games #2)

28. Chapter 28

I check my cards again, keeping my face neutral. This hand is fucking shit .

I keep the men around the table hanging for a few more seconds before I toss my cards toward the dealer.

After the bullshit with my father and Bellucci on Friday, I told Enzo I refused to handle any of this deal with Salvatore but agreed to finalise the contracts with Leo.

Enzo agreed a little too quickly to not deal with the older Bellucci, either. Seems like they have some sort of history.

It’s Thursday, and Del and Scar were off doing wedding things this afternoon, so Enzo brought us all together at Luxuria , to sign the contracts and have a game of poker to celebrate the new business venture.

Leo, the Lion when he’s sitting at this table, on my left smirks at me, then raises the bet to forty grand. Cocky fucker.

The Barrister, Austin, on Leo’s left, folds with a defeated chuckle, and takes a drink of his Manhattan.

The Dragon, Raphael, calls the bet, and so does the Executive, Enzo.

The Politician chuckles on my right. “Must be some very strong hands in play.”

Everyone ignores him as the dealer flips another card. The King of Hearts.

Raph checks, so does Enzo. Leo checks his cards, then his chips, then the flop again, before his eyes return to his cards.

“Fifteen thousand,” he says, throwing in the chips.

Raph checks his cards once, and calls.

Enzo raises another ten grand without consulting his cards or saying a single word.

Leo stares at him, hesitating. I know from extensive experience that Enzo is a formidable poker player. He doesn’t have a tell, not that I’ve been able to pick up on anyway, and he bets hard, large, and aggressive, which he can do since he makes billions a year.

Leo calls the bet.

The dealer slides a card into the last position in the flop. The revelation of the card is interrupted when the new Herrington henchman, Fred or Ford or something, bursts into the room.

“This better be important,” Enzo says in a tone that promises death.

“Lucas’ comm went down.”

I’m out of my chair immediately, and so is Enzo. Lucas is with Del and Scar.

“What do you mean ‘ down, ’ Ford?” Enzo barks, as he pulls out his phone from his suit jacket pocket.

I take my phone out and check for messages from Scar. Nothing.

“Cut out completely about ten minutes ago,” Ford says.

“Why are you here , then?” Enzo growls menacingly.

Enzo lifts his phone up to his ear, but almost immediately pulls it back to look at it.

“There were two men closer, they should be—” Ford pulls out his ringing phone and answers it.

Enzo looks at me. “Try Scarlett.”

I hit her number. It doesn’t even ring. I try again. Nothing.

Panic seizes my body, my muscles locking up. No. No, this isn’t happening.

I try again.

Nothing.

Again.

Nothing.

My heart pounds rapidly in my ears, but I hear the words I don’t want to hear.

“Lucas is dead,” Ford says. “The women are gone.”

No, no, no .

No.

I try Scar’s number again.

Nothing.

A gun shot blasts in the room. My ears ring.

I try her again.

Nothing.

She’s gone.

Taken.

Rage—deep, hot, uncontrollable—consumes everything I am.

The table in front of me is suddenly on its side, cards and chips and shattered glass everywhere.

Nobody takes what’s mine and keeps their life.