Unspoken Obsession (Casino King #4)

11. Frankie

FRANKIE

T onight is not going as planned. The card game was good, but halfway through it, I realized that two of my father's men were there and had eyes on me.

That meant I had to be very careful after the game when I went to say hello to Dan at the bar.

I keep a respectful distance from him, not wanting him to show me any affection while those goons are watching. I can't allow them to report anything back to my father.

I pretend I am just chatting to someone who is admiring my playing skills, all the while glancing over his shoulder towards the two men.

But then Dan asks me some very specific questions and my anxiety spikes. Why is he asking me now? What has he found out about me or what is it that is making him push for answers? He has asked me before, but it was subtle. He seems to be trying too hard now. Pushy and harsh.

I need to get out of here.

Besides, it's almost twelve and I need to get home to relieve Clarissa of her babysitting duties.

"Mm. Alright. Keep your secrets. But not for long. One day you will tell me."

He's pushing for answers this evening. I need to play this down and then leave as soon as possible.

"One day - maybe." I bite my lip, smiling, trying to keep the mood light.

Then I pick up my clutch and step away from the bar. "It was lovely to see you, sorry I can't stay longer."

"Can I see you tomorrow?" He asks, and my heart flips. I really want to see him tomorrow. I'm just getting nervous about how many times I've slipped away from the goons my father sends to track me. They are going to catch on soon and it's getting riskier every time I see Dan.

I can't let my father get curious about this man. I don't need my father to catch on that Dan might be the father of my son.

Dan smiles down at me. His blue eyes were brighter tonight, sharp, interested - as though he was searching for something. I glance behind him and see my father's goons, always watching. I hate the fact that they are here. They ruin the moment between us.

"I'll call you." I smile, anxiety churning in my stomach. He nods but doesn't step forward to kiss me goodbye. He's upset that I won't answer his questions.

I turn away from Dan and stride towards the exit. Behind me I see the two men fall in line and start following. I can't help but roll my eyes. My father is unbelievable. I thought that just maybe, maybe after being away for a few years he would've calmed the fuck down on all of this rubbish. But I guess not.

Outside the casino it's chaos. There are security crews visible everywhere. I've got no clue what is happening but from my experience at my father's casino when security floods the area like this, it's bad. It is an enormous risk being here when the place is crawling with them on high alert. I scan the chaos, trying to spot my father's men. Before I saw the black suits and guns out here, I was considering giving those goons a piece of my mind—but now the best thing for me to do is leave—fast.

It's not worth the trouble it would cause drawing attention to them or me. I just want to get home to my baby.

Climbing into my car I toss my clutch onto the passenger seat. The engine purrs. The casino parking area is brightly lit, and when I pull away, out into the streets of Las Vegas, it doesn't get any less colorful and noisy.

This really is a city that never sleeps. There is always something happening somewhere.

The traffic light turns green, and I speed up, but a drunk man stumbles into the road and knocks the side of my car with a loud thud before he bounces off and lands on his ass in the gutter. I scream, slamming on the brakes. He holds up his hands and mumbles an apology as he staggers back up to his feet. He's going to get himself locked up tonight if he doesn't find his way home. Or worse, flattened like a pancake in the road.

My heart is still racing when I pull away again. That was a close call.

I need to pay more attention. I am so caught up in my thoughts I didn't even notice him standing there.

There is just so much going on.

And what the hell was happening at the casino? There was tension in the air like they'd robbed the place, but the alarms never went off and they didn't lock down.

I park in front of my apartment building, as I always do so that my father's goons can keep an eye on my car for me. Then I head upstairs, opening the front door and stepping inside my apartment at quarter to midnight.

Clarissa tiptoes through the apartment to whisper hello to me at the front door.

"He was unsettled earlier. He woke up twice, had some milk, and went back to sleep about half an hour ago - but otherwise, he has been an angel."

"Thanks, sweetie. Did you enjoy the mac and cheese?"

"It was divine." She grins. "There is a little leftover in the oven. I'll see you tomorrow." She gives me a quick hug and then tiptoes out of the apartment.

I close the door behind her and slip my feet out of the high heels. My poor toes are aching. Flexing my feet I sigh, the relief is instant.

Am I doing the right thing spending so much time with Dan?

I am listening to my heart more than my brain and it is going to get me into trouble.

I want to find out if he is Damion's father. Although at this point I am almost ninety-nine point nine percent sure of it. There are just too many similarities - too many connections that I've already made. Maybe I should steal his toothbrush and do one of those mail-order-dna-test things.

I sneak through to Damion's room and peek inside. He is sound asleep -- his beautiful, chubby cheeks squished against his pillow. I don't dare move the blanket or lean down and kiss him because I know how easily he would wake up especially if Clarissa only just got him to settle.

Wandering through to the kitchen I flick the oven on and stand, leaning against the counter, wondering what in the world I am doing with my life.

I keep taking risks with the card counting - but it's the only thing keeping me sane at this point. It's the only thing that I do that isn't controlled by someone else. But I've been doing it a lot more lately and the more I go to these high-stakes games, the more I am putting myself in the spotlight.

Which is bad.

I really can't have someone recognize me as Antonio Musetti's daughter, especially not when Dan is around. That would scare him off and I wouldn't blame him either. Who would want to be associated with the daughter of an underworld criminal?

I sigh, running my fingers through my hair and pulling it all over my left shoulder, brushing out the wavy curls.

How am I going to tell Dan who I think he is? And how am I going to tell him he has a son?

At this point - because I've already waited so long - the longer I wait the worse it becomes because I am keeping an enormous secret.

But that secret is protecting my child.

The kitchen is filled with the delicious scent of macaroni with rich cheese sauce, mushrooms, and bacon. I grab the cloth and pull the dish out of the oven, setting it on the wooden board so that I can dish some up for myself.

All I'm sure of is that I can't keep this up for much longer. I need to make a choice and then stick to it. It's difficult to stay away from Dan. But if my father finds out what is going on, it will be ten times more difficult and Dan would be in danger.

The questions Dan was asking tonight were too forward - too intense. I wonder what he's thinking? He was interrogating me this evening it was more serious than casual 'get to know you vibes'.

Dammit. I really am playing with fire.

It will not end well.

I eat my late night dinner standing up in the kitchen, leaning my hip against the countertop - my mind racing, filled with worry.

Tomorrow I am going to decide.

I might need to stop seeing Dan - at least for a little while until my father's men back off or my father gets bored with following me around.

I put the empty bowl in the sink, filling it with a little water and leaving it to soak overnight. I tiptoe through to my bedroom, and pull my dress off, leaving it on the floor as I step out of it. I am so tired my bones are aching. I've been thinking too much, and it's giving me a headache.

I need sleep.

I need to make better choices.

I need to stay away from Dan, even though my heart hurts just thinking about it.

In the morning I wake up to a little voice calling me. "Mommy." I drag my eyes open. "Mommy." Damion whispers as he pokes my shoulder. I grin as I blink at him. "Morning, my beautiful little boy. Did you sleep well?" I lift the corner of my blanket and he smiles, climbing beneath the covers and cuddling into my arms.

It's Saturday, and I promised Damion, I would take him shopping for a new dinosaur toy. He has been talking about it all week and he knows today is the day.

"What do you want for breakfast you little rascal?" I asked, nuzzling my face against his hair.

"Sea-really."

"Cereal? The colorful one?"

"Yup." He nods, wiggling away from me. I release him and he climbs out of the bed, waddling towards the kitchen. If I don't get up to help him, the kitchen is going to turn into a three-year-old's war zone within about five minutes.

I hear something banging. It's already started.

Hurrying towards the kitchen, not quite awake yet, I find him dragging one of the kitchen chairs towards the cupboard.

"Oh no, leave that where it was. I'll get it down for you."

Damion and I carry our cereal to the living room where we sit on the fluffy rug together, eating and chatting about what shops to go to for his new dinosaur toy. Which dinosaur is his favorite? And what's he going to name it?

I am smiling the entire time. This little boy is my entire world.

He is the only thing I should be focused on.

I don't need to be thinking about men - even very specific, tall, dark, and handsome men who make my heart thunder.

My phone beeps and I glance at it, seeing a text from Dan.

Dan: Tomorrow afternoon can I pick you up for a dinner date?

I sigh and bite at my lower lip. I should say no, but just reading his message has me smiling and butterflies are flapping in my stomach. I sigh.

Me: That sounds lovely, but I can meet you somewhere - maybe the Russo River Casino?

Dan: Meet me downstairs at the entrance at five.

I confirm the date and put my phone back on the coffee table. Damnit Frankie, just when you were telling yourself to stay away from him. What is it that makes him so difficult to resist? Even being at the casino is becoming more dangerous. The more time I spend there the riskier it is. But I'm not only there for the cards now. I am there for him as well.