Unspoken Obsession (Casino King #4)

14. Dante

DANTE

M y phone buzzes late at night, pulling me from some really deep thoughts that I've been lost in for ages. I am home, trying to relax after a long day at work. My mind's stuck on Frankie. She hasn't called or messaged since our flight to Sierra Nevada, and I am trying so hard to give her the space she needs - for whatever is going on in her life.

But it's getting harder every day and each time I pick up my phone, I open her chat window - ready to message her or hoping to see a message from her I somehow missed.

Tonight has been no different. And now I am standing out on my balcony with a whiskey hoping it will numb my mind enough that I can get some sleep.

The sound of my phone buzzing sets my heart racing and I rush over to pick it up - hopeful that it might be her.

My heart sinks when I see Lorenzo's name.

Lorenzo: Sir, she is at the casino - the card counter. Do you want me to do anything?

I hold my breath. Should I go there? Would it be weird? It would. It would be too obvious if I showed up just after she arrived.

No, I need to stay away.

She doesn't know I own that casino - or even what my real name is. She only knows me as Dan. But I only know her as Frankie - so I shouldn't feel guilty about that.

I clench my jaw, it is aching from the tension. I pace up and down the balcony with my phone gripped in my hand.

Finally, I message Lorenzo back after arguing with myself for a moment. Half of me wants to see her. The other half knows it is a terrible idea.

Me: No, leave her to play. But let's arrange another big game. And this time we will follow her, regardless of any other men tracking her. We need to find out where she is staying. In the meantime—try to slip a tracker into her handbag if you can. We haven't been able to follow her, but a tracker will be just as effective.

I need to step up my efforts to figure out who she really is.

That night on the mountain with her was incredible—magical even—but it also revealed a glaring truth that became harder to ignore the more time I spent with her.

I can't ignore the fact that Frankie is hiding something huge. I can't ignore it anymore. She is hiding something about herself - from me. Something that I suspect would affect me if I found out.

I don't like secrets. Especially when the person keeping them is getting very close to me. And over the past weeks, Frankie has somehow become an enormous part of my life. Despite keeping her distance from me, she has infiltrated my daily thoughts, wants, and needs.

It's driving me crazy.

I can't stop thinking about her and what she is doing.

I'm grateful Lorenzo messaged me with her location because just knowing that has given me a little peace of mind.

It's hard to think about someone when you can't even picture where they are or what they are doing.

I'll go to bed calmly now - knowing that she is in my casino. She is still in the city. She is around. I considered she might have disappeared back to wherever she came from. Something I've thought was a possibility all along. That she might leave my life as quickly as she swept into it.

The next morning, I woke up groggy, as though I was up drinking all night. It's because I was tossing and turning all night - trying to figure out what to do about this mysterious woman who has come into my life like a wrecking ball.

All day I am on edge. I'm out of my routine and frustrated -- snapping at people who don't deserve it.

I just had a fight with the floor manager and Lorenzo has been throwing me disapproving looks.

Walking across the casino floor at Russo River Casino - Lorenzo is right behind me as we do the rounds.

"I don't often speak up, but with respect, you're being dickhead today."

I spin to glare at Lorenzo who folds his arms across his chest and tilts his head to the side - daring me to deny his very confrontational words.

I sigh, heavy and angry. "You don't need to be a dick about me being a dick. You could've just asked me if I was doing okay or if something was wrong?" I mutter, turning away from him again. I am being an asshole. I'm tired and stressed and I can't stop thinking about her and it's making me crazy.

"Alright - what's wrong? Do you need me to help you with something? We got a tracker into Frankie's purse last night if that makes you feel any better?" Lorenzo asks, following behind me, walking fast to keep up.

"No, I don't need help with anything - just mind your own business." I snap back at him, and the asshole dares to laugh at me.

I spin to glare at him again and he stops walking, holding his hands in the air in a defensive position, but the smile on his face sends a thick current of annoyance through me.

"I'll go and… find something else to do. But do us all a favor, boss, get laid or something to relieve your stress. You'll give yourself high blood pressure or some shit." He smirks, taking a step away from me. He knows I don't mind him being real with me. But today I've hit my limit. It's not a day to push me.

"I think that is a good idea." I nod, glaring at him. "You finding something else to do, not the high blood pressure thing."

I watch Lorenzo walk away, wondering what the hell I can do to fix this horrible mood I'm in. For him to say something like that - it means it's even worse than I thought. Maybe I do need to get laid, but the only woman I want in my bed is Frankie.

The news about the tracker being planted is excellent. I didn't even react to it; I'm so fucking frustrated right now.

I turn around, observing the busy casino floor, listening to the loud jackpot machines ringing non-stop. Music plays from all directions and the longer I stand here the more I realize I would rather be anywhere else. I can't take all of this sensory input. I need silence.

In the distance, near the far side of the casino floor, I see a girl with long blonde hair - the way she moves - it looks like my sister, Daniela. It can't be. I'm imagining things. I'm just tired - yet - my heart is pounding a million miles an hour as I take off, sprinting across the floor -- ducking between loud chiming machines and past the colorful lights. Apologizing as I bump into people, knowing I am being rude but not caring because if that is my sister, I will run like my life depends on it.

The girl disappears behind a corner ahead of me and I shout her name as I sprint around the corner, "Dani."

But she's not there.

She can't just disappear like that. Where the hell did she go? Is someone playing some kind of fucked up joke on me? Who would do that? What is going on?

My sister.

My sister is here in this casino after years of being missing.

"Dani?" I shout again, then spot her walking out of the back exit towards the parking garage. I'm running again, faster than I have ever run in my life. Through the open doors and out into the cool night air, I reach forward and grab her arm, spinning her to face me. "Da?—"

It's not her.

My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach.

It's not Dani. It's not my sister.

I stare in disbelief at the stunned girl who is standing dead still, wide-eyed, and looking horrified at being manhandled by me. She looks so similar to Daniela. The shape of her face, her body - I can't believe how much she looks like my sister.

"Who - what?" She stammers, terrified of me. Realizing I am still gripping her arm I shake my head and release her arm. "I'm so sorry. I thought you were - I thought - I'm sorry." I back up away from her. My head spinning. I'm dizzy with tension.

Memories of my sister fill my head.

Her laughter, the way she would rip me off about everything.

She was - she is such an amazing person.

I can't believe the relief I felt when I thought I had found her.

What am I doing? Why haven't I been focusing every effort on finding her? I've been distracted, and it isn't fair. I abandoned her.

My heart pulls tight. I'm a terrible person. My sister is out there somewhere - scared and alone and she needs me. And what am I doing? I'm roaming around my casino feeling sorry for myself.

I worried about the mysterious woman - not focused on my family.

I sigh, pressing my fingers against my temple.

I'm selfish; I know that isn't a fair thing to say. I've spent years looking for my sister. I've spent millions, and so much of my time - but I slowed down. I never gave up; I just slowed down. That's all. And tonight was a reminder that I need to pick up where I left off.

Maybe it's time to look into Antonio Musetti -- the man I was trying to avoid causing shit with. All the other leads were dead in the water. He is the last one still lingering.

He is not a man I want to mess with and upset the fine balance of power between us - but if he did anything to my sister, I would burn his empire to the ground.

Turning back towards the casino I find I can't face going back in there tonight. I need to go home. I need to catch up on some rest and face tomorrow like a new challenge. Today I am overwhelmed and unfocused and it's making me do stupid things.

On the drive home I am thinking about Frankie again, and even though whatever connection we share is real - she is not real - she's a beautiful liar.

I've got to think about my other duties and get my priorities back in order. Remember what is important to me.

Like finding Daniela.

I need to trust my instincts - the ones telling me that Frankie has something to do with Daniela's disappearance. I will figure it out. But that means I'd have to treat Frankie like a suspect, not a lover.

Frankie reminds me of the girl from all those years ago at the gala event and she gives me the same thrill that girl gave me. All I want is the truth.

The car behind me honks and I realize I've been staring at the green light, not moving. I hold up my hand to apologize and speed up away.

Just go home.

Get some sleep.

Tomorrow is a new day.

I'll reorganize my scattered thoughts and focus on what is important.

Antonio Musetti is now at the top of my list.

But I will need to tread carefully with him. I want to meet with Lorenzo and tell him we are going to pursue this direction. He will not be happy - but he will understand.

At home, I head straight to my bedroom. I can't even face food or a drink. I need a hot shower and sleep.

I lift the shower lever, pushing it to the hot side then I strip down and wait for the water to heat up. I stare down at my hands.

I thought that girl was Daniela. I grabbed her.

I shake my head, pushing away the thought. I will find my sister.

The hot water streams over my skin, burning me, and turning my body red. I stand under it for ages, letting it soothe away my tension and ease the pain in my shoulders.

When I step out of the shower, I am exhausted.

I dry off and collapse into bed - ready to sleep away all of this stress.