Unspoken Obsession (Casino King #4)

16. Dante

DANTE

F rankie shifts in her seat, squirming. Talking about her father is not something she is happy to do; she is uncomfortable.

She shrugs again, perhaps trying to push away the uneasy guilt of being caught in a lie. "I know, but my father and I never saw eye to eye. I still talk to him - I just - I avoid him as much as I can."

I watch her. Her entire body became rigid the moment I mentioned the men following her and when her father came up in conversation; it made her even more tense. It only makes me more curious about what she is hiding.

Her father must be someone with some power if he can afford to have his daughter followed everywhere. Personal security is not cheap. Is that why she has to be home by midnight every time?

I am pushing. I know I am, but I am done waiting for the truth.

I can't push her away though. That won't help anything.

"So, are you looking forward to tonight's game?" I ask to change the subject. Her shoulders drop a little and she nods.

"It's how I relax, playing cards."

"Most people find the games pretty intense and stressful." I chuckle.

"To each to their own." She grins.

"I guess it all comes down to why you play."

"I play to challenge myself." She says, looking down at her drink. I say nothing in return. I just watch her expression. She seems agitated by my questions no matter what they are about. Her family, her playing, her life…

She is hiding something and the urgency to finding out what she's hiding is grating at me. Maybe I should just drag her down to my dungeon beneath the casino where we question those who dare steal from me. Maybe I should stop being a na?ve idiot and letting this gorgeous girl take advantage of me. She is hiding something. That alone should be enough to make me want to force the truth out of her.

I know how to make men speak. I imagine she would crumble under pressure.

Just the thought of her tied up and hanging from the chains against the dungeon wall is enough to make my decision for me.

I shut my eyes, forcing the thoughts out of my mind. I should not rush into anything. I can't just torture every person who has a secret. It might have nothing to do with me at all.

I turn my thoughts back to the dinner and our conversation. I won't take such extreme steps—not yet anyway.

"Well, I am sure, as usual, you will be on a winning streak tonight."

The problem is that my team is no longer the only ones who've noticed her card-counting skills and people are whispering amongst themselves that Dante Russo is letting a card counter get away with cheating in his casino.

Most people don't know it's her. They are looking for a man named Frankie - the same way I was when I first heard about her. But the bottom line is that it is making me seem weak. And looking weak is dangerous for me. It's something I can't afford in my line of business.

Not after I have built up such a strong reputation.

A strong reputation that I am going to need when I face Antonio Musetti.

The rest of dinner I ease up on the questions, thinking that I don't want to make her so uncomfortable right now and when Lorenzo tries to follow her home later, she gets too skittish and disappears.

I need to play it cool and take it slow even though I am dying to get to the truth. I am a patient man. I can handle myself.

After dinner, we walk to the Blackjack tables together. Then I head to the bar and get comfortable, ready to watch her play. She settles into her game but seems anxious as she watches me and everyone around her. She isn't enjoying this as much as she usually does. I think my questions affected her more than I noticed at the time - and that tells me something important. It tells me she is hiding more and doesn't like to be in the spotlight, in the hot seat.

I also want to watch the crowd. Wondering who she is looking out for.

She had these two men following her the entire time, and we only just noticed them. Perhaps there are more clues about her under our noses we've missed.

The game kicks off with fewer players than usual. It is a quiet night despite the high stakes of the game.

I order a whiskey and sit quietly, observing everything going on around me.

Watching her, I keep thinking about my sister's disappearance and the attacks in the underground tunnels. Why do I get the constant, nagging feeling that she is connected to it all? Is she a distraction? Has she been playing me all along? Chaos erupted as soon as she walked into my life.

We are an hour in when Andrew finds me sitting at the bar.

"Why is she still playing? Why are you letting her get away with it?" He asks me. His arms are folded over his chest as he looks at me annoyed.

"What makes you think you can question my authority in my casino like that?" I snap back, wanting to defend her despite knowing he is right to be annoyed.

"Dante, you know what this is doing to our reputation. Don't you notice how two of the top players aren't even here tonight because she is still being allowed at the table? They don't enjoy playing with her. Even though they can't prove what she is doing - rumors are spreading fast and she is causing trouble for us."

"Fuck." I sigh. I knew this would happen. I rub my fingers against my eyes. I guess it's happening tonight.

"I'll have a one-on-one conversation with her tonight after the game. I will not cause a scene now in front of everyone - but I will make sure she doesn't play again."

Andrew's eyes fixate intensely on me for a moment. He's not sure he can trust me.

"Ok." He says, after a while. "I'll let everyone who commented know that we are dealing with it."

"Yes." I nod when he looks at me as though he has asked a question. "We are dealing with it."

Finally satisfied with my answer he leaves, and I continue to watch Frankie.

This girl has stirred up so much trouble in my life and I still can't seem to let her go. I haven't been able to take any risks as I've been too scared to lose her.

But I guess tonight I've got no choice - I am going to tell her who I really am and that I know she is counting cards.

I have no idea how she will react.

There is something else I decided to do tonight because I can't wait anymore.

I need information.

Pulling out my phone I send Lorenzo the location provided by the tracker we put in her purse. I want him to snoop around while she is here at the casino with me.

I want him to report back on everything he finds. I slide my phone back into my pocket and watch her, wondering what I am about to learn.

Frankie looks up from the table as though she can feel the heat of my eyes on her. She smiles -- a delicate, sweet smile - secretive and full of meaning. I wish I understood what she was saying with that smile. I wish I knew what secrets were hidden behind those beautiful eyes of hers.

When she smiles at me like that, it makes me feel like I'm the only man in the room.

I smile back, as gently as she is looking at me. My head and heart are at odds when I think about her. It worries me. All of this is unknown and my heart is behaving like a fool. I am usually so careful, not taking unnecessary risks - but she has me on the edge of a cliff - standing and waiting despite all the danger.

I watch her for the rest of the game, preparing to confront her in private afterward.

It might be the last time I see her - if I don't do this right. I might scare her away. I don't want that, so I need to make sure she understands where I am coming from and why it is such a serious issue. I don't think she knows anything about the Vegas underworld - but it's a fucking dark place -- one I don't want her to get tangled in.

The game ends with Frankie taking second place. She is always so careful not to win even though she can. I guess it doesn't matter at this point as it is the last time; I can't let her play cards in my casino or anywhere in Vegas for that matter.

I know how I would deal with any other person who got caught counting cards in my casino - and Frankie can count herself 'lucky' that she isn't just anyone to me. She is going to get off lighter than pretty much everyone else ever caught.

She walks over to me, that dark gray dress moving like liquid gunmetal. It looks gorgeous on her. She is the finest example of elegance I've ever seen. Her subtle ability to be so sexy - looking like she isn't even trying - takes me by surprise every time.

"Would you like a drink?" I ask as she approaches.

"Sure." She smiles at me, standing just a little way away from me.

"Before we get a drink - I need to speak with you somewhere a bit more private."

She tenses. "Why?"

"It's not something I want to discuss in front of anyone else."

Frankie looks over her shoulder, searching the room with fear growing in her eyes. Again, I wonder who she is looking for. Is it her father she is so scared of?

"Um. Ok." She says after a while. "I guess we can talk."

Doing my best to keep her from stressing I take her hand and lead her around the back of the events room where we host the games - into a side room where we store alcohol for the bar.

She stands nervously shifting from one foot to the other with her arms folded across her chest. "Are you sure we won't be in trouble for coming back here?" She asks. "It looks like somewhere only staff are allowed - not guests."

"Frankie." I sigh, taking a moment to gather my thoughts.

"My name is Dante Russo. I am the owner of this casino and the Russo River Casino - where I stay in the penthouse. We've been watching you since the first time we met at this casino - because we know you are counting cards."

I pause to assess her reaction so far.

Her eyes are wide with shock, and she looks like she is about to run from the room, but it appears her pride is forcing her to stand there maintaining eye contact.

When she says nothing, I carry on speaking.

"I don't think you understand how it works - but when card counters are caught, we react. The consequences for the player are - well - unpleasant. My usual reaction is to ban you from Las Vegas casinos. You may never set foot in a casino in this city again - and there is the possibility of having you arrested. Although, I prefer to deal with these matters more - privately."

Frankie gasps in shock when I tell her she is at risk of being kicked out of every casino in the city. Her face scrunches as though she is in pain -- her jaw tightened and her brows knotted. Her cheeks turn bright red.

"Dante - Dante Russo." She says my name as though she knows who I am.

I guess it is difficult to spend any time at all in Las Vegas and not know my name.

She is looking from my eyes to my lips, scanning my face, and I can see the conflict in her eyes.

She must be wondering about all the times we've spent together, every moment when I did not reveal who I really was. I never lied to her except about what I do for a living. Even that was a half-truth; I do import and export goods. Everything else between us was genuine.

"Have you really kicked people out for card counting - I mean banned them from Las Vegas?" She says after a long time, and I nod.

"Yes. And worse, you're a lady so we won't cut off any fingers. We've got no choice; if we let one cheater get away with it, the news spreads fast and the casino can't win. The house always wins, Frankie. Always."

"Please - Dante - I - I don't do it to make money. It's not about the money. I'm not stealing anything." She stammers, stressed and fidgeting with her hands.

"I know it's not about the money. And we can't even prove you are doing it - but that doesn't make it any less serious, Frankie."

Staring into her eyes my heart sinks. I need her to understand the position she has put me in - and I want to know what she is thinking.

Right now, she just looks terrified.

I can see the terror flashing across her face as she watches me. I don't think she knows what to say.

"Frankie," I say her name. "Do you understand you can't play cards anymore? Do you understand what I am telling you?"

"I understand. Are your men escorting me out? What is going to happen?" She asks with a tight nervous voice and her eyes looking as though she is fighting tears.

I sigh, shaking my head.

"I will not make a scene or tell other casinos. I can't bring myself to do that. If I wanted to kick you out, I would've done it ages ago. I like you too much. I really like you, Frankie. I want to spend more time with you. But the card counting has to stop. You need a new hobby -- learn to knit or some shit. This is a one-time free pass, Frankie. If you get caught again, there will be consequences." My head is pounding with a headache. I just threatened her and told her I liked her all at the same time.