“Exit secure!”
“We’ll be holding you all for questioning,” the one who seems to be in charge says. “We’re here in a joint operation with the Nevada Gaming Commission to investigate an illegal gambling operation, and you’re all detained until further notice. Do not touch your phone until instructed.”
Shit. Fuck!
I suck in a breath and try to calm my racing heart. This is bad. Really bad. Not only am I caught in this illegal place, but I’ll at the very least be issued a citation, which is public. I could even be arrested. I think it’s just a misdemeanor, but an arrest coming off the issues with my reputation would mean I’d lose sponsorships, and my team would likely both fine and suspend me. I’ll lose the respect of everyone around me, and who knows what’ll happen to Everleigh?
The Aces might fire her because she couldn’t control me. Ellie could take a hit from this, too.
Either way, I’m not seeing the twenty-five grand I had on the line again. It’s an illegal operation. The feds will seize all of the assets in this place, and that means I didn’t just lose a hand or two.
Twenty-five grand is swirling down the drain, and I wave goodbye to it as I wait my turn for questioning and wonder how quickly I can get to Everleigh to let her know what’s going on.
CHAPTER 35: Everleigh Bradley
Choose
I jolt awake as I hear the knocking on my door.
I don’t remember falling asleep, but I must have.
I told Milton to text me when Maverick got in, and I waited and waited until my eyes drifted closed.
I glance at the clock, and it’s four in the morning.
Why would someone be pounding on my door at four in the morning?
I jump out of bed, my heart pounding in my chest as I make my way over to answer it. I find Maverick standing there. He looks…disheveled. Tired. Angry.
“I have to tell you something,” he blurts.
“Where have you been?” I ask.
“The Legacy Lounge.” He clears his throat as his eyes dart away from me. “Can I come in?”
I open the door a little wider, and he walks through it. He’s pacing, and I’ve never seen him like this.
“What’s going on?” I demand.
“Sit,” he says.
“I’m not a dog.” I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest.
“Fine, then. Stand. I don’t care. Listen, I was at your father’s underground casino tonight when it was raided. SWAT, the FBI, and the Nevada Gaming Commission all busted in.”
I gasp at his words. “What does that mean?”
He’s still pacing. “We couldn’t move, couldn’t use our phones, couldn’t do anything until they talked to each of us.”
“You’re just getting in?” I ask.
He nods. “I was issued a citation, but they want information. They want me to give up the name of the owner. Nobody would do it, but Ev, if I give the name before the team finds out, they could drop the citation, and all this would go away. If I don’t cooperate, I could be charged with a misdemeanor. Even the citation will get me a suspension from the team, but a misdemeanor means the league will open an investigation, and I could be sidelined until it all goes away. The feds mean business, and they’re not going to let me off easily. They want to make examples out of all of us. But I came to you first. I need you to tell me it’s okay to give his name.” He’s begging me, pleading with me, his eyes searching mine as he waits for me to give him the green light to name my own father.
Tears pinch behind my eyes that he would even ask me that, and at the same time, I realize that hedidask me. He could’ve just given the name and gotten out of trouble. He hates my brother. He hated me until not so long ago. He probably hates my dad, too—if not before, then certainly now. Yet he didn’t. He’s here, asking me for permission, and I’m stuck as my stomach rolls and my legs feel like they’re going to give out at any second.
What do I do? Choose the man who I barely know, or choose the man who gave me life?
As if the universe can hear my question, my phone starts to ring.
