The Heights Casino is everything I expected.
Opulent, over the top, and full of people trying to strike it rich or drown their sorrows. Annabelle and I step inside, my pulse quickening as I scan the room. My eyes immediately dart to the ceiling.
Cameras.
Everywhere.
They don’t miss a damn thing. Nicholas promised Koen they’re only there to keep an eye on guests trying to cheat the house when he called him earlier to ask about it, but still, the thought of being watched sends a shiver down my spine.
This isn’t the first time I’ve had to be invisible in a high-stakes place, but tonight, the stakes feel higher. A lot higher.
Annabelle tugs at my arm, pulling me forward. She’s the only reason I’m not completely unraveling. Three hours earlier, she showed up at the mansion to get ready together. Levi picked her up, which added to the chaos. He also got us dresses for tonight, and Annabelle nearly shattered glass with her squeal when she saw hers.
The blue gown hugs her curves perfectly, and mine—soft pink, tasteful, but daring enough to show just the right amountof skin—makes me feel beautiful, not only because Koen only managed to glance away from my eyes long enough to blatantly admire the neckline.
Still, I hope we don’t have to call Nicholas to bail us out if shit goes sideways. Even though a part of me wants to see him, I don’t want to need him.
Annabelle’s nails dig into my arm as she steers us toward the slot machines. “Stop looking at the ceiling,” she whispers through a grin. “You’ll make us look suspicious.”
“Sorry.” I force a smile, willing my eyes to focus elsewhere and catch sight of Sylus at the bar, his shoulders relaxed, his casual smirk in place as he chats with the bartender. Ace is a few rows of slots down, scanning the room. They’ve been here for half an hour already, blending into the crowd.
“Should we get some champagne first?” Annabelle asks. “Would that help settle your nerves?”
“No thanks.” The answer is automatic. “I don’t drink anymore.”
Annabelle stops dead, her hand dropping from my arm as she turns to stare at me. “What? Since when?”
Right.What?
When did I decide that?
“I… I don’t know. I just don’t want to anymore.”
“Huh.” Her eyes narrow, the beginnings of a smirk forming. “I think I like these guys more and more.”
“It’s not for them.” Yes, Koen has this coercion thing on me. And, yeah, they’ve helped me keep my mind busy focused on other things. But it’s not for them. “It’s for me.”
I don’t want to hide behind it anymore.
“Well, shit.” Her expression softens as she takes my arm again, and we walk farther into the casino. “Good for you, Nova.”
Her approval makes something in me loosen, but it also reminds me that this isn’t about approval, hers or anyone else’s.
This is about me.
We stop near the rows of slot machines, and my breath catches when I spot Foster. He’s exactly where Sylus said he’d be, perched on a stool in front of a machine, his sandy hair tousled, his wiry frame swallowed by a beige suit that makes him look like a human Band-Aid.
This is the guy overseeing Veronica’s casino empire?
The guy who traffics girls?
He looks like someone who’s been losing at slots for hours. The sight of him causes my chest to get hot with anger, but I push it down.
Focus.
Annabelle slides onto the stool next to him, her smile radiant, while I linger behind them. Foster doesn’t notice us at first, too focused on feeding coins into the machine. After a moment, though, he glances our way, his gaze lingering on Annabelle before flicking to me.
His grin turns predatory. “Well, well. Can I help you two beautiful ladies?”
