“I’m coming with you,” I said.
“No, you should stay here. Isla’s parked outside. She’ll keep watch over the house.”
“Jace, I’m not letting you go to some shady casino on your own.”
“I’ll have Dixon—”
“Dixon’s been working around the clock. He deserves not to be dragged out of bed in the middle of the night for this. Leave him. We’ll go together, and Isla can come with us.”
Jace didn’t look happy about the plan, but he must’ve seen the determination on my face because he relented. “Fine, but you need to stay by my side the whole time.”
I nodded, then went to grab my coat and handbag. Jace quickly filled Isla in on where we were going, and then we were off. I noted the casino was in a dicey part of the city. What on earth had Elias gotten himself into?
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Jace said, breaking the quiet.
“I’m not sure. What are you thinking?”
“Well, I’m just now piecing a lot of stuff together. Elias is constantly playing some roulette game on one of those gamblingapps. I thought it was a harmless bit of fun, but now I’m wondering …”
“If he has a gambling addiction?” I finished.
Jace let go of the steering wheel for a second to rub his jaw. “Yeah.”
“It’s possible. Those apps are highly addictive.”
“Bloody hell, what a fucking family. First me, now Elias.”
“Hey, it might not be as bad as you think. Maybe he just got himself into a tough spot and lost control of the situation.”
“Hmm.” Jace didn’t sound convinced as he quickly parallel parked and then came around to help me out. I noted the graffiti on the building next to the casino, the unpleasant stench of urine and spilled alcohol masking the street. A group of sketchy looking men stood outside, smoking cigarettes and talking in hushed tones. A few of them glanced our way, taking our measure. On instinct, I sidled closer to Jace.
Isla was by our side a second later, and we approached the casino. After checking our IDs, the doorman let us in.
“Elias said they were keeping him in one of the private rooms in the back,” Jace said to Isla.
“I’ll go check it out.”
She disappeared into the casino. The place wasn’t too busy, just a few people playing slot machines, and a couple others around a roulette table. I hated to be so judgmental, but it was a real dive. There was a faint smell of mould and the sort of worn, dark patterned carpet on the floor that disguised a myriad of sins. I wouldn’t risk ordering a drink at the bar since it didn’t strike me as the sort of place with good hygiene practices.
Jace’s hand came to rest on my lower back, and I peered up at him. A short, tense moment passed between us, and I sensed he was thinking about what happened on my couch before Elias interrupted with his call.
“I’m sorry for kissing you,” I blurted.
Jace’s eyebrows lifted, a hint of amusement claiming his features. “Why would you be sorry about that?”
I frowned. “I didn’t ask for consent. Plus, you’ve been through some heavy stuff today, and me taking advantage of you isn’t exactly—”
“Shannon,” he said, cutting me off as his fingers slid through mine, and he tugged me close. His breath washed over my cheeks, his lips brushing my ear. “I’m yours. There’s no taking advantage. Kiss me whenever you like. I won’t hold you to it.”
I’m yours. He said it so casually, no clue how the statement had my insides in a tailspin. But what did he mean, he wouldn’t hold me to it? Was he back to the idea that I could use him for sex? I thought we’d moved past that.
I was about to respond when Isla returned, “I found where they’re keeping him. Some dude said he owes twelve grand.”
Both Jace’s and my jaws dropped. When Jace got over the fact that his cousin had lost twelve thousand euros in only one night, he said, “Okay, and he can’t pay it back?”
I’d been about to ask the same question. Jace and the rest of Astro had made a lot of money from their music careers. In fact, one of the few good things my parents had ever done was offer to look through the record contract Jace had been given. Oftentimes, musicians got screwed over with contracts, eagerly signing away their rights because they were so desperate to make it big. Astro hadn’t fallen prey to such tactics, not with a pair of sharks like my parents going over the contract with a fine tooth comb and insisting on a number of changes to benefit the band.
Anyway, all this to say, Elias should’ve had the funds to pay back what he’d lost. He’d earned a lot of money over the years. Maybe he really did have a gambling problem. It was certainly bad if he was playing poker in a dive casino like this one.
