“No, that was Angelica, the band’s manager. Don’t get me wrong, Dixon is cool. I just wouldn’t want to bother him when it’s my turn to be on duty.”
I nodded, dropping the matter since it was clear she didn’t feel comfortable calling her colleague. Instead, I asked her some questions about where she grew up and if she had any siblings. It turned out that she did other security work when the band wasn’t on tour, but it wasn’t as well-paying as looking after Astro, so in a way, being called in to watch Jace was a stroke of luck for her. Although she was sorry about the catfish.
Then we got into a deep discussion about possible new suspects, though Isla said that personally she didn’t think it was Dean from my work.
“It just feels way more personal than that. To frighten you with the car and all. This is someone with an axe to grind. You and Dean had one drunken kiss, so unless he’s an absolute psychopath, it just doesn’t feel right to me that it’s him.”
Her words gave me pause, and I started to wonder if she was onto something, but I just couldn’t think of anyone who could hate Jace, and by association, me, so much that they’d do something this despicable.
Before I could give the theory more thought, there was a ruckus from the other end of the casino. A second later, I spotted Jace and Elias headed our way, walking swiftly. Jace was carrying a small black bag, but I couldn’t see what was inside. He slid his arm around my waist and helped me off the stool. “We need to leave. Now.”
“What happened?”
“I’ll tell you in the car.”
“Hey! Get back here!”
Several men—including the slimeball who’d offered for Jace to take part in the poker game—came rushing through the casino after us, so I let Jace hustle me out of there double quick. Moments later, we were in the car, Elias sliding into the back seat. I’d never seen anyone start an engine so fast, and then we were driving away at speed. I twisted to look behind us and, with relief, saw that Isla had made it to her car and was following us.
“Ha! That was incredible! Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat,” Elias exclaimed while punching the air in triumph. His eyes were alight with excitement, while beneath them, there were grey bags that told me he hadn’t slept in a day or two.
“More like defeat from the jaws of victory in your case,” Jace shot back, annoyed. “Most of those guys were idiot posers. How the hell did you manage to lose so much money from them in the first place?”
“Just an unanticipated string of bad luck,” Elias said, losing a little of his exuberance. “It happens to the best of us.”
“I swear to fuck, El,” Jace swore. “Never again.”
“Are you seriously mad right now? You just won fifteen thousand euros off those pricks. You should be celebrating.”
I stared at Jace, gobsmacked. “Fifteen thousand?”
He reached down and grabbed something off the floor before tossing it in my lap. It was the black bag he’d been carrying. I opened it up and peered inside. “It was only three after I paid back what knucklehead here lost. It’s also in casino chips. No way am I ever cashing them. Those blokes looked like they wanted to fillet me and fry me up for dinner.”
“Of course, we’re cashing them,” Elias argued. “We’ll just go back in the morning when it’s quiet. Besides, I need that money for …” He trailed off, realising what he’d been about to reveal. Unfortunately, Jace and I already knew he owed someone else money, probably a lot by the sounds of it.
“To pay back your other debts?”
“What? No. I just mean—”
“You need help,” Jace said. “Take it from someone who’s been there.”
“This isn’t the same as your addiction, Jace. It’s just a little bit of fun that got out of hand. It won’t happen again, I swear.”
“How many times did I say that to you, Shannon?” Jace asked, and my stomach hollowed remembering him strung out and making empty promises to change. That this time was the last time.
“Too many,” I answered.
“See?” he said, making eye contact with Elias through his rearview mirror. “I know what I’m talking about. You’re always on those gambling apps, too. Is that where it started?”
“Fuck you with the judgy tone,” Elias snapped. “Stop here. I’m getting out.”
“No, I’m dropping you back to your apartment. Then tomorrow morning, I’m going to give you the money to pay off your debts. After that, we’re booking you into a rehab clinic.”
“I don’t need rehab,” Elias said, though he’d lost some steam. I turned again to peer at him and saw he had his arms folded, his expression furrowed. He looked like a lost little boy, and that was an achievement, given he was a large, muscle bound, six-foot-something rockstar.
“You should tell your parents. They’ll help, too.”
“I’m not telling them. I can’t … I can’t face their disappointment, just … I’ll do what you say, go stay at a clinic or whatever. Just please don’t say anything to my parents.”
