Page 71 of Gang of Roses: Dice

“I’m headed to the jet in a few, ma.”

“Okay, great.”

“See you soon.”

“Okay, safe travels.”

“Girl, you betta finish that damn sentence,” I demanded.

“Ugh! Boy, I love you.”

“Love you too. And clean that boy word up, G-baby.”

“Ritz, just get here on time,” she said and hung up.

I shook my head.

“I think you’d better go,” Toni teased.

“Yeah. Have we gone over everything?”

“Absolutely.”

“Aye, look, link me up with a realtor to get me a home out here.”

“You not going with the penthouse?”

“Nah, I ain’t feeling having my family around all the noise and no peace.”

She just smiled.

“What?”

I frowned.

“Oh, nothing. Get to Mrs. Monroe.”

Mrs. Monroe? It got a ring to it.

“As soon as I clean up, I’m out.”

“Yes, sir.”

Toni smiled and headed toward the exit while I took a slight detour.

Three days ago, I had people running in and out of here, gearing up for the opening. Everything was moving smoothly until Vaga Maxwell, owner of Sunshine Casino, decided to walk his ass through my doors.

Was Vaga Maxwell competition?

I guess you could call him that.

But here was where Vaga fucked up royally... walking in like he had the right and walking out like he’d given me a warning.

I’d already done my homework on Vaga. He was a thirty-year-old Italian cokehead who got his name and business from his daddy. His father, Oz Maxwell, was actually a good man who did good business, legally, that is. Vaga was just a spoiled brat walking around in his father’s body armor.

I was removed from the day-to-day chaos of the streets, but my homies weren’t. Vaga might’ve thought he came to warn a businessman, but the minute he walked into my establishment, trying to mark territory, he woke up a side of me that didn’t give a fuck about tax brackets and tailored suits. If this shit all went away today, I would still be rich.

“You ready?” Oats asked, coming from the front after locking up behind Toni.