Page 24 of Dante

Silvio watches with a calm, terrifying patience as they haul the man to the center of the rug. “Ah, Steven. We meet again,” he says, approaching the man. Silvio’s voice is friendly, but I sense something that makes my pulse spike. “You have my money?” he asks, towering above the man.

“No, no, but I will get it soon,” the man stammers, his eyes darting toward me in pure, raw terror.

Without a single word of warning, Silvio kicks him square in the balls.

The man screams in agony and crumples to the floor, clutching himself. Silvio doesn’t stop.

“You don’t have my money,” he says flatly, kicking him again in the same place.

With that, Silvio’s movements grow frenetic. He isn’t the benevolent uncle anymore. He’s a machine of violence.

Unable to believe what I’m seeing, I let forth an involuntary scream.

Silvio stops mid-kick.

“Something wrong, niece?”

I look at him breathless for a moment, not even sure I can speak.

“Take her outside,” says Silvio, jerking his head towards one of the lackeys that dragged the unlucky Steven in.

The man comes toward me and escorts me to the door.

Once I’m outside the office, I sink down into one of the plush leather chairs and try to stop from being sick.

Though the office walls are soundproof, I imagine the constant pummeling of the poor man’s face.

Just when I think it’s over, I hear what sounds like a gunshot.

Alarmed, I look around me, but the scantily clad girls continue to distribute fancy cocktails to men playing at the gaming tables.

But surely someone heard that shot!

I feel the urge to tell someone, but I remember the stories Angie told me. If I show weakness now, it could be worse for me later.

So this is the world I married into, I think with a shudder.

“Ah, Gina,” says Silvio, all smiles as he exits his office, shooting the cuffs of his expensive suit. “Sorry you had to see my little act of discipline. But people have to know they can’t take advantage of my generosity.”

His phone rings. “I didn’t realize how busy my day was going to be,” he says after answering it. “Let me take you to Dante now.”

“Sure,” I say, my legs feeling like lead as I follow him out of the room.

CHAPTER 10

GINA

Silvio makes quick work of walking me back through the casino. A few of the women on staff look at me and whisper to each other as we pass.

I have no idea what they’re saying, but I bet they suspect I’m Dante’s new wife.

Silvio leads me into the elevator and presses the level above. When we get out, the vibe is calm.

It’s too early for the club to open to the public.

It’s not even evening yet, just late afternoon. But I see staff checking the bar and preparing the lounge.

Silvio leads me through a labyrinth of gleaming tables toward a hallway of what looks to be offices.