Page 22 of Jackpot Joker

I smirk as Gio tries to make me feel better. “Gonna need much longer than a week to do that.”

We laugh, and in an unusual turn of events, I’m the one who grows serious. “We have a situation,” I say, tossing the device from my pocket onto the table.

“What the fuck is this?” Gio demands.

Luca moves in to assess the small black device. He picks it up, holding it in his hands up to the light, before placing it back down. Then he brings his fist down upon it. Shards of plastic scatter, and Gio curses.

“Tracker,” Luca grunts.

“That,” I say, pointing to the shrapnel, “was planted on me inside my casino tonight.”

“Who?” Luca asks in his typical one-word way.

“Her name is Ruby De Luca, and she has been seen with Matty Matarazzo. My security team snagged her, and she’s down in your torture chamber now. They’re working on getting more information from her, but I figured if anyone could get her to turn on her boyfriend, you could.”

Luca grunts again, and when he looks to Gio, who gives a nod, he storms out of the room, and the slamming of a solid wooden door vibrates the house. The man loves a mission. Especially when it comes with the promise of pain.

Gio takes another swig from his glass, and I do the same. We sit there for a moment, drinking and stewing on the fact that some nosy motherfucker out there sent someone into my sanctuary to fuck with us. As soon as I see those mattress fuckers, I’m going to take that new gun of mine, and this time when I shoot a man’s nutsack off, it won’t be an accident.

“You think it’s a coincidence?” Gio finally asks, running his thumb and forefinger over the dark whiskers growing on his chin, though I can’t help but smile at the few gray ones that have recently appeared.

“Between the warehouse leak and now the tracker?” I ask, and he nods. “No fucking clue. They don’t seem to be connected, but I’m not gonna pretend I understand what goes on in the minds of those drug-smuggling idiots.”

Gio huffs, and it’s the closest to a laugh the man has gotten in years. “Why would they want to track us?”

I shake my head. “No idea, but they chose the right brother. You two motherfuckers barely leave the casino. That tracking job would be boring as hell.”

Gio doesn’t react to my comment. He can’t exactly deny it. “Have you gone anywhere of interest lately?”

I shake my head slowly, ticking my fingers as I name off each place. “Angelo. Demone. The law office.” I think about the last place I visited but consider it’s best not to bring Jasmine up right now. “I’ve been staying in my suite, so I haven’t even made it over here except tonight.”

“Maybe we should have let them track you.”

I’m surprised by my brother’s statement. “I’m third in line; you really feel the need to kill me off?”

Gio rolls his eyes, and it makes me think of my curvy goddess with a law degree. “You can hold your own.”

I’m taken aback by the compliment, but don’t speak so he can continue. “I think it would be interesting to see where they turn up.”

I snort. “Maybe I’ll get lucky, and they’ll send another babe over to feel me up and try again.”

“Yeah, maybe…” Gio’s voice trails off as his brain works like the mafia man he is. “Let’s hear from Luca and see what he finds out. We’ll keep this from Papa until we know more. Sound good?”

Keeping my father away from what’s happening in my life is the best fucking thing I’ve heard all day.

Chapter 11

Jasmine

Isit at the long conference room table, taking notes of the weekly wrap-up meeting on my legal pad. I know we live in the age of technology, but there’s just something therapeutic about writing notes by hand. Besides, it helps me remember the tiny details.

“Miss Baker,” Todd says gruffly to gain my attention and single me out among the rest of the team. “How have you settled in this week?”

“It’s been a great start. I’m confident I have my bearings and am ready to hit the ground running.” I attempt a small smile.

He doesn’t return my expression; instead, I could describe his as almost a glare. “I’m surprised you’ve been able to do much at all since you’ve been going out with your clients and playing games.”

My smile vanishes, and my jaw tightens at the accusation. “Excuse me?”