Page 87 of Jackpot Joker

“Dario, can you do it again?” Gio asks. “Can you open your eyes?”

I give in to his command, slowly lifting my eyelids until my brother’s face comes into view. He’s hovering over me with a rare smile on his face, looking even more stressed than usual.

“Missed you.” I slide my eyes over and see Luca standing beside Gio like usual, though there’s nothing normal about his appearance. Where Luca exudes strength and confidence, he looks defeated today, as though his entire world has been flipped upside down.

“It’s about time you’re back, boy.” My eyes shift once more to land on my father. “We have things to do, and we need you back on your feet.”

If I had full control of my muscles and knew it wouldn’t give me the headache of the century, I’d roll my eyes at him. I don’t need him here playing doting father. In fact, I don’t need him here at all. And as much as I love my brothers, it’s not them I want to see.

“J… J…” I attempt to say her name, but my throat feels like it’s been crushed. Hmm, I guess this is what all the people I’ve killed feel like.

Gio speaks. “She went to grab a cup of coffee. She hasn’t left your side since they moved you in here, and it was starting to wear on her. She’ll be back any minute, though.”

My father clears his throat. “You did a good job with that one.”

I look at him, confused by his praise.

“I told you to make her fall for you, and it seems you succeeded. That girl is head over heels and led you to the bastards who were responsible for attacking our warehouses and taking down our men. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m proud of you.”

I consider his words. He’s proud of me?

“Now that you’re awake and our family is no longer in jeopardy, you can go ahead and end things with her. I have a few men lined up for interviews we can bring on as our family attorneys once she’s gone.”

There he is. The snake of a man who raised me. He doesn’t care that I’m awake. Or that I’m in love. The only thing he cares about is his empire.

My words of disdain can’t come out, so I look at my brothers for help, but as they dart across the room, I freeze. A glimpse of gold in the doorway has my lips lifting, only for them to drop as it fades away.

Chapter 44

Jasmine

With a huff, I toss my largest suitcase onto the bed in the master bedroom of my condo.

Better it than me.

I walk into the closet, grabbing as many clothes as I can handle and tossing them on the bed beside it. Carefully, I take each piece of clothing off the hangers and fold it up before placing it in the suitcase.

“Are you sure this is what you want, Jaz?” I move my phone from my ear to the bed, putting it on speakerphone so I can hear Penny while working on my task.

I sigh. “It feels like the right thing to do. It’s home, you know?”

“I just don’t want you to make a hasty decision. Besides, breaking your lease comes with a price.”

“So does not being honest with myself about what’s best for me. I know this might not be what you would choose to do if you were in my situation, but you have to trust that I know what’s best for me, Pen. The truth is”—I look around the condo I’ve never truly made my own—“I can’t stay here anymore.”

Penny sighs. “You know I’ll support whatever you decide. I don’t want you to regret anything.”

I jump at the banging on my door, the jumpsuit I was folding now flung across the room. My heart rate rises as the noise continues, and I hesitantly walk toward the front door, a death grip on my phone as I whisper to Penny.

“Pen, someone’s at my door.”

“Oh, I can let you go.”

“Don’t you dare!” I hiss. “I don’t know who it could be, but they sound angry. Stay on the phone with me. If you hear anything you’re unsure about, call the police.”

“Okay, maybe you’re right. You need to get the hell out of that place.”

The banging continues as I silently nod in agreement to my friend. Gingerly, I creep up to the door and press my eye to the peephole, but all I can see is a fist as it comes crashing down once more against the wood, followed by the sound of a gruff voice. “Open up.”