Page 97 of The Bluffing Game

He nods. “I see. That’s good.”

“Is it?” I say, wondering if he is right.

Maybe Sage is better off, not knowing the truth about any of this.

“Sage and Rosie, they’re really nice girls,” he says. “They’re sweet, they’re innocent, they’re vulnerable. You’ve been mixed up in a lot—and me too. And we bring darkness into their lives that they don’t need. They don’t need to see the other side of this world like we’ve seen it.”

He has a point.

“But anyway, we’re here,” he says. He turns to me. “Let me do the talking when we get in.”

“I know how to handle myself, Brett. You forget, I’m Dalton Leone.”

“I know, and I would never forget. I also know how much of a hothead you can be, and she’s a user. I don’t know if she’s still using or not, but I don’t know what we’re going to see. She only agreed to meet up with me for one thousand dollars. I don’t know what that thousand dollars is for.”

“I’ll let you deal with it when we get in, but I’m not going to keep quiet—you know that, Brett.”

“I know.” He sighs. “Come on. Let’s go. She’s in room nine.”

We slide out of the car, and I look around. I see a couple of guys hanging out in the parking lot, but I don’t say anything. I don’t make eye contact. I follow Brett up the stairs until we reach room nine. He knocks, and we wait. My heart is thudding. I can’t believe that I’m here finally.

“Shit, is she not here?” I look at my watch, and he knocks again.

“She’s here. She’ll answer.” He calls out, “Louisa.” Nothing. He bangs again, louder, and shouts, “Louisa, it’s Brett.”

Finally, the door opens. A pale woman with stringy brown hair stands before us, her wide, gaunt eyes fixed on us. She looks at Brett and then looks at me, and she gives us a toothless grin.

“You got the money?” she asks.

Brett nods.

“Come in before they see you. I don’t want them taking my money. You got any dope on you?” she asks hopefully.

I shake my head, and so does Brett.

We step inside to the decrepit motel room. There’s trash all over the ground. The bed is unmade, and there’s a musty smell.

I can’t stop myself from asking her, “You live here?”

She shakes her head. “About two hours away. Kid’s with the grandma. I just need a hit, you know?” She looks at me and blinks. “You the guy that has the stuff?”

I stare at her and don’t say anything.

Brett motions for her to sit down. “Louisa, we wanted to speak to you about Toby.”

“Who the hell is Toby?” she says, eyes darting around the room. “Where’s my money?”

Brett looks over at me. “Louisa, you know why we’re here, right?”

“Look, for my money. You’re here for my money. Wait, no, you’re here to give me money.” She looks frantic, picking at her nails.

“I am Dalton,” I say. Brett looks over at me, and I ignore him. “I’m Dalton Leone. I’m the man who adopted Toby.”

“Who the hell is Toby?” she says, glaring at me.

But I can see from the way her expression changed that she knows who he is.

“He’s your son, Louisa. Your son with Igor.”