“One would think that’s what you’ve been doing since you haven’t figured out shit. Please tell me you have something . . . anything other than the thousands you’ve won.”
Clenching my teeth, I took a deep breath. “I’ve given you more than what you were able to come up with on your own. For three months now, I’ve kicked ass at each casino and learned every single game. I have a name out there, but nothing’s going to make these guys seek me out. I’m nothing to them.”
Unfortunately, two more girls had shown up dead. Both were professional escorts from the same agency, which happened to be run by Ronnie Chatfield, a female pimp. I had yet to speak to her, but was determined to seek her out. The woman was invisible. On her website, it said the ranch was temporarily closed for business, yet more of their girls were disappearing.
The women were beautiful, some fuller than others, and way more expensive than the drugged out prostitutes you’d see on the street. These women were for the elite. Other than that, I did know what my suspects looked like, what their names were, where they worked, who their families were . . . basically, it was tracking them that was a complete bitch.
“But at least you’re enjoying the money in the meantime, right?” he scoffed.
“Kiss my fucking ass. I’m here to help you out. I don’t have to be here. If anyone wants to get this case solved quickly, it’s me. I’m ready to get the hell away from this place.”
Ryan huffed and the line grew silent. I had made a shit ton of money, but that was because I was good at the games. To get in with the high rollers, I had no choice but to learn. As a reward, the casinos offered me free rooms and other amenities. I was living like a king. There was no denying I enjoyed it, but my full focus was on the case, nothing else.
“Look, I hate to be a dick, but the FBI is breathing down my neck. If you don’t figure something out soon, they’re going to intervene.”
I snorted. “I’d like to see them get as far as I have.”
“Either way, they will show up. I just want you to be prepared. I’ve worked with some of those douchebags before.”
“As long as they stay out of my way, I’m fine.”
“I can already tell you now . . . they won’t.”
One Week Later
“Mr. Avery, would you like another gin and tonic?”
I looked up and smiled. “That’d be great.” The night was young and I already had over two hundred grand in chips. Ryan’s words about the FBI butting in had been nagging on me all week.
“Is there anything else I can get you?” the sultry waitress asked, biting her lower lip. She stuck her tits out, showing me the hardened nipples through her white shirt. Her hand slid up my thigh and my dick twitched.
Groaning, I pushed her hand away. I almost wanted to take what she was offering, slide away to a back room and fuck her senseless. She wasn’t exactly the type of woman I’d go for, but a dark room could do wonders. It’d been an eternity since I’d had a good fuck. “Sorry, sweetheart. I don’t have time to play tonight.”
“Maybe next time?” she asked, sounding hopeful.
I kissed her hand and winked. “We’ll see.”
Tossing back the gin and tonic, I grabbed my chips and started for the floor. I had played every single game so much it bored me. The stakes were all the same, there was no competition. Going through the motions, I spent the next three hours going from table to table. It wasn’t until the brush of a hand on my shoulder pulled me out of my monotony. I thought it was the waitress trying her luck again, but it wasn’t.
“Do you mind if I join you?” Her hair was a deep red and in soft curls past her shoulders, and her eyes were the clearest blue I’d ever seen.
“What’s your name?” I asked, staring at her tight black dress.
She took a seat beside me, grinning wide. “Ariel, and yours?”
By the look in her seductive blue eyes I knew she was lying. I held out my hand. “I’m Eric. Want to board my ship?”