Vincent reached into a bag he had brought with him and set stacks of cash in front of him. “Thirty grand for Lake’s debt.”
Dante sat back in his chair, thinking for a moment. “Lake working for me brings in a lot more money than just her debt. My customers go there just to see her, so it benefits me to have her work it off, not just have you give me the money and have her gone the next day. So this is what I’ll do: I will accept your money and clear Lake’s debt, but she has to continue to work for me downstairs for a month.
“That customer you dragged her away from today—David—has a thing for Lake and is here on business for the next month. David is my biggest customer right now, so when he’s gone, Lake can leave. This will also serve as your punishment for dragging her away. Now, you will have to watch that sick shit stare at her every day.”
Motherfucker.
Vincent gave a nod, unable to speak because if he did, nothing good was going to come out of it.
“I will make sure Lake gets paid now for her hours.”
“Just add it to my cut, and I will give it to her.”
Dante took another hit off his cigar. “If you say so.”
Vincent ran his hands through his hair, unsure if he wanted the answer to the other thing on his mind. “Her father hasn’t been home or spoken to her this week.”
The boss picked up his phone and punched in a number then placed it on the table on speakerphone.
The man on the other end answered. “Hello?”
“I need to see you in my office,” Dante responded.
“I’ll be right there once the job is finished, boss.”
“See you soon, Paul.” He hung up the phone, looking at Vincent. “Satisfied?”
He nodded. I would be if Lake didn’t have to fucking work down there again.
“Good. I will let Paul know the debt is paid and his daughter is worried about him. No harm will come to him as long as he stays away from my slots and tables,” Dante promised him.
“Thanks, boss.” Vincent stood, going to the door.
The boss had parting words for him just like his father. “If I were you, I’d be knocking some fucking sense into that girl.”
That wasn’t advice like his father’s; that was a clear fucking warning.
Vincent managed to nod one last time before he shut the door.
One thing was for damn sure: he was going to be knocking some fucking sense into her in more ways than one. As long as she doesn’t fucking kill me with the shit she keeps pulling.
Replaying in his mind how quickly she had dared to hit the button to come up and see the boss, he was certain death would come first.
Chapter Thirty-One
Family Men Are Not Men; We Are Fucking Deranged Animals
Lake nervously waited in the lobby for Vincent’s return. She was on pins and needles, wondering if her father was okay as she continued to watch the elevator for him to come out.
When she finally saw Vincent come off the elevator, her heart stopped and she no longer wanted to know. She found herself walking to her car, instead. She could hear her name being yelled behind her, but she picked up her feet and started running through the casino and out the doors. She had to work hard to get through the crowd of people, and she knew Vincent wasn’t going to fair well with it.
Fumbling with the car door, she swung it open and stuck the key into the ignition. She turned it, only for it to not even attempt to rev the engine. It was completely dead.
Lake laid her head on the steering wheel, trying to take deep breaths. Then the driver’s side door came open a second later, and she didn’t even raise her head to look at who it was.
“Why the fuck did you just run from me like that?”
She continued to keep her head down after Vincent’s harsh question.
“Lake, look at me,” his voice commanded.
Looking at a furious Vincent, her eyes started to blur with tears. “I’m scared of what you will tell me.”
Vincent softened his face and his words. “He’s okay. I just talked to him.”
“He is?” Her eyes stopped from watering.
He began lessening her fears. “Yes. He’s just been busy working, it seems, but he knows you’ve been worried about him. He’ll probably come home tonight to see you.”
She felt the weight on her chest release at knowing he was alive. Thank God.
“I have to go to my mom’s tonight for the weekend. I’m just glad he’s okay.”
“See, there was no need to run from me, Lake. I don’t want you to ever do that again.” His tone became slightly rougher.
Her eyes drifted down to his chest. “I just got scared.”
“I know. It’s okay. Come on, I’ll take you to your mom’s.” He held open the car door for her.
“No, that’s okay. I’ll take the bus.” I am not getting in his car again.
“You are not taking a fucking bus,” Vincent snapped at her.
“Jeez, what do you have against buses?”
“Lake, do you have any clue where you are and how dangerous it is downtown?”
Shit, he’s right.
“Maybe Nero can take me?”