“You gave me a set of pictures too, remember? We still need to take bathroom breaks. It just won’t be you talking to him.”
“I don’t feel good about this. Don’t go.”
“It’s fine.”
“But—”
“I’m going. Look, they’re waiting for me. I’ll text you soon.”
As soon as she got to the street, she saw a black town car waiting out front with a large man in a black suit leaning against it. A shiver ran up her spine and she was glad that she had insisted on driving her own car.
“Miss Brooks?”
She nodded. “It’s good to meet you. Where are you parked?”
“Down the block.”
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
“What’s your name?” Sam asked.
“Murray.” He kept silent after that, and she didn’t feel comfortable asking any other questions. When they got to her little red compact, she hit the key fob.
“One other thing, Miss Brooks, I’m going to need your cell phone.” Murray held out his hand.
“What?” Sam did her best to keep her face blank. “I don’t understand why you would need that.”
“It’s a precaution. We’re going to a safe, yet undisclosed location. This has been set up by the management at Goldy’s. You can trust that this is perfectly aboveboard.”
“Then why isn’t it being held at Goldy’s?” she wanted to know.
“With the money involved, we weren’t able to ensure the safety of everyone. We got some threats, so Goldy’s security decided to take it elsewhere. Miss Brooks, the same dealer who handles high-stakes poker for Goldy’s is going to be at the private club where we’re going.”
“Then why can’t I have my phone?”
“It’s because of the threats we’ve had. We don’t want to take any chances.”
Now was the time to either throw in or pull out. She thought about Sharon and her toddler. She just couldn’t pull out.
Sam pulled her phone out of her large cross-body purse. She knew he wouldn’t be able to see the pictures or her can of mace because it was hidden behind the envelope of cash.
She sent up a little prayer as she considered the fact that she was on her street with wads of cash, her purse open, and a strange man taking her cell phone. Asher and Ezio would hate this if they ever got wind of it.
She needn’t have worried; Murray did nothing more than pocket her cell phone and open her driver’s side door for her.
“I’ll drive slow so you can follow me,” he assured her.
“Good to hear.”
Please say I’m doing the right thing.
8
Asher opened the front door, and Ezio was instantly on high alert. “What’s going on?”
“You’re not going to like it,” Ash whispered. “Come in and meet the crew.”
Ezio nodded at Eden then looked at a couple who seemed to be in the middle of an argument.
“Dammit Toni, I’m not mad at you, I’m mad at the situation.” The big man said to the small woman.
Toni perked up.
“Really?”
“Scratch that, I’m furious with you. What in the hell were you thinking? I know it’s your bonus, but letting Samantha run around with that kind of money in cash makes her a target, especially at a casino with a reputation like Goldy’s. Why didn’t you tell me about your douchebag brother?”
“That would be why, David.” Toni shoved her finger into the man’s large chest. “Because you hate Phil. You wouldn’t have any sympathy for him.”
“Seems to me, he doesn’t deserve any,” Asher said. “Walking out on his pregnant wife and toddler makes him lower than a worm.”
“You don’t know the demons that drive him,” Toni defended him.
“Samantha?” Ezio asked Eden.
“You’ll find out,” she whispered back her assurance.
“That doesn’t matter,” David interrupted. “What matters is finding Sam. The game has been canceled at Goldy’s. They say it is being held at a private club, but nobody is saying where.”
“Sam would have texted me unless she was in trouble,” Toni said as she bit the side of her thumbnail. “I’m really worried.”
“Okay, somebody needs to tell me what in the hell is going on,” Ezio interrupted.
“Who are you?” the big man asked.
“I’m Ezio Stark. I’m a friend of Samantha’s.”
“So are we. My name is David Ross, and this is my wife Toni. We’ve been friends with Sam for years.”
“Are you the Navy SEAL she went out on a date with?” Toni asked.
Ezio nodded. “What do you mean she’s in trouble?”
“Well…” Toni’s voice drifted off.
“I’ll tell you what she means. My wife came up with a cockamamy idea to have Samantha play in a high-stakes poker game with her asshole of a brother in hopes of him not blowing his life’s savings. It was supposed to take place at Goldy’s club, but at the last minute, they decided to change venues. Sam called Toni and told her she would be following someone to an unknown location and would text her when she got there. That was two-and-a-half hours ago.”
“Fuck!” Ezio bit out.
“You’ve got it in one,” David agreed.
Ezio gave Asher a hard look.
“Kane’s training a bunch of recruits tonight. They’re on maneuvers, but I already tried to get ahold of him so that he could track Samantha’s phone,” Asher said.
“You can’t do that,” Toni protested. “You have to be on a friends and family phone plan.”
Eden rolled her eyes. “They have their ways. At least they would normally if Kane were available.”
Ezio pulled out his phone and pressed a number. Gideon Smith answered on the second ring.
“Yo, you coming back?” Gideon answered.
“No, and I don’t have time for your flirting tonight.” Ezio knew his voice was tight, and it would get through to his old friend.
“What do you need? Name it.”
“Kane McNamara isn’t available. Need you to trace a civilian’s
