Page 11

Valeria

I parked the car at the back entrance of the building.

I exited the car, adjusted my black dress, and took my purse.

For the last time, I checked my appearance in the reflection on the car window and walked to the heavy metal door.

I pressed the doorbell and waited for someone to open it, but nothing happened.

Nervously, I looked around, noticing the camera in the corner pointed right at me.

I glanced directly into the red light, acting all cool and collected, when, in reality, my heart was almost bursting through my ribcage from the adrenaline rush.

The loud click of the door made me flinch, and with a dry mouth and trembling legs, I walked into the empty hall.

I blinked, my vision needing a few seconds to get used to the gloominess, but before it could happen, a bright light cut through my skull, blinding me.

"Sorry about that," a cheerful, feminine voice came to me from the right side, her heels clicking on the concrete floor. "Electricians should have repaired the lights a few days ago, but they messed it up more. Assholes. I'm Tasha."

"It's okay," I mumbled, trying to see who stood before me. "I'm Valeria."

"Come with me, Valeria. It'll be better inside." She took my elbow and led me through the door. "I've never seen you here before. Are you a colleague of Alice's?"

"Yes." I nodded, trying to stay by her side. She moved quickly and gracefully. Her shoulder-length raven-black hair framed her oval face with a wide nose, downturned brown eyes, and thin purple lips that curled into a smile when she noticed my fight to keep up.

"We need to hurry because players are already here," she explained, giving me a quick once-over so I repaired the favor.

She was similar height as me, but her heels were even higher. Considering her pregnant state, I admired her for being so swift. When I was with child, I couldn't tie my shoelaces. The emerald-green dress hugged every inch of her, and her ivory skin literally glowed. She was beautiful.

The ding of an elevator announced that we had reached our destination, and it was the first time I realized we were underground.

I hadn't paid attention before, so I was stunned to discover that the old building was only a charade and this spectacular, luxurious place was perfectly hidden from the outside world.

Walking inside the casino, I expected slot machines to be everywhere.

Instead, four roulette and three blackjack tables were opposite me, and before them were small coffee tables with chairs serving customers who wanted to take a break from games.

Champagne and a buffet were in the corner.

Two gorgeous servers in the tiniest uniforms I’d ever seen offered drinks and food to guests.

I hurried behind Tasha through the moving glass door and was again blinded—this time by an enormous amount of slot machines.

But what surprised me the most was that the place was packed to the rim.

People played different games, and every ten seconds, a loud ringing was heard announcing someone had won something big.

It was just a psychological trick for other customers to think it was possible to win when the truth was the only winning side was the house.

There was no way to beat the casino, and the sad part was that even when players knew it, they always tried to tilt the scales on their side. Yet, it never worked.

"Where is the famous Balloon room?" I asked, peeking behind the curtain while I waited for Tasha to tap a code on the keypad. I’d heard about it many times, but some people claimed it was only a myth. Alice always smiled when hearing that, saying she’d been there, and it was magnificent.

"It's upstairs," Tasha replied with a weird sadness settling on her face. "It's under reconstruction after the last accident. I'm sure you heard about it. "

She cast me a glance, and I frowned, shaking my head.

"I didn't," I said, placing my purse on the wooden bench and taking the key from my locker from her.

"There was a huge invitation-only charity event, and Mr. Zee should've given a speech, but his security caught a breach, so they didn't allow him to go there. The bomb went off exactly when he should've been on stage. It was a planned assassination."

Chills ran down my spine, and my eyes widened in shock. I’d read about a few people who tried to murder Zhumagulovs, but this was massive.

"Did anyone die?" I whispered, my heartbeat increasing.

I knew that the casino environment was dangerous, and I witnessed things others only saw in movies, but this was a whole new level.

Zyon was a known mob boss, and even when the police couldn't or didn't want to put him in jail, some men had the means to send him to hell.

The scary part was that he was also powerful, and in this case, revenge was inevitable.

The word war blinked in my mind like a neon sign announcing the collision between different worlds, and it didn't have a winner.

"Thankfully, no." Tasha tried to sound happy, but her expression was painful.

"But my husband and three others from Zyon’s security ended up in the hospital in critical condition.

" She gently patted her swollen belly. The tears welled in her eyes.

"They are better now, but you know," she gulped, her voice strained with emotions, "such a trauma leaves consequences. "

"I'm so sorry," I stated, not able to imagine being in her position, pregnant with a spouse in the ICU, fighting for their life.

"Thank you," she muttered, wiping a lone tear that escaped her eye. "We must go. They're waiting for us."

She rushed me through the door into another hall, but I ignored my surroundings because my head spun from the information I had learned.

Zyon could've died. If the assassination were successful, we never would've met.

I was stunned by the force of my own feelings when the realization hit me.

Somehow, I couldn't imagine not meeting him.

I only talked to him once, but he made such a huge impression that my mind had difficulty focusing on my husband in the same way it focused on him. It was ridiculous .

"We’re here," Tasha announced, stretching her arm and showing me the oval room, where a black-green poker table, eight leather chairs, and a chair for the dealer were in the center. The cream-colored walls and crystal chandelier were in stark contrast with the black carpet.

"Inside this counter," Tasha pointed to the square wooden chest of drawers, "are brand new packs of cards, all-in buttons, and the usual stuff you might need.

" She handed me a red cover card and keys from the float with chips.

"We use shuffle master, so you only take out cards, cut it in the middle, and then deal. It's much easier and quicker."

"Okay." I nodded, sitting on the chair and preparing the regular buy-ins for eight players. The cash game was by invitation only, and all places were booked.

"If anything happens, Zyon will be at the table, so just tell him.

He sits at your right side," Tasha continued, giving me instructions, not noticing I momentarily froze.

I masked the twitch on my face with a fake smile, but my heart almost collapsed.

The plan I created demanded Zyon close to me, but this was much closer than I expected.

"The second dealer called in sick, so you'll be dealing alone, but of course, you'll get double money.

" Tasha winked at me, plopping in the leather chair next to me with a heavy sigh.

"If bodyguards show up and tell you to do something, follow their orders.

They only interrupt the game if something serious takes place.

And always, and I really mean always, do what Mr. Zee says.

If he tells you to get out, get out. If he tells you to dance, dance. Understood?"

"But—" I frowned, ready to object because Alice didn't say anything about acting like a trained monkey in a circus.

"No buts, Valeria. Sitting here means you agree," Tasha stated, her look hardening.

"Of course," I whispered.

With a heavy feeling growing in my chest and nervousness in my entire body, I prepared everything I needed and waited for players to show up. They were scattered outside at the roulette, drinking and laughing, not caring about anyone else but alcohol and half-naked ladies around them.

I knew three of the men from TV. One was a politician, and two others were successful businessmen. They were throwing money around like it was no big deal to lose thousands of dollars, and we were here to encourage them on their journey to spend their monthly profits.

I rolled my eyes when I realized they lost more in an hour than I earned in a year, but it was the world's injustice.

Maybe a higher education would've gotten me somewhere else.

Then, I wouldn't have to act like I was pleased by their company, sexist comments, and drunk opinions.

Sometimes, this job was like a punishment for the sins I committed in a previous life.

"Evening, ladies."

I raised my head to look into the gorgeous, stoic face of one of Zhumagulovs, thinking it surely wasn't Dorian. His smile, even slightly insane, was contagious. This man didn't move a muscle. Zyon's eyes were darker, and he had a scary tattoo on his neck, so it had to be Malin.

"Good evening." Tasha smiled, signing the last paper for the economic department. "Just in time for an autograph session."

She turned a pile of papers in his direction and handed him a pen. He looked at it as if he wanted to throw up but signed everything in one go.

"Have you received money, Tasha?" he asked, returning the black pen with the casino logo to her.

"Yes, Mr. Zhumagulov. Thank you, but it wasn't necessary," she replied, slowly standing up.

"He saved Zyon's life," Malin pointed out, confirming my guess, and I quietly watched them, hungry for any information about the attack.

"You understand the relationship between Richard and Mr. Zee better than I ever will. And you know he would never accept that kind of money for his services."

"He tried to refuse," a deep voice announced from the door.

I turned in the direction of Zyon entering the room.

My heart skipped a few beats in a row when my eyes landed on him.

"I visited him. He didn't have a choice but to agree.

You're giving birth soon, Tasha. You can't work till the last day. "

"Are you kicking me out already?" She pouted, caressing her belly, and a smile appeared on Zyon's face, knocking the air out of my lungs.

It was absolutely different from the sinister grin I had seen before.

It was kind and complemented by a loving look in his dark eyes.

He deeply cared for this woman, and a pinch of jealousy nested in my chest.

"No. You can stay as long as you want, but we both know it won't be long." He glanced at her belly, crossing his arms over his chest. The black sweater he wore barely held together over his broad shoulders. "You must rest and prepare for the big arrival."

"Okay, okay. I'm leaving," she sighed theatrically, gathering all her papers. "Valeria is in charge tonight." She winked at me and dramatically left the room with Malin helping her with the bag and other stuff.

"Good evening, Mrs. Kellerman," Zyon said, eyeing my sitting position, and I squirmed nervously. Blood rushed to my face when my mind reminded me of what I had done in the privacy of my bedroom with his name on my lips. "It's a pleasure to meet you again."

"Good evening," I replied, trying for a polite tone.

"Prepared for tonight?" He lifted an elegant eyebrow at me, his black eyes not leaving my flushed face. Embarrassment filled my body, but he couldn't know why, yet the glint in his pupils gave me chills.

"I hope there won't be any surprises," I stated cryptically, shooting him a knowing smile. He chuckled and came closer to me.

"You deserve a little excitement in your life, Valeria," he uttered in a voice so low I wasn't sure I heard him. I instantly imagined him whispering some sweet nonsense into my ear after we made love.

How pathetic was I? Fuck!

"I have a man in my life who excites me just right," I snapped, sounding more attacking than intended.

"Interesting." He sat on the chair reserved for him, placing his forearms on the table next to mine.

The sleeves on his cashmere thousand-dollar sweater were rolled up, exposing his tattoos.

I was always a sucker for strong arms, and his were perfect.

"Why would you think I was talking about that kind of excitement? "

My heart clenched in my chest, but I didn't let him push me into the corner with his remarks. He wanted to outplay me, catch me in the trap made from my own words, but I was smarter than this. Life with Chester taught me better.

"Because you're clearly interested in me, Zyon." I let his name linger in the air, relishing in the amusement dancing in his eyes. It was the first time I called him by his first name, and I knew I’d just started a dangerous game. Of course, he took it as a challenge.

"Don't tease a snake with a barefoot, Valeria," he advised, and an unfamiliar thrill rushed through my veins like an addictive poison. It was so late for this warning.