Page 31 of Gambler’s Ruin (Calamity City Mafia #3)

Thinking of Seven is why I’m in this mess in the first place.

“Call Mr. Diamante,” Caleb says to Paris. “Let’s stop wasting time.”

Paris takes a step away from the table, his eyes narrowed as he looks between us.

“What’s all this commotion about?” a deep voice asks.

I tense and ready myself for a fight.

Caleb stands taller. “Mr. Diamante. I apologize for the ruckus. My employee apparently forgot all his manners at home.”

Valentín Diamante is a man in his forties, with hair already turning gray in parts. He’s wearing a pinstripe suit, with a bright red flower pinned to the lapel. His salt-and-pepper beard is carefully groomed.

He’s handsome, but the sharp eyes make it clear that he’s not a man to be trifled with.

Valentín looks at Caleb. “I already told your father there was nothing to discuss.”

Paris straightens his shirt, a smug smile on his lips as he watches me. That fucker never did plan on letting us meet with Valentín. He probably planned to stall until we finally decided to up and leave.

“I’m aware, but I suspect you don’t have the full picture.” Caleb gives Valentín a brittle smile. “Or what’s on offer.”

Valentín’s eyes narrow. “I don’t deal with underlings.”

Caleb bristles at being called an underling. I’d laugh, if I didn’t know how dire the situation is.

“But you wouldn’t deal with my father either. You see why this is a problem?” Caleb glances around us. Valentín Diamante brought several security guards with him—a few I even recognize. One of them inclines his head at me when our eyes meet.

No hard feelings, I guess, but he’ll definitely kick us out if Valentín gives the order.

“There is no problem for me,” Valentín answers. “You have nothing I care about.” He makes a hand gesture, and the guards take a step toward us.

I turn to Paris. “I knew I couldn’t trust you, you son of a bitch,” I hiss in Spanish. “But if this is about revenge, you’re not just screwing me over. You’re screwing over somebody who can’t fight back. You’re joining with the bastards who sell children ? — ”

Paris makes a disgusted sound, but he glances at Valentín. “Five minutes, Valentín?” he wheedles, turning on the charm. “They’ve waited so patiently.”

Valentín glances at Paris, then sighs. “Fine. Follow me to the private room.”

Caleb wastes no time in following, although I’m still not sure about this turn of events. For all we know, Valentín is leading us to a room to be shot.

It wouldn’t be the first time somebody got murdered in a casino.

The private room is set up like a lounge, with couches and bookshelves and a large coffee table around the middle. I don’t see a table for card games, which surprises me, but maybe that’s a separate room.

Valentín sits down in the armchair. One glance toward Paris, and Paris walks over to the dry bar to pour drinks.

That’s a little funny, at least: Paris playing server to Valentín.

Caleb sits down in the center of the couch, and I opt to stay standing, just in case.

“So,” Valentín says as soon as he has his drink in hand. “You want to sell me a better deal? What makes you think I’m interested in any deals at all?”

“Because I know that you’re a businessman,” Caleb says.

“You’re shrewd, and you want to see how things play out so you can scoop up what’s left in the aftermath.

And I understand; there’s no need to take unnecessary risks.

” He folds his hands together. “However, doing nothing is still taking a stance, Mr. Diamante. Blake Heart and Virgil Club have agreed to assist the Spades in this matter. Do you think we’ll forget that you stood by while our people were killed? While Leon Spade was killed?”

Paris pours a second drink for himself, his gaze thoughtful now as he watches Caleb. He catches me looking at him and shrugs, then his own attention goes to Valentín as he stands at his side.

“There was no love lost between me and Leon Spade,” Valentín says. “I was mostly impressed he lived as long as he did.”

Caleb chuckles. “You and me both. But for all of my grandfather’s faults, he was still a Spade, and he was part of Calamity City. Do you want the city to change? For the power structures to become so unrecognizable that you don’t know who you can trust anymore?”

Is there any trust to be had in this city? I wouldn’t trust anyone in this room.

Well, I’ve come around on Caleb, but I’m not sure he wouldn’t sell me out if it benefited him.

Valentín raises his eyebrows. “The new structures might benefit me.”

“You think the Lockwoods would play nice with you? They swooped in when the White Iris were raided by the FBI—and they kicked out all of the remaining old guard. That isn’t playing nice.

” Caleb gives Valentín a sadder smile. “More to the point, are you the kind of man who looks away when children are tortured, Valentín?”

Paris hisses sharply.

I grimace.

If there’s one thing I learned while hanging out here, it’s that no one ever brings up Valentín’s children. They’d been murdered when they were still young, neither one older than five, and Valentín never recovered from it.

Paris said it’s what turned Valentín cold and ruthless.

“Don’t overplay your hand, Caleb,” Valentín says sharply.

“I will play every hand I have, if it means protecting those I love,” Caleb responds. “And make no mistake: I will remember who my allies are.”

Valentín shakes his head. “You are reckless, is what you are. But you’ve made your point. I will promise only that I will not aid the Lockwoods in any way.”

I breathe a sigh of relief.

“I need more than that,” Caleb says, making me groan internally. But I get where Caleb is coming from, too. Vortex might have said it’s time for retreat if he were in our shoes, but I’m not the kind to back down.

“It is more than enough,” Valentín counters. He stands up. “And I will kindly ignore your attempts to manipulate me. We’re done here.”

“If you help me, I’ll support your efforts to find your family’s killers,” Caleb says.

Valentín whips his head in Caleb’s direction. “Excuse me?”

“You have no leads, right?” Caleb says. “But I have some resources you don’t. I’ll give you what I have—if you step in to help me take down the Lockwoods.”

“Are you the kind of man who withholds information that would help avenge murdered children?” Paris retorts, his own expression dark.

I feel sick to my stomach. If Caleb actually knows—if he’s been sitting on this information…

“It’s business,” Caleb says calmly. “As you’ve made clear. I’ll share what I have, if you ally with me.”

I can see Valentín warring with this new information, but now he’s trapped. If he pisses off Caleb, he loses his chance at learning anything. It’s an insult, but one that Valentín has to ignore.

Always negotiate from a position of power .

No wonder Caleb hadn’t listened to my warnings about the Diamantes. He’s had this ace up his sleeve all along.

“Fine,” Valentín says, his voice rough. “But if this is a trick… if you are lying … know that I will rain the worst torture upon you and your pretty little pet.”

“I’ll send you proof as soon as I’m back at my office,” Caleb says. “But the rest of the information will wait until the Lockwood threat is dealt with.”

“Paris! See to it that Mr. Spade and his man are escorted off premises,” Valentín snaps. He turns and leaves without another word, the guards following after him.

Paris shakes his head. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” he says, and his voice is frosty, too. “Come.” He heads for the door without another glance at us.

I wait until we’re outside the casino, and Paris has left us, before I turn to Caleb. “What the fuck? Do you seriously know who did it?”

Caleb shakes his head. “I have a few leads. A high roller got extremely drunk once and said something suspicious, so I followed up on it.”

“And you’ve been sitting on it?” I gape in astonishment. “Those were his children . It was bad.”

“Yes, and me sharing the information wouldn’t have made them less dead,” Caleb says. “I was saving my hunches for a rainy day. The day can’t get stormier than now.” He narrows his eyes at me. “Or should I have put Valentín’s needs before ours? Before Seven’s ?”

I can’t believe this is the same man who treats Seven so gently, cares about him so much that he’s willing to share him with two other men.

“I need an immigration lawyer,” I blurt out.

Caleb blinks. “I thought you were born here.”

“For my mother. My step asshole is hiding her documents. I need an immigration lawyer who can get her a divorce and legal citizenship.” I fold my arms across myself. “Or is that something else you’ll save for a rainy day?”

The car pulls up in front of the casino. Caleb nods at me. “I’ll get you in touch with an associate of mine.”

It’s that easy for him.

He gets into the car, and I reluctantly join him.

We drive in silence for a few minutes, then Caleb asks, “Did you really date Paris Nazario? He doesn’t seem like your type.”

I groan and flip him off. “He’s not. He’s a smarmy asshole who’s good at riling me up, okay? And it wasn’t dating , it was rough fucks every other night.”

Caleb makes a noise like he doesn’t believe me.

I’d hardly believe me either.

Still, seeing him again had made something abundantly clear.

Whatever we’d had, it’s nothing compared to what I have with Seven now.