Page 8

Hailey

I kick off my shoes and curl my toes into the carpet, leaning back on the couch. The knuckles of my feet are red. How am I ever going to get used to wearing these shoes for so long?

I can’t stop thinking about Max beating up Jason for me. I don’t know how a normal person would feel after witnessing that, but after everything I’ve been through this past week, I’m just grateful someone stood up for me. It’s exhausting having to fight your own battles all the time.

“You doing okay?” Savannah’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. We left the penthouse and have been waiting in some sort of break room or storage room downstairs in the casino. She’s been pacing with a bottle of vodka ever since we arrived.

“I’m still shaken up, but I’ll be alright. Do you think anyone is coming?” I ask .

I look at the clock on the wall. We were told to wait here for Max or Nick, and it’s been an hour since the incident.

“Of course. I’m assuming they’re just, you know... taking care of the situation.”

“Taking care of?”

She leans against a broken-down slot machine and winces. “Believe me, you don’t need to know the details. The less you know, the better.”

I nervously play with a bracelet I borrowed from Savannah, wondering what I've gotten myself into. My tip money is in a pile on the leather cushion next to me. It's mostly cash, but there’s several hundred, maybe a thousand, in chips—the players tip with whatever is convenient. We’re supposed to stay here until Max or Nick comes to exchange these chips, but if I have to wait much longer, I’m tempted to take my cash and leave.

I don’t care if I have to walk all night.

I’ll get on a bus to another city and consider myself lucky to have made a couple thousand dollars to start fresh.

Everyone has been so nice to me today—well, except for Jason.

But I’m worried about getting arrested working for these people.

As I organize my money, I hear the door open.

“Hey! There he is!” Savannah exclaims, drawing my attention to Max.

His dress shirt is gone, leaving him in a white undershirt that seems barely able to contain his muscles.

No wonder Jason looked so terrible after a few punches.

I look away quickly before I can blush. She gives him a side hug.

“You did good, kid. I was about to step in when he started talking to Hailey like that, but I wouldn’t have done much damage. ”

He takes the bottle from her and sets it on a table before pulling out his wallet. “Let me cash you out, then I want to talk to Hailey.”

“Of course.” She flashes me a smile, and he hands her a wad of cash in exchange for the poker chips. She pinches his cheek like he’s a toddler, then winks at me before leaving.

“Does she always treat you like that?” I ask.

He smirks and plops down next to me on the couch.

“She was my babysitter for a couple of years when I was a kid and won’t let me forget it.

We’re not related, but her father works for mine, so she was in charge whenever someone threw a party and didn’t want kids there.

Don’t know why my parents thought it was a good idea—she almost burned our house down with fireworks once.

We’d have been better off alone.” He gets a faraway look in his eyes, then turns back to me. “You okay?”

A week ago, I escaped from the dangerous cult I’d been entrenched in my entire life.

Less than twelve hours ago, I was outside in the rain, wondering if I even had a place to sleep tonight.

Now, I’m sitting next to the most attractive man I’ve ever seen, who may or may not be involved in the mob, and may or may not have beaten someone to death on my behalf.

“I’m fine.”

He raises an eyebrow at my response, then shrugs. He reaches over for the poker chips, my pulse quickening from his proximity, and I notice his hand trembles slightly, with knuckles still raw.

“How are you doing?” I ask.

He pauses while counting bills from his wallet, tossing a small stack into my pile, then shrugs. “Fine.” His response mirrors mine.

“He... survived, right?”

He looks away. “He was still breathing a minute ago, and Nick’s taking him to the hospital now.”

I relax, relieved I didn’t witness a murder. It would be unsettling if Max were able to sit here calmly after killing someone.

“You caught on quick tonight,” he remarks.

“Yeah?” I’m sure he’s just trying to be kind. I felt clueless all night, and worst of all, someone had to be beaten to the point of hospitalization because of me.

He gives me a playful smile. “You adapted to each gambler. You knew how to play them for tips.”

“Natural talent, I guess.” I look away, wondering if I wasn’t as inept as I thought.

The recruiting office I worked in was competitive by design, with a whiteboard displaying every worker's sales ranking.

Consistently being last meant severe punishment, so I adapted.

Tonight felt similar—only instead of securing contracts or signing people up for classes, I just needed to garner favor and tips.

“What did you do before this?”

“Boring office job. ”

“So, you went from a stable office job to this?”

I nod absently, wishing he'd drop the subject of my past.

He brushes my hair behind my ear, and I feel my face flush at his touch. “Who are you running from?” he murmurs.

“No one.”

“An ex-boyfriend?”

I shake my head.

“Police?”

“Nope.”

“Debt collectors?”

“No.”

“Hired, professional, assassins?”

I laugh. “Can you please stop fixating on this?”

“Fine. But I swear to God if it’s something intense, like hired assassins, give me a heads up so I can prepare.”

“And how would you prepare?” I shift on the couch, facing him with my knees tucked to my chest.

“Hmm. Booby traps. Samurai swords. No guns—that’s too basic—but I would insist you always wear a bulletproof vest.” He winces. “That might affect your tips, but...”

I punch him in the arm. “People are tipping me for my winning personality.”

He holds his hands up, feigning innocence. “I know, I just didn’t think bulletproof vests were in style, but maybe I’m wrong. ”

He smiles and leans his head on his hand. His eyes look so shiny and friendly when he smiles. I can’t believe this is the same man who’s capable of such violence.

“Can you tell me anything about yourself?” he asks. “You’ve shared nothing except that you had an office job. And, honestly? I don’t even know if I believe you.”

“Well, I don’t know much about you other than that you have a mean left hook, and you got bitten earlier today.”

“Hey, that’s two things. That means you owe me one.”

I sigh.

“You really don’t like opening up, do you? Fine, here’s an easy one. Are you from here or somewhere else?”

“Chicago,” I say, keeping my story consistent for Max and Savannah.

“Okay.” He nods, the playfulness fading slightly. “Is your family involved in any... criminal activity?”

They are, sort of. Plenty of illegal stuff goes on within VOE’s walls, but no one reports it because they’re too scared to go to the police—and that’s assuming they could escape to even try.

But I know that’s not what he’s asking. He’s likely making sure there isn’t a potential for a mafia war on my behalf.

At least, that’s what I suspect Max and his family might be involved in.

“Nope. My dad works in finance.”

Kind of.

His body relaxes. “So, why Detroit?”

“It was the cheapest train ticket, and I wanted a fresh start. ”

His brow furrows. “Do you need help? I can spot you some money.”

I glance at the pile of cash behind me. “No, I got more than I thought I would today. I was prepared to go dumpster diving and sleep under a bridge.” I laugh, trying to lighten the mood despite the desperation in my words. “Besides, I don’t need you breaking my kneecaps if I can’t pay you back.”

“I wouldn’t do that to you.” His eyes narrow.

“Sorry,” I say, my nervous laughter sounding robotic as I desperately wish I could act normal around him. “I didn’t mean that seriously.”

He shrugs, crossing one of his legs. His knee brushes against my thigh. I jolt slightly at the touch. I don’t know why. I like being close to him, but being around him makes me jumpy with nerves. All I want is for him to be close, but he misinterprets everything and quickly backs away.

I open my mouth to say something, but bluntly telling him to stay close sounds too aggressive, so I remain silent.

He nods toward the pile of cash. “You have enough there for the next couple of days? We don’t have anything planned here until Tuesday.”

“Yeah.” I organize the wad of cash into a neater pile.

“You sure? You don’t even have a cell phone.”

“Oh, it’s probably fine. How much do those things cost, anyway? A few hundred?”

His eyes meet mine as he pulls his wallet from his back pocket. “More like a thousand. Here.” He thrusts another wad of cash toward me, this one more organized. “Take this. It’ll help me sleep at night.”

“No, I really shouldn’t.”

“I’m serious. Think of it as an apology for a horrible first day.” He pushes it closer, raising his eyebrows.

Tentatively, I take it, our hands brushing. I force myself not to flinch at the contact.

“Savannah can give you my number, along with Nick’s and my dad’s. That should be all you need.”

“Thanks. For everything, seriously, like—”

“Don’t worry about it,” he cuts me off. “You seemed like you could use a break.”

He has no idea.

He glances towards the door, clearing his throat. “Sorry to leave quickly, but I need to check on some things.”

“Of course.” I nod. “I’m sure you have to check in on Jason. I imagine it’d be chaotic if he doesn’t make it. You’re not going to get in trouble, are you?”

He stands up, briefly avoiding eye contact before giving me a warm smile. “I won’t get in trouble. Don’t worry about it, Hailey.”