Dark Ties (Made Men 9)

“Oh, I know,” Sadie said in agreement, clearly approving of her choice in husband. As she was dealing out the cards, it was starting to feel like an AA meeting for girls. “Unfortunately for all of us, we got it bad for a man.”

Ugh, she was right. Nadia slammed her head back on the desk.

“Just in time,” Sadie announced when two shots, along with the waters, appeared on the table. “Drink up. It’ll give you some clarity.”

“You can have mine, too,” Maria told her, sliding her shot of tequila closer to Nadia.

Sadie’s brow lifted in suspicion. “What? Are you pregnant?”

“No …” The blonde quickly tapped the table to hit her thirteen. “I’m just not drinking tonight.”

“Well, me neither.” Nadia slid the shots back to the blonde. “Last time I drank … I just have to keep my wits about me this time.”

Now Sadie’s suspicious gaze went to Nadia, seeming to know exactly what she meant.

Rolling her eyes, she picked up the two shots, downing one and then the other like it was simply water. Whatever love life problem Nadia was having, it looked like it paled to Sadie’s in comparison. Maria’s, however, was clearly as perfect as her and the twenty-one she had just made by receiving an eight of hearts.

Hitting her twelve didn’t go quite as perfectly as Maria’s had, busting with a face card. Then, when it was Sadie’s turn to reveal her house card, she had a six hiding underneath, forcing her to hit and get another face card, making the house bust. The analogy was almost a perfect representation of their love lives.

Maria beamed as Sadie slid over her winnings.

“Perfect twenty-one and Dominic Luciano. Girl, you just can’t lose.”

Nadia had been taking a drink of her water and practically spit it all over the table. Dominic Luciano?

“You okay?” Maria asked her with concern.

“Mmhmm …” she choked out. “You mean, Luciano as in …” The fucking rival mafia family in Kansas City?

It was Sadie who answered in understanding. “That’s the one.”

Oh, this girl, Maria, had it out for every man, including her father. She was sure … “I don’t take it your father took that very well.”

“No, he did not,” Maria assured her, but Nadia didn’t miss the hint of sadness in her voice. On the outside, it looked like Maria’s life was perfect, but it was clear that even a girl who had everything still had some scars deep down.

“Want me to hurt him for you?” Nadia asked, knowing her father had hurt her in some way.

The beautiful blonde laughed at the joke, and the sadness that didn’t belong on a girl like her left. “Thanks for the offer, but something tells me Karma might just be catching up to him.” The way Maria was looking at her made Nadia feel like she was said Karma.

“You going to place your bet, hon?” Sadie reminded her to move a new chip in the circle.

“No, I think I’m done.” She sighed, giving Maria back her chips.

The pit boss placed her hands on her hips. “What’s wrong?”

“Honestly, I hate gambling,” Nadia confessed to the girls. It had ruined so many of the kids’ lives who went through her charity due to their parents’ addiction. It made her feel so guilty to even be here.

“Oh, girl, I am so rooting for you.” Sadie laughed along with an agreeing Maria.

Her not liking casinos, or gambling, for that matter, seemed to be that bit of Karma that Maria was looking for, after all.

Sadie began dealing just for Maria. “So, what’s the plan?”

“The plan?” Nadia asked her, confused.

“The plan of coming here today? Do you know what you’re going to say to him?”

Damn, Sadie really was the woman whisperer. She knew exactly why she was fucking here and didn’t even need to hear it. It must’ve been written all over her torn face.

Taking a deep breath, Nadia decided to fuck it and confide in them, but before she could, a cold familiar voice greeted them.

“Hello, ladies.”

Seeing Lucca Caruso for the second time wasn’t quite as jarring as the first. Nadia found herself no longer fearing The Boogieman; she could see past the man to the child beneath. Like in Leo, she could see the trauma, but it wasn’t marred on the outside. It was deep and hidden beneath the wicked darkness, yet it was still there all the same, like it had been with Maria. Had their father been the cause of all their pain?

“I hate to interrupt, but Dante would like to see you now.”

Yikes. Him being on a first-name basis with his father told her about all she needed to know.

“You ready?” His dark voice ominously asked her when she hadn’t made a move.

Thankful that she hadn’t taken that shot of tequila, she wondered if the three pairs of eyes staring at her could see the fear and nerves on her face.