Joker's Wild (Vegas Underground 5)

I shake my head. “You don’t know my dad. Family business was everything to him. His whole identity. Plus, it’s about community service to him. He believes it’s our job to still protect the old neighborhoods. To keep the gangs out, keep the innocent pure. It’s old-fashioned, but…I don’t know.” I down my wine and pour another glass. “There’s honor in it.”

Desiree’s face goes soft. “Yeah, I guess there is. You guys are like throwbacks to another time. Warriors who protect your people and keep the order. Your own law.”

I rub my eyes when they unexpectedly sting. Upstairs, Gio groans.

Desiree jumps up from the table. “I’ll go look in on him.”

“I’ll clean up,” I tell her.

Heaviness descends on me as I pick up the dishes. As I’m cleaning up, a text comes through from Earl.

Call me for the information you requested.

I step outside the front door to call him in case there’s anything I don’t want Desiree to hear.

“What do you have?”

“Okay, Desiree Lopez. RN at Cook County. Lives on 22nd. You probably already know all that. She’s thirty-two. Married at age twenty-six to one Abe Bennett. A low life construction worker and convicted felon. Divorced him last year. The guy is currently wanted for abducting their kid.”

“What?”

Merde. I’m gonna kill the bastard.

“Yeah. Five-year-old Jasper Lopez. Last year she was granted full custody on the grounds that her ex was a convicted cocaine dealer and refused to take a urine test to prove he was clean. Two months later, he picked the kid up from preschool and disappeared. That was six months ago.

“Desiree was working for Cook County then, but she quit to try to find the kid. When her savings ran out, she did some home healthcare work, including for some schmutz named Santo Tacone, Junior—you know him? Heh. Anyway, she did that until Cook County hired her back two months ago.

“She’s hired the lame-ass private investigator Terry Ryan to find him. Guy’s been charging her monthly, and obviously still no kid. Her other bills include student loans from nursing school, her apartment and utilities, cell phone. She has about five grand in credit card debt. That’s about it. Doesn’t look like she has any hobbies other than work, finding her kid, and Zumba classes that are free through the hospital wellness plan.”

Desiree. Knowing the source of her struggle—and I knew there had to be one because she’s too smart and talented to have such a shit life—makes me root for her even more.

“I want you to find the boy.”

“Jasper?”

“Yeah. Put every resource you have on it. Hire other P.I.s—I’ll pay for it. Find her stronzo ex. Capiche?”

“You got it. Can I talk to Desiree to get more information?”

“No. Just find the kid.”

“Oh yeah, it’s that easy. I’ll just magically produce him.”

“You telling me you can’t handle this job?” I snap. I might let Desiree give me shit. I sure as hell don’t let private dicks speak with disrespect.

“No, no, no. Don’t get your feathers ruffled. I’ll find the kid.”

“Watch the attitude, Earl. And I want regular updates.”

“You’ll get them.”

“Good.” I end the call but I don’t go back inside. Not until I’m sure I won’t look at Desiree with sympathy—which I know she’d hate.

Cristo. She shouldn’t have to suffer like this. To have her own child ripped from her.

Well, fuck. I know something about that, don’t I? The ache from Mia’s death rips through my chest.

But her child is still alive, and I’m sure as hell going to make sure she gets him back.

Chapter 6

Desiree

I get Gio settled with more pain meds.

Maybe I’m being a chicken, but I don’t want to go back downstairs yet. Talking to Junior—really talking tonight makes him all too likeable.

And I already can’t handle my over-the-top attraction to the guy. I sure as hell don’t need to fall in love here.

Junior Tacone’s not the kind of guy I want to be in a relationship with. Even though he’s nothing like my ex, I’ve had my fill of men who run on the illegal side of things. If I ever get into another relationship it’s going to be with a nice, normal guy. An accountant or salesman. Someone who’s respectable and friendly. The kind of guy you could bring to any party.

Not a scary-ass mafioso.

A sexy-as-hell warrior who carries the weight of his entire family on his shoulders. Who takes very sweet care of his mother. And seems capable of getting things—any sort of thing—done. A smart, ruthless man who does what he believes he needs to do without apology.

Crap, I’m totally falling for Junior Tacone.

And that’s just plain stupid.

I switch on the television in Gio’s room and very gingerly climb onto the bed. I don’t want to jostle Gio—he’s in enough discomfort as it is.

Junior doesn’t come upstairs. Maybe he feels the need to pull back, too.