Joker's Wild (Vegas Underground 5)

My mom pulls up a chair beside the bed and puts one hand on Gio’s shoulder, the other on his hand. “Ay, he is hot, isn’t he? We’ll see what we can do.” She closes her eyes. I watch for a moment.

I swear I feel my own worries drain away as my mom works. Like the energy is healing me at the same time.

When I was in high school and I’d come home all upset about something, she’d tell me to sit down, and she’d put her hands on my shoulders and within fifteen minutes, all my angst would drain away.

I’m sure some day they’ll discover the science around energy healing—I even read a great book about a guy who could consistently and repeatedly cure mice of cancer—but I’m still content to believe she’s magic.

After twenty minutes, I’m completely soothed. The energy in the room pulses with a fine, pure vibration. My mom shifts her hand to lightly cover Gio’s wound, even though the blanket’s up, and I didn’t tell her where it was. She just sees where to go.

She lifts her hand above the area, flicking her fingers like she’s brushing away the heat. She circles her hand over it. Lifts and lowers it. It goes on for a while, but I don’t leave. The energy feels too pleasurable not to stay and witness the healing.

After another ten minutes, she stands up and waves her hands over his entire body, like she’s building an energy cocoon around him. Finally, she backs up, toward me and the door.

She turns to me and nods with a serene smile.

I hug her. “Gracias, Mamá. I love you so much.”

“And you?” she asks, pulling away and peering up at my face. “All good?”

I nod, hoping I won’t flush. I’m sure I’ve changed in the days since I’ve been here. I’ve had more sex than I’ve had in years. My emotions have been tested in all directions. I may be falling in love against my own will.

My mom nods as if satisfied by what she sees in my face. “Okay, I’m going. Have to get some lunch before my shift. I love you.” She gives me another two kisses on my cheeks.

I lead her downstairs and open the front door, congratulating myself for getting her in and out of here before Junior gets back.

And that’s when I see Junior’s car pull into the drive.

* * *

Junior

It takes me four stops to find a connection to give me the prescription Desiree asked for. I have to say, I’m scared as hell, because Desiree seemed to be on high alert, the way she was when she first got to my house and helped get Gio stabilized.

I admire the fuck out of how clear and professional she is, even when worried. I guess that comes with her job.

There’s a strange car parked in front of my house, which puts me on even higher alert. I sent Luca over to guard Gio and Desiree while I was gone, because we still haven’t found Vlad, but that’s not his car. His is in front of it. I park in the drive and draw my Beretta as I get out of the car.

The front door moves, like it had just been open a crack and someone shut it.

Holy fuck.

All I can think is that Vlad showed up for his revenge. Who else could it be? I run for the front door, gun palmed along my leg. I grip the handle and turn it slowly.

It swings open abruptly. “Hi, Junior,” Desiree chirps in a falsely cheerful voice.

I’d lifted the gun, but I lower it, because she’s the only body in front of me. I step into the house, peering past her at…

An older woman.

A short Hispanic woman with salt and pepper hair and Desiree’s eyes.

I put the safety on my gun and shove it in my pocket.

“I called my mom,” Desiree says breathlessly and the room suddenly spins around me.

What the fuck?

Black bleeds around my vision.

Was this some elaborate escape plan of hers? Did she make up Gio’s condition? I trusted her.

I give my head a shake, drawing in a harsh breath.

No, he really had a fever. I felt him myself.

“My mom does energy work, and I wanted her to work on Gio. Sometimes her treatments make all the difference in a person’s healing.”

Wait...what? I narrow my eyes, trying to understand what the fuck Desiree is talking about. She’s speaking in rushed sentences that are too hard for me to follow. Or maybe it’s my brain is too slow right now.

“Mamá, this is my employer, Mr. um, Jones. Mr. Jones, my mother, Flor de Liz Lopez.”

Mr. Jones. Okay, she’s trying to cover for me. But the woman is at my house. And just saw my wounded brother. She’s a witness.

Luca appears from the living room, totally relaxed. Dumb fuck. “You need me to stick around, boss?”