“You’re welcome to come in,” Tom Russell said.
“Trevor, give Mommy a kiss. And I’ll see you tomorrow if you’re up to it.” She wrapped her arms around her son, ignoring her soon-to-be ex.
“If you’d get help, we’d be a family again.”
She swallowed the barb that jumped to her lips. Instead, she said, “It’s a dead issue, Tommy. Leave it be.” She hugged Trevor one last time before she turned away and headed to her car. With each step, a knife jabbed at her aching heart.
She didn’t remember when she’d given her soul to the devil. But she had. Leaving Trevor behind proved it. Her life, her son, her marriage, had been destroyed by no one but her. She pulled the car from the curb. Heading home to her cold, empty condo dragged her mood further into despair. Without her son, the place always reminded her of the morgue. Noise and people were what she needed. Turning the car around, she headed to the casino.
As she stepped off the garage elevator into the lobby, the cheap glitz, the noise, the thick smoke seeped into her bones and relaxed her. Ah, she was home, and better yet, her favorite machine stood empty. Slot machine therapy was better than any shrink.
* * * *
“Son of a bitch,” Kyra whispered, two hours later.
Since she’d been here she’d dumped over three thousand dollars into the freakin’ machine. I can’t believe this bitch sits down right next to me and hits the jackpot on the first spin. I’ll never get Trevor back this way.
Kyra Russell pushed her long, curly hair back over her shoulder. Why did the jackpot escape her? Ten grand would pay for the lawyer to fight Tom for custody. She stuffed another hundred-dollar bill into the machine and banged the maximum-credit button. Her stomach jumped with excitement as the wheels spun. Each time, her mind cheered This is it!
As the wheels rolled into place, a cold chill raced through her veins. One by one, they landed. By the time the second symbol stilled, Kyra realized she’d lost again. Her heart banged in her ears like a jackhammer on concrete, spiking her anger. It’s the next one, she told herself, banging the maximum-credit button again. She needed to take a pee break, but didn’t dare leave her machine for fear someone else might hit the jackpot after she’d primed the machine.
Kyra counted along with the attendant as he paid the woman next to her, seventy-five big ones. The attendant turned to leave. Kyra waved him down.
“Excuse me,” she called.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“I need to use the restroom. Can you watch my machine or lock it down?”
“I have to call a supervisor over. It’ll be a few minutes.”
He pressed the button in his earpiece and whispered into it. After ten minutes, the supervisor came over and locked down the machine for her, and told her she’d need to be back within the hour or they’d release it.
“Thank you.”
“Not a problem, Kyra,” the supervisor said.
He had read her name off her reward card, addressing her like he knew her. Well, screw him.
She pushed off her seat and rushed to the ladies’ room. Kyra didn’t want to stay away too long, giving them a chance to reprogram the machine against her or reset it. She hated the new system with the tickets. Since they’d installed it, she hadn’t won like she used to. Kyra was convinced the new system worked against her. She believed it was the reason she lost all the time.
Winning had been the norm when she first started playing. One night she’d won eight thousand dollars, and the next night twenty-five thousand dollars on one spin. The zing was indescribable when those wheels had rolled into place and the bells went off and the crowd surrounded her. On the night of her big win she’d gone home with twenty thousand dollars—she’d blown five grand trying to win more. Greed always took over. Winning excited her but not as much as the rush, the euphoria, she got while waiting for the wheels to fall onto the pay line.
The casino had treated her like royalty, had even given her a host. He’d gotten her into the popular shows or restaurants anytime she wanted. Nothing was too good for Kyra, as long as she showed up and put her money into the machine. She became a regular at the players’ lounge—eat and drink for free. Yeah, free, her ass. The cost was extreme. Somewhere along the line, she’d lost her self-respect—along with her marriage, her son, and her savings.
As time went by, she’d put more money into the machines, hoping for bigger payouts. How it had gotten out of control she didn’t know, but soon everything she loved would disappear. The bastard doesn’t want custody of Trevor—he wants to bring me to my knees.
She’d rather die than lose Trevor. He needed her. She needed him more. Money the root of all evil—solved problems—her problems—if she just had some of it. Tears rolled down her face as she sat on the toilet. Not caring who heard her cry, she whispered, “Please, God, give me one big win and I promise I’ll never gamble again.”
She listened, but He didn’t answer. She washed up and hurried back to her machine. Three hundred dollars left, her Visa card maxed out. Worse, the payment on her loan was due this week. Tommy—the asshole—had drained their joint bank account rendering her debit card useless.
She tried to stay away, honestly she did. But after a day, she’d get antsy. Her fingers itched. More than anything, she needed to get to the casino. Hell, it was hard to explain even to herself. She’d be pressed to explain it to anyone. No wonder the nuns at school had always preached against the evils of gambling.
Head down, her stomach in turmoil, she sat at her machine as she waited for the supervisor to come back—to unlock the machine. She itched to play. She needed the win. A hand landed on her right shoulder, startling her. Jerking away, Kyra turned. Muddy-brown eyes stared into hers. Joe Dillon’s dark eyes matched his greased-back black hair. Small in stature, he nevertheless lorded over his people. Crap, not the supervisor. Joe Dillon is not the person I want to see right now.
“Kyra.”
“Joe.”
“How’s it going?” Her host sat down next to her.
“Not good,” she whined.
“I’m sorry to hear it. Your payment is due soon?”
Double crapola. “Yes.”
“Why don’t you leave the machine for a while? Come have something to eat with me?”
“Why?” What does he want, besides money?
“Let’s discuss your loan payment over dinner, explore your options.”
What options? There weren’t any. All week she’d racked her brain trying to find a solution. Though a quiet guy, Joe scared her. He wasn’t a person she’d want to cross. He worked for both the casino and the loan company. When she had gotten in trouble and owed the casino mucho bucks, he’d gotten her the loan. Her own bank had turned her down. Deep inside, she understood he’d destroy her.
He just might be the final nail in her coffin.
Chapter 2
“Kyra, no one’s going to touch your machine. A break might change your luck.”
“What the hell,” Kyra said. Something had to change. “I can eat.”
“How about a steak?”
“Fine.”
They got up at the same time and bumped into each other. Joe sat back down. Kyra stood. Joe followed her as she started to head to the Trenton Steak House. Joe grabbed her arm and pointed to the private elevator. The ones that led to the Whale Room. She looked at him. He shrugged and grinned at her as he pressed the call button.
“What’s