The Heirs: A New Gamble

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Leo

Zane, Aleks, Josh, Eli, Chase, Owen, and I sit around the table playing poker. Eli deals everyone in and I examine my hand carefully. Aleks is using this opportunity to talk about the latest dealings and developments of the week. Josh and Zane are working to get more information on Rory Farrell. I'm set to have another meeting with my cousin to get any more information I can possibly get.

This proves harder than I thought.

Gabe is reluctant to trust me, which I understand. I am still loyal to the Wolves and always will be. He doesn't need to know that, of course. I'll let him think I'm thinking about converting to his side as he wants.

Aleks is trusting me with this and I won't let the Wolves down.

Zane doubles down on his bet and I lean back, eyeing the table around me.

"The fight this weekend will be our first major showing against the Knights. I don't need to tell you all what it symbolizes, but I think we all know," Aleks says with a sigh.

He always seems on the brink of exhaustion, Aleksander Sokolov.

"My boys have got this!" Josh Callahan says happily, nudging both Owen and Zane who are set to fight in a few days' time against Anton Gallo and Wes Farrell.

"I'm surprised Wes is fighting," Chase says with a frown.

"I'm not," Aleks sighs again. "I'm sure the seed has been planted that we have something to do with Rory's death. Wes is probably looking for a way to get some revenge, blow off some steam..."

Aleks gives his brother a purposeful look. Zane's brow furrows together.

"The sooner we rid them of these falsehoods, the better," Aleks nods.

I can't help but feel like the weight of that somehow falls a lot on me. I'm the only one with true access to Gabe Rossi and the inner workings of his twisted mind. What is he plotting?

The warning from earlier this summer still floats through my head.

The tides are changing. Can you feel it?

I lean back and light a cigarette, hardly paying attention to the game, completely lost in thought over how to tackle this issue with my cousin. Even talking to Gabe makes me feel like I'm betraying my mother. What that family put my mom through for wanting to marry my dad...no one should have to go through that.

Fuck them all.

I inhale the cigarette sharply and release a long stream of smoke as I put more chips in the center of my pile.

Zane cocks a brow at me with a knowing grin.

"Careful, Moretti has a good poker face," Josh teases.

"Unlike you Cal. I can read your bluff from a mile away," Chase laughs.

Josh looks annoyed, but we all laugh because we know it's true. Cal isn't the best at poker.

"You've got to work on your game face, Cal," Zane smirks.

"I know who can help you with that," Eli teases. Josh gives his younger brother a narrow-eyed look.

"Who would that be?" he asks coolly.

Eli's grin grows. "Who is the most talented chess player we know?"