Behind Closed Doors (Behind Closed Doors #1)(69)

Buddha snorts and looks at Jason. “Good thing I bet on you and won as much as you last night, or I’d be done with your manager.”

“Why do I think I don’t want to know what ‘done’ means to you?” Jason asks.

“You know what they say,” Buddha replies dryly. “Don’t ask, don’t tell. Get rid of him.”

Good God. Does he mean forever, as in dead, or just right now?

“He stays,” Jason says firmly, seeming to have none of my concerns, or simply bluffing without a blink.

“At his own risk,” Buddha replies.

“I’ll Braveheart it,” Daniel states dryly, and as much as I admire his determination to protect Jason, his brassiness with Buddha is making me nervous.

“What do you do exactly here in Vegas?” Jason asks quickly, and I’m pretty sure it’s to take attention off Daniel.

It works. Buddha focuses on Jason. “Contract work for the highest bidder.”

Jason arches a brow. “The mob?”

“The highest bigger,” Buddha repeats.

“Is this where we get extorted?” Daniel asks.

Ella’s gaze jerks to Daniel. “I told you, there is no fee. Buddha will take care of this.”

Buddha’s response is to toss the envelope with the chip and note in it across the table to land in front of Jason. “I hear there’s two of those floating around, and you’ve only got one of them.”

“That’s right,” Jason confirms.

“And this cat-and-mouse blackmail game has gone on for months,” Buddha says.

“That’s right,” Jason again confirms.

Buddha isn’t done yet. “And some woman you f*cked is supposedly behind this.”

“Right again,” Jason says.

“But she’s made no contact with you in that time, outside of these random notes?”

Jason gives a tiny nod. “Correct.”

Buddha smirks. “And you’ve hired a PI firm who’s supposed to be good at their job, but can’t find her.”

“Two PI firms,” Daniel interjects. “One in LA and one here.”

Buddha looks at Daniel. “Get them out of Vegas and off the hunt for Stephanie. They’ll get you attention you don’t need or want.” He refocuses on Jason. “Crazy stalker exes don’t operate with the kind of patience this person is showing. They come hard and fast. And blackmailers don’t wait to ask for money. It gives them time to get caught.”

“I’ve figured those things out,” Jason replies. “And I’m assuming someone wants me to start losing.”

“And yet knowing this, you keep winning,” Buddha observes.

“Because it’s what I do,” Jason says. “And initially, I thought appearing cool under pressure would make Stephanie second-guess her actions. A plan that seemed to be working when the demand for money didn’t come.”

“But the threats and the toying with you did,” Buddha comments.

“Yes,” Jason says, “with my father, and now Skye, named as targets along with me.”

Ella straightens, her gaze rocketing to me. “They threatened you?”

I nod, and Jason explains, “A waitress handed me a note last night during the tournament, with Skye being the subject matter.”

“And since this is my first time here with Jason,” I add, “Stephanie had to have been here at the hotel, or had eyes on me.”

“Give me the note,” Buddha states.

Jason glances at Daniel. “My office drawer.”

Daniel is on his feet in an instant, exiting the room, while Buddha leans back in his chair, rocking while studying Jason. “We both know that chip isn’t a problem unless there’s video footage of you stealing it.”

“I didn’t steal it,” Jason says, not missing a beat. “But there doesn’t have to be proof to destroy my reputation, and put Skye and my family through hell.”

Buddha straightens, leaning forward. “If this Stephanie bitch was going to do that to you, she would have already done it.”

“You think,” Ella snaps. “Skye was threatened. I need you to know for certain, Buddha.”

He looks at Ella. “I’ll find the woman and get her story.”

“I’m taking you at your word on this,” Ella says, completely unintimidated despite his connections. She’s definitely not what she seems.

“It’s handled, woman,” Buddha bites out, still focused on Ella. “I get it. It’s important to you.”

“The note,” Daniel announces, returning to hand the napkin, now in a Ziploc bag, to Jason.

“He fetches,” Buddha says. “Good boy. Now leave.” Buddha glances at Daniel, and then Jason. “To be clear, I deal with you. Not him.”

Jason simply slides the note across the table, while Daniel reclaims his seat. Buddha eyes the plastic bag, reading the note on the napkin. “The scorned lover,” he says, barking out laughter and eyeing Jason. “You f*cked her once or twice?”

Jason’s expression is without reaction, his tone even. “She’s f*cking me. That’s the issue here.”

“Either you’re really good in bed, or really bad.” Buddha slides the bag back to Jason. “Or that wasn’t from her at all, but from someone f*cking with your head—which f*cks with people like me who bet big on people like you. Mark my word, Red Bull. The Vegas odds are on your side. No one f*cks with our guy without getting f*cked up.”