RURO Chapter 21

Russian Roulette /̵͇̿̿/’̿’̿ ̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿̿

CHAPTER 21

 

Different.

Vicente had said something similar before. He once told her that she was different from the other dogs.

But Tessa never believed those words.

It was true that Vicente made exceptions for her. In a way, he treated her specially. But that didn’t mean Tessa thought of herself as someone special to Vicente.

No one could ever be that person to him.

Tessa had spent years by Vicente’s side, observing him. She couldn’t claim to know everything about Vicente Zermo as a person, but she did know one thing for sure—he was terrifyingly ruthless and unyielding.

The fact that he had spared her life had to have a purpose. It was never out of pity or a change of heart.

“I’m just someone who serves Vicente.”

“Then why did he bring you here?”

Carmen whispered as she poured Tessa a glass of whiskey.

“He said it was to cheer me up.”

“That’s what he said, but…”

“Tessa, you must have realized by now—this isn’t a place just anyone can enter. Only those who have the right to speak informally with Vicente are allowed in here.”

Their gazes naturally shifted in the same direction. Vicente sat at another table, playing cards with a group of unfamiliar men. Watching him, Tessa suddenly thought that no one suited a poker face better than he did.

“Vicente brought you inside the fence. Don’t you see?”

“There’s no way.”

“You need to learn to accept things when people tell you the truth. You’re so stubborn. I don’t go around giving people false hope. I only state objective facts.”

Tessa merely smiled. If you knew who I really was, you’d take back those words. I’m a spy, sent to keep an eye on Vicente.

She had managed to survive by sheer luck, but no one knew how much longer that luck would last.

“Well, whatever. You’ll figure it out in your own time. You already had dinner, right?”

The moment Carmen mentioned dinner, Tessa became aware of the hunger she had completely forgotten. It must have shown on her face because Carmen immediately turned to a man who appeared to be an employee and shouted,

“Javi! Finger food!”

The employee disappeared somewhere without hesitation. Carmen flashed a grin at Tessa and led her to a table. Several decks of cards and poker chips were stacked neatly in place of cash.

“Do you know how to play blackjack?”

Tessa shook her head. She had lived a life far removed from games and entertainment. Carmen looked at her with pity, as if it was tragic that she didn’t even know how to play blackjack.

She began explaining the rules.

“You know the different kinds of cards, right? Besides the numbered ones, these are called Kings, Queens, and Jacks. In blackjack, everything is counted as numbers, so just remember that these are worth ten points each. The rest are counted at face value. To win at blackjack, you need to reach 21 points. If you hit exactly 21, you win double your bet. Otherwise, as long as your number is closer to 21 than the dealer’s, you win. Got it?”

“I don’t have any money. I have nothing to bet.”

“What’s the problem? You can bet Vicente.”

That was ridiculous.

Tessa felt a surge of fear and quickly asked,

“Can’t I just play without betting anything?”

“Tessa. This is a casino. Once you sit at a table, you either win something or lose something. Vicente knew that when he came here, so don’t worry too much.”

Carmen chuckled as an employee placed an assortment of finger foods on the table. The plates were piled high with luxurious dishes and fruits that one would only find in a fine dining restaurant.

Carmen watched as Tessa picked up a canapé and ate it before dealing the cards.

“I’ll be the dealer.”

Meanwhile, Tessa forced herself to focus on the game rather than eating. She hated losing, but blackjack was one of the most unpredictable games of chance.

Surely he wouldn’t kill me just because I lost money in a game… right?

Even as they played, Carmen continued to strike up conversation.

“You work for him, but you don’t really know much about Vicente, do you?”

“All I know is that he’s terrifying.”

“Well, he’s definitely someone who knows exactly what he likes and what he doesn’t.”

Getting closer to 21… This wasn’t a game that could be won with logic alone. Tessa quickly gave up on the idea of winning.

She was never a lucky person. Not before, and certainly not now.

Carefully, she asked,

“Have you known Vicente for a long time?”

“Not really. Even getting this close to him was pure luck. I’m not even sure if ‘close’ is the right word.”

“You seemed close. At least, from the way you greeted each other earlier.”

“That’s just because we’re inside the casino.”

Carmen flashed her signature girlish smile. Meanwhile, Tessa kept losing more and more chips. It was better not to think about how much money those chips actually represented.

“I really thought you were his younger sister at first.”

“There’s not a single thing similar about us! Just thinking about it makes me laugh. If I were Vicente’s sister, his fortune would have been drained a long time ago.”

Carmen seemed cautious—she never talked too deeply about Vicente. Instead, she spent the game chattering about other things. Surprisingly, the conversation was entertaining, and before Tessa realized it, she was laughing along.

The only drink available to accompany the finger foods was whiskey. As the alcohol sank in, her tension eased, and laughter came more easily.

Carmen Espinosa didn’t seem like a dangerous person at all, and before long, Tessa had let her guard down completely.

Ironically, the reason she felt safe was because of Vicente.

Because he’s nearby.

It was strange. Vicente had always been a source of fear for her, yet when he was close, she felt an inexplicable certainty that nothing dangerous would happen.

After all, Vicente was the ruler of this place—the king of this world.

So in some way… did that mean she trusted him?

With alcohol warming her system, she found herself thinking all sorts of strange thoughts.

* * *

Vicente watched with a bored expression as the men who had lost their money grumbled. At some point, all the chips on the table had migrated to his side.

“Damn it, today’s a bust.”

“I was an idiot for thinking I could finally beat you this time.”

The men who had been watching from the sidelines, instead of betting, laughed and jeered at them. While some cursed in frustration over losing everything, Vicente felt nothing.

If it were human lives at stake, maybe he’d feel something. But gambling for money? It didn’t suit him. The biggest issue was that it simply wasn’t fun. That was why, despite enjoying games, he rarely visited casinos.

What thrill could money possibly offer?

His gaze naturally drifted toward Tessa. She was playing blackjack with Carmen. The flow of the game… was going exactly as he had expected.

Vicente had already decided where to spend his winnings.

“But hey, Vicente.”

Someone called for his attention. Having finished lamenting his loss, the man now looked resigned.

“The woman you brought with you today. Who is she? I saw her with Carmen.”

“You’re fine leaving her with Carmen?”

It wasn’t that Carmen was particularly dangerous. Well, in a sense, she was—she was a woman who had mastered the art of winning money.

“She’s my subordinate.”

Vicente took a sip of his drink and answered briefly. The men exchanged surprised glances.

“A subordinate…?”

“She’s had a rough time recently.”

“You’ve changed a lot. That’s not like you at all.”

“It’s just part of the game. Don’t get the wrong idea.”

A game. No one knew exactly what kind of game he was referring to, but they nodded in understanding. After all, if there was one thing Vicente wasn’t, it was someone who spoiled his subordinates out of kindness.

Though he was the ruler of Saint Leroi and the underworld, ironically, he was also the person who despised his own subordinates the most.

To Vicente, his subordinates were nothing more than dogs—livestock, at best.

That was why everyone had been so surprised when he walked in with a woman who so clearly looked like one of his subordinates.

“Must be an interesting game, then?”

Someone probed for more information, but Vicente ignored them, his gaze fixed on Tessa as he took another sip of his drink. She looked drunk. Her posture had loosened, a clear sign of intoxication.

Sure enough, the sound of laughter rang through the air. Two women, laughing freely. Vicente’s lips parted slightly as he watched the scene unfold.

Tessa was laughing like a child.

She had always frozen in front of him, her face set in an unnervingly stiff mask. Tessa never laughed. It was as if she had forgotten how.

And so, Vicente’s first impression of seeing Tessa’s laughter was this:

“I thought she was a doll, but she’s human after all.”

“What?”

Instead of answering the question, Vicente simply swept his winnings into his pocket and rose from his seat. The men immediately looked disappointed.

“Leaving already?”

“Stay a little longer.”

“I’d rather spend the entire day watching a goldfish than keep doing this.”

Without hesitation, he walked away—toward his goldfish.

A beautiful new addition to his collection.