3×20 “Where Did You Go?”
Written By: Chris Coleman, Kristi Clark and Kelly Zollo
Guest Starring: Rachel Weis (Kelly O’Connor), Michael Vartan (Kevin Nixon)
Warning: Episode may contain language, sex and violence.
Theme Song: Nickelback- Lullaby
Miranda was at one of the tables watching an older man with graying hair shuffle the cards he smelled like Old Spice and cigarettes. Not sure which one was more unappealing if she was honest. The wig she wore it was like she had never even left this gig as Mia Proctor former stripper at Club XES and store clerk for the local grocery store that had taken a break after Kendrick was murdered. She had applied to the casino as soon as they were hiring everything still in place from her last undercover mission, if Ronan knew who she really was he hadn’t said anything. She had left Quinn at home that morning with KC while she reported to work where she had been for the last few weeks to train for being a card dealer. The opening was now days away and it was the final test to make sure you knew how to deal and keep the house in the black, the gaming commission would be there opening day and like the man had told them all Ronan and DGI wanted a clean opening. Meaning no skimming three dealers had already left the program over the last week for skimming in the practice sessions.
She watched the cards hit the felt of the table, watched him put the cards in the shuffler and then watched as one by one the others went up one by one to pass off their final. It felt like she was in college again and she was almost nervous for her last exam with the police force and remained cool looking around the room. Counting the exits she easily saw between five and six that was easily up to code. The entire room was full of Devonshire influence from the gold and the cream, with the black and white marble tiles. The slot machines in their little clusters the green felt on most of the tables though the high roller tables were more crimson maroon. In the weeks she had been there she had yet to see anything fishy going on behind the scenes with Ronan and Gia but that didn’t mean it wasn’t happening. Gia’s right hand was always lurking around her or the other dealers and turning her back on him or raising her status was a bad idea. Between him and taking fucking orders from Max sometimes it was insufferable. She hadn’t liked the Devonshire princess since school and never would but right now she did work for her.
She stepped up to the table repeating what she had been doing for the last few weeks watching the woman who she assumed was from the gaming commission taking notes. She dealt the head of blackjack to the stand in guard that Ronan or Max had placed and finished the hand out. Afterwards she was handed her certification and mentally let out a sigh of relief she’d be here opening night, they were in. Meaning the last few weeks of undercover work had paid off and she and the rest were closer to bringing Ronan down. DGI and by extension the Devonshire sisters were just collateral when it came to their investigation though if this opening or casino failed who knew maybe they’d step down and join the little people. She didn’t care for them or the Montgomerys and it was hard seeing your best friend become ingrained in them if you could call Dani that to her anymore she wasn’t sure. Walking back towards the employee entrance she was ready for a break and to check in with Devin and Jon when she bumped directly into Ronan.
“Mr. Madden I’m so sorry.” Miranda bit out her tone completely even though she despised this man for what he had done to her and KC. How he had taken years from them, how he put bullets into him and let her husband float up a river. Was she thrilled he was alive at the end of it all yes but she still wanted Ronan to pay. Pay for dealing drugs, encouraging his men to start gang wars, for bringing that mess into the city she loved. “I didn’t see you there.” She finished seeing he was blocking the door.
Ronan had been in the office preparing his trip to Florida to put a loose end together though he had suspected that Gia was betraying him for a while he wanted proof, his mutual friend assured him she could provide it. Once he finished that up he sent a polite text to Max to assure her that he could handle the final staff set up for dealers. Ronan had to lay nice with Lowell’s eldest daughter. Not even Lowell was dumb enough to give him complete control of the casino so it was a partnership until he had enough legal money to do so or until he laundered enough to buy out Max and take full control. He had to take care of Gia first however and make sure that his son stayed with him for the remainder of his life, never to see that bitch again. He had been on his way out the door when he bumped into the woman in front of him, one of the dealers at the casino and a former employee at the club. He was actually sad when the lovely Mia had disappeared from the club. She had a nice ass and men paid a lot of money to see it. Looking around to wave off security as he gently led her back to the casino floor and a table.
“I was sad when you didn’t come back to the club after that unfortunate incident with Kendrick. You were one of my top if not my second money makers behind Yasmine of course. With both of you gone, the clientele simply isn’t quite the same now. I suppose this is a step up from a pole and the supermarket?” Ronan asked as they sat down at one of the blackjack tables and he looked her up and down, she had a banging body. He motioned for one of the cocktail waitresses to bring them a drink seeing Mia almost roll her eyes at him like he was inconveniencing her by having a drink with him. He took their drinks, passing one to her while he took a sip before leaning in, rubbing his fingers along her black shirt. “I think we could find a better use of our time than you dealing cards wouldn’t we both agree? Come back to the club.” Ronan said, looking at her honestly, seeing her partially mortified face at his suggestion. “I was not that awful of an employer.”
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