“He’s no one to trifle with. Mulligan rose through the ranks in the Five Points gang. When he got older, he realized how much more money everyone could make by consolidating all the gangs under one leadership—his. He oversees a vast criminal empire from his New Belfast Athletic Club. He’s likely the only person in the city who knows as much about gaming as I do.”

“Hmm.” She stared out at the patrons below as the games carried on. He said nothing, let his information sink in. Instead, he watched the money exchanging hands as patrons lost at the tables. The sight warmed Clay’s heart.

Finally, she turned back to him. “What if I wished to play somewhere else, a place where no one knows who I am?”

“Then ask me. There are several small places I own where you’d be safe and could remain anonymous.”

“Were you truly worried about me?”

Hadn’t he already said as much? Was Florence digging for compliments? “You know that—”

A sharp piercing whistle cut through the air like a sword. Every eye swung toward the exit, where Jack stood, his eyes wild. He whistled once more then circled his arm over his head, which caused all the dealers to begin moving at a breakneck pace.

“Goddamn it,” Clay growled.

“What’s happening?”

He moved toward the stairs. “We’re being raided.”

Chapter Eight

Everything happened so quickly.

One minute, she and Clay were on the balcony, arguing, and in the next the place was thrown into chaos. Though it was organized chaos. The staff had rehearsed this, obviously, because everyone knew what to do to hide any evidence of gambling. Chips and money were shoved in locked boxes. Tables flipped and secured into place. Jack opened a panel of wainscoting to reveal a secret passage, and patrons quietly streamed through the door like rats scurrying off a sinking ship.

“Florence!”

Clay’s hiss reached her ears and she hurried after where he’d disappeared. He was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, a frown on his face. “Were you going to stand there and wait for the police to question you?”

“No. I was watching your staff remove any traces of a casino. It was fascinating.”

“It’s an annoyance,” he snapped. “And we need to get out of here.” He pushed open a door and ushered her down a long corridor. Just as she was about to turn the corner, he stopped. The section of wall here was brick, not plaster. Feeling under a sconce, he flicked what must have been a release mechanism because the bricks separated from the wall. Another secret passage.

He pulled open the wall and she slid through. When he followed, she asked, “Are you not going to stay and talk to the police?”

“No. Jack is far more reasonable in situations like this. If I stay, I’m likely to punch a copper.”