Revenge is Best Served… After Reborn

Angelo trailed behind Sophie, looking less like a boyfriend and more like a kid being dragged along by his mom.

Sophie shot Angelo a glance. Back at the Pollard estate, he had this commanding presence. So why did he seem so timid here in Devonport, barely daring to lift his head?

"Cough, cough," Angelo cleared his throat and straightened up. "What's that in the back?"

The employee leading them replied, "The machine back there isn't for public display. The ones out here might get you some stuffed toys, but the ones inside? They pay out in cash. Isn't that way more exciting than fishing?"

Angelo's curiosity piqued at the mention of cash. "But I heard games like that are banned."

"Well, we're just keeping it on the down-low. Not something I tell just anyone."

"So, you work here, huh?"

"Just bringing in customers for the boss."

"And the machines in the back, they really pay out in cash, right then and there?"

"Of course!"

"Your boss must have some serious chops. I'm in business too, and this seems pretty lucrative. Maybe you could show me the ropes sometime?"

"I'll have to check with the boss. If he gives the green light, then sure!"

Before long, Angelo was chatting away with the employee. Sophie had assumed Angelo was a bit clueless, but he was surprisingly adept at getting information. Looks like his time at the newspaper taught him a thing or two. He wasn't just playing dumb in front of her. The guy had real skills.

"I recognize those machines. I

played them in Summerfield. They're easy to get the hang of. Don't tell me your's boss is Mr. Odie? I've bumped into him a few times." en.swhovels.net

As Angelo started digging deeper, Sophie felt a pang of concern and quickly stepped in. "Honey, stop exaggerating. We're nobodies. How could we ever meet Mr. Odie? We've only seen him from a distance at those fancy parties. Mr. OdieThis content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

wouldn't know us, let alone work

with people like us."

Angelo looked confused. What? Odie was almost his brother-in-law! Even if their statuses were miles apart, he was still above Odie!

Why was Sophie putting him down like this? Angelo's face soured, but the employee thought he was embarrassed. "I'm just an employee. I can't reveal the boss's identity, but These

you've got a sharp eye entity, but

machines are top-notch, shipped in from Summerfield, guaranteed authentic and legal."

Hearing this, Sophie frowned slightly. So, the machines were indeed from Summerfield. That meant Odie was involved.

As Sophie and Angelo stood outside a small door, the employee opened it, and a cloud of smoke hit them, even stronger than outside. Inside were rows of banned slot machines. "Please, come in."

Just then, they heard Sandy's voice from outside: "Get off me! How dare you touch me! Are you crazy?"