Chapter 4The Missing Wife

The next day, I met Donnie at the airport with the $150,000 cash.

We first flew down to San Diego, then caught another flight across the border to Tijuana, landing in the infamous "City of Sin."

By the time we got there, it was already 4 PM.

The rickety taxi Donnie had arranged beforehand was already waiting.

After a bumpy ride lasting over an hour, Donnie and I finally arrived at the casino where Sarah was being held – the "Golden Paradise."

Getting out of the cab, Donnie actually told me to give the driver a thousand bucks.

I wasn't thrilled about it, but I did it anyway.

It was now 6 PM.

Donnie told me the "Golden Paradise" event where you could trade chips for women didn't start until 8 PM.

So we had two hours to kill, but resting was the last thing on my mind.

I just wanted to find Sarah as fast as possible and get her the hell out of there.

At the entrance of the "Golden Paradise," Donnie made a call, speaking Spanish.

Soon, four tough-looking guys covered in tattoos came out of the casino.

Two of them looked like security, each holding a shotgun, faces grim.

They were respectful towards Donnie, but eyed me with suspicion.

Not until Donnie said something to them in Spanish did their expressions soften slightly.

The shotguns they held were lowered a bit.

Then, two of them patted Donnie and me down.

After confirming we weren't carrying any weapons, a bleach-blond guy spoke to me in heavily accented English, "Friend, welcome to 'Golden Paradise.' Good luck tonight. Please."

I nodded, forced a smile, and mumbled, "Thanks."

Then, we followed them inside.

It was my first time ever in a real casino, and the scene definitely blew me away.

The main floor was packed – poker, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, pai gow, slot machines, everything imaginable.

Donnie first had someone get us two rooms, then exchanged all our cash for chips.

After that, Donnie told me to give each of the four goons ten thousand dollars worth of chips as a tip.

Adding the taxi fare and the room cost, we'd already blown through almost fifty grand.

This was money I'd scraped together through hell and high water. I started to suspect Donnie might be playing me.

Donnie seemed to read my mind.

He leaned back on the bed in his room, eyes closed. "You gotta spend money to make money, Luke. If you want to save your wife, this cash has to be spent."

I nodded, pretending to understand.

But deep down, I was questioning if this young guy really had the skills.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. Just past 7 PM. Still an hour until the "event" started.

Every second felt like torture.

I just wished time would speed up.