Just before leaving, Monica patted my shoulder and said, "Jim, your phone was ringing earlier. Is there something you need to attend to?"
As soon as she said that, I retrieved my phone and saw multiple missed calls and a dozen texts from my uncle.
Unexpectedly, Shirley reached over, snatched the phone, and took a look before curiously asking, "I thought it might be some girl calling you. Who's this bastard uncle of yours? He says it's urgent and asks you to call him back."
Seeing the messages, I quickly returned the call, hoping nothing was seriously wrong. My uncle's personality was such that he rarely took things too seriously and never used such urgent tones.
He picked up quickly, asking me where I was. I told him I was on the street behind the school. He instructed me to meet him at the school gate immediately; he had been waiting for hours.
Hanging up the call without further explanation, I sprinted toward the school gate. A feeling of unease grew in me. Although my uncle hadn't revealed much on the phone, his tone suggested something was terribly wrong.
I spotted my uncle along with his BMW at the gate. When I saw him, I felt a slight worry that he might be angry with me. But he didn't mention it at all. His face was full of anxiety, which eased when he saw me.
I cautiously asked him, "What's wrong, Uncle? What happened?"
"Get in the car first. I'll explain on the way," he said, turning to open the car door. I didn't hesitate and got in.
The car's air conditioning was quite chilly, mirroring the tense atmosphere. My heart was racing, and to be honest, I felt like I was in the dark. My uncle wasn't typically this serious; he was usually carefree and easygoing. This was a new side of him.
I had no idea where the BMW was headed. After a while, my uncle finally spoke, "Jim, I need your help with something tonight. I need you to accompany me to an important gambling event."
As soon as he said that, I felt a strong resistance within me. I never wanted to get involved in anything related to gambling. I immediately refused, "I'm not going!"
"You're going, whether you like it or not!" My uncle raised his voice and shouted. My resistance flared up, and I retorted loudly, "I'm not going! Find someone else. Why me?"
My uncle didn't even glance back and said, "Because you're different from others!"
The more he pressed, the more resistant I became. He had used this line to trick me before. I was determined not to fall for it this time and replied, "How am I different from others? Don't think you can use that excuse to fool me again! No way!"
Suddenly, the car screeched to a halt. Caught off guard, I nearly banged my head on the front seat. Just as I was about to complain, I looked up and saw my uncle's eyes, red and chillingly serious.
"This gambling event tonight involves my life. I don't trust anyone else except you. Let me ask you one more time: Are you coming or not?"
His words ignited a warmth within me, but questions also arose. Gambling was about money, and going or not was a personal choice. Why would I willingly put myself in danger?
I cleared my throat and said softly, "Uncle, since you put it that way, I'll definitely go. But..."
Before I could finish, my uncle cut me off and said, "Truly my nephew. You don't need to ask any questions. Just follow me. I've raised you from childhood, you little brat!"
Despite his words, my curiosity only grew. I had no idea what I should do. I had never been to a gambling event before, and I wondered what my uncle was planning.
On the way, I thought about asking, but when I saw my uncle's brooding expression, I knew he wasn't in the mood for chitchat. I kept my questions to myself.
My uncle was like this, always jovial when there were no problems, but he changed completely when things got serious. He never listened to anyone then. Why did he have to go to a gambling event that could jeopardize his life?
Soon, the car arrived at the entrance of Casino. There were already seven or eight cars waiting, and the place was teeming with people. Dirk stood next to the leading car. As soon as he saw us, he signaled for everyone to get in.
My uncle didn't stop the car. I had no idea where we were headed, and the long line of cars following us only heightened my nervousness. I felt fear gripping me. It was terrifying to be involved in something like this firsthand.
After a while, I mustered up the courage to ask quietly, "Uncle, where are we going? And why so many people?"
"Of course, we're going to do something. They're following us to prevent any accidents. Only the two of us will be going in."
His words sent shivers down my spine. The sight before me indicated that tonight was bound to be dangerous. Only my uncle and I were entering. If something went wrong, it was clear there would be dire consequences. What kind of gambling event was this?
At 9:30 PM, the car stopped in front of a warehouse. The air was filled with the scent of gasoline. It felt like we were at an auto repair shop. Dirk's group parked outside and didn't enter. There were several luxury cars parked at the warehouse entrance, including Mercedes and BMWs.
After getting out of the car, my uncle retrieved a suitcase from the trunk. My anxiety grew. I felt like I was about to die. Afraid, I asked, "Uncle, please just tell me what I'm supposed to do. I have no idea!"
"Just stand by my side and watch. Help me light a cigarette and pour water if needed. If I win, help me collect the money." My uncle sounded relaxed as he handed me the suitcase, but his expression was far from casual.
A person emerged from the old warehouse door, someone who seemed to know my uncle. They started chatting immediately. I followed along without saying a word. The person gave me a scrutinizing look but didn't say anything. He led us inside.
The warehouse was filled with the smell of gasoline. It looked like an auto repair shop, with several cars that hadn't been fixed yet. I held the suitcase carefully, knowing from movies that suitcases like these usually contained money.
Although I didn't understand how my uncle had come into possession of so much money, my unease increased. It was my first time in a place like this, and I was accompanying my uncle to gamble. Anxiety caused me to break into a cold sweat.
At the back of the warehouse was a lit room. Through the windows, I could see a crowd of people. Two people guarded the door, and our guide exchanged a few words with them. Then my uncle and I were allowed in.
As soon as I stepped inside, a shiver ran down my spine. The air conditioning was on full blast. The room wasn't large, and there were around a dozen people inside. Half of them were young women, and they were stunningly beautiful!