Page 29 of Lady Luck

11

VINH

“Bree.”

She startled at the sound of her own name and even glanced around before meeting my gaze, embarrassment flashing across her features.

Though it really could have been any number of emotions. I didn’t know her well enough to make that call, which didn’t change the fact that what I did know about her, I liked. More than I’d readily admit, but what I really wanted to know was what lay between the carefree gardener I first glimpsed and the woman who stood before me now.

She was clearly out of sorts, probably wondering how the night had gotten away from her. Her pupils were dilated, her cheeks and neck flushed. A sure sign she probably needed to call it a night.

“You zoned out there for a minute. I don’t think Liem’s coming, so there’s no reason to wait here. This is just what he does.”

“Is that what you meant by ‘Liem is Liem-ing’?” she pitched her voice low at the end as if trying to imitate mine.

I nodded, pressing my lips together to wrestle down a laugh, and cleared my throat harshly. Now was absolutely not the time to discover that she was funny. I buried that information right alongside the laugh, and for some reason, explained further. “He’s twenty-one now, and I know he can take care of himself, but at this point, making sure he’s safe is just a habit.” As I glanced up to see her full attention on me, I wondered why so much information kept slipping out of my mouth. Definitely an anomaly. “This isn’t like our hometown where everyone knows everyone, and they’re all used to Liem and his antics. I’m not sure he really gets that yet. Trust comes so naturally to him, and it’s probably just dumb luck that he hasn’t gotten into serious trouble yet.”

She tilted her head to the side, sending waves of hair cascading over her shoulder. “I wouldn’t call it dumb or luck. I’d call it having a good brother.”

My face instantly and unexpectedly heated, and I smoothed a hand down my face in an attempt to scrub away the feeling. It didn’t work.

Maybe I was coming down with something.

“You’re wrong, though. At least a little,” she said, surprising me.

I dropped my hand and tilted my head as she’d just done, inviting her to explain. I was enjoying the sound of her voice and cadence of her speech—raspy in a way that made me wonder if it was natural or a result of her long night. She talked rapidly too, but I was able to keep up.

“Fortuna is basically like a little town. One with the security of a supermax prison. I can’t really think of anywhere that Liem would be safer.”

My temperature rose again, but this time from anger. “Oh? Did I not just remove you from the warpath of an angry, drunk man? One who was seconds away from laying hands on you in a room filled with people?” She opened her mouth in protest, but like an absolute dick, I cut her off. “And no, security was not on the way. We looked. If the casino can’t even keep their employees safe, what does that mean for Liem? For the rest of us?”

I remembered the way everyone had just stood around as their Lady Luck was moments away from, at best, a big scare, and at worst, being assaulted. The spectators, the other players at the table, and even the useless dealer had all stood idly by only a few feet from her and had done nothing.

My hands tightened into fists as she silently shook her head, whether it was in shock at my outburst or in denial, I wasn’t sure.

“No, I don’t think I’m wrong, Bree. I think the only way we can be truly safe is with someone we love and trust watching our backs. And I intend to keep doing that.”

I forced a deep breath into my lungs, my limbs and hands holding an unfamiliar soreness from all the gesticulating and clenching I’d been doing. I hadn’t gotten that worked up in years.

“I, um….” Her voice hitched and stalled, and my gaze snapped to her.

Horror.

That’s the feeling that streamed through my veins like lava when I saw the tears forming in her eyes, the sight evaporating all remnants of my anger.

She stared back, stunned, seeming equally horrified by her tears as she hastily blinked and turned her face away.

“Bree. I am so sorry. None of that anger was for you.” The urge to comfort her was strong, but I didn’t think that would be a smart move, so I took a step backward instead and bumped against the bridge window. “It just took me by surprise before I could think better of it.”

“What did?” she asked, her voice still quiet and eyes downcast.

I considered my answer. The whole truth would no doubt freak her out, so I offered her part of it. “That something like that could happen here. Has anything like that happened before?”

“No. Never. Security is good about discreetly escorting out any guests who get too rowdy. Usually before it gets anywhere near the point it did tonight.”

“Do you usually have security assigned specifically to you on nights like tonight? Or at least an effective way to call for help?”

She finally glanced back up at me when I asked, a deep furrow in her brow. As if the idea of security just for her had never crossed her mind. She sucked in her cheeks and answered levelly, “I’ve never felt unsafe before.”

---