Page 126 of Queen of Spades

“You really shouldn’t encourage him.” Cas nuzzles his nose to mine.

I give him a quick kiss. “Even my last gynecologist didn’t offer me meds when they placed it. It hurt like a bitch. I might send Grady to med school.”

Grady laughs. “Holy fuck. I would kill to deliver our baby. It also might help with methods of dismembering a corpse. It would be convenient to know which joints give way easier.”

I laugh while Cas huffs like an old man.

“Pack life sure is interesting,” he mutters.

“That, it is,” I agree.

Epilogue

Cassian

Fifteen Months Later

Annika wiggles around my lap, focusing on the table. She has watched and waited.

My father chuckles, flipping his cards. “You know, Cassian, you’ve got a lot of good things going for you. Perhaps you should let beating me at cards go.”

I laugh derisively, shaking my head.

Annika pulls my clenched fist off the table, bringing it to rest on her swollen baby belly. “How about I play for Cassian?”

My father laughs heartily. “You want to risk…” He eyes my chips. “Over seventy grand?”

“Why not?” I shrug, palming Annika's baby belly. “She's an extension of myself. Unless you're concerned you won't be able to beat her?”

My father's eyes narrow, and he nods to the table. “Five hand maximum.”

I tilt my head, studying Annika's feral smile.

“Perfect,” she purrs, swiping up the deck of cards. “Since I'm busy baking your first grandchild, I think it's only appropriate that I deal.”

“You're terrible at bluffing,” my father says, shoving his chips toward the middle of the table.

Annika does the same. “If I'm so awful, then why are you taking the bait?”

“Flip your cards,” my father growls.

My eyes widen as Annika flips two kings. There's already one on the board and a pair of eights.

I dart my gaze to my father, and he has a pair of queens and an eight to match. They both have a full house, but Annika's kings take the pot.

My jaw falls as Ward’s chair flies backward as he stands, clapping. “That was a hell of a game,” he mutters.

My father eyes the table suspiciously.

Annika carefully stands, cradling her swollen stomach. “Good game.” She stretches a hand over the table, and her stomach messes up the cards and chips.

“By the way, I don't want the rest of my inheritance,” I say to distract my father. “You can feel free to start a robust college fund for the baby, though.”

My father laughs, scratching his thick beard. “You cheated.”

Annika smirks, and she's so goddamn beautiful, it takes my breath away. “Can you prove it?”

Dad laughs even harder, shoving his chair back. He comes around the table and pulls Annika in for a hug, but his eyes meet mine. “You picked a good one, son.”

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