Page 45 of Queen of Spades

Kane follows the GPS instructions, and we turn into an area that screams wealthy people live here. There’s every possibility I’m in a shit mood because I almost scoff as we pull up to a security gate manned by two officers.

Kane handles everything, and they quickly allow us entrance. The long drive through the multi-million-dollar mansions doesn’t help me feel any more comfortable. We pull up to a second wrought-iron gate, and Kane stops at a keypad. He enters a code and the massive gate slides open.

“This isn’t ostentatious at all,” I mutter.

“Didn’t you grow up exactly like this?” Grady asks, running his finger over my inner wrist.

“Yeah. Maybe that’s why I hate it now.”

Kane pulls the car into a huge garage at the back of the house. “All right, let’s see who Ranger sent us to.” He tosses open his car door and climbs out.

“I am on your team always,” Grady whispers close to my ear. “If you want to take him out, you and I can try our luck on our own.”

It might be inappropriate to admit exactly how much that means to me. I’ve never met anyone willing to defy my brother, but Grady isn’t afraid.

I nod to let him know I hear him, but now isn’t the time. If we were going to go that route, we should have offed Kane during the first car swap. Even the thought makes my stomach wobble uncomfortably, and I know I’d never go through with it.

Kane opens the car door next to me. “Come on, princess.”

Grady unhooks my seat belt, and I twist to climb from the vehicle as he does the same on the other side.

Kane closes my door, ignoring our belongings in the trunk. He guides me toward the door that leads into the house from the garage, but it opens before he has to knock.

My jaw falls when I see who’s standing on the other side. “Ward?”

“It’s a family reunion. Just not the one I imagined.” Grady laughs. “How ya doing, Grandpa?”

Chapter Fifteen

Ward

There’s a reason I’d rather kill someone than owe them a favor.

Cas’s level of panic proves that impulse isn’t as outlandish as some might suggest.

“There’s no way this isn’t going to affect our ability to make that deal with Annika and Grady,” he growls, pacing the floor bare near the door to the garage.

“Your ability,” I correct. Cas goes rigid, spinning around to glare at me. I snort, shaking my head. “It’s not my marker. I’ve never met the man.”

I told him not to take the deal back then, but he didn’t hear a goddamn word I said. That looming favor has been hanging over his head for years, and now it’s been called in.

Cas growls, jabbing a finger toward my chest. The sound of a vehicle pulling into the garage has him turning back to the door.

I sigh but step around the princess to assess the threat.

He’s not even armed.

The door pops open with little effort, and I stretch out a hand to shut the garage door, but my jaw falls when I hear my name.

“Ward?” Annika’s voice is impossible to miss.

“It’s a family reunion. Just not the one I imagined.” Grady chuckles darkly. “How ya doing, Grandpa?”

“I’m sorry, but how did you get in here?” Cas tries to step around me in the doorway and ends up slamming his shoulder into mine. “We’ve had something come up. We won’t be able to continue?—”

“Kane,” a man I hadn’t noticed says, offering his hand to Cas. “Ranger sent us.”

My jaw drops as Annika’s eyes widen.

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