Page 55 of Queen of Spades

My head tilts as I frown, realizing she’s speaking to my father. I’m not sure where she got the idea she’s supposed to flirt with my dad, but it’s driving my instincts half feral.

“How very astute of you,” he says condescendingly. He stares directly at her tits that escape the top of her dress as he taps the top of the deck of cards. “I’m afraid I’m done for the night.” He shoves his chair back, gesturing for his security team lining the wall. “Goodnight, Cassian.” He nods at Ward, heading out without a word to acknowledge Annika.

She glances over her shoulder, waiting for him to exit fully.

Once the door to the parlor closes, she snatches up the deck. She flips it over but doesn’t change the order of the cards.

“Well, I think you’re screwed,” she says softly, tilting her head to meet my eyes. “I don’t know how he’s doing it. I’m good at picking up cheats, but I couldn’t get a solid bead on how he’s pulling it off. It doesn’t change the fact he is.”

I nod, studying how sincere she looks. “Can you explain to me exactly what he’s doing?”

“Yeah, I mean, I can walk you through my thought process. The last three or four games is when it became glaringly obvious.” Her hand slides over the cards that are now face up, and she focuses on the bottom of the deck. “Every game, at least two face cards have been missing from play. And I know you’re going to say they were buried in the pile, but look at this.” She taps the last two cards. “The queen of hearts and the queen of spades. It’s unusual, but not impossible that they would end up next to each other. Only, moving to the left, we see your hand and then your father’s. He didn’t shuffle after the last hand, so where did the queens come from?”

My hand tightens on her stomach as my jaw tenses. That is a very good question. “So, you’re saying he’s cheating.”

“I don’t want to use that word until I can figure out how he’s getting the cards out of play and then back into the deck, following each hand. If he is, then he’s one of the best I’ve ever seen.”

I sigh. “It’s essentially impossible—I’m never going to beat him.”

“I’m not saying that.” Her head shakes. “He’s blocking your ability to get a royal flush. You play aggressively. You lose more frequently but win bigger when you do. You can beat him with a straight flush, possibly. That’s your backup favorite, and we all know why. But, at least tonight, he was only pulling face cards. Your father almost always wins with two pairs or a full house because your flush never fully comes together.”

She’s not telling me anything I didn’t know, but with the added information of the cards being taken out of play, it’s like a kick to the gut.

“I mean, you play pairs if you have them, but it’s clear they aren’t your favorite hand. Even when you have them, you’re less likely to raise the bet, and you never seem to bluff with them,” she purrs in her husky tone. It seems velvety now that she’s been drinking. “The main problem is he knows when you’re bluffing, but you often fall prey to his bluffs. You have to change the way you play. If you do, I think you’ll have a chance, but honestly, if he’s cheating, then he isn’t above playing dirty. I just don’t see how you’ll be able to take his stacks if you don’t adapt. I’m not sure why winning is so important to you, but?—”

“Thank you,” I say, exhaling heavily.

She nods, leaning back against my chest. “No problem. I’m sorry I couldn’t pick up exactly how he’s doing it.”

“No, you did plenty,” I assure her. Beating my father at poker has never been about winning a single hand. I need to take his entire stack. We play with a set amount of chips, and once those are gone, that’s it. Any time I get close, he calls an end to gameplay or bluffs on a bullshit hand.

Ward comes over, stopping in front of her. “How about we get you something to eat? You soaked up quite a bit of alcohol but barely picked at dinner.”

Annika kind of sways in my grasp until she’s got her face in Ward’s neck. “Dear God, you smell delicious.”

My arm moves with her, cradling her stomach to keep her from tumbling out of the chair.

Ward chuckles. “Thanks, lass, but I’m pretty sure you’re seven kinds of wasted.”

“Maybe a little tipsy. Not wasted,” she mumbles, moving to lick his throat. “It’s still true. You smell fantastic.”

Ward groans as his eyes fall shut, and he shakes his head. “It’s a damn shame you didn’t pace yourself better.”

She tosses herself back into my lap, and I pull up the opposite arm to keep her from flying off the chair in the other direction. “It’s hot in here. Don’t you ever turn on the AC? It’s Vegas. I’m sure you can afford it.”

She bumps into the table in her haste to stand up, and somehow, her ass grinds perfectly over my cock as she bends down to grab the bottom of her dress. She struggles to yank it over her head as my hands land on her thick hips.

Ward watches her carefully. “Perhaps it’s time we take Annika up to the nest?”

Annika lets out an adorable little coo as she claps and falls into my lap. “Oh God, that made me ridiculously happy. My heat is coming really fast.” She twists around while I’m still watching her like a completely besotted fool. “You always smell like that same expensive cologne. I thought maybe you used it to mask your scent, but then I realized, it’s just you.”

“Thank you.” I clear my throat, ignoring her bare tits. “Let’s get you to the nest. You do feel warm.”

Where the fuck are Grady and Kane?

Ward chuckles, standing. “Come on, princess.”

“That still throws me off,” she says, nuzzling her face to my dress shirt.

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