Page 131 of Sin Bin

After greeting the others, Nelson turned back to Bianca and held up a keycard. “We got upgraded to a suite, baby.”

“We did?” Bianca whooped and bounced excitedly. “Was it your job?”

“Hell no. The Denver Post doesn’t shell out dough for penthouse suites.” Nelson’s grin widened as he picked up her shopping bags. “I don’t know how we lucked out and got the upgrade, but I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.”

“Neither am I.” Bianca smiled coyly and took his free hand. “Let’s go enjoy it, shall we?”

The others exchanged knowing grins as Nelson and Bianca headed off to the elevator, holding hands and giggling like honeymooners.

“Bye, lovebirds!” the girls cooed after them.

Bianca waved without turning around. “See y’all in the morning! But not too early!”

Everyone laughed.

“We know what they’re about to do.” Jess started moaning and making humping motions.

Nadia cringed. “Can you not? That’s my brother, remember?”

Jess laughed and gave her a sly nudge. “You know you’re gonna be all over Reid when he gets here.”

Nadia grinned. “The second he arrives.”

The group rocked with laughter.

Chapter Eighteen

MEADOW

She stood shivering in her pajamas, feet bare against the cold sidewalk that led up to the old house.

It was shrouded in darkness, giving it an air of desolation and gloom. A faint night breeze stirred the leaves of the large mesquite tree in the front yard. A single light glowed in a downstairs window, seeming to beckon her closer.

She took a deep breath and started walking toward the house, dread rising in her with every step.

Something terrible was waiting for her inside. She knew it in her heart, felt it deep in her bones.

When she reached the front door, she saw that it was ajar.

They were inside.

She could hear their voices and the sound of floorboards creaking beneath their pacing feet. Her stomach churned into a knot of fear.

Don’t go in there, a small voice warned. Turn back before it’s too late!

She swallowed her fear and slowly pushed the door open…

…and walked right into the bustling hive of a casino.

She looked around dazedly, her senses bombarded by the endless rows of slot machines and the deafening cacophony of ringing buzzers. When a drunk gambler stumbled past and whistled at her, she looked down at herself and saw that she was now wearing a short red sequined dress that left nothing to the imagination.

A man’s raucous shout drew her gaze across the crowded casino.

That was when she saw Logan sitting at a poker table with six other players. He was puffing on a cigar as he stared down at the cards in his hand. Smoke hung over the table, as thick as the tension running through the men playing the high-stakes game.

As she stood there watching, Logan lifted his head and saw her.

All the air left her lungs.

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