Page 113 of Underground Prince

“No.”

“Tell me.”

And so it went, all the way down into the subway, careening through the tunnels and then entering an underground of an entirely different subset.

* * *

“You’re doing well, as far as catching on to the game,” Kai said as we ascended out of the basement he’d booked us in. “Better than I gave you credit for when we started.”

“Well, thanks,” I replied, elbowing him.

“Seriously Scarlet, you have a knack for this. I see now why you caught Trace’s interest. I wasn’t even thinking.”

My mind pinged, a tiny alarm. “So I should be worried?”

“No.” He took the stairs to the street with nothing but a one-two glide. “I’ll talk to him. Tell him you’re nothing but a gift to the trade but an unfortunate addition to his games. He likes losers,” he tossed back at me. “You, my dear, do not suck.”

“Wait a while, I’ll be taking your job soon,” I said.

Hands in his pockets, he replied with a laugh, “You just might.”

“Are you dealing with me tonight?”

“Nope. I’m flying high this evening, heading to midtown with all its towers.” He hopped off the curb and hailed a cab. “Come over a few times this week. You still have a lot to learn.”

“But you just said I was good!”

“Yeah, but not great. I want you to be epic.” He cocked a brow as he turned. “And you’re still a cherry winning small bills.”

I waved as he clambered into the taxi. “And you’re still hailing cabs while earning thousands!”

“I’m a frugal bastard!” he replied once he rolled down the window. “And pick and choose my extravagances. Caviar over hired limos!”

I laughed as he zoomed away. Once he was out of sight, I made my way two avenues up and took the stairs leading to a brownstone's entrance two at a time. I hugged my tote close to my side, where either a little black dress or a fashionable garbage bag resided. Kai only gave me fifteen minutes in Bloomingdale’s to find tonight’s uniform before heading uptown. The door opened as I reached the stoop, and a woman stood on the other side.

“Scarlet Rhodes,” she said, and out of consciousness of the way she stood, regarding me, I tucked my hair behind one ear and said, “Hello.”

She was statuesque, a head taller than me, her ebony hair held away from her face and creating a smooth ribbon down her back. Her dark skin was set off by her almost onyx eyes, her facial features sharp and distinct. She regarded me down her nose, but it wasn’t snobbery that met me, and instead quiet consideration. Her thin lips, lined in red, were relaxed as she let me in.

She was outfitted in a royal blue dress, and her high heels were amazingly soundless as she led me down the hallway.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name,” I said as I followed her, mesmerized by the wood moldings of the walls and the rows of antique vases on their own pillars on either side.

“You may call me Rada,” she said, and thrust open wooden double doors at the end of the hallway.

I entered behind her. We were in a drawing room, with red drapes, cherry wood furnishings, and Persian carpets decorating the vast floorboards. Low visibility set the tone, except for rich circles of light illuminating the tables.

There were two round tables in the center—red felt, of course—with men in casual suits participating in the current games. A space was open at the farthest one, until Rada took it.

She raised her head at me, her profile artisanal in its fine lines, and said, “Your partner is in the side room.”

That was all. She picked up her cards and began play.

The only other entrance I could see was in the far corner, so I made my way over as soundlessly as possible.

I turned the knob, but paused. Verily might be on the other side.

It wouldn’t be difficult to keep it professional—we both knew the rules and had the maturity to keep our drama out of our paycheck, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t hurt to be around each other. In order to maintain our friendship, I had to forgive. In order to forgive I had to betray my sister. Cassie didn’t exist anymore, yet her feelings were morphed into mine. She was alive by virtue of my memories, and to forgive…

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