Page 11 of Twisted Fate

Damian glances at me. “If you can’t pay, you shouldn’t play.”

So true. But Damian had to have known before this game even began that my brother couldn’t pay. In fact, how had Markus even managed to buy a seat at the table with Damian Russo? They aren’t in the same universe, never mind the same league. None of this makes any sense.

“How do we know you didn’t cheat?” I ask, desperate for a way out, any way out. The venomous look that Damian fixes on me turns my blood to ice.

“I don’t fucking cheat,” he growls.

“Everyone cheats when they have the opportunity,” I say, parroting a version of his earlier assertion back at him.

Markus makes a choked sound, but I don’t look away as Damian stares at me in silence, then says, “I don’t.”

The way he looks at me makes me shiver, though I’m not sure if it’s fear or…something else.

“I guess I’ll have to take your word for it,” I say.

Damian gathers the cards with those long, strong fingers and sets the deck neatly to one side. “Your sister needs to show more respect, Markus.”

Fuck off, I think. And Damian meets my gaze directly, his eyes narrowed, as if he can read my mind.

“If you want respect, earn it,” I say.

Dark brows rise. Something flashes in his expression…amusement? Admiration? Annoyance? I can’t tell.

“I’ll get the money,” Markus blurts as he pushes up from the table, pulling Damian’s attention from me. “It’ll take me a little while, but I swear I can pay it. Come on, Alina. Let’s get out of here.”

The thugs step in front of the door as soon as Markus makes a move in that direction. He casts a fearful look over his shoulder.

Damian crosses his arms over his chest and leans back in his chair.

“I’ll get it. All of it.” Markus just sounds desperate now. I don’t think even he believes what he’s saying.

“I know you will.” Damian smiles, not a nice smile. White teeth and menace. “How long do you need?” he asks, so reasonable.

I rise from my chair, my legs shaky. Damian’s sudden change in demeanor has me second-guessing my natural instincts now. Five minutes ago I would have bet that someone like him wouldn’t let anyone walk away from a debt that high.

Markus’s eyes rapidly shift as if he’s doing calculations in his head. “A few months.”

Damian chuckles darkly. “No. You have sixty days.”

Markus inhales sharply. “Sixty days?”

“That’s a generous offer, Markus. It’s not ideal, but I’m willing to give you the time you need. It’s a sizeable debt you owe me now.”

My gaze moves to the expensive watch he wears. I’m not the biggest expert when it comes to luxury items, but I know it’s easily worth a few hundred thousand. Damian doesn’t need the money. He just likes to watch people squirm. He gets off on it.

“Double or nothing?” Markus says, laughing nervously. Then he flicks a sheepish look at me. “I’m kidding, of course.”

“Why do I find that hard to believe?” I reply. There’s this saying that when you are getting your way you should stop talking in case you mess it all up. Markus needs to stop fucking talking immediately.

“Sixty days to pay what you owe me in full,” Damian says again. “Give me your word.”

The word of an addict. Maybe Damian Russo isn’t as smart as I thought.

Markus exhales in a rush. “You have it. Thank you, Damian. Really. Thank you.” He turns to me. “Alina? Let’s go. You can yell at me outside.”

“Yelling is only the beginning of it,” I mutter.

I take a step toward my brother, but Damian takes hold of my wrist to stop me. I look down with surprise. His touch is warm, strong, strangely electric. It’s suddenly difficult to catch my breath.

---