Page 64 of Business or Pleasure

“Who is it?” Alec asked. “Who is she playing against?”

“Lucius Alesini.”

Alec swore.

“Is that bad?” I asked even though I suspected the answer.

“Aye,” he said. “It’s bad.”

I didn’t even need time to consider what I was going to do. I moved closer to Franklin, my hands curling into fists. “Where is she? I need to know everything!”

Thirty

Harlee

Even though it was Saturday and Pulse was open, it was too early for there to be a line already. That wouldn’t be the case in a couple hours though. Pulse was one of the city’s best high-end gentlemen's clubs, too classy to be called a strip club, but definitely designed to bring in men who had money to spend on beautiful women.

It was also Lucius Alesini’s base of operations apparently.

He owned a lot of clubs in Seattle, and not all were like this one. In fact, I had a feeling that working at one of his less respectable establishments was what Snake had in mind when he said I would work off Franklin’s debt if I didn’t get the money in time.

Not that I was going to let that happen.

In my purse I had ten thousand dollars, which Franklin got from somewhere. I didn’t want to know so I didn’t ask. The fact that he could get that much, and it still wouldn’t be enough to pay off what he owed Alesini just pissed me off. If my own life wasn’t on the line too, I might’ve just walked away then. As it was, when this was over, I was done with him completely. If he wanted to be an irresponsible asshole and get himself killed for it, that was on him.

Tonight though, he was my responsibility, which meant I would need to win ten times what Franklin borrowed, plus change, in order to pay off the mob debt and pay back this ten grand. If I pulled this off, it’d be the biggest payday I ever had.

And not a penny of it would be mine.

As I approached the entrance to Pulse, I suddenly realized that I recognized the bouncer.

“Bear!”

“Harlee!” He grinned at me.

“What are you doing working here?” I asked. “The Catch-all better not have fired you.”

“Naw.” He shook his head. “I just needed to pick up a few extra shifts and they didn’t have them. I have a buddy who works here, and he messed up his shoulder, and needed someone to cover for him. What are you doing here?”

“C’mon, Bear. You know why I’m here.”

His expression turned serious. “Find another game, kid. Seriously. You don’t want this one.”

“Why?” I asked even though I hoped I knew the answer. Getting Bear to confirm it would mean one less thing I had to do inside.

“Lucius Alesini is playing tonight. You don’t want to go up against him.”

I felt a grim smile curve my lips. “That’s exactly what I want to do.”

Bear’s eyes narrowed and he lowered his voice, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Harlee.” He shook his head. “There’re easier ways to make money than playing poker against a mob boss. Lucius hates to lose.”

“So do I.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, but people who beat you don’t end up in the hospital with broken legs. If they don’t flat-out disappear.”

My stomach twisted, but I squared my shoulders and gave Bear the hardest look I could manage. “I’m doing this.”

He sighed. “Yeah, I didn’t think I could talk you out of it.” He opened the door. “You have the buy-in?”

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