Page 67 of Business or Pleasure

Franklin told me that Harlee was good. More than good, actually, but this Alesini guy was better. And apparently a poor loser. Not knowing what I could find or what I would need to do, I prepared as best I could. Alec gave me cash – money he would have willingly given Harlee to pay the debt – and Franklin told me about the “Peekaboo” con that he and Harlee used to run, as well as the code phrase to get her to run it with me. I had hoped to get to Harlee before she entered the club, but I was too late. Instead, I had to get her out safely, without catching any attention.

I managed to get to the back room with little difficulty and spotted her almost immediately. It was as if I was drawn to her, an almost physical tug that I couldn’t ignore. And if I was honest, I didn’t want to ignore it anymore. If she forgave me for the shit I said to her, I wouldn’t ignore it. I’d find a way to make it work.

But first, I had work to do.

And it appeared I arrived just in time.

Her shoulders slumped as Alesini swept the chips into his pile, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. I wanted to put my arm around her and tell it would be all right, that I would take care of her, but I knew her too well, knew that she would never take Alec’s money or mine. But, she might take some help, and if the two of us worked together to win the money, she could use that without feeling like it was charity.

I, of all people, understood what it was like, not wanting people to do things for me.

And so, I said the words to start the con and hoped that she would go with me on it. I couldn’t afford to look at her just yet, even though every fiber of my being wanted to do just that.

Only after I sat down at the table and exchanged my large chip for smaller denominations, did I let myself look around, hoping that my expression was as bland as it needed to be. I quickly found Harlee standing some fifteen feet behind Lucius Alesini with a couple other observers, probably men who’d been playing at the other tables. She looked pretty far away, but I had to trust that she was close enough to give her a clear view of Alesini’s cards. She was the one who’d done this before. Then, she scratched her nose, signaling she was ready.

* * *

The other tables emptied out as we went through hand after hand, more observers joining the group around me, but Harlee still managed to keep her place without looking suspicious. If the circumstances had been different, I might’ve had the time to appreciate how insanely talented she was.

The place was relatively quiet, with most of the noise coming from the club, the sort of pulsing music that conjured images of half-naked bodies and flashing lights. A few of the men had ventured back out there when they lost, but most of the people back here were more interested in those little chips than they were in whatever the women out there had to offer.

Me, I was only interested in one woman, and the way to help her was through these chips.

A new type of hush fell over the room as I called Lucius for a bet of a hundred thousand dollars. I could feel every eye on me, and I wanted to look over Alesini’s shoulder at Harlee. I didn’t though. I already glanced her way a few seconds ago to see her scratch her nose and confirm that Alesini was bluffing. If I looked again, especially with so many people watching me, someone was sure to notice something.

I controlled myself and laid out my hand. A gasp went through the audience as I revealed a Queen and a Ten. Not a great starting hand, but it connected with the board and gave me two pairs, which was all I needed. Still, I had to pretend that I was waiting to see what Alesini had. A moment later, Lucius threw his hand down, showing nothing. A murmur made its way around us, surprise evident even in the low voices.

Unable to stop myself, I smiled as I counted. I now had over two hundred thousand, twice the amount Franklin said we needed. I glanced over to where Harlee was, but she’d suddenly vanished. She must have been keeping track too. Franklin said that was the signal to cash out and leave, quickly.

“Well, this has been brilliant,” I said with a feigned yawn. “But I think that’ll be it for me.”

“I don’t think so,” Alesini said with a smirk. “At least, give me a chance to win my money back.”

“Of course.” I looked at my watch and tried to pretend that my pulse hadn’t picked up. “But can we pick it up tomorrow? I’ve got a wee bit of jet lag.” Not entirely true, but believable. I hoped.

He didn’t answer and I took advantage of the moment to stand, picking up the small stack of chips. I was glad I remembered Franklin’s advice to make sure I kept trading in the smaller amounts for larger ones to keep the number of chips I had smaller and easier to manage.

In case I needed to make a quick exit.

Which, as I watched out of the corner of my eye, I might need to do. Alesini was gesturing to the security guys who’d been hanging around the fringes all night, and I didn’t need to be a professional poker player to know what he was telling them. I kept moving nice and slow, like I was just as tired as I claimed, like I had no idea what he was up to, but I knew where everyone was.

The problem was, all but two were now standing close to the entrance to the main room. The other two were at the emergency exit, arms crossed and all imposing.

Shit.

I came into this knowing that Alesini wasn’t going to like losing and it might be a little dangerous, but I apparently underestimated the seriousness of the situation. Or I was simply more focused on getting to Harlee and helping her. Either way, I needed to figure out a way to get out of here with my winnings.

Just as I decided I would make a run for it, a piercing alarm shattered the backroom silence, cut through the music, and created instant chaos. I shoved the chips into my pocket and turned toward the emergency exit. I figured I stood a better chance against two guys than I did against the rest, but I didn’t need to test that theory because I didn’t go more than a couple steps before a hand clamped down on my shoulder.

Fuck.

I made a fist.

“Harlee sent me.”

I looked over, startled, and found the bouncer from the front door looming over me.

“We have to go,” he said. “Now!”

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