Page 6 of Smolder

I nodded my head toward the pool table she’d used earlier. “The men you so beautifully hustled—they left without paying you.”

She still didn’t touch the money, and her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at me, looking offended. It was cute as fuck.

“I didn’t hustle anyone. And I’m not taking your money.”

I wanted to laugh, but I didn’t because I wanted her to like me more. “It’s not my money. Like I said, it’s from the dicks you played and beat.”

Her gaze dropped to the money, and she took a deep breath before looking at me. “How did you get it if it’s theirs? Do you know them?”

I shrugged. “Not exactly. But I swear I took the bills directly from the smaller one’s wallet. I even added a tip for such an entertaining performance.”

Her body tensed, as if my pointing out it was a performance insulted her. This one was feisty. She looked like a fucking angel, but she was swindling men for cash. I respected it. Hell, who wouldn’t? It was hot.

“Why are you the one bringing it to me?” she asked, still not picking it up.

“Because it’s yours and the other men are”—I paused—“indisposed at the moment.”

Her eyes widened and cut toward the bartender, who was watching me as he poured someone a beer. She was young. Not illegal young, but possibly too young for me. Which meant she was sure as hell too young for him. He was several years older than me.

“Do I want to know what you mean by that?” she asked, uncrossing her arms and finally picking up the money.

I smirked. “Probably not.”

She counted it, then lifted her eyes to mine. “That’s two hundred too much.” She held out two bills to me.

I shook my head. “No, Ace,” I said. “That’s the tip.”

Then, I turned and headed for the door. I’d already been gone too long. No need to draw out something with a girl I couldn’t have—at least tonight.

King’s eyes were on me the moment I stepped back outside. The other men had gone, and all that was left of them was their blood on the pavement.

“Storm went to handle the security camera footage,” King said, then cut his eyes back toward the bar. “You give the girl her money?” he asked.

I nodded, not sure what to make of his tense expression.

He took a deep breath. “Well, I guess that settles who is gonna be the one to get close to her.”

My gut tightened. I didn’t like what I’d just heard him say. “What do you mean?”

“She’s why we’re here. Nathan’s men showing up and alerting him was just a bonus. We had been going to see him next. Saved us a trip.” King patted my shoulder, then squeezed. “Sorry. I could tell you were into her, but if it makes you feel better about this, she’s already taken. Dating Dancastle’s son. And I doubt hustling folks at pool is all she does. She is who Stellan wants us to use to find out what Dancastle has his hands in. We already know he’s using Nathan, but we need to know how big and deep it gets. The blonde is our easiest way in.”

To think, I’d already decided to come back and see her when I wasn’t working. Damn, I was real bad at picking out females. Not only was this one taken, but she was also in on some fucking dangerous shit.

I glanced back at the door. “You sure that’s her? Hard to believe a senator’s son is dating a girl who hustles men at a pool hall.”

King nodded. “From what all Stellan had Wilder pull on her, she’s not someone Dancastle approves of for his son. But he’s going through a rebellious stage, it seems. Could be he’s found a way to use her in the underground trafficking and infiltrating drugs nto the colleges around here. If it’s the laced shit that was causing hallucinations and cannibalism that we shut the Miltos down for, then it’s only a matter of time before the Feds step in. Keeping them in our pocket is vital. We have to stop this before it goes any further.”

“Well, damn. This took a turn I hadn’t seen coming,” Storm drawled as he returned from clearing the footage off the security cameras.

“That’s why I had to come then? Dad sent me instead of Thatcher because I’m single. You know Wells is too. Why didn’t he send Wells instead of Storm?” I asked, annoyed.

They hadn’t told me before I got a look at her and thought for a moment that she might be worth getting to know.

“Wells? Come on, Sebastian. You think Stellan would trust Wells with this?” King asked.

I knew this wasn’t a request, and I had no option out.

“You’re the best Romeo we got now that King is off the market,” Storm replied with amusement.

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