Page 14 of Reluctant Surrender

“No. I don’t think I have.” I grinned across the table at him. He wasn’t too bad to look at. Longish hair, black, but all the product in it to slick it back from his face caught the light hanging over us. I liked natural hair, to run my fingers through it. My fingers would probably come out all lubed and ready to go if I touched his.

Sammy smiled at me as he blew out a large cloud of smoke that rose up above the table. “You’d remember.”

My stomach turned. Arrogant asshat. Lukas was arrogant, too, but he had the looks and the power to back it up. This jackass was obviously trying too hard.

“I’ll raise five hundred,” Stanley called out and shoved his chips into the pot. Holy shit. This guy was going to blow everything in one hand. I checked Mr. Ear-Scratcher. He licked his lips. Good. He had a good hand.

“I’ll see it.” I picked up the right amount of chips and called.

“I’m out.” Johnny tossed his hand down. “Dog shit had less of a stench than that hand.”

“I’ll call and raise three.” Ear-Scratcher pushed the last of his chips into the pot. He was going all in.

No. No. No. We needed him to stay in another round, maybe two. Stanley glanced at me, a quick movement of his eyes, but it was obvious.

“What was that?” Sammy asked. I kept my eyes on my cards. Fucking Stanley. How much clearer could I have been about not looking directly at me if we weren’t talking?

“What was what?” Stanley’s voice trembled. Most of the guys in the background cleared out of the room and the man standing guard outside moved inside. Johnny stiffened beside me.

“You looked at her. Why?” Sammy asked. I could feel his stare on me, but I continued to keep my eyes down. Fucking hell.

“I didn’t.”

Jesus. He couldn’t even lie well.

“You sure as fuck did.” Sammy reached across the table and snatched the cards from my hand. I brought my hands to my lap; the cards were clean.

“I didn’t mean to.” Stanley took a slow breath.

“I think I’m gonna call it a night.” Johnny stood up from the table. “I’ll cash out in the morning.” He gestured to the dealer who gave a curt nod. He seemed as frozen in place as the rest of us.

“He’s been cheating?” Ear-Scratcher accused. “I’ve lost over three grand tonight.”

“You’ll get your cash back.” Sammy waved his hand. “Won’t he, Stanley.”

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.” A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face.

“You sure as fuck do.” Sammy gestured to the two men standing near the door. “This is the second time, Stan. Second time you fucked me. I let you come play cards with my friends, and this is what you do? No. I don’t think so.”

The two men grabbed hold of Stanley’s arms and yanked him from his seat. The chair crashed to the floor. Immediately, Stanley began pleading.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Take him out back, the garage.” Sammy ordered and a crying Stanley was dragged out of the room. “Keep it down. My wife’s asleep and I don’t want to hear her bitching if she gets woken up.”

As the orders were being given, I slid my small handbag around to my lap and reached inside. I had my pistol, a cute little twenty-two long revolver. It wasn’t my usual choice of weapon, but I’d only brought a wallet-sized purse so as not to raise suspicion when I left it strapped across my chest while we played. The tiny three-inch revolver was the perfect size.

“Now. You.” Sammy stood to his full height. “‘I’m not sure how, but you’ve been helping him.”

I got up from my chair in one smooth motion. “You obviously have some things to sort out, so I’m leaving now.”

“Oh, I don’t think so.” He laughed. The room was empty except for us. I swallowed hard.

A loud pop echoed from outside in the back yard and Sammy winced.

“I told those assholes in the damn garage. Now I’ll have his brains all over my grass.”

Stanley was dead.

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