Page 87 of Coerced Queen

I don’t validate that with a response.

“Congratulations on your wife’s victory.She has extraordinary luck.”

I hold his eyes squarely.“She does.”

“A remarkable woman.”He takes the drink Roy puts on the counter and lifts it to his lips.“Beautiful too.And a body that begs to be worshipped.”

Clenching my hand on the counter, I scrutinize him.Maybe he didn’t come here to make accusations.Maybe he came in the hope of catching a glimpse of my wife.

Mywife.

“Anya already left,” I say, studying him closely.

“Pity.”He takes a sip and watches me from over the rim of his glass.“She intrigues me.Like any good opponent who’s worth his salt, I did a check on her before the game, and I was…” he smiles, “…let’s just say pleasantly surprised.”

I see green in a flash.If he’s here for my wife, I’m going to break his straight nose so badly it’ll be crooked for the rest of his life.Then I’m going to make sure he wears an eyepatch like me.

“In fact,” the fucker continues, “your wife is so good on the eye I made her an indecent proposal.”

That’s it.Forget about green or red.I see fucking black.I reach for the knife I carry under my jacket because I’m going to skin this cocksucker alive.

“Before you stab me with that knife,” he says, looking pointedly at where my hand disappeared, “she rejected the offer.Told me she was married and wouldn’t consider cheating.”

Good for Anya.My chest swells at how loyal she is, but my anger is a long way from being abated.

I shouldn’t ask.The answer is probably going to unhinge me.But I can’t help myself.“What did you offer her?”

“To triple her winnings if she won.”His mouth curves up in the corner.“If she lost, I would’ve won myself one night between her legs.”

I’m going to blow my top.I feel it in the violence that bubbles to the surface.What matters though is that Anya refused.She chose to be faithful to me over fifteen million dollars plus the loan she owed.And she knew she was going to cheat and win.But it’s the principle that matters, and that makes me the proudest, luckiest, happiest bastard alive.It’s the only reason I don’t gut the slime ball in front of me.

Fine, Anya impressed him.Hell, she impressed the fuck out of me too, not just for pulling off a scheme like that but mostly for not gambling with our marital vows.However, if he thinks he stands a chance at stealing her, I’ll make what I’ll do to him pretty damn clear.

“Is that why you’re here?”I ask in a clipped voice.

“I’m not going to lie.I was hoping to see her.”

“I’m going to tell you this only once.Stay away from my wife if you value your life.”

“Oh, I value my life.”He puts his scotch aside.“There’s no arguing that.”

“Then what are you still doing here?”

He stares out over the dance floor.“Tell me, Mr.De Luca, what do you see when you look at your wife?”

If he’s going to say he sees a woman who seems innocent and sweet when, under the surface, she’s a daredevil with a genius for numbers and a talent for reading cards, I’m definitely burying my knife in his eyeball.

I watch him from under my lashes.“What doyousee?”

“I see a woman who’ll do anything for her family, a woman who’s willing to risk everything to save her husband.Women like that are scarce.If I ever meet one, I’ll be sure to hold on to her.”

“Oh, I’m holding on to her.”I nail him with a look.“She’s not on the market, and she’ll never be.”

“If you ever change your mind, I’m the first in line.Your woman has guts and integrity.She’s loyal.I like that.More than that, those are qualities I respect.”

He takes a bill from his pocket, but I hold up a hand.

“The drink is on the house,” I say, a warning riding on my words.“But don’t make a habit of hanging around places where you may run into my wife.”

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