Page 14 of Trick's Trap

Liam pushed away from the couch, standing up. “No matter what, don’t mention you went back to that underground casino again or Maia will want to go with you next time.”

Not good. Calen would kill him if that happened. “I’ll be fine tonight,” he said, getting to his feet. “I’m going to take a quick nap first.”

“All right. Copter leaves at six sharp. Don’t be late.”

He nodded, but Liam stood to follow him out to the corridor. “And for all our sakes, please shower. The helicopter is a tight space.”

“Asshole,” Trick muttered, too tired to flip his brother off, before surreptitiously smelling his armpit.

Okay, Liam had a point.

Chapter 8

The opening ofEolandewas splashier than he’d expected. As soon as he and his siblings approached the side door that led to the restaurant, paparazzi popped out of the woodwork to snap their pictures. Fortunately for him, his brother-in-law Jason was there. One flash of his FBI badge and the leeches scattered like rats.

Dinner was also delicious. Kari Jones, the chef, had a reputation for being a bit of a diva, but she cooked a damn fine duck breast. The hand-pulled pasta side dish was the perfect accompaniment. It was almost good enough to pull him out of his funk—almost.

All of his friends were there. Sergei and his wife were chatting with Peyton and his siblings. Calen and Maia had left their little girl with the nanny for the night. Even Gio was in town for the occasion, although his wife hadn’t been able to leave her work to join him.

The more the wine and liquor flowed, the more the levity grew. Even Maia smiled once or twice, although his brother had been right about her not drinking.As usual.

Maybe he should consider giving up his search. It didn’t mean he had to close himself off from the investigation. He’d keep his feelers out at all the casinos and card rooms, and he’d double the number of private detectives hired to work the case.

Whatever else was true, Trick couldn’t keep burning the candle at both ends. He would just have to leave the physical searching to someone else from now on.

When everyone was kissing each other goodbye, he wandered outside the hotel’s side entrance. There were still plenty of people out, but this time no paparazzi rushed him for a picture.

Enjoying the moment of solitude, he inhaled, trying to cleanse his head.

Sergei and Eva exited with Gio, chattering about the evening and the great meal.

“Buona notte, my friend,” Gio said, coming over to administer a big bear hug. “Get some rest. You look tired,” he added, before joining the others in the waiting limo.

“I will,” Trick called after him. He didn’t blame Gio for being in a hurry to catch his flight back to England. His smoking hot fiancée Sophia was waiting for him there.

He waved goodbye to the car as it pulled away with a wistful sigh. All his favorite people were pairing up.And I’m still alone because someone took my maybe-soulmate away.

If Liam could hear him now, he’d smack him, and rightfully so. Trick knew thinking that was insane. He’d only spent one night in Tahlia’s company…but it didn’t seem to matter.

How was Maia holding it together? He’d only been aware of this hole inside him for a few months. She’d been living with it for the better part of a year.

Maudlin now, he leaned back to study the night sky, wondering where his favorite constellations were. They were never visible in the city…

He was about to turn to go back inside when someone bumped into him, hitting his left side with a soft crash.

Trick spun, ready to apologize, when he found himself staring into a pair of wide silver-blue eyes.

“Tahlia?”

It was her—the same brown hair and big almond-shaped eyes, but she was wearing a threadbare denim jacket that was much too light for the weather.

Shock lined her too-thin face. For a moment, they simply stared at each other.

“No,” she said, turning away quickly. She hurried down the sidewalk.

Trick blinked.Holy shit. Was he hallucinating?

“No, wait, please!” He went after her, sidestepping around a pedestrian who’d walked between them.

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