Page 123 of Theirs to Ruin

We played several hands of Texas Holdem, the room’s energy rising with each turn of the cards as it became apparent thatwhile Kage was good, Ty was better. At one point, Ty made a bet that upped the stakes considerably.

I hesitated then instead of calling his bet, I raised it. As I pushed my chips into the center of the table, all eyes were on us.

Ty didn’t even hesitate. “Raise,” he stated, pushing more chips next to mine.

What was happening between us right now wasn’t just a game. This was a dare. A battle.

“Looks like Ty’s feeling lucky, Rebel,” Kage said, leaning in close to me. “But how lucky can he be, having lost you?”

“Fuck you,” Ty said mildly, never taking his eyes off me.

“Nope. I’d prefer Camille any day.”

“What are you doing?” I murmured to Kage.

He leaned in close to my ear. “Exactly what you were doing in the kitchen that day. Trying to get a rise from him. The guy’s so pent up that it feels like I’m in a pressure cooker whenever I’m around him.” Kage threw down his cards. “I’m out.”

Everyone else at the table folded, too.

“I’m all in,” I said, pushing the remainder of my chips to the center. I looked at Ty, daring him to match me.

He paused, a slow grin spreading across his face. “All in,” he echoed. I held my breath as the dealer revealed the next card.

It was a king of hearts.

We showed our hands and I smiled stiffly. “Congrats.” I turned to Kage, about to suggest we get a drink when Ty said, “How about another game?”

“As you can see, I’m out of chips.”

“So? Let’s play for something else. Strip poker.”

As I gaped at Ty, Mia let out a nervous laugh but everyone else at the table held their collective breaths.

It was impossible, ludicrous. I wasn’t going to accept. Why would I?

Because you can.

Because Ty had been holding me at a distance ever since he’d reappeared into my life, but with the way he’d looked at me earlier at the chateau.... Maybe now was the perfect opportunity to get underhisskin a little. But could I really risk it?

As if he sensed my thoughts, Ty leaned toward me. “You in? Or despite Kage having his hands all over you, are you still the inexperienced girl who only likes to fool around in the dark?”

Embarrassment and anger rained down on me that he’d so publicly announce we had a sexual past in front of everyone.

“Don’t let him goad you into doing anything you don’t want to do,” Kage said.

I took a deep breath. I saw it in Kage’s eyes. And in the eyes of those around us.

They didn’t think I’d do it.

That, more than Ty’s challenge, was what swayed me. I was sick of being the wallflower. The one Kage had to stand up for. The one who kowtowed to my dad and stressed about grades and was constantly underestimated.

I wanted to prove to them I could be just as daring as they could. Mostly, I wanted to prove it to myself.

So with a glance at Kage and then a hard glare at Ty, I said, “Let’s do it.”

Murmurs and whispers of excitement erupted around me. Then I sensed movement right beside me. I looked over and up.

It was Dante, decked out in a refined charcoal gray suit. It was less flashy than what Kage and Ty had on but the fit was immaculate, showcasing his broad shoulders and the narrowness of his waist.

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