Page 15 of Queen Of WildCards

Buthe had a temper, and he liked to put people down when he was angry.

Afterbeing called needy for about six months,Ihanded him his walking papers and signed a new lease elsewhere.Eventook the cat.

Man,Iloved that cat.

Ashiver crawled down my back, even though it was humid and hot, and the wind was missing from the air once more, andIglanced around as a hand went to the back of my neck.Thehairs there were raised, and the creepy feelingI'dhad when the phone calls had consisted of only breathing earlier today returned with a vengeance.

AgainsteverythingIstood for, my body froze, andIscanned the people walking behind me, looking for someone else who'd stopped suddenly, butIfound nobody.Nota single person on the walkways paid me any mind, andIshook it off.

Iwas just letting those phone calls get to me, that's it.

Snapout of it, woman.

Ishook my head and reached inside my purse, my hand curling around the can of mace in a reassuring gesture.Iwalked like that the whole way to the bar and didn't stop to look around again untilIwalked through the doors ofShockWave.

CHAPTERSEVEN

JOKER

Aday of rest and recuperation made a world of difference in my demeanor, and a small part of me was secretly thrilled that we were about to do this.

Ihadn't planned to see those beautiful amber eyes in real life.Itdidn't matter that she'd be bound and gagged and tossed into a metal cage befitting a fucking circus bear.I'dget to see her and that was all that really mattered.

Apart of me felt ashamed of the situation.Ifelt bad that this unsuspecting woman would end up a captive becauseIgot wasted and she happened to be unfortunately assigned to take my spur-of-the-moment, drunken call of shame.ButthenIremembered the ramifications if she went to the police and reminded myself it was a necessary evil.

Wehad to make sure she wouldn't spill what she knew.

Hadto find out how muchIactually told her, causeIdidn't remember.

AllIremembered about that video call was that her voice sounded so pretty when she said my name thatIwas harder than a rock thinking about how it would sound in my bed, as she screamed it loud enough for my little gang family to hear.

MaybeI'dget to fuck her before the guys did her in, or whatever they had planned.

Ireally hope they didn't kill her.Iwould forever hate myself if the only way to keep my guys safe was to end her.Somethingso pretty shouldn't be snuffed out.

Iwriggled in the backseat and glanced atBlackjackout of the corner of my eye.Hesat behind the driver's seat, whereSpadecurrently sat, and his eyes were trained on his phone screen as the city sped by outside.Thelights got dimmer with every block, and the traffic thinned out substantially as the seconds slowly ticked by.

Inthe seat before me,Acecleared his throat and rotated to face us. "Location,Blackjack?"

Hisbrows furrowed as he swiped his finger across the screen. "Mostrecent ping is a bar calledShockWave."

Iinstantly perked up. "ShockWave?There'sa new local band playing there tonight.Boundto be busy up front, plenty of bodies to blend into."

Spadehmph'edfrom behind the wheel. "Alsomeans increased security.Asecure rear entrance for the band.Lotsof cameras."

Irolled my eyes so hard into the back of my head that it made my temples throb. "Andsince when does a little challenge scareyou,Spade?"

"Never," was his curt reply.

Iturned toAce, but his scowl was that one all of us knew meant he wasn't pleased with the situation.

Acehated having to improvise on the fly.

"Weneed a new plan."Hiseyes moved toBlackJack, but he was busy staring at his screen again, watching the little red dot flicker impatiently. "Anysuggestions?"

BlackJackwas usually content to let the rest of us come up with the plan.Hewas more of an order taker, in the long run.Butsomething felt different about tonight, and it bowled us all over when his head lifted to stare pointedly out the window as he spoke.

"Wecould watch her until she leaves the bar.Pickher off the street somewhere less obvious.Perhapsherd her into a dark alley."

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