Page 22 of Queen Of WildCards

AndthenIturned toAcewith a withering sigh.

"Familymeeting, right now."

CHAPTERTEN

BLACKJACK

Thiswas by far the worst one ofAce'splans had gone off the rails.Therewere some close calls before, but nothing like fighting between members of the crew.

Nowthe ever-obedient lapdogSpadewas calling for a fucking family meeting like he didn't just assaultJokerover a captive.Onethat, by all indications, he was eager to take a blade to.

Andyet,Iwasn't surprised.Somethingabout this woman made my skin crawl, made my muscles ache beneath this skin suitIwore.Iwanted to strip off my clothes and take a frigid shower, andIwanted to touch her again, even if it was just to move her from pointAto pointB.

Ididn't want to touchanyone.Itwas one of those residual trauma responses thatIhadn't been able to kick after my father's torture.

Sowhy did something deep inside my being ache to feel the softness of her hair against my arm again?WhywasIsitting here seriously contemplating breaking one of my cardinal rules for a stranger?

Shakeit off, fool.You'rebroken.Bestto stay that way.

Acelooked rough, andIcaughtJokertrying desperately to stifle a chuckle as our leader pulled that towel away to reveal a beet-red face with nearly swollen-shut eyes.Hislow groan of discomfort lent a sense of seriousness to the whole affair, but evenIcracked a slight grin at his obvious discomfort.

Acewas so good at being in charge, at being in control; it was humbling and satisfying to see him brought so low, his entire world upended by a waif of a girl in combat boots with nothing more than a can of watered-down mace and a prayer.

"Youhave the floor,Spade,"Acemumbled, grimacing as he fought his eyes open a smidge more.

"Wecan't kill her," he said simply, as if that explained everything.

"Andwhy is that?"

Ireally had to give it toAce; he was holding his composure well for a dude whose skin was on fire.

Spaderan a hand through his scraggly hair, his jaw ticking. "Becausewe don't murder innocents,Ace.Neverhas been our gambit."

Iblinked stupidly with my jaw wide open, unable to believe whatI'djust heard come out ofSpade'smouth.Spade, the man with a deadly addiction to blood and pain and danger.Theman who put his fistthrougha guy once for spitting on the boss.

Wecan't kill her,Ace.

"You'rekidding, right?"Iinterrupted, struggling to understand what was going on here. "Soyou wanna let her go?Putus all in danger?"

Spadejust grinned like an idiot, flipping a knife in the air in one hand while he picked his teeth with the other. "Nah,Idon't wanna let her go.She'sprobably seen too much, knows too much, that whole thing."

Jokercupped his nose, which now sported a healthy splash of red beneath it. "Sowhat the fuck do you propose we do, you maniac?"

Spade'slethal grin split his face like a fucking circus act.Itgave me the shivers, the look in his eyes like he was delivering a life or death ultimatum without so much as a by your leave.

"Isay we keep her."

Theroom was so quiet you could have heard a mouse sneeze.Nobodymoved; nobody dared to even breathe.Myeyes surveyed the inevitable wreckageSpade'ssuggestion left in its wake, fromJoker'spale face toAce'sraised brows, evenSpadehimself's wide, confident stance and sure grin.

Acewas the first one to speak, his quiet, rough voice no less imposing than usual despite the difficulty he was undergoing actually articulating the thoughts in his head.

"Youwant tokeepher as what, a pet?Ahousemaid?Atoy?"Hisupper lip curled in a sneer. "Howdo you suggest we go about this?Keepher in the cage when we leave the house?Tieher up like a dog?"

"Cuffher to a bed,"Jokermuttered, andIchoked on my own spit.

Spadejust shrugged. "I'mout of commission for at least a week with this gaping wound.Icould keep an eye on her until then."

Acelaughed, then groaned. "Andwhose purse is supposed to fund her upkeep,Spade?Yours?"

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