Page 7 of Eternally Bound

I raked the second hand, and my uncle won a small pot on the third. Callen won the fourth and then lost the fifth one to me. Two hours passed like minutes and the play turned even deeper. My uncle glared at me for daring to win against him. Like I gave a fuck!

The pile of chips rose and fell around the green table and most of them ended up in front of me or my uncle. Callen was in way over his head, but he was too dumb to see it. He should have given up the moment he walked into this casino. In fact, he would have been better off never to bet. Anywhere.

I watched him like a hawk and saw panic skate across his expression. He kept trying to school it, but he reeked of desperation and loss.

Idiot.

“I’m calling your bluff, Callen,” I said and pushed a stack of chips into the center of the table.

He had nothing. And he proved me right as he placed them down. Now, it was down to my uncle and me. There was only one way this game could end - Ainslee would be mine. I would protect her from this idiot and my uncle.

“Raise.” My voice was cool, detached. You’d think I had no skin in the game. That was what everyone in this room believed. When in fact, my heart thundered with worry for the woman that claimed my heart all those years ago.

If my uncle won, I’d have to kill him. Because I’d never allow him anywhere near my nightingale.

“Ahhh, Nephew,” my uncle taunted. “You like the opera singer too.”

It wasn’t a question, but a statement. Yes, my uncle knew more than he should. The way his eyes gleamed told me he had a plan, and it would be something twisted and sick. He had that same look in his eyes that his son used to have, before I extinguished the life out of them.

“She is a beauty,” my uncle purred, purposely trying to edge me on. “Has she ever warmed your bed?” His question caused Callen’s head to whip to me, but I kept my face emotionless. “We know she warmed Callen’s bed. Don’t we, boy?”

I ignored him, keeping my face blank. I couldn’t show this man any weakness. My uncle was a parasite, feeding off society and thriving on others’ pain. All the consequences be damned; it was tempting to just kill him off. Just like I had his son.

I’d kill anyone that dared to threaten her.

“Back to you, Uncle.”

I flattened my cards out on the table.

All the sacrifices I had made were for nothing. Because somehow my uncle had Ainslee in his sights. I blamed that one on Callen. I wanted to kill him!

“How about a line of credit, Nephew.”

My lips thinned with agitation.

“Not tonight, Uncle. We are not exactly playing by the rules.”

My uncle’s face was full blown red, anger boiling inside of him. I knew well what my uncle did to women. He was a monster.

My gaze dropped to a single fan card with Ainslee’s picture on the table. It was one of her stage pictures that had been circulating for the past six years. Someone decided it was a great idea to create an opera singer fan card collection. Seeing them pop up sporadically was torture, a constant reminder she was so close but might as well have been oceans away.

I might not be able to punish my uncle for putting Ainslee on the line here, but Callen McLeod, on the other hand, would pay. For ever putting her into this position.

With every bit of self-control, I pushed those thoughts from my mind. I needed a clear head, keeping my focus zeroed on my uncle.

“I call.”

Both of us turned over the cards and relief flooded me instantly. He had a full house, but I had a straight flush. I crushed my uncle.

I won.

Chapter Two

Ainslee

“Bram, darling, we have to hurry up.” I ruffled his blonde hair. “We’ll be late to Mrs. McKay’s class.”

“Yes, Mummy.” My chest swelled, like it did every time I looked at my son. The love I felt for him made all the heartache with Callen worth it. Things have been rough, but with his gambling behind us, I hoped we’d work things out. Eve and Lachlan gave me hope for our own happily ever after. We just had to work at it a bit. But it would be worth it in the end.

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