Page 5 of Forced Prisoner By the Bratva

As the turn card was revealed, a possible flush draw emerged, but her smile never wavered, nor did she flinch. This woman's confidence was off the charts. She continued to apply more pressure like someone who knew the game like the back of their hand.

Her bets and raises seemed to be expertly calibrated for the purpose of maximizing her chances of winning, however slim.

I dug a hand in my pocket, intrigued by her moves and the fiery look in her eyes. My curiosity was piqued, and I was interested in seeing how this would end.

The air around their table was thick with tension as the hand reached its climax, and I could feel my own anticipation growing. The other players were on the edge of their seats, their eyes fixed on her. I bet their hearts were racing in their chests as well.

Slowly, as if preying on their anticipation, she revealed her hand, a straight flush that left them all breathless. Her eyes crinkled at the corners, her radiant smile spreading across her face.

“Oh, come on,” Player One grumbled under his breath, his shoulders slumping in dismay.

“Well, well, well. Would you look at that?” said another player, a burly man with a thick beard. “Looks like we have a real player on our hands.”

Victor chuckled, stealing a glance at me. “I bet Connor wishes he'd let her take control from the beginning.”

My interest grew as I watched this woman with an intensity that bordered on fascination. Who was she?

“That's Tessa O'Brian, by the way,” Victor said as though he'd heard my thoughts. “Liam's younger sister.”

I sipped my champagne, my eyes never leaving her. “Interesting.”

A flicker of surprise and amusement swelled within me.

Tessa was different, unlike the polished and very predictable women I often encountered. There was a fire in her eyes that burned so bright, and her determination was rather admirable.

So, Patrick had sent his daughter to salvage their position? I didn't see that coming. It was a risky move, but then again, the man was cunning.

Tessa's skills at the poker table were remarkable—outstanding, even—and I was intrigued by them. However, my fascination was way beyond that. Tessa appeared to be the exact opposite of her family's reputation. Why hadn't I heard of her if she was this good?

Her brother, Liam, and his right-hand man, Connor Donnelly, were basically the face of the family. But with what I witnessed tonight, I could swear that this woman was just as good as her legendary brother. However, she seemed to have been in the shadows this entire time. Why?

Tessa was a formidable woman, one that I mustn't underestimate. The fact that she'd been at the poker table the whole time and I hadn't noticed her as someone significant meant that she was a force to be reckoned with.

Clearly, she'd mastered the art of being invisible and only revealing herself when necessary. That right there was a strategic thinker, a secret soldier whom I would underestimate at my own peril.

My lips curled into a fascinated grin. “Well, isn't that interesting?”

Chapter 3 – Tessa

The plan was to not directly get involved in the game; I was supposed to just watch and observe. Connor had promised my dad that I would only assist when necessary, when my input was needed.

However, Connor was losing, and I couldn't, in good conscience, sit back and watch him get utterly destroyed. The third-party organization might be anywhere in the room, watching and taking notes of the game.

If we lost, the deal would be off with immediate effect, and Dad would be super pissed. He was banking on this partnership, and although I had no idea who the other party was, I knew the deal must be good.

Our opponents were winning; they were steps ahead. And despite how much effort I put into telling Connor what to do, he still wasn't getting it. If we continued at this pace, we'd lose. We'd fail woefully.

I had to do something. I had to get involved. As Dad would say, “If you want something done to your taste, do it yourself.”

Connor was a bit reluctant at first; his pride wouldn't let me fix his mess, but I wasn't going to take no for an answer. He saw the determination in my gaze, and deep down, he knew that I was going to fix this problem. He was stuck anyway.

The faint streak of cold sweat trickling down his forehead was a clear indication of the turmoil within him. Dad would be furious at him if he lost the game because the entire O'Brian family was counting on him. He couldn't afford to fail.

“Connor, I can win this. Trust me,” I whispered to him, holding his gaze.

“Tessa, I promised your dad that…” he began, his voice hushed, desperation flickering in his eyes.

“Connor, my dad isn't here,” I cut him off, my words spoken through gritted teeth. “Which do you think is better: to go against your promise and win or stick to it and lose?”

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