Page 58 of Dark Horse

“Not a party person?”

“Not particularly. But it’s Ramsey. So I want him to enjoy himself, and then I want to get down to the business of finding out who this fucker is and what he wants.”

“Agreed.” Hudson nods.

“Any guesses on who it is?” I raise a brow.

“Could be anyone. Art collector. Art dealer. Could be someone who has a buyer in mind. Something darker or with a more criminal element. Might meet an exchange they’re looking for. Could even be a clergy member or someone religious wanting personal possession of it. The true believers who think it has healing abilities. Whoever it is, they have a lot of money to spend.”

“We still think our problems are one in the same?”

“It still seems the most likely.” Hudson studies the board, hands steepled as he considers his options.

“This feels worse than gambling.”

“This game or that one?” Hudson looks up at me, amused.

“Both. When I gamble, I know where I stand. The house always wins. When I play you, I always think I’ve got some small chance of finally beating you. That game? I always think I’ll win. Because the good guy always does, right? Except we forget for every story where we’re the hero, there are two more where we’re the villain.”

Hudson tilts his head and moves a bishop. “Truer words…”

There’s a knock at the door, and we both look up.

“Open!” I call out, letting my security know they’re free to let whoever it is in. You can’t make it down the hallway outside this room without vetting from my team.

I’m expecting Levi, but when the door opens, it’s Dakota. She’s come prepared to make me lose my fucking breath, too, because she’s in a knockout sundress. A short one that flares at the bottom and swings around her thighs as she walks toward us. The top is deceptively prim because it covers everything and barely shows any cleavage, but it’s so tight it shows the outline of both her breasts and the way the cool air in this room is highlighting them. She smirks at me as she walks toward me, like she knows exactly what I’m thinking as my eyes rake down over her thighs to her boots.

I hear Hudson chuckle under his breath at the way I’m staring, but I don’t even have the will to tear my eyes off her long enough to shoot him a glare.

“I see you’ve finally found your vice,” he murmurs quietly before she gets close enough to hear.

“You’re early” is the way I manage to greet her.

“I thought you appreciated punctuality.”

“He does.” Hudson’s amusement is growing by the second. “I can make myself scarce.”

Dakota’s eyes finally find him, and I don’t like the way they stutter over his form, shining brighter when her blue-green eyes meet his.

“Hello. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude. He doesn’t always like me meeting his colleagues. Prefers to maintain their privacy.” Dakota’s prim greeting meets with Hudson’s approval as he smiles back at her.

“I do enjoy my privacy, so I’ll let you have yours. At the very least, it looks like he’ll need it to regain his speech.”Hudson stands as I scowl at him, and to add insult to injury, he makes another move on the board. One that has me dangerously close to losing.

“Well, it was lovely to meet you, whoever you are.” She flashes a coy smile, the kind she always uses on customers at the bar.

“You as well.” He grins wider and nods to both of us. “See you later, friend.”

“Later.” I nod in return to him, not missing the subtle shake of his head at my predicament.

Once the door is closed, my attention is back on the woman in the dress. Except her eyes are still on the door. I feel the subtle rise of jealousy up my spine as she sits in his seat and runs her fingers over the arm of the chair, like she’s tracing where he’s been before her gaze returns to me, a soft look of appreciation on her face.

TWENTY-THREE

DAKOTA

“Who was that?”I ask as I sit down in the stranger’s seat. My eyes follow the path he took to the door.

“Hudson Kelly. You can pick your jaw up off the ground.”

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