Page 29 of Redemption

Luckily, it’s late enough that we can be seated right away and after the server has taken our order Andrew looks at me in question.

“Why’d you ask that about Ford?”

It takes me a moment to put my feelings to words, and I can’t help the blush that heats my neck once I do. “Because you loved her once, so that tells me that she’s pretty special. And I can see she’s experienced pain, not that it’s all on you, but I’d still want her to be with someone who’ll be as good to her as you are to me.”

At my words, Andrew gets up and moves to the seat next to mine, wrapping his hand around the back of my head to pull me in for a kiss before pressing his forehead to mine.

“I’m not letting you go,” I continue, no longer shy about expressing my thoughts. “To be very clear, she deserves a good man who isn’tyou.”

There’s no takebacks or exchanges with me, I think, enjoying the sound and feel of his laugh as he keeps me cuddled against his side.

Vector

“There you are,” Roman’s voice reaches me as we reenter the casino. “Come on, we’ve got a craps table to ourselves.”

I look down at Sloane and she gives me a nod.

“Have you seen Ford?” I ask him, wondering if he remembered Grace from back in the day.

“Yeah, he said he saw you,” Roman answers me, looking distracted. “He’s got a woman with him also.”

“It’s Grace,” I tell him, watching his face for long seconds until he registers who I’m talking about.

“No shit,” he practically whispers, his eyes cutting over toward Sloane.

I open my mouth, but my Ol’ Lady beats me to it.

“I know.”

“If you know about Grace,” Roman replies, giving her a smile. “Then I’m guessing you know more than I do. And I’m glad this motherfucker finally found someone he would talk to.”

“Me too,” I add, giving Sloane a wink before smiling in Roman’s direction.

“She’s changed,” Roman mumbles the words, and I know he’s referring to Grace. “A lot.”

Continuing on, Roman guides us through the crowd, straight up to the last few spots at the table our buddies are playing at. Bookending Sloane between us, I greet Ford and Grace who are directly across the table, before I introduce Sloane to all the guys around the long side.

King, from Ford’s Demon Chasers is standing next to his Prez, then the Saint’s Outlaws are represented by Hangman from North Carolina, with Demo and Cowboy hailing from South Carolina, then the three of us. The stick man doesn’t blink an eye when confronted by a group of bikers, but I’m not surprised to see extra security loitering in the background.

Once the table is off, I throw down six hundred for chips and split them between Sloane and me, quickly getting a panicked look from her.

“I don’t know how to play!” she exclaims, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Pass the dice to the virgin!” Demo immediately responds to her statement, getting nods from all the others.

“No, really,” she tries to protest, but no one will hear it.

“Sloane,” I calmly say her name, as she chews her bottom lip. “I got ya. I’ll help you place your bets. You just roll the dice.”

Looking up at me, she narrows her eyes and I know she wants more details on the rules, but there isn’t time. Even if Sloane feels cornered, she nods in agreement rather than make a scene.

When I give her a nod, she rolls the dice and promptly rolls a seven—ensuring we all double the money we put on the pass line.

“Virgins,” one of the men chuckle the word out, getting everyone going.

After the money’s paid out, Sloane rolls an eleven. When she sees us all getting paid out again, she leans up to me.

“I thought sevens were bad? What is happening?”

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