Page 10 of Play to Win

I feel Lacey shaking and I pull her closer.What the fuck is happening here?“Your choice,” I murmur in her ear.

Her trembling intensifies and she sinks her teeth into that plush bottom lip.Her eyes flicker back and forth.What the fuck?Is she actually considering whether to go with them?I squint at her.

“I’m with him,” she finally says, lifting her chin and speaking to Douche One and Douche Two.

I give them a slitty-eyed look and lead her away.

“This isn’t over, lovely Lacey,” Douche One calls as we walk away, his voice hard.“We know where to find you.”

That sounded like a threat.

I glance down to see Lacey’s beautiful face scrunched up.She inhales unevenly.

“You okay?”

She nods, her small chin coming up again.

I take her to our table and all heads snap around when I settle her on the couch next to me, nudging Jimmy to shift over.We’re both big guys, but Lacey’s little ass doesn’t take up much room.We’re pressed body to body, though.

“Lacey here just got fired,” I say cheerfully to everyone.“Before she got the big tip we were going to leave her.Right?”I meet some eyes, hoisting an eyebrow.

“Uh, yeah,” the guys all mumble.

“So I brought her back.I think she needs a drink, though.Who’s looking after us now?”I search the room.

“Probably Crystal,” Lacey murmurs beside me, her fingers twisted together, maybe to hide the fact that they’re shaking.She shifts on the couch.

“That her?”I gesture.

“Um, yeah.”

I wave a hand and catch Crystal’s attention.A stunning tall blonde in a short black dress that almost looks as good as Lacey’s, she starts toward us.Then she spots Lacey and her eyes pop open.

Lacey gives her former co-worker a weak smile.“Hey.”

“Lacey here would like a drink,” I say.I look down at Lacey.“What would you like?”

“Um.”She swallows.“This is awkward.”

One corner of my mouth lifts.“Who cares?You don’t work here anymore.You’re a paying customer.”

“I’ll have a Jack Daniel’s on the rocks.Please.”

I nod approvingly.I’d been ready to order her a tequila shot if she asked for some kind of fruity cocktail, because clearly she needs something strong.

“Okay, why did you get fired?”

Her bottom lip quivers.

Shit.I don’t want her to cry again.“Never mind.”

She waves a hand.“Those assholes told my boss that I changed the amount of the tip they left me on the credit card slip.They showed him how the numbers were changed to increase the tip, but I didn’t do it.”

“Assholes is right,” I snarl.

“Enrico believed them.”

“He’s an asshole too.”

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