Page 7 of Play to Win

“I didn’t realize this was that kind of place,” Théo says to me.No one else hears, and Enrico has already gone.

“It’s not,” I snap.

He holds up his hands.“Kidding.”

I sigh.“Sorry.”I force another smile.Despite our little conversation out front, he’s still a customer.“Other duties as assigned!I’ll be back shortly.”

I take my time strolling to the bar with my tray, leaving it there, and slowly walking to the table with the two creepy dudes.

“So glad your boss is a reasonable man,” Ed says.

I sit and give him a tight smile.Heisa customer, so I’ll be polite for a few minutes, but if he tries to touch me, I will punch him in the dick.

“Your brother owes us a lot of money.”

Shit.Fuck.Fucking fuckity fuck.

“Where is he, lovely Lacey?”Ed reaches out to finger my hair and I jerk back.

“Do not touch me,” I utter through closed teeth.“I don’t know where he is.I’ve been trying to get hold of him for days.”

“Hmmm.”He eyes me as if trying to decide whether he believes me or not.

“It’s true.”

“You could be protecting him.”

“I’m done protecting him.”Honestly, I’m not sure if that’s true or not.Chris is my brother, the only family I have left.I’ve been trying to help him and bailing him out for years.But it should be true.Because this is too much.

“Really?Not sure I believe that.”

“Chris said you might be able to help us out,” he continued.“So as not to end up with both his legs broken.Or maybe he takes a long drive out into the desert and ...never comes back.”

Jesus Christ.My throat constricts to the size of a cocktail straw.My insides tremble.“I don’t have any money,” I answer as coolly as I can.“Wish I could help, but Chris stole my money too.”

“Yeah.”Ed leans in and shrugs.“Not surprising.Addicts get desperate.Especially when their lives are on the line.”

I stare back at his vile brown eyes, his full lips curved into a nasty smile.Thoughts tumble around in my head but the only thing I can think is that I have to maintain my composure and not let on how scared and pissed I am.

This isn’t my first encounter with bookies Chris has stiffed.But this time it feels scarier.These guys are scarier.And I know it’s because Chris owes them a lot more money this time.

“There’s a way you can help Chris out.”

“I’m not a call girl.”

His smile makes my blood chill.“There’s good money in that.And you need money, don’t you, lovely Lacey?”

“I’m not working for you.”

He tilts his head.“You haven’t even heard us out.”He lays a pudgy hand on my forearm.I jerk it back and shove my chair away from the table.“We have an offer you won’t be able to refuse.”

“Ha.Funny.”I’m about to stand when a body appears next to the table.A tall, broad, very fit body.I look up at Théo.

The frown on his face has his eyebrows drawn down beneath the frame of his glasses.His eyes radiate wrath, and his mouth is a thin line.“Everything okay here?”

“Yeah, yeah.”Ed scowls at him and waves a hand.“Bugger off, man.”

I meet Théo’s eyes.Things are not okay, but I sure don’t need to drag him into this.“It’s all good.”I wave a hand casually.“I’m done chatting with these gentlemen anyway.”

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