Page 18 of High Roller

“We need to give her back and hope she doesn’t tell anyone.”

“Not a chance in hell that she’ll keep quiet. Our only option is to keep her until we take Phineas down. Besides, that bastard is abusing her, and if she isn’t involved other than having the misfortune of marrying the man, I’d rather not send her back. He could very well kill her.”

Owen swears again. “Luke and Matteo are going to want to murder you. Possibly for real.”

I don’t disagree with that. Luke and Matteo are sticklers for doing things as a group, and they don’t like it when one of us goes rogue.

“Luke has no room to talk. He held Zara hostage in one of the suites.”

Owen laughs. “That was a little different. As far as I’m aware, you’re not in love with Liliana.”

“No, I’m not. But I am sick and tired of her dickwad husband screwing with us. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to put this to bed.”

“And what exactly do you plan to do to bring him to heel?” Owen asks. “Just call him up and tell him if he wants his wife to live, he’ll need to stop harassing us? What makes you think he’ll care if he’s abusing her, as you say?”

I lean back in my chair and curse myself. “It was stupid. But I needed to do something. What if she was sent to fuck with me? What if her husband isn’t cheating on her or he is, and she doesn’t care because she just cares about the money?”

Owen is quiet, but I can hear him typing.

“I’ll start looking into her financial history and see what I can find. I’ve been trying to get in via Phineas, but I hadn’t quite gotten to the wife yet.”

“Luke and Matteo aren’t answering, so if you talk to them, just tell them what’s going on. I’m going to go check on our guest.”

“Don’t do anything to her you don’t need to, Victor. And for god’s sake, don’t fuck her again.”

I groan. “Stop being such a worry wart. I have no plans to stick my dick anywhere near her.”

Sure, it was some of the best sex I’ve had in my life, but it’s not worth it. She’s married to our enemy, and until she proves otherwise, that makes her my enemy too.

I end the call and grab my keys and jacket to leave for work.

I consider checking on our guest one more time, but I have nothing meaningful to say to her until I consult with the rest of the club owners, so I refrain.

My phone rings as I’m about to take the Harmon exit to get to the employee lot at the Pink Sapphire. The number on the dashboard screen shows a five-two country code and my grip on the wheel tenses. He’s calling from a number I don’t have. The only reason I answer is because I have limited time to talk since my shift starts in fifteen minutes.

“Hola Papa.”

“It’s Andres.”

Why is my brother using our father’s phone? My heart races as I brace myself for bad news.

Lili

Itfeelslikeweekshave gone by since Victor kidnapped me, but I’m guessing it’s only been a few hours. There is no clock in this room, which is odd, but maybe Gracie was told to remove it before we arrived.

The silence is entirely too loud. I don’t hear anyone moving around outside the door, so I’m convinced I’m in the building alone. Screaming would do no good.

I haven’t put on the pajamas she brought me. For one thing, she didn’t provide any underwear, and that’s just wrong. Instead, I’m once again wearing Victor’s coat and trying not to relive last night.

Of all the men I could have found to sleep with me last night, I just had to find one who hates my husband. One who seems to have some sort of criminal background. Cartel or other crime organization, if I had to guess.

My mind is racing in the quiet of the room, and I wonder if Victor knew who I was the entire time. I don’t want to believe that. Last night with him was incredible. I’ve never felt so alive or free to enjoy myself.

If he knew who I was and used sex to get me into a vulnerable place, I’ll never be able to trust myself or my own judgment again. So I convince myself that he didn’t know until later.

It’s getting hot in here, and my heart is racing. How the fuck do I get out of here? And where would I go if I do get away? I’ve been gone just long enough that Phineas will be raging mad if I just slink back home like nothing happened.

That thought makes my thighs hurt as I remember the last time he held me down and broke the sensitive skin of my inner thighs with his teeth.

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