Page 28 of Gambit
“Where’s the fun in that?” Victoria laughs, swinging her bat in a lazy arc.
Man, I want that thing. Mental note to make one when this shitshow is over.
I glare at them both, furious, though strangely fascinated by these two new players in my world. They’re unhinged, dangerous, but one of them is family.
“If you don’t want this to be your last day on earth, family or not, I’d fuck off right now, off my campus, before you regret making this move against me.”
“Looks like the Queen of Castle can’t handle a little family reunion,” Cian mocks, his smirk broadening as he takes in my stance.
“Handle? I’ll show you handle,” I snap back, circling them like a predator. My blood boils at the sight of them standing there, so cocky on my turf. “You know, for family, you’ve got a funny way of showing it.”
Victoria cackles, twirling her bat with a flourish. “We prefer memorable interactions. Makes life more exciting, doesn’t it?”
“Exciting?” I echo, my voice dripping with contempt. “This is my domain. You don’t get to crash in and turn it upside down.”
“Aw, did we mess up your pretty little campus, Eliza?” Victoria coos, feigning concern before erupting into another fit of laughter.
“Enough!” The shout cuts through the air like a knife, and we all turn to see Robert stepping forward, his expression fierce and unyielding. “Cian, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Little brother,” Cian greets him with a mocking tilt of his head. “Come to scold me?”
“Fuck you.” Robert’s hands ball into fists at his sides. “You’re causing chaos for the hell of it.”
“Relax, Robbie,” Cian says, waving a dismissive hand. “I’m just having a bit of fun.”
“Fun?” Robert’s voice raises an octave, incredulous. “You’re going to get your ass severely kicked if you don’t get your thugs and leave.”
“Thugs. As opposed to your what? Elitist, low-level criminal idiots?”
“That’s what you think of us?” I snort. “Wow, you are seriously misinformed, cocksucker.”
Robert stifles his laugh as I call his older brother a cocksucker, but he is bringing out the worst in me.
Cian points to me again. “Not you, love. Him, maybe.” He gestures to Robert, and I can see it now plain as day, the contempt he has for his younger brother, who clearly holds himself to a higher standard.
My guys finally get themselves free enough to surround me, but it doesn’t faze Cian one bit.
“Excuse my brother, Eliza. He likes to make a violent entrance because he’s a dick like that.”
“Come now, Eliza,” Cian chides, taking a step closer, ignoring Robert. “We’re family.”
“Family or not, you pull this stunt again, and it’ll be the last thing you do.”
“Is that a threat?” Cian asks, his eyes glinting with an unreadable emotion.
“Take it as a promise. Now, get the hell out of here before I forget we’re related and sweep you off this board, permanently.”
“Fine,” Cian concedes after a tense moment, flashing a grin that doesn’t reach his cold eyes. “We’ll leave—for now. But this isn’t over, love. You and me, we’ve got business.”
“Smart choice,” I say, watching him and Victoria, who gives me a waggle of her fingers, retreat with sharp eyes. I can feel the weight of the fight dissipating, but the tension remains, a tight knot in my stomach.
“That’s your brother?” I ask Robert with a soft laugh.
“Unfortunately,” he grouses.
“You’re the golden kid, and he’s the black sheep?”
“Something like that.”
