Page 64 of Gambit
“I’ll leave you to it then,” Rafe states, standing up and crossing over to Eliza. He holds out his hand, and she stands, gripping it fiercely and making Dad smirk at her. “Boys.”
When he leaves, the door behind us clicks shut with a definitive sound, like the end of one chapter and the brisk start of another.
“Time to conquer the fucking world,” Eliza states with a soft laugh. “Your dad is as hardass as mine.”
I pull her close, sealing our pact with a kiss that tastes like power and defiance, I know one thing for sure—we’re ready for whatever game the mafia world throws our way. Together, not just as partners in crime but as equals in a love that’s as fierce as it is unyielding.
She lets go of me and turns to Tarquin, who hugs her tightly, and squashing her against him.
“That was epic,” he murmurs. “You showed him.”
“Always. I’ve been dealing with men like him my whole life. Easy peasy. Just needed the chance, that’s all.”
He kisses the top of her head, and I drag her back to me, kissing her lips fiercely. “Sex now.”
Her eyes heat up. “Well, if you insist.”
Laughing, she takes our hands and leads us upstairs, where we intend to forget about the mafia world and just concentrate on us for a while.
32
ELIZA
The morning lightfilters through the grand windows of Castle University as I stride down the corridor, books cradled to my chest. After the meeting with Rafe Carver went better than I expected, I’m flying high. Classes are in full swing, the air rich with the scent of ambition and coffee. Raphael’s in law right now, with James burrowed deep into political science. Tarquin devours economics, while Oliver is acing accounting with this flare for numbers and patterns.
For the next hour, I’m caught in the thrall of criminal psychology, but it’s not that it’s much of a stretch from the life I’m destined for. The irony isn’t lost on me: studying the criminal mind while being bred to lead one of Britain’s most feared mafia dynasties. This is my head subject, whereas history is my heart. It’s a knife edge that I balance on precariously, ensuring I’m doing something I enjoy while keeping my head in the game.
Time flies, and the professor dismisses us, a signal granting temporary freedom. I weave through the sea of students—the campus café beckons with the promise of caffeine and a moment’s respite. Tarquin’s already there when I arrive, hisback to the queue, eyes scanning the room until they land on me. A smile unfurls on his lips as I join him in line.
“Hey,” he greets, handing me a steaming cup without asking my order. He knows I’m a creature of habit—black, no sugar, just like my life: strong and unembellished.
“Thanks.” I take a grateful sip, the bitter liquid kickstarting my senses. “How’s the market today? Bullish or bearish?”
“Always bullish with you around,” he shoots back, his grin infectious.
“Flattery will get you nowhere,” I tease, nudging him with my elbow. We slide into a booth by the window.
“Professor Hardass Hawthorne almost caught me texting in lecture today,” Tarquin murmurs, a flicker of mischief in his eyes. “Had to deploy some evasive manoeuvres.”
“Let me guess, you dazzled him with your extensive knowledge of fiscal policy to distract from your phone?” I arch an eyebrow, hiding a smirk behind my cup.
“Something like that,” he says, leaning back with a self-satisfied tilt to his chin. “But it was worth it. I managed to get Imogen to talk to Raymond, who spoke to Cath, and the Garrisons are in.”
“Fuck, that was something fancy footwork.”
He snickers. “Just call me Fred Astaire.”
We share a chuckle, and I take another sip of much-needed rocket fuel.
“Where you off to now?” he asks, although I’m sure he knows full well.
“Medieval History,” I say with a soft, almost loving sigh.
“Sounds boring,” he comments, but there’s respect in his tone, a silent acknowledgement of my discipline.
“Not to me. It’s my passion—a brutal way of life which made people rock hard. Gotta appreciate the ancestors, man. Jeez. Have some soul.” I laugh loudly, and he takes it in his stride,
“Maybe,” he concedes. “Dates and shit, too confusing for me.”
