Page 5 of Poker
“Hey, Meri,” he says with a smile when I reach him. He and my team are the only ones who get to use my real name here. “Already have four players inside and waiting on three more.”
“Thanks,” I reply. “Anything I need to know?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Tonight seems to be a pretty tame crowd.” He shrugs. “Unless you count the way Mr. Neero was groping his wife while I was checking their IDs.”
“At least it’s Mrs. Neero and not his mistress again,” I say with a chuckle. “That bitch is dumb as a box of rocks.”
Conrad throws his head back and laughs. “Remember when she asked Mr. Neero why he was collecting twos when they’re the lowest amount of points?” He guffaws. “Holy shit, the look on the man’s face was priceless. I thought he was gonna kill her right then and there.”
“Poor guy. He was trying so hard to bluff so the others would fold. He was a hundred grand in on that hand and had to quit after that.”
“I wonder how he explained it to the missus?” he asks.
I lift my hands. “Don’t know, don’t care. What happens outside of the games has nothing to do with me.”
He nods before his eyes dart to the entrance of the lot where headlights signal another arrival. “Well, better get back to it. Solomon, Grant, and Malcolm are inside.”
“Thanks,” I say when he opens the door for me. “See ya after.”
Conrad winks. If he weren’t happily married with two kids, and I weren’t crushing on someone else, I’d totally shoot my shot with him.
When I step into the main area of the warehouse, I grin at the sight. What started as a dirty concrete space has been converted into a sleek space that reeks of money and power.
“Mistress Green, good evening.”
I roll my eyes before pasting a smile on my lips and facing Ms. Graven. “Good evening, Bernadette. I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Well, someone has to give these gents a run for their money.”
Bernadette Graven is middle-age, stunningly beautiful, and as corrupt as they come. Fortunately, she doesn’t live in or anywhere near Marble Falls. She’s one of the numerous players who only join the game when they’re in Texas on business.
“Yes, they do,” I agree. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to check in with my team.”
Before she can respond, I hurry toward the self-serving bar where Grant is stationed.
“Lucky you,” he jests. “She was the first to arrive and cornered me for twenty minutes.”
My lips twitch. “I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not,” Grant says with a chuckle. “But that’s okay. Now I’m real knowledgeable about the movers and shakers of Atlanta.”
“Jesus,” I mutter. “Isn’t participating in my game enough to prove she’s right?”
“Guess not.”
I open my mouth to respond, but the entrance opening catches my attention. Sliding my glance that way, my throat goes dry.
Poker crosses the threshold, and a slim arm is threaded through his, but I can’t see the owner of the offending appendage as they’re tucked behind him to enter.
Shit, he looks sexy in a tux.
As the pair fully walk into the space, jealousy winds through me as my gaze travels from his plus one’s stilettos, up her gorgeous legs, and then higher to her tight black spaghetti strap dress. And when my eyes land on her face, my heart stops.
Why the fuck would he bring a cop here?
CHAPTER3
POKER
