Page 29 of Scorpio (The Zodiac Queen 8)

And that’s when I remember this is all for show. He isn’t actually going to get me naked when we return to Zodiac Estate…is he?

The four of us make our way around the busy tables toward the grand foyer, where a man in a tux cashes out chips. When he sees Ford and Axel, he frowns. “How much did you bleed me for this time?”

“Not as much as I could have.” Ford sets his winnings on the table.

“You’re lucky I like you, Stryker.”

“You only like me because I bring you a shitload of business.”

“Which is why I turn a blind eye to your talents.” He begins organizing the chips into neat stacks. “Who’s the pretty girl?” he asks without lifting his head.

“Novalee Van Buren.”

The man falters a beat before exchanging the poker chips for the correct amount of cash. “I dated your lady a few months ago. Nice girl, but things didn’t work out. Heard she married Landon Astor.”

My heart drops to the bottom of my gut, and cold fury tingles down my limbs. I tighten my grip on Ford, my knees threatening to give out. “You must be Jerome.” His name is acid on my tongue, nails on a chalkboard to my ears, but I have to know.

His only answer if a knowing twitch of his lips. “Please send her my well wishes.”

By the time Ford ushers me into the chilly night, my blood is spiked with too much adrenaline. I barely notice the drizzle on my skin. Ford and Axel say their goodbyes, and minutes later, we’re in the limo again, heading back to the tower.

“Are you okay?” Ford asks after several miles pass in silence.

“I didn’t know Jerome was hosting.”

Ford tilts his head. “I didn’t realize you knew him.”

“I don’t. Elise...she…um, she…dated him for a while.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

My breath stalls. “Why do you say that?”

“Jerome’s an asshole to the ladies.”

He’s more than an asshole, but I can’t tell Ford what the monster did to Elise without putting everything she’s built with Landon in jeopardy.

“Thank you for coming with me tonight,” Ford says, steering my thoughts away from Jerome and how he’s free as a bird while Elise has to live with what he did for the rest of her life.

“Thank you for not using me as a bargaining chip.”

“Axel was bluffing with that bet.”

“He sounded serious to me.”

“He wasn’t.”

“How can you be sure?”

Ford shrugs. “He knew I’d out-gamble him, and there’s no way he’s giving up that car.”

“But it’s called gambling for a reason. Why would he assume you’d come out ahead?”

“Because I’ve always been better at counting cards, and I’m not as conservative on placing bets.”

I blink. “You were counting cards?”

“Yep, and your presence did what I knew it would. He was distracted, or he wouldn’t have thrown his prized Bugatti in my face.”

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