Page 20 of The Mark (The Players 2)

“Right now, it’s an option, but he’s one drunk and disorderly from being sent there whether he wants it or not. If he ends up here again, we’ll have no choice.” He frowned. “I’d be violating my oath to let him continue to harm himself. So, before we release him tomorrow, we need to have a plan inplace.”

“What do you recommend, doctor?” Ty frowned and crossed his arms overhisbody.

“He can’t be left alone,” the physicianbegan.

“He stayed with me for a week and it didn’t help,” Igrumbled.

“Yes, but now you know what to look for. You search for hidden liquor. You make sure he can’t sneak drinks. You become his mother and father all rolled into one.” The doctor scribbled something on a piece of paper. “I’ll have a printout for you at the nurse’s station. Be sure to pick it up before youleave.”

We watched as a nurse slipped out of Drew’s room. “He’s resting comfortably,” sheannounced.

“I guess we’ll let him be. Obviously, we have much to prepare in order for him to be discharged.” Ty turned and motioned for me to follow him, but the doctor had one partingthought.

“The key is to break up his routine. He’s used to laying around and drinking all day. He needs a purpose. He needs a schedule. He needs achange.”

“Don’t we all.” Isighed.

We grabbed the information the doctor suggested from the nurse’s station, then we hopped on an elevator and rode to the lobby. “Let’s grab something in the cafeteria. We can talk this over,” Tysuggested.

Knowing we were in this alone frustrated me. We might have parents, but we’d become the family and support system for each other since we were young. “Yeah.” I stuffed my hands in my pockets. Somehow, I had a terrible feeling this was going to ruin my plan to get to know Laneybetter.

We picked up food in the cafeteria. Nothing appealed to me at the moment. I was merely trying to hold it together until we sat at the table and could really talk. Once we did, I blurted out, “I’m losing my mind. Please don’t make me take care of Drewrightnow.”

“I’m a little busy at the moment,” Ty murmured. “It really needs to be you. I’ll chip in whereIcan.”

I huffed. “That’s what you say to placate me, then the chipping in neverhappens.”

He didn’t even try to convince me I was wrong. Instead he blew out a breath and I braced because historically speaking, when he did that, he was preparing to drop something huge on me. “I didn’t want to tell you like this, but here it goes.” Ty’s shoulders heaved as he prepared to dump on me. “I’mmarried.”

“You’re what?” I scratched my head. “How the hell can you be married?” My mind raced and I said the first thing that came to mind. “Wow, you’ll do anything to winabet.”

“It wasn’t about the bet. My father sent me here to do a job. Kate’s father just so happens to own the hotel.” He paused to take a sip from hiscoffeemug.

“That’s even worse! You’ll do anything to close a deal.” I glaredathim.

“Well, it’s not like I can throw this trick in my repertoire,” he joked. “I plan to only marry once.” Ty set his mug down and began to turn the ring on his leftfinger.

“And you’re wearing a wedding band? You once equated them with dog collars and refused to even consider one in the past.” I shook my head, hoping something would begin to makesense.

“Yeah. That was when Paisley asked.” He grinned. “For Kate, I offered. That’s how I knowit’sreal.”

I blew out a breath. “Great. Thanks to Drew, I may never get to findmyreal.”

10

Laney

The morning startedoff quietly enough. As usual, I sat in the conference room, diligently poring over the various files and reconciling all the money going into and coming out of the hotel and casino. The task was time-consuming, but also incredibly satisfying. I loved unraveling the mystery of the books. I thrilled in uncovering secrets and hidden funds. I practically danced out of my seat when I found missing money, mostly because recovering it meant a big, fat fee for me. Here, with more than twenty years of numbers to work with, I should see a hugepayout.

Normally, this excitement was enough. This would keep me focused and driven. In me was a deep-seated need to have security in all of its glorious forms, most specifically financially. I’d never had that growing up, which was why I’d forgone my true passion in order to ensure my independence and stability. I blew out a breath. Ever since I’d finished college, I’d worked toward this goal. At the moment, it seemed silly and I was overwhelmed with everything I was missingouton.

By lunch time, I was losing my mind. Instead of staying in and ordering food brought up, I decided to go down to the restaurant, stretch my legs, and eat there. At one in the afternoon, I stood and pushed in my seat before striding toward the door. Suddenly, it opened and Kate stood there with a smirk onherface.

“Come on.” She gestured for me tofollowher.

I stiffened. “I was on my way to eat lunch downstairs.” I glanced past her and stared longingly at the elevator doors. “Can we talk when Ireturn?”

She chuckled and crossed her arms over her body. “We could, or we could have lunchtogether.”

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