Page 49 of Wild Card (Advantage Play 1)

Why does she have to be so damn difficult?

“I don’t make the rules, Regina. I only enforce them, which includes leaving you in the dark. It is what it is. You want it to change? Get married so you can actually have some influence.”

“I’m not going to be a pawn, Kingston. We’ve had this conversation a thousand times.”

“And we’re going to keep repeating it until you finally agree to grow up, accept your fate, and get married. You think I wanted this life, Regina? You think this is what I asked for?” I slam my hand against the wall. She flinches. “I can’t change my duty, and neither can you. This might not be what you want to hear right now, but it’s what Dad wanted, and I’m not going to let him down just because you’re too fucking scared to do your duty.”

Her eyes well with tears, but she doesn’t let them fall, and I have to give her credit. She’s one of the strongest people I know. When it comes to emotions, she has to be. Being born with a pussy instead of a dick in this world brings an entirely different set of issues, and I’m not naive enough to say it doesn’t suck for her. But it’s life, and the sooner she accepts it, the sooner she can move forward and live outside of this home that’s always felt more like a prison to her.

“Am I talking to my brother right now or the boss of the Romano family?” she whispers, holding my gaze.

“Boss,” I grit out.

“Then I guess that’s that. Goodnight, Boss.” The door slams in my face, and I squeeze my eyes shut in response.

Fuck.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Ace

I wake up to the sound of footsteps down the hallway. My hands clutch my chest as memories of my last encounter with Kingston in this apartment flutter to the surface. The only difference is the golden light shining through the curtains that tells me it’s morning. For some reason, I’m not afraid like I know I should be. I can sense who it is before I set eyes on my intruder, and the only feeling wreaking havoc on my insides is overwhelming anticipation.

There’s a light knock on my bedroom door, and I turn to see a sexy as hell Kingston leaning against the jamb with his arms crossed.

Called it.

“What are you doing here?” I ask. My voice is still rusty from sleep.

“That’s not a very warm welcome.”

I laugh. “No offense, but I wasn’t exactly expecting you. I thought supervillains only came out at night.”

With a dry chuckle, he strides into my room and sits on the edge of my mattress. The scent of his woodsy cologne follows him, wafting through the air seconds later, and I sigh in contentment.

Damn, he smells good.

“That’s the reaction I was going for,” he teases as his hand brushes along my bare forearm and up to my collarbone in a gentle caress. “I came to apologize. I won’t be able to attend the tournament, but I wanted to wish you good luck.”

I grin. “I kinda figured you wouldn’t be able to make it, but for curiosity’s sake, let’s hear the excuse.”

“Other than the fact you’ll be in a casino owned by my arch enemy?”

“I knew you were a supervillain,” I quip.

With another dark laugh, he snakes his hand around my throat and squeezes softly. That same swell of anticipation takes over, and I arch my back in response. He drops a lazy kiss to my mouth. Greedily, I open my lips and slide my tongue against his as my entire body starts to hum with need. I pout when he pulls away seconds later and whispers in a husky voice, “I am the bad guy, Ace. Don’t ever forget that.”

His heated stare pins me in place as a thought crosses my mind. Truth. But he’s my bad guy. Or at least, I want him to be.

“I didn’t just come here to apologize,” he reveals. “I want you to be safe tonight.”

“I will be. It’ll be fine.”

He continues as if I haven’t even spoken. “There are too many paparazzi covering the tournament for Burlone to try anything in the casino as long as you stay in the public eye. Don’t go anywhere that would leave you vulnerable, understand?”

I nod.

“Good. I have a guy who will be waiting for you outside the entrance as soon as you finish.”

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