Page 105 of Merciless Desires

“What?” the wife snaps.

“I wonder if you can help me.” I look at him, ignoring her. “I promised my sister I’d send her postcards from all over the country. But I ran out of travel money. I don’t want her to worry about me.” I take out the address Katya gave me and snap a photo with my burner phone. “If I give you money, will you buy a postcard on your travels and sign it from me, say hi, and say that I’m having a good time? Please?”

“Sounds suspicious,” the woman grumbles, looking me up and down.

“No problem, honey.” The man takes Katya’s address from me in a flash. “What’s your name?”

I freeze. “Just sign it, A.”

“A?”

“A. Like apple.”

“Your name is Apple?” Wifey thinks I’m a poison Macintosh from the Garden of Eden, trying to sweet talk her wrinkled old husband.

“No, ma’am. My name is…Alicia.”

“Then we’ll sign it Alicia.”

“Just A is fine.” I reach into the purse I hid under my coat when I left and give them money. “How is twenty dollars?”

“Do you know how much stamps cost, missy?”

I sadly do not, but I also don’t have that much to spare. “Forty? Three cards, minimum, please.”

“Deal.” The man takes my money and scoots his wife away before she can spit on me.

Back in the casino, a loud, rapid-dinging sound and the roar of cheering catches my attention. An imposing, well-built, golden blond-haired man in dress slacks and a black button-down shirt has apparently won big at the roulette table. I watch as he scoops up a large pile of multi-colored chips.

I look around, realizing the girls I came here with didn’t wait for me. Shit, I need to find that bachelorette party, so I have a place to sleep tonight. But I can’t take my eyes off the big winner.

Until he turns around.

Sheer terror nearly makes me lose my balance.

Cormac O’Rourke. One of the youngest O’Rourke brothers from back home.

Shit! What’s he doing here?

He recognizes me immediately and waves me over with a look of curiosity on his face. His very handsome face. All the O’Rourkes are handsome.

Cormac and his twin brother, Darragh, live in Seattle where they’re doctors. They moved away years ago, and from what I heard, they have nothing to do with their crime family.

Ducking away will raise suspicion. It’s not every day he sees a pakhan’s daughter. I take a deep breath and steady myself. If he doesn’t regularly talk to his brothers, maybe I’m safe.

“Stasia?” Cormac purrs when I get closer, and I can tell he’s drunk.

This might work in my favor. “Hi.” I lean in for a hug.

He grips me and sniffs. “God, I miss Astoria. I miss everything. How’s things back home?”

Horrible.

“It’s great. I’m just here for the weekend with friends. Bachelorette party.” I swallow nervously. “I need to find them.”

“Looks like they ditched you.” He grabs my hand. “Come gamble with me.”

“No, that’s okay. I have to find them.” I’m not sure Cormac would believe my father let me come here without a guard. I need to get away from this guy.

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