Page 4 of Secret Twins for the Alien Dad

“It’s true. They shouldn’t be hiding you over here. I bet you’d make a lot more in tips as a bartender, or one of the dancers.”

“Thank you.” Her smile drops for a moment before she forces it back on her face. “That’s very nice of you to say. I can’t believe someone as kind as you is a mercenary.” If she wasn’t hoping for a tip, I imagine her eyes would be rolling.

“Oh? What makes you think I’m a mercenary?”

“I know your type. Do you call?”

“I guarantee you don’t know anyone like me.” I toss some chips on the table to call.

“You’re a Kaleidian mercenary. I get a dozen of your type in here a day.”

“I–”

“Let me guess, you and your crew just got off from a long job?”

“Well…”

“None of you have any recent injuries. So… I’d say you were doing personal security. For a… politician?”

Fuck. She’s good.

“No…” I trail off, and Myra stares at me with a smirk. “Fuck. Fine. Yeah, that’s exactly right. How did you know that?”

“Like I said, I see a dozen like you a day. I know the signs.” She bursts out laughing. “Also one of your friends was sitting here an hour ago, telling me everything.”

I laugh with her. “Fuck, you almost had me.”

“I could tell. I could see it on your face.”

We laugh together for a moment. Then she reveals her cards, showing I’ve lost another hand. She smirks at me again.

I watch her eyes scan up and down my body as I sit at the table. I try to subtly flex my arms.

“Would you like to be dealt in again?” she asks.

“When do you get off work?”

She laughs again, not answering.

“I’m serious.”

“I know,” she says. “I know you are.”

“So, when do you get off work?”

“I’ll tell you what, Zair… Zair? Right? Zair, if you actually win a hand at my table tonight, I’ll tell you when I get off.”

“Oh, you’re so on. I’m very good at Kalei Hold’em.”

“Not from what I’ve seen.” She laughs again.

“I was distracted before.”

“Sure. Hey, whatever excuse you need to tell yourself.”

I can’t help but laugh with her. I can already tell this human is tough as nails. Nobody, certainly not some tiny human, ever talks to me like this. She’s fascinating. Now I have to win a hand.

“Deal me in again,” I say as I toss some more chips on the table. “There are a lot more where these came from.”

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