Page 60 of Heart of Stone (Dark Billionaires)

But now his conscience prickled unhelpfully.

Perhaps sensing that he was the least protective of Alison’s four boys—both adopted and biological—Warren soon found himself talking to Euan, whilst Kate had been persuaded by Sarah to join her at the roulette table.

“When did you buy the house?” Euan was saying, ducking down to see the property beneath the cover of the marquee.

“Not long after I left prison.”

Euan raised his eyebrows. “Hell of a change—from a cell to a mansion.”

He shrugged. “When I was locked up, all I ever wanted was to be alone. I endured years of being surrounded by people when all I really wanted was peace.” Warren couldn’t help squeezing Kate slightly tighter. “This is my peace. A house in the middle of nowhere.”

Sipping his beer, Euan nodded. “I can understand that. After my wife passed, I was inundated with well-wishers, all trying to make me forget that my soulmate was gone. The only time I was able to grieve was when I shut the bedroom door at night.”

“How long ago did she pass?”

A sigh lifted Euan’s shoulders, followed by a long, slow exhale. “Fifteen years next month.”

“I’m sorry,” Warren said genuinely. “But Jensen said you have daughters?”

“Two. Nattie and Darcy. The apples of my eye,” Euan grinned. “Darcy is over by the casino, losing her inheritance, and Nat is in America at Columbia University.”

“Ah,” Warren smiled, “I only just got back from New York this afternoon.”

“I was speaking to Jensen about your trip earlier this evening,” he gave a wry smile. “I only wish he’d introduced me to his aunt a little sooner.” His eyes drifted over to where Alison stood, sitting next to Sarah at the roulette table with Kate. “My daughter—” Euan pointed to the chestnut-haired young woman next to Kate “—Darcy, looking as though she’s racking up her last loss. Is that the young lady you were, ah, dancing with earlier?”

Warren nodded, feeling his shoulders relax as he gazed upon Kate. His little tigress had taken every ounce of animalistic need he’d had in him earlier. He’d taken her hard and fast, her arse bright red.

And yet here she was, smiling and laughing.

“Kate,” he confirmed. “And I’m going to see how she’s doing at the tables. Excuse me.”

“I’ll come with you,” Euan offered, finishing his beer as he stood. “I want to see how much of my money Darcy has lost.”

At the table, Warren was surprised to realise that Kate was merely watching rather than playing. He crept behind her, kissing the delicate skin under her ear. “Are you not in the mood to play?”

Kate leant back against him, humming with pleasure when his arm wrapped over her shoulders, coming to rest just under her throat. She dropped her voice. “I don’t have any money.”

He caught the croupier’s attention. “Give her what she wants. Add it to my bill.”

“Warren,” Kate tried to hush him. “I don’t even know how to play.”

“Call it aftercare,” he whispered into her ear. “Besides, all family members play on the house.” On the house being on his bank account.

“Family? Is that what I am?”

“It’s what you’ve always been, kitten. Now go and do your best to bankrupt me. You deserve it.”

“No!” Darcy cried out from across the poker table, letting her head rest in her hands. She halted the words about to leave Euan’s mouth. “I know. Iknow. I just want to win back what I had originally and then I’ll stop.”

Euan’s smile was one of loving amusement as he wrapped her in a hug. “I don’t think that money’s ever coming back, baby girl.”

Kate stiffened in Warren’s grasp.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

She nodded, conjuring up a smirk and gesturing towards her little stack. “I think I’m getting the hang of it.”

On his other side, Sarah sat, Leo on her lap, attempting to look magnanimous behind her much larger pile of chips. “You’re doing brilliantly.”

---