2. Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Victor
My family is under attack, and it seems there is little to be done to stop it. Thankfully, the dull roar of the casino noises drowns out the anger I came to work with today.
We now know that Phineas Draven has been funding everything happening to my brothers and me, but we still don’t have enough to bring him down, and it’s pissing me off. If we don’t stop him, we’re going to lose everything.
On top of that, something is going on with my best friend and fellow club member, Gracie. But she’s not convinced. Between her car not starting because of what could be sabotage, and the weird flower deliveries, I’m worried she was a stalker. The rag in her engine didn’t look like it was haphazardly left there. It looked deliberate.
But she’s only my submissive at the club, so I can’t make her listen to me. I tried to talk to her before my shift at the casino started, but she wasn’t interested in hearing me. She thinks I’m being too overprotective. And I am protective of her, we’ve been close since high school, but I don’t think my concerns are unwarranted. I’ve asked Owen to dig into the mechanics at the shop she took it to, but we’ve got a lot on our plates right now, so I can’t say if he’s had time or not.
“Boss, we’ve got a woman you might want to keep an eye on at table four. She’s spending money like mad, but I’ve never seen her before.”
I straighten my suit jacket and put aside my personal problems to acknowledge the employee speaking in my earpiece.
Moving through the pit, I position myself so I can see table four but won’t draw the attention of the players.
Sure enough, a striking brunette with a pissed off look on her face is betting the table maximum, and judging by the way she’s playing, she’s trying to lose. The behavior sets me on edge. It could be someone addicted to gambling, or it could be more serious, like someone trying to launder a considerable sum of money.
I recognize the behavior because that’s the racket I run with the other owners of the High Card. It’s how we stay on good terms with the other criminal organizations around the country and keep Las Vegas neutral. But we’ve made an agreement with Hunter Novak never to run dirty money through his casinos. Most of us work for him in some capacity, and we’re damn good at our jobs because we don’t need them, we want them.
I observe the woman for a few more hands before I swap out the dealers so I can question the one who had been at the table.
“How long has the woman in seat three been playing?”
“Couple hours, boss.”
I frown. “She’s betting the table maximum. Why didn’t you call a pit boss over to approve it?”
He twists the tail of his vest, and I realize I’m intimidating him. It’s a curse of my resting-bitch-face and the fact that I’m perpetually angry about something.
“I called Charlie in. He gave it the green light.” Charlie is the other pit boss in my section tonight.
“How much has she lost?”
The dealer shakes his head with wide eyes. “Over twenty grand. Closing in on thirty.”
I whistle, but the dealer shrugs. “The dress she’s wearing probably cost five. Something tells me it’s a drop in the bucket for her.”
I let out a sharp laugh. “Didn’t know you were a fashionista.”
He gives me a dirty look. “My daughter is in fashion school. You pick things up.”
I let him go to take his break, and head back to watching the woman.
There’s something fascinating about her. She doesn’t appear to be up to anything nefarious, and if she were laundering money, she wouldn’t have let herself lose twenty grand. Is she an escort playing with a client’s money, or is it hers? I’m tempted to go into the cave and see if our facial recognition software gives me a name. Or I could card her. But watching her is too intriguing.
She’s not drinking, not smoking, just spending money.
She wins three hands in a row, and she shakes her head. “Guess I’ll have to try harder, rotten bastard.”
I’m puzzled by the outburst. Is she calling the dealer a bastard?
“Any chance we can raise the table limit?” she asks, flashing another stack of cash.
The players on either side of her frown and color up their chips to find another table.
The mystery woman shrugs and puts chips in the two vacated spots. “More cards for me, I guess.”
The dealer looks at her with concern, and waves me over.
“Everything OK?” I ask, standing a few feet away.
“I’ll be better after I drain my cheating husband’s bank account.”
And there it is. She’s a woman scorned. And she and her husband are apparently wealthy. Sucks to be her husband.
“Color her up,” I tell the dealer. “And let’s close this table and switch out the decks.”
She gapes at me. “I’m literally spending thousands of dollars and you’re kicking me out?”
“You’re being a damn idiot is what you’re doing.”
Before she can say anything, I continue. “Don’t piss away a fortune here. Take him for everything he has in the divorce and invest it.”
She laughs. “I don’t need his money. I have plenty of my own. He hates gambling. This is the best revenge.”
Her laughter is like music to my ears, even if she is laughing about revenge. Or maybe it’s because she’s laughing about revenge. I glance at my smartwatch. It’s almost time for my shift to end, and my replacement is already on the floor. I wave her over and tell her I’m leaving for the night.
When she goes back to her post in the center of the pit, I hold my hand out to the mystery woman.
“I’m Victor.”
“So it says on the name tag. I’m Lili.”
When she shakes my hand, I fight the urge to pull her to me and kiss her perfect lips. I don’t generally fuck with married women, but maybe she would be open to a revenge fuck.
“Have a cup of coffee with me, Lili. If you don’t like what I have to say, you can go back to spending all his money. We can even let him pay for coffee.”
Lili grins. “I could use a caffeine fix if I’m going to accomplish my mission.”
At the coffee shop, she orders us both regular coffees, and we find a booth to sit in.
“How long have you been married?” I ask when we’re settled.
“Five years. I thought we were happy, but then I found out he was fucking my best friend.”
“Ouch,” I say.
“I found out on accident. He doesn’t know that I know yet. But the proof I have is irrefutable.” She takes a sip of her coffee and looks into my eyes. “I want to humiliate him. And he’s a powerful man, so that’s a big deal.”
I put my hand on hers. “I understand you wanting to get revenge. But you’re really hurting yourself. The best revenge is to move on and forget he ever existed.”
She laughs. “Finn is not a man you easily forget, Victor. His ego is too big for that.”
As is the case with most powerful people.
“Big ego must mean he’s compensating,” I tease.
“And let me guess,” Lili says, “your ego is nice and small.”
I wink. “That’s for me to know and you to find out. And if you want to find out, I can get us a room.”
I’m not above a one-night stand with a gorgeous woman seeking revenge. Hell, I’ll even let her film it for the guy.
Her eyes go wide, then she looks away. “I can’t. I’m not that kind of girl.”
“You’re just the kind who steals his money? Sex doesn’t always have to be a deep connection sweetheart. Sometimes it’s merely to get something out of our systems or make us feel good.”
“You are very handsome. I don’t normally like an all-black suit, but you pull it off.”
A smirk pulls at my lips. “I’d like to pull it off for you.”
Her mouth falls open. “I guess I walked right into that one.”
Something shifts in her demeanor, and she sits up straight. “Let’s do it. What could go wrong? But we’ll let him pay for the room too.”
I don’t have a problem with that, so I stand and offer her my hand.
“Let’s get a few things straight,” she says as we head to the registration counter.
I raise an eyebrow, curious what she’s about to say.
Before I can continue, my phone rings. It’s the annoying ringtone I’ve set for Owen.
“I’ll get the room and let my husband pay for it,” Lili says. “You take your call.”
I step away from the registration line as she flashes an employee her diamond status player’s card.
“What is it?” I snap.
“Cheers to you, too, mate,” Owen says cheekily.
“Get to the point, I’m busy.”
“We may have a better understanding of what Pratchett was up to after a talk with some of his colleagues. I’m going to be sending you some information, and I need you to get into it.”
I grumble my agreement, and he ends the call before I can ask him about the mechanic. Lili approaches me with two plastic key cards as I’m putting the phone back in my pocket. “Penthouse suite courtesy of one lying bastard.” Her grin is infectious, and I once again feel sorry for whoever her husband is.
“I need to get my coat out of my office,” I say, leading her down a long corridor. I make her wait outside as I slip into the shared office and grab my long overcoat. It’s not overly cold outside, but I still like having it when I need to conceal a weapon.
Moments later, we are riding the elevator to the top floor of The Pink Sapphire, but the car is full of others for the first dozen floors, so we don’t get the chance to finish the conversation that started before my phone rang.
When the elevator empties a few floors before ours, I pull her close, my fingers dancing along the curve of her spine. She gasps softly at my touch, her blue eyes sparkling with anticipation.
“So, what were those things you wanted to make clear?”
She lifts a delicate eyebrow, her gaze dancing over my face. “First, I’m not some damsel in distress looking for a knight in a black suit to save me.”
I chuckle as the elevator continues upward. The journey seems to take forever, but it gives me plenty of time to drink her in, memorize her features, and get a read on her body language.
“Second,” she continues, with a smirk playing on her lips as she slips a hand inside my suit jacket, tracing the contours of my chest with her fingers, “I’m not your plaything. I give orders too.”
I raise an eyebrow at that. She has no way of knowing this, but my role at the High Card demands submission from most women. Switches are welcome at the club, of course, but I don’t play with them.
“And what if I’m not okay taking orders?”
Lili smiles. “Then you can have a drink and go home. I’ll head back to the casino and keep spending my husband’s money. My point is that this will be a give and take.”
Her voice is steady, challenging, and I feel an unexpected thrill. This isn’t the game I signed up for when I offered her a one-night stand, but I am intrigued.
“Fair enough, Lili,” I agree.
We stare at each other for a long second before the elevator dings and the doors slide open to reveal the penthouse suite. It is a decadent dream full of silk, crystal, and marble. Hunter Novak doesn’t skimp on his VIP guests, and Lili spent a pretty penny for this room. Her husband is a fool, whoever he is.
I follow her out of the elevator, and I hang my overcoat in the closet while Lili paces in the foyer of the grand penthouse. She seems nervous, and for a moment, I wonder if I’m supposed to just leave. I’ve never believed in forcing myself on a woman. Before I can say something, she stops and smiles at me.
“Are you going to just stand there, or are we going to do this?”
I shrug out of my suit jacket and lay it on the back of the couch in the living area. “Why don’t we have a drink and talk?” I suggest as I make my way to the bar.
“A drink would be nice. Scotch please.”
I open the minibar and select the most expensive brand, assuming that she wants to spend more of her husband’s money.
“No ice,” she says as I pull down glasses.
I empty the small bottle into the glass before snagging another for myself and repeating the process. I turn on the tap and add a few drops of water to mine.
“Do you really believe the water makes it taste better?” she asks as I hand her the glass.
“I know it does.” I take a sip. “Have you ever tried it?”
She shakes her head. “It’s never made sense. Why would you water down something that already has good flavor?”
I shrug. “You would be surprised.”
She looks at her glass and back at me. With a smirk, I hold my hand out for the crystal tumbler. When she hands it to me, I set mine aside and walk back to the bar and add a few drops to open up the flavor.
“What would you like to talk about?” she asks when I return.
“Is there anything off-limits? Anything you don’t want me to do tonight?” Instead of sitting, I lean against the bar making direct eye contact with her.
“I’ve already told you. Don’t treat me like a damsel in distress.”
I laugh. “I have no intention of treating you that way. You’ve made it clear you’re capable of taking care of yourself. But I have very… intense tastes, and I just want to make sure I don’t overwhelm you.”
She takes a deep breath and looks around the bright room. “I want to keep the lights on,” she says matter-of-factly.
I furrow my brow. Most women who have requests around the lights want them off, or at least dimmed. Lili’s request is refreshing.
“We can do that. I like to be able to see my canvas anyway.”
“Your canvas?” she asks.
“I’ve always viewed sex as art,” I admit, as I finish my drink and set it aside.
“Art. I like it.” She swirls the whiskey in her glass before taking the last sip, emptying the expensive liquid into her throat.
I find myself wanting to watch her swallow something else.
“Tell me about these intense tastes. Do you like tying naughty girls up to punish them or something?”
I loosen my tie and pull it free, tucking the black silk into my front pocket.
“I enjoy testing limits and finding out where I can blur the lines between pleasure and pain. It is intoxicating to prove to a woman that the pain itself can be the pleasure.”
“So… you’re a sadist?”
“That’s one word for it,” I agree.
Her gaze drops. “I’m no stranger to pain, Victor.”
I don’t like the tone she uses, and I get the sinking suspicion that this is a terrible idea.
“Look at me.”
For a moment, she’s still, her eyes glued to her lap.
“Lili.” My tone is enough to raise her gaze back to mine.
“I’ll only do what you consent to,” I say, as I unbutton my shirt at the wrists and begin rolling up my sleeves.
Her eyes shine with unshed tears, and I wonder if I’ve pushed too far by revealing I’m a sadist. I don’t have to explore that side of myself with her tonight.
“Take off your shirt,” she demands.
I laugh and nod in her direction. “You first.”
“I told you, give and take.”
“I’ve taken off my tie and jacket already.”
She laughs and reaches under her dress when I realize she’s rolling down a thigh-high stocking, I hold up a hand. “Stop. I want to see you in nothing but those and your heels.”
“Then take your shirt off.”
I arch an eyebrow, her confidence having piqued my interest. I admit to a certain fascination with her defiance. Most women wouldn’t dare challenge me and yet she does it so effortlessly.
“Keep your eyes on me,” I demand. “If you stop watching, I stop listening.” Her gaze locks on mine as I reach for the top button of my black silk dress shirt. I stare at her intently and watch her chest rise and fall with each button that I undo. Lili swallows hard, and her gaze drops. My hands drop to my side.
“Keep going,” she whispers as she raises her eyes to my face again. I finish unbuttoning the shirt and shrug it off my shoulders, letting it fall to the floor at my feet.
I stalk toward her and tuck a finger under her chin. “Lose the dress.” Her expression is defiant. She stands and shoves me back with a firm hand on my chest. I give her space, and she reaches for the hem of her dress.
My cock hardens as she lifts it over her head. My gaze drifts from the lacy top of her bra down to her thighs.
The sight of her thighs stops my gaze and I almost gasp. Suddenly, I’m filled with rage. Lili is being abused, or she’s a lot kinkier than she lets on. The insides of her thighs are covered in dark bite marks. There are scars, old bruises underneath new ones. I clench my fists as I step towards her. I put a hand gently on her hip.
“Is that consensual?” I ask. She looks down, but I force her chin upward again, so that she’s meeting my gaze.
“Answer me, Lili, right now,” I demand.
She sighs. “Finn is... Let’s say enthusiastic.”
“Bullshit,” I bite out. “I like pain, sweetheart. That’s not what this is.”
Her gaze turns stormy, and she glares. “Don’t pity me. I already told you I’m not a damsel in distress. I can handle myself.”
“You were willing to stay with him when he was doing this to you. It took him cheating on you with your best friend for you to leave?”
She scoffs. “I haven’t left yet, have I? If you don’t want to do this, just say so. I can go back downstairs.”
A better man would have walked out the door, but I’m not a good man.
I am changing my plans, though.
I’m not convinced I can hurt Lili, that I can cause her pain when I don’t know what might trigger her, when I don’t know what her piece of shit husband is doing to her. We’ll have to take this slowly.
I slide a hand into her hair, feeling for the pins that are holding the clean knot into place. Pulling them out, I free the bun and let her long dark tresses fall down her back.
“I want to do this,” she whispers as I trail kisses down her jaw.
Lili whimpers, and that sound is my undoing. I have to have her even if it’s only a taste. I continue trailing kisses until I reach her lips, and I capture them with mine. God, she tastes so fucking good. The expensive scotch and her essence mixed together make a heady cocktail.
“Oh, precious girl,” I whisper as I pull away. “Lose the bra. Let me have my fantasy picture. Those thigh-high stockings and expensive heels are doing things to me.”
She blushes prettily as she steps away a little and reaches behind her, unhooking the lacy bra. Without my having to ask, she hooks her fingers into the matching panties and slides them down until they pool, sitting on top of her shiny black heels. I’m tempted to ask her if I can pull out my phone and take a picture, but I don’t. Instead, I just stand back and enjoy the view as she steps out of the panties and kicks them to the side. Good God, she’s gorgeous. “Your husband is an idiot,” I growl as I stalk toward her.
“I don’t disagree, but he’s also powerful,” she whispers.
I chuckle, “So am I, sweetheart.”