Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Garrak
I was feeling strangely at peace.
Yes, I’d just threatened my Mate’s father, instead of ripping him limb from limb like I wanted.
And yes, I was about to step into another high-stakes poker game which had the potential to fund the dream I was building on Eastshore.
And yes, I still had to figure out how the fuck I was going to get my fifty thousand out of Hendricks.
But right now?
With my Mate on my arm, looking like a million dollars, knowing every male here was thinking how lucky I was? I was feeling calm. Just having her here was enough for me. Her scent, her feel, her taste.
Soon, I would kiss her. Soon, I would claim her. Soon, I would tell her how important she was to me.
In the meantime, though, I had a shit-ton of money to win.
I’d never played against Pierre and Henri LeClair, but as soon as we stepped into the room, it was obvious which ones they were; two older men, remarkably similar-looking, stood on either side of the fireplace, puffing on cigars, each with their arm around a woman a third their age.
Remembering the way my Mate described their playing style, I grinned, knowing my tusks made me look intimidating.
A man—clearly in the hosts’ employ—began to seat us around the octagonal table in the center of the room.
I took my seat, but rather than allowing Stevie to move to one of the spectator seats with the two women who had been fawning over the LeClair brothers, I pulled her into my lap while the other men were seated.
Besides the two Cajuns and Hendricks, there were three others of various ages, each looking as if they could stand to lose quite a lot of money. Excellent.
My Kteer thrummed happily, and I was pleased that I could maintain enough control not to be pulled in a dozen directions. I had a game to play, and as much as I wanted to bend Stevie over the table, it would mean forfeiting my chance to win.
Still, I couldn’t help nuzzling her neck, and my heart leapt when she sighed happily and leaned against me.
“Alright, alright, let’s get this thing started.
” One of the hosts stood. “I’ll let my brother make the introductions.
For now though—Garrak, right? We’ve all heard of the poker-playing orc, how you never lose, yeah yeah.
” He waved his cigar dismissively. “Kiss your good luck charm goodbye and let’s get a move on. ”
Reluctantly, I moved Stevie off my lap, but rather than going to sit beside the other spectators, she took a deep breath and rested her hand on my shoulder. I felt her drawing strength, and I twisted to stare expectantly up at her.
“Actually, gentlemen, I think I will excuse myself.” Her hold on my shoulder tightened, as did her jaw, and I saw her blue eyes swimming with unshed tears. “I am a very good poker player, and I know your tells.”
Gods below, my Mate was the bravest female I’d met.
There were murmurs and shifting around the room, but the males at the table—many of them dangerous—merely narrowed their eyes. Except for her father, who sat forward.
“What the fuck do you think—” he began.
But one of the LeClair brothers interrupted with a dismissive laugh. “You’re asking to be let into the game, lady?”
“No.” Stevie took a deep breath, staring at the pile of poker chips in the front of her father.
“But I don’t want to cheat again either.
” She swallowed and slowly lifted her eyes to her father.
“Dad, Garrak has taught me that a good man, a good father, wouldn’t threaten or hurt me to get what he wanted. I should never have helped you.”
The whispers increased, and I watched the eyes of every man at that table harden…except her father, who began to sputter. I tensed, ready to stand, to throw myself in front of my Mate if any of these assholes offered her violence.
“Stevie,” I murmured, reaching up to touch her hand. I don’t know if I was warning her or reminding her I had her back. My senses were on high alert as I tried to watch everyone in the room.
But my brave Mate merely switched her gaze to the LeClair brothers. “I am truly sorry,” she said, almost regal as two fat tears ran down her cheek. Did they see how much this cost her, how afraid she was? “I hope you’ll understand that I never wanted to participate in his scheme.”
“You bitch—” her father snarled, throwing himself out of his chair to reach for her.
But I was moving before he’d even finished forming the thought. I pushed her behind me, grabbed Hendricks out of the air, and held him by his collar as I turned back to Stevie, beaming proudly.
She placed her hand on my forearm. “Garrak, I love you.”
Pretty sure my heart stuttered.
Had she said those words before? No, she hadn’t. She called me Mate, and her letter said she cared for me. But…she loved me? I knew Mated pairs who took years to grow to love one another. How’d I get this lucky?
While I stared, dumbstruck at her, Stevie took another deep breath. “I love you, Garrak, but I need you to know that I can’t just sit around and do nothing.”
“I know, sweetheart.”
My chest ached to reach for her, to wipe away the tears streaming down her cheeks. But her father was kicking and struggling—and yes, choking—in my hold, and I wasn’t about to let him near her. So I just beamed at her.
But she shook her head. “I’ve had a shitty life.” She glanced at her father, then away. “And you’ve protected me from that, but I still need to do good for the world. Like now, I’m not going to sit here and help him—or hurt him—with what I know about your tells or the LeClair brothers or—”
Her words broke off in a sob, her arms wrapped around her middle, and I ached to wrap her in my strength.
But she was strong, and I had to trust her.
“You’re the most remarkable human I’ve ever met,” I whispered, and as soon as the words were out of my mouth, I knew they were true.
She glanced around the room, at the hard looks the other males were giving her, and her gaze lingered on her father, whom I hadn’t even turned to look at. Then, still crying silently, she ducked her chin and turned toward the door.
“Wait.” My command cut through the tension in the air, and she froze. “Say it again,” I ordered. “Give me the words.”
Her lips curled just slightly, and I saw her courage. “I love you, Garrak.”
My Kteer howled with glee.
Holding her love in my heart, I knew I could do anything. So I nodded once, arrogantly. “Good girl.”
Tears still on her cheeks, Stevie’s smile grew. “Good luck, Mate.”
Then she was gone. I pushed Hendricks aside and went to follow her, but a burly male holding a gun stepped in front of the closed door, silently telling me I was to stay in the room.
I spun about, my claws emerging, about to demand I be allowed to go comfort, kiss, love my Mate, when one of the elderly hosts waved his cigar again, the gesture more speculative and less dismissive this time.
“Yeah, yeah, you can go get pussy later, if that’s more important than poker to you. In the meantime…”
Both he and his brother sat forward, forearms on the table in surprisingly synchronized movements. The pair of them said, at the same time, as if they shared one voice…
“Now what’s this about cheating?”
No! I wanted to shout it, to demand I be allowed to comfort my Mate. I was so fucking proud of her, but she didn’t know it. She was strong and brave, and she didn’t need my comfort, but I needed to give it to her.
But there was something she did need.
She needed to know she was safe from her father, and I could do that.
Here and now.
So I forced my breathing to slow, and I straightened, rolling my shoulders and working my neck side to side to release the tension I held. Not the anger though; no, I clutched my anger in my chest, my Kteer growling, and I didn’t bother retracting my claws.
The LeClair brothers were demanding answers from Hendricks, who had backed up when I released him, and now was being held by two goons. He babbled, clearly trying to explain his way out of his, but I had only one goal: to ensure my Mate’s safety.
So I interrupted him.
“I will explain.” At my formal words, everyone in the room turned to me, and I nodded curtly to the two older men.
“My Mate understands humans”—and me—”well enough to read your responses.
Her father forced her to study your tells and habits until she was reasonably certain she could predict your hands and reactions.
Then she would communicate to Hendricks how he should bet, considering your hand. ”
One of the brothers was chewing on his cigar and glowering, while the other hummed thoughtfully. “So you’re saying she—what? Was basically running the whole game inside her head?”
I hadn’t thought of it like that, but it made sense. I nodded once, then flicked a dismissive look toward Hendricks. “I will reiterate that none of this was her choice or decision. She does not willingly use her talents to harm others.”
The first LeClair brother made a skeptical noise around his cigar, and I turned a dark glare his way. I must have looked strange, in my suit with my claws out, but I allowed some of my rage to be seen.
“When she arrived at my door, my Mate bore the bruises from this male.” I pointed one long claw at Trevor Hendricks, who shrank back.
“Less than an hour ago, I found him hurting her again—in your home,” I growled, letting them see how little I thought of their hospitality.
“He deserves death for what he has done to her. But I suspect you will believe he deserves it more for what he has done to you.”
Both LeClair brothers nodded impassively, and Hendricks began to blubber, his excuses and apologies and pleading running together.
I allowed my claws to retract. “Then I don’t have to be the one to bloody my claws on him. My Mate is innocent of his plans, and she will not be punished for his wrongdoing.” I pierced the older males with a glare. “Am I understood?”