Chapter 3 #2
Charlotte curled her hand around the broken glasses. The camera and listening device hadn’t been detected. Thankfully.
But…
Was Freya’s gaze a little too knowing?
“I’m out,” Carmichael announced.
Okay, so who was going to play—
“Five million, done.”
The final player at the table. This was the first time he’d spoken. A male in a battered leather jacket. Dark hair, so dark it almost appeared black. Dark eyes.
All heads turned toward him.
“Well, Ares, you feeling like a winner, are you?” Logan drawled.
Ares stared straight at Logan. “I think we should up the stakes even more.”
“Oh? Really? Got another casino that you are interested in giving up to me? Because the one I took from you in Monte Carlo last spring…such a gem. Can’t thank you enough for that lovely little gift.”
The other players all seemed to ease their chairs back a little from the table.
Except for Pierre. He hunched forward. “I’m in, too. And I also think we should up the stakes.”
They were seriously up for five million each?
Her chest ached at the very thought. How could these people play so casually with that much money?
“Fine.” Logan rolled one shoulder. “If we’re upping the stakes, shall we do five million more? Just go for ten million each?” His cards were still face down on the table. He’d resumed his seat. His hands lay flat on the table on either side of his cards.
Charlotte edged a little closer to him.
Pierre shook his head. “I don’t care about more money. I have plenty.” His gaze raked over her. “I find myself wanting la lapine.”
La lapine. The rabbit.
Oh, shit.
He wanted her? He actually thought that Logan was going to wager her?
“Go hire your own damn assistant,” Logan snarled. “She’s not up for grabs. She is off-limits to all of you.”
Right. A thousand times, right. Not like he would wager for her.
“To have her at your private game,” Ares spoke in deep, dark voice, “she certainly must be one hell of an…asset.”
Emphasis on ass.
Okay, they were all dicks. Or, as Carmichael had said before…assholes.
And was her partner Jamar picking up all of this? Did the listening device still work, or had it broken when Freya smashed the glasses?
“I’m down for a wager with the pretty little assistant as the prize. Sounds good to me.” Ares shrugged.
Not happening. This was insane. You didn’t bet people.
Her hand curled around Logan’s shoulder.
Wait, when had she reached for him? She snatched her hand back.
But his head had already turned toward her.
“This is ridiculous,” she rushed to say. “You don’t bet people. That’s not legal. That’s just…utterly insane.”
Laughter. Hard. From Pierre. From Ares. Even Carmichael.
Her gaze darted around the table.
Sebastian hadn’t laughed. He frowned at her. “What made you think we care about legal here?”
Oh. Right. She was in a back room full of criminals.
Freya and Harper were silent.
But then Harper shook her head. “I don’t like this.”
“You’re not even supposed to be here.” Ares did not glance her way. “You got in with your brother’s invitation. This game was never meant for you.”
Harper leaned toward Charlotte. “Do you want to leave?”
Absolutely. “No, I’m good. But thank you.”
Harper did not look reassured.
Logan had turned his attention back to the table. “I don’t see you pricks putting up anything worth her value. She’s a great personal assistant.”
Uh, she’d started her PA job like the day before, give or take some hours, and she’d done zero work for him in that time.
“If you want her, you have to make it worth my while,” Logan added.
“What?” she croaked. No way. No. Way.
“We can still leave,” Harper rushed to say.
“No one is leaving.” Ares pursed his lips as he surveyed Charlotte. “I’ll put up my casino in Greece. The one in Loutraki.”
She could hear the drumming echo of her heartbeat in her ears.
“What do you have, Pierre?” Logan’s hands were still flat on the table.
Pierre licked his lips. “I…”
“This isn’t happening,” Charlotte said. Loudly. Because someone had to be the voice of reason. “You can’t bet me. You don’t just get to trade me in a game. I’m not a commodity that you control.”
Harper tried to rise, but Sebastian took her hand. He pulled her back down beside him and shook his head.
“This will not be a trade.” Logan was adamant on that. “More like…a loan.” He nodded. “I figure the casino in Loutraki is worth two weeks of my assistant’s time.”
Charlotte sucked in a breath.
“She’s that good?” Ares seemed doubtful.
They are talking about sex. Her cheeks turned molten. About me in bed. This is not some—
“You have no idea,” Logan said.
Her hand flew out because she was going to slug the jerk.
In a flash, and without even looking her way, his hand rose to curl around her swinging fist.
Her breath rushed out. His grip was tight, but not painful.
But the man’s reflexes are insane.
He brought her hand to his mouth. Kissed her knuckles.
“That’s an interesting new scar you have, Logan.” Pierre pointed toward Logan’s cheek. “How did you acquire it?”
Another kiss of Logan’s mouth against her knuckles.
That kiss is not saying I’m some platonic employee. The kiss felt like a brand. A mark of ownership that was clear for everyone to see. Like he was saying… She belongs to me.
“I got the scar in a knife fight, dumbass,” Logan rumbled. “How the hell do you think I got it? You think I cut myself shaving?”
Charlotte tried to tug her hand back.
Instead of freeing her hand, Logan hauled her down onto his lap.
This whole scene was out of control.
“I do believe I specifically said she was off-limits,” Logan spoke in a clear, hard voice. “Despite my warning, you pricks decided you wanted to wager for her. Because you clearly wanted to fuck with me.”
Freya cleared her throat. “I think the gentlemen actually want to fuck with her.”
Charlotte needed out of his lap.
But he’d wrapped one arm around her waist, and Logan’s grip was fierce.
“Not helping, Freya,” Logan snapped. Then, “Ares, the casino is your offer?”
Ares nodded. Appearing far too confident, he said, “You’re going to lose, Logan.”
Her breathing hitched.
“Are you in or out, Pierre?” Logan demanded.
Silence. It stretched and stretched.
“In.” Pierre nodded. “In…and for my part…look, I’ll throw in my villa in Provence. But I want more than two weeks with her. I want two months.”
Nope. Not—
“Done,” Logan immediately agreed. “Gentleman, I believe it’s time to show our cards.”
Ares flashed a confident grin.
Pierre smirked.
And Charlotte prayed that Logan could pull off a miracle. Because the jerk was not going to trade her in a card game. Yes, she got that he was pissed at having to work with a CIA operative, but he didn’t get to bet her.
Then the cards were slowly revealed.
Charlotte stopped breathing.