Chapter 11 #2
Or, at least, Ares would try. Logan had a few tricks up his own sleeves.
Literally. They should have searched me better.
But he couldn’t look too eager so… “I don’t know,” Logan declared, as if thinking about the matter.
He turned toward Charlotte. He brought her hand to his lips.
Kissed her knuckles. Might have even licked them because he was feeling a bit wicked and far too on edge.
“What do you say, darling?” He released her hand.
“Should we stay or go? Curiosity brought me here, but now I find myself almost…bored. You know how I hate boredom.”
Ares slammed his hand down on the table. “You took my casino!”
Logan didn’t look away from Charlotte. “He was the dumbass who lost it.” He smiled at her. “A smart man never loses the things he values.”
She leaned toward him. Her right hand rose to press against his cheek. “You haven’t heard the stakes in his games yet. Perhaps he’ll offer something you want?”
“Doubtful.” Could her eyes be more golden? If a man looked in them too long, he might just lose all train of thought. “I have what I want.” His head turned. His mouth skimmed her palm.
“If you had what you wanted, you wouldn’t be here tonight,” Ares snapped back, his controlled facade fraying at the edges. “You wouldn’t have walked into a situation that very well could have a been a trap. For all you knew, I was planning to kill you the minute you walked into my game!”
Laughter slipped from Logan even as he watched Charlotte’s eyes widen.
He kissed her palm once again, then glanced over at his enemy.
“For all you know, I only accepted the invitation and came in here tonight…” He let the grin linger on his lips.
“Because I’m planning to kill you. And I thought, what an easy way to get up close and personal with my target!
I’ll just walk right in. I’ll sit at his table.
Then, when I feel like it, I’ll just slit his throat. From ear to ear.”
No one spoke.
Most of the people there barely seemed to breathe.
And then…
Laughter. From Ares. Booming, hard laughter. He pointed at Logan. “That’s why I can’t stay mad at you! You are such a wild bastard!”
Logan didn’t laugh. Why bother? He’d been serious.
And despite his grinning expression, Ares knows it.
“The stakes will tempt you,” Ares promised. “Because I’m putting up my hotel in Athens.”
“You are desperate,” Logan realized. That wasn’t bullshit. In order to offer up that hotel, Ares had to be in dire straits. “You want that casino of yours back so badly, eh?”
The tightening of Ares’s jaw told him that, yes, he did.
“Probably because of the Russians, am I right?” Logan continued because he truly had come to raise some hell.
“That is one of their very favorite money-laundering enterprises, and if you don’t control the casino in Loutraki any longer, then you just aren’t as useful to them, are you?
Bad mistake putting it on the table. I think you got far too cocky during our previous game. ”
“My hand should have won. I should have won everything!” Spittle flew from Ares’s mouth.
“Okay. Yo!” A loud call from Carmichael as he waved toward the woman Ares had called Evelyn earlier. “This is dramatic, and I need a couple of strong drinks if I’m getting through the night. I’m sure there are some people around here who can make that happen, right?”
Evelyn turned her head toward Ares.
“Champagne to start,” Ares informed her after sucking in a deep, long breath. “Should be chilling. Bring out the glasses, and we’ll toast before we begin play.”
“Aw, man.” Carmichael’s shoulders dropped. “I’m gonna need something a lot stronger than champagne if I’m getting through any hands with you jerks.”
“Excuse me?” Freya’s brows shot up.
“Not you,” Carmichael rushed to assure her. “I did not mean you in the jerk category. You’re classy and sophisticated, and I’m pretty sure your last husband was a duke or a count or some fancy thing like that.”
Waiters brought out champagne flutes. Champagne bubbled and fizzed in the flutes.
“One for each player,” Ares directed.
The flutes were placed next to each player. Well, not just the players. Charlotte got one, too.
Uh, oh. Logan studied the fizzing liquid, then swung his attention back to his host.
“Entry into the games tonight will be quite expensive,” Ares warned. “But, don’t worry, Logan, your…personal assistant? Bodyguard? Lover? If she wants to play, she can ante up just like everyone else. Since Sebastian left, she can take his spot.”
Charlotte pushed the flute away. “I can’t afford the stakes for your games.” The first time she’d spoken since entering the room. Her voice was clear, cold.
“You can always bet yourself,” Ares offered with a shrug of one shoulder. His gaze darted over her. Lustful. “As proven last night, you’re worth a great deal.” He reached for his flute. Lifted it. “Especially to Logan.”
Freya raised her flute. The better to study it with a critical eye. “This had better be the most expensive champagne known to man. Otherwise, I will be disappointed.”
Carmichael also raised his glass. But his expression was mournful. “Not gonna be strong enough for me.”
Pierre twisted his glass so the light would hit it. “I always enjoy a fine champagne.”
Logan grabbed his glass. “This damn thing better not have poison in it.”
“Fuck.” Carmichael immediately slammed his flute back down on the table. Some of the champagne spilled over the rim. “New bottle,” he blasted. “New bottle. We see it opened, and we see it poured.”
Ares glared at Logan. “I think I hate you.”
“Mutual, buddy, mutual.” There was no think about it. Logan hated the asshole.
Ares shifted his attention to Charlotte. “Does the lady intend to join the games?”
“I’m not betting myself,” she told him. “I won’t be on the table tonight.”
“Then you will be waiting in the study,” Ares informed her. His lips pulled down in disappointment. “Because this room is reserved for players only.”
Ares expected her to leave? “The hell she will.” Logan leapt to his feet.
Ares merely arched an eyebrow. “The invitation was just for you. No guests allowed at the game. Players only. If she doesn’t play, then she waits.
But don’t worry, she’ll be perfectly safe in my study.
I’ll have fresh champagne brought to her.
Because I am a good host, I will even provide her with a lush charcuterie board. ”
“She will not leave my sight!” Logan snarled. Screw this shit. They would not be separated. Not under any circumstances. No way, no day. And—
“That’s fine,” Charlotte said, all breezy. “I’ll wait. I find poker a bit tedious anyway.”
“What?” Logan had to haul his jaw off the floor. There was nothing tedious about poker. A powerful hand, with the right or wrong people, could change a life. Make a life one thousand times better. Or a thousand times worse.
She stood in front of him. “Win big, will you? And don’t worry about little old me.” A wink. “I know how to amuse myself.” She curled her hands around his neck, pulled him close, and kissed him. Her tongue darted into his mouth. Sweet. Sensual. Too fast.
Then she pulled away. Walked away.
I know how to amuse myself.
Understanding dawned. She wanted him to be the distraction. Charlotte was only too happy to leave the game because she fully intended to search Ares’s penthouse while Logan kept their host busy.
Fine. He could do that job for her. He sucked in the side of his cheek as he considered the situation. “All right, Ares, what are the initial stakes?”
“Hands start at five hundred thousand.”
Sure, they did. “Game on.”