Chapter 12 #2
When Logan had lost during the second game, Evelyn had dealt from the bottom of the deck. Quick, sneaky movements. He’d been aware, and he’d been curious. So he’d taken that loss. Let her and Ares think that they were in control.
But now, the stakes were rising…
Ares nodded, barely containing his satisfaction. “Fine. I’ll take that bet. The Loutraki casino versus this building.”
Evelyn sucked in a sharp breath.
Carmichael tossed aside his cards. “I’m done.” He stood. Headed for the door.
Pierre also rose.
“Stop.” Logan’s low voice.
Carmichael and Pierre froze.
His head turned toward them. “You two are really just going to waltz out, after you both watched his lover deal from the bottom of the deck? Like it’s some amateur hour?” Logan glanced back to catch the dealer’s reaction to his words.
Evelyn’s eyes widened. Fear flashed on her face.
“How dare you—” Ares snarled.
“Oh, whatever.” Logan rolled his eyes. “Pierre and Carmichael both saw it. They aren’t saying shit because you must have cut a deal with them before I arrived. Got to say, huge mistake, gentlemen. You picked the wrong side. Now I’ll have to destroy you both.”
Pierre broke first, as Logan had known he would. “I—no. No deal. And you’re right, she cheated. I saw her! She did it on the hand you lost.” He pointed at Evelyn. “That’s why I quit. I knew what she was doing.”
Carmichael just sighed.
“You can’t prove that she cheated,” Ares snapped.
“Sure, I can.” What, did Ares think Logan just threw out accusations for fun? “You were recording the whole show from that little camera you have hidden in here. You always keep cameras in your place. We all know that.”
Ares didn’t deny the charge.
“Pull up the feed,” Logan challenged. “Rewind it. We’ll all see her. Blatant moves. Shaky fingers. She was far too nervous tonight.”
Evelyn backed away from the table. “I’m sorry,” she whispered to Ares.
Like that wasn’t a confession.
Ares glared hard at Logan and he—
“Logan.” Husky. Weak.
Immediately, his gaze swung to the door.
Charlotte stood there, with a guard pulling on her arm.
“Sorry, sir,” the guard apologized to Ares. “She caught me unaware. I will escort her back to the—”
He didn’t even hear the rest of the guard’s words because Logan’s attention was on Charlotte’s face. On the way her eyelids were drooping, as if she struggled to stay conscious. He bounded across the room. “Get your fucking hands off her!” A lethal order.
The guard let go.
Charlotte couldn’t seem to hold herself upright. She began to fall.
Logan caught her. He scooped her into his arms.
“Logan…” Again. Weak. Slurred?
He tightened his grip around her as he cradled her against his chest. “What in the fuck is happening?”
Ares grimaced. “Looks like your lady had too much to drink.” He sidled closer. “Let one of my guards take her back to the study to rest while you and I finish our game—”
“Screw the game,” Logan growled. “Charlotte did not have too much to drink. Not in fucking thirty minutes, she did not. Don’t you dare try that shit with me.” He rushed her toward one of the empty chairs and carefully lowered her onto the seat. “Charlotte?”
She tried to look at him, but her head sagged forward.
Real fear blasted through him. This wasn’t normal. This wasn’t too much to drink. He lifted her right hand, let it go, and the hand immediately fell onto her lap. “She was drugged.”
“Uh, maybe she’s on drugs,” Ares allowed, “but that would be her habit, her business, and not—”
“You’re a dead man.” Brutal. But his hand was gentle as it curled under Charlotte’s chin. He tilted her head back. “Sweetheart? Baby? Look at me.”
Her lashes fluttered. Her bleary gaze tried and failed to focus on him.
“I’ve got you,” he promised her. He wanted to destroy. To rip Ares apart, but he also wanted to get Charlotte the hell out of there. His hand slid down so that his fingers could press against her throat. Her pulse was low. Thready. Fuck. “Get an ambulance, now.”
“What?’ Ares bounded even closer toward him. “No, no, this is outrageous! She’s just drunk. We have a game to finish! She’s—”
He let go of Charlotte for a moment. Long enough to grab Ares, to lock a vicious hand around the man’s throat, and to slam him down onto the table.
Gasps echoed around him. Logan ignored those shocked sounds. “You drugged her.”
“No.” Ares kicked out at him.
Logan dodged the kick. He locked both of his hands around his prey’s throat. Logan started to squeeze. “You drugged her.”
“He didn’t!” Evelyn’s desperate cry. “I took champagne to her. I had the bottle opened right in front of her! Then I locked her in the study. No one else got in. I still have the key in my pocket. I-I don’t know how she got out!”
Logan glared down at Ares. The bastard’s face had begun to purple.
“Logan.” Carmichael’s low voice. “Let him go. Take care of your lady.”
Logan yanked his hands away from Ares. He bounded back to the chair and immediately scooped Charlotte into his arms. Her body was too limp. The terror inside of him flared higher. Clawed harder on his guts. “You’re dead,” Logan said to Ares again.
“I didn’t do anything to her!” Ares yelled. One hand was at his throat.
“I’m calling the cops. I’m ruining your whole world.” Logan strode for the door. The guards were in his way. “Move,” he thundered.
They moved. Moments later, he was at the elevator. Then in the elevator.
“Logan! Logan, you can’t inform the authorities!” That was Pierre, chasing after him. “You know they can’t know about our games!” He put his hand up to stop the elevator doors from closing.
“Move the hand or I break it.”
Pierre moved the hand.
The doors closed.