by Kelsie Rae
His eyes nearly bug out of his head before he schools his features. “I’d say you were full of shit.”
“And if I wasn’t?”
Gritting his teeth, he asks, “How?”
“Despite what you think you know, I don’t deal in the skin trade. It’s despicable. Vile. The lowest of the low. My father used to always believe in ignoring that side of the business and those who dabble in it. But since I’ve taken on his role, I can’t see a benefit to keeping them around.”
“Are you saying you want to work for the good guys?” Jack probes in disbelief.
D laughs loud and hard, throwing his head back and slapping his hand against his knee until tears are in his eyes. “I’m sorry, you have to be joking, right? Work for you? Bullshit. We’re talking about a fucking trade, Jack. Plain and simple.”
“And what are you wanting to trade, exactly?” a skeptical Jack returns.
“I need you to give me evidence that Burlone Allegretti is working for the FBI.”
His brows pinch in the center before looking between Ace, me, and D. “But he’s—”
“Shh,” I tsk as if I were talking to a little kid, an arrogant grin firmly in place. “If you can get me the evidence I need, I’ll deliver the top four human traffickers to you in a handbasket.”
“Four? I thought there were five.”
“There won’t be by the time I’m finished with him.”
With a shake of his head, Jack leans back into the booth and crosses his arms over his chest. “I can’t be involved with murder.”
“You’re already involved with murder by not helping us. And rape. And kidnapping. And every other despicable crime out there. It really is that simple.”
He swallows, his skin turning slightly pale while I spell it out for him. D keeps taking bites of his breakfast, munching happily on his breakfast potatoes and eggs while we wait for Jack to say something.
Rubbing his brow, Jack admits, “I don’t know what you want me to say right now. I’m not a traitor.”
Ace leans forward, her soft voice hushed but urgent. “We’re not asking you to be a traitor, Jack. We’re asking you to help us weed out an evil man who has hurt too many people during his measly existence. And if I’m being totally honest? I’m not asking; I’m begging. Please. If you don’t do this, I’ll never find my best friend, and Kingston’s sister will be lost forever in a torturous hell that should never exist. Please.” Her eyes are shining with unshed tears that nearly buries the heartless bastard I’ve become. This girl is the strongest person I’ve ever met, and I hate that I wasn’t there to protect her from experiencing the hell she just described firsthand.
Jack continues to stare at my girl from across the table until breaking his gaze and turning to me. “I need Burlone.”
“You can’t have him.”
“You don’t understand,” Jack argues. “My entire operation has been to bring Burlone down.”
“He’ll be taken care of, and I can assure you it’ll be with a hell of a lot more justice than the judicial court can offer,” I add with a cold, hard stare.
My comment makes him pause. I can see the wheels turning in his head as he considers his options. Ace’s leg bounces beneath the table, and I smile when my hand brushes against her skintight jeans, instantly calming her.
Shifting in his seat, Jack rests against the tabletop and leans closer. “You can get me the other four?”
“Yes.”
“When do you need it?”
“By tomorrow morning.”
Jack fails to hide his surprise. “And you think I can work that fast?”
“You’ll have to,” I reply, staring him down.
“And when will I get my handbasket?”
D laughs again, but I ignore him and answer Jack’s question. “Tomorrow night.”
Our eyes remain locked as I watch Jack weigh the pros and cons for a solid minute. He’s close to cracking. I can feel it. From my periphery, Ace’s attention bounces between the two of us, waiting to see what the verdict will be.
“Then it seems I have some work to do. Obviously, you know how to reach me if you need anything else.” Jack’s lips form a thin line, not too pleased with the way we used his feelings for Ace against him.
“We will,” Ace says, apologetically.
With a nod, Jack slides out from the booth and adds, “Thanks for breakfast,” then walks to the diner’s exit without a backward glance, making D laugh even harder.
“I like that guy. Will you pay for my breakfast too?”
Ace’s grin is hesitant before she playfully nudges me in the ribs and rests her head against my shoulder.
“Put it on his tab,” she answers for me.
“See? I knew I liked you too.” Fork in hand, D winks then shovels another massive bite of scrambled eggs into his mouth, feeling the same relief I am that we might actually be able to pull this off.
Chapter Nineteen
Kingston
The next evening, I adjust my tie while staring into the mirror as the weight of the world feels heavy on my shoulders. After leaving the diner, we cracked open a bottle of wine for Ace, and I poured myself a few fingers of whiskey. We sat on the balcony overlooking the city without exchanging more than a handful of words. And today, I’ve spent my time preparing for going head to head with Burlone the best that I could. Now? Now, it’s go time.
I feel like I’m already in one of Ace’s damn poker games and have pushed my entire fortune into the center of the table. With the cards I’ve been dealt, I’ve played the best hand possible. But there aren’t any real guarantees it’s good enough until I see it all play out. The problem is that I’m not dealing in cash. I’m dealing in lives. Multiple lives. If it were just mine, I’d keep my chin raised and a cocky smile firmly placed on my face. But it’s not just my life. It’s Ace’s. Regina’s. Possibly my men. And countless innocent women who have all unwittingly bet on me too.
With a snap of D’s fingers, I shake my head and eye him in the mirror.
“Everything ready?” I ask, clearing my throat.
“As ready as it can be.”
“Did Jack pull through?”
A confident smirk tugs at his mouth and he hands over his cell with an image pulled up on the screen. Looking at the picture, I see a screenshot of a piece of paper with Burlone’s ugly mug shot printed in the right-hand corner with the official Federal Bureau Investigation letterhead scrawled across the top. I zoom in and begin reading the police jargon typed in Times New Roman before reaching the end where I find Burlone Allegretti’s signature written in blue ink.
Grinning, I hand the phone back to Diece then grab my suit jacket from a hanger and slide it on. “Gotta hand it to him. Looks like he held up his end of the bargain.”
“I’ll say.” D’s tone is enthusiastic. “I already forwarded it to the rest of the poker attendees.”
“And?”
“And they’re in. Or at least they say they are. There are no real guarantees in this kind of situation, though. Are you sure you want Ace to go?”
Grimacing, I tighten my jaw and grit out, “I don’t think I have much of a choice. If I don’t show up with her, Burlone’s men won’t let me in the door. And if I don’t get in, I can kiss Regina and the rest of the plan goodbye.” My chest tightens. “We’ve worked too hard to let that happen.”
“So you’re going all in.”
“And praying I’ll suck out and beat that bastard at his own game,” I finish.
With a heavy pat on my shoulder, D ushers me out the door. “We’ve got him, King.”
We better.
“And what about Dex?” I probe, mentioning his half-brother. We haven’t really discussed his part since he showed up in my office courtesy of Diece. “Is he going to step up and play his part?”
“I sure as hell hope so. He’s a gamble, King, but you saw the letter from Regina too. You saw how he acted at the mention of her getting hurt. In a way, I think he has just as much at
stake as us. So yeah, I think he’ll back us.”
“Well, let’s pray like hell that he does because, without him, our story loses most of its validity. And we can’t let that happen.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “We can’t. Jack said he’ll leave the back entrance to the estate unattended so Dex can get Burlone and Regina out of the building without being flagged. He also said you and Ace have immunity, so you can walk out the front door without being touched.”
We’re walking down the hall toward the garage as I scan for Ace. She had wanted to have a glass of wine before we left to settle her nerves, but I don’t appreciate the anxiety that gnaws at my stomach with her absence.
“Perfect. I don’t need this coming back to bite us in the ass,” I mutter.
“It won’t. It’s going to play out the way we need it to, King. We got this.”
Rounding the corner, I see Ace through the patio doors that lead to the balcony. It’s cool for this time of night, and I watch from a short distance as she enjoys it firsthand. A gentle breeze sways her long, silky hair, and a soft smile graces her lips while she takes in the view of the whole city painted in darkness and the golden lights twinkling. Her skin is almost glowing a soft ivory from the alabaster moonlight as she lifts the nearly empty glass of wine to her cherry red lips and takes a final sip.
“Lucky bastard,” D mumbles next to me. “Go tell her it’s time to go and keep me updated. Me and a few of the men will be hanging out near Burlone’s place in case anything gets out of hand.”
I nod, unable to take my eyes off my Wild Card.
With a pat on the back, D adds, “We’ve been in stickier situations before, King. We’ll get out of this one too.”
“It’s not me that I’m worried about.”
He follows my gaze as it lands on Ace as she stares up at the full moon hanging in the cloudless sky.
“She’s strong, King. The other men in that room need to fear you, and you need to make them. You can’t let her presence soften you tonight. You need to be the Dark King. Do you think you can do that with her there?”
“I don’t think I have a choice.”
“You don’t. But I can guarantee she’ll still love you after. Even if she does end up getting a front-row seat to the Dark King in action. Understand?”
With a nod, I take a step toward my girl and toss over my shoulder, “Yeah. I got it.”
The need to hold Ace is overwhelming. It’s as if I’m missing a limb anytime she isn’t near, and right now, the ache is staggering. I felt like I almost lost her when she admitted her connection to the FBI. And, though I’d chosen to trust her, I still wasn’t sure if I’d regret it when she convinced me to meet Jack. But now that everything is set into motion, and the future is imminent, I can’t help but feel like I need to cherish every moment with her because I don’t know if it’ll be our last.
“Hey, Wild Card,” I murmur as a gust of wind nearly topples her over. Her fingers run against the frayed Allegretti cards in her hand, and I have no doubt she was lost in her memories before I interrupted her.
“Hey, you.” She smiles before tucking the worn deck into her clutch and wrapping her cool arms around me. Her skin has pebbled from being out here too long, and I rub my hands up and down her bare arms to heat her up.
“You’re freezing. How long have you been out here?”
“A while,” she admits, her cheeks turning rosy. “But I feel like as soon as I step inside, it’ll be time to go. And I’m not ready.”
My eyes seek out the clutch that now holds those same weathered cards, and I sigh.
“You scared, babe?”
I don’t know why I ask. I already know the answer. Of course, she’s scared. She’d be a fool not to be. She’s willingly putting her life on the line. For me. For my sister. For the Romano family.
Laying her head against my chest, she takes a slow breath as a horn blares in the distance. I take the opportunity to pull her closer, linking my fingers against her lower back.
“I don’t want you to get hurt,” she admits on a sigh.
“Me?” I laugh, dryly. “You’re worried about me?”
“Of course, I’m worried about you,” she argues into my suit with her head still tucked against me. “I love you, King. Imagining a life without you is…” She sniffles. “It’s crippling.”
The three words hit like a sucker punch, but I restrain myself from falling on my ass. It’s funny. I didn’t think I was capable of love. Sure, I care for my sister and my men. But love? My muscles tense as I squeeze her tighter.
“Then don’t imagine it, Ace. Picture this as a poker hand. We’re all surrounding the table and have placed our bets, but Burlone doesn’t know about the final card we’ve slipped to the dealer that guarantees a royal flush. He doesn’t know that his cocky little grin is about to be wiped off his face tonight by the time the final card is played. I’ve put all the pieces in place, Ace. Now we just have to stay strong and not fold. Even if it’s scary as hell.”
With her arms resting against my chest, she looks up at me and whispers, “You’re sexy when you talk poker.”
I laugh, remembering the first night I’d told her the same thing. “Is that right?”
“Uh-huh. Now kiss me, King. Let me steal a little of your bravery.”
Leaning closer, I whisper against her lips, “Anytime, Ace.” Then I kiss her. It’s soft and slow. A reminder to her that I’m not the monster she’s likely to meet tonight. I’m King. Her King.
When I pull away, she sighs with her eyes still closed. Then, blinking slowly as if awaking from a dream, she smiles up at me. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For everything.”
I almost snort but stop myself at the last second. “No offense, Ace, but you have a twisted way of looking at things. Since the moment we met, I’ve screwed up your life in more ways than I can count. You’ve been followed. Beaten up. Twice, I might add.” I raise my two fingers, and she grimaces. “And you’re now being used as a human buy-in for a poker tournament any sane person would want to stay a thousand miles away from. And what do you say to me? Thank you.” I roll my eyes and shake my head, feeling amazed that I get to call her mine when I have no right to. She and I have been through a lot, and if we can just make it through tonight, everything will be okay.
“Well, I am grateful. Without you, I’d still be the same lonely girl in search of a home. You…you are my home now.”
Tugging her into me, I place one more kiss against the crown of her head then guide her to the patio door.
“Come on, Ace. We have somewhere we need to be.”
“And then you owe me some scrambled eggs and sausage,” she quips by my side.
“I’ll give you some sausage,” I joke, pinching her ass.
With her head thrown back, she laughs full and loud before smacking me in the chest and winking. “Only if I can take a bite out of it. I’m starving.”
I shiver and toss my arm around her tiny frame. “No deal. I’ll get you your damn sausage.”
She takes advantage and puts her head on my shoulder as we open the door to the garage and go to the car. “Yeah, you will.”
Chapter Twenty
Ace
The closer we get to Burlone’s house, the more tension accompanies our car ride. King and I are practically robotic in our movements as we walk up the steps leading to an immaculate front door that’s got to be twelve feet high with a giant brass handle and a knocker that reminds me of medieval times. The exorbitantly priced cars that line the driveway hint that we’re one of the last to arrive. Just like Kingston wanted.
He raps his knuckles against the monstrous door, then we wait.
When it opens, I see a guy with a diamond tattoo below his eye, and I instinctively curl into King’s side. He tightens his hold around my shoulder, silently grounding me when all I want to do is disappear. Glancing up at the man in front of me, I try to place how I recognize him.
&nbs
p; There’s just something about him.
After a second, it hits me. I remember him from when I first overheard Burlone mentioning his alibi, then again when I saw him eavesdropping on my conversation with Jack before the tournament. He must be the one who revealed to Burlone that King and I were together. And I instantly hate him for it.
“Come on in.” The sketchy guy waves his arm with a flourish before bowing dramatically as we step over the threshold. He seems like a thug. A jerk. An ass. I secretly wish someone would slam his hand in the door or make him slip on some ice and fall on his butt. A ghost of a smile graces my lips as I imagine witnessing it.
If only.
“Play nice, Wild Card,” Kingston whispers in my ear, trying to contain his smile. He moves to lead me farther into the house when the guy stops us. “Excuse me, but your…”—he looks me up and down hungrily— “guest will need to wear these. It’s standard procedure, of course.”
Grinning wickedly, he lifts up a silver platter for Kingston to view. On it are a pair of handcuffs and what appears to be a collar. My nose scrunches in disgust while my heart stalls in my chest.
No, no, no, no.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” King spits, tightening his protective hold around my waist. His grip is almost painful, yet not hard enough at the same time. The stark bite from his touch is enough to remind me he’s here. He’s got me.
“Sorry, sir, but like I said, it’s standard procedure. If you plan on participating in the tournament, then your buy-in needs to be properly handled. However, if that’s a problem, you’re welcome to leave.” The asshole has the audacity to open the front door with his right hand while still balancing the platter with his left.
Gritted teeth on display, King takes the collar and handcuffs but hesitates to put them on me. I can see his reservations in his eyes as they connect with mine. I never thought I’d see the man in front of me hesitate. But right now? He is. I can see him at war with himself. I can see the wheels turning in his head as he weighs his options. Unfortunately, I know he’ll come to the same conclusion I have. We don’t have a choice.