Stacking the Deck (Redemption Club Book 1)

by Anne Marie Becker

  She ran her thumb over the jagged edge. It was still rough, more freshly torn than Darren’s. She turned the card over and her stomach clenched as her suspicions were confirmed. The Legacy logo, or half of it, stared back at her.

  He was playing her. Their kisses, their embraces—hell, even the times he’d cheered her up or comforted her—they were part of some grand plan to trap her. He’d used her, used her feelings and her sympathy for his missing sister. Was Chelsea even missing, or some made-up reason for Jared to supposedly link forces with Skye?

  “Skye?”

  She swung toward the bathroom door. She hadn’t heard him turn off the shower, hadn’t heard him open the door. Hadn’t heard anything beyond the rush of blood in her head.

  He’d stopped in the doorway, a towel slung around his waist and another held against his head as if he’d been rubbing at his wet hair, which stood out in every direction. The sultry smile that had automatically curved his lips faded as his attention shifted to her hand.

  His gaze whipped to his dresser and his wallet before swinging back to her. “Making yourself at home?” He walked into the room and crossed his arms as if she owed him an explanation.

  She forced her jaw to unlock and her mouth to move. “It is my home, after all. Or maybe you’ve forgotten that you don’t hold all the power in this partnership.”

  He took a step toward her.

  She immediately took a step back, holding a palm up. “No touching! Enough of this partners need to trust each other bullshit.”

  “It’s not bullshit.” His tone was as hard as his eyes.

  “It’s all bullshit. What’s this?” Skye thrust the card toward him, dismayed to see it wavering as her hand shook. With anger. It shakes with anger, not hurt. Not betrayal. She didn’t know Jared well enough, didn’t trust him enough, hadn’t fallen far enough, to be betrayed. But the swell of emotion pressing inside as if it could crack her ribcage open sure felt like pain.

  “You recognize it?” Jared’s tone was more curious than upset. The lack of congruency of emotion gave her momentary pause.

  Still, Skye wrapped her anger around her like armor. “Enough to know this is from Stone’s casino, and that it signifies some kind of debt.”

  Jared’s brow creased. “Debt?”

  “What kind of debt do you owe Stone?” Her skin went cold, her palms clammy as she let her anger build and flow like lava.

  “Nothing. I—” He broke off and swore as his phone rang. As she made a move to leave, he picked his phone up off the dresser with one hand and snagged her arm with the other. “We’re not done. Just give me a second.”

  “I think I’ve given you enough.”

  But he didn’t let go of her as he answered his phone. “Bennigan.” His expression hardened as he listened. His eyelids slid closed and his nostrils flared. His grip on her arm gentled and Skye felt a moment of concern that she quickly stifled. “Thank you, Emily. I’m a few hours away, but I’ll be there as soon as possible. Keep her there, please. Threaten her if you have to. I owe you.”

  Threaten her? Who was he after now?

  He switched the phone off and went to shove it into his pocket before he remembered he wasn’t wearing anything but a towel. Skye saw the moment he realized he’d have to let go of her to get dressed.

  She smirked and steel flashed in his eyes. Instead of letting her go, he tossed the phone to the dresser and tugged her to him. Her struggles went unheeded.

  “Stop.” His command was low and gruff, demanding but not forceful. She stopped struggling, figuring he couldn’t hold onto her forever. Better to let him get his excuses over with and then she could walk away. “You’re not going to run away from conflict this time.”

  “I don’t—”

  “Yes, you do,” he interrupted. “And you have no reason to run, not from me.”

  “What do you care? By the sound of that phone call, you have places you need to be.”

  He nodded. “I do, actually. That was Emily, the bartender at Legacy Lounge.”

  “I knew you were still linked to Stone.”

  “She called because Haley’s there, drinking. She’s underage.” His expression grew sad for a moment. “I’m obviously failing Haley as much as I failed Chelsea.”

  “So there really is a sister—or two?”

  His mouth pressed into a thin line for a long moment. “There are two. I’m not lying to you. About anything. I thought we’d gotten beyond all the distrust. We agreed to be partners.” Hurt flared in his eyes.

  She looked down to avoid seeing the pain, which meant her gaze connected with his bare chest. “Then what’s the card about?”

  “I found it tucked into Chelsea’s day planner at her apartment. It’s one of the reasons I figured Stone is connected to her disappearance.” His gaze landed on the card, which had fallen from her fingertips to the floor. “But I didn’t think it meant anything.” His gaze lifted to hers again. “Obviously, you do. You’ve been holding out on me.”

  She felt the fight leave her body. He was right. She had been holding back. “Darren had one on him when he died. That’s what he was pulling out of his pocket to show me when he was shot. I think Tristan was trying to keep him from talking to us, since he also had a card.”

  Jared’s grip tightened as if he were trying to hold on to his patience. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t trust you. I’m still not sure I trust you. That’s why I went through your wallet.” She waited for his vengeance. When it didn’t come, she pulled back to search his face. She found only bafflement.

  “Tristan had a card, too?”

  “That night you found me in Stone’s study, I found the other half of Darren’s card, marked with his name, along with another half-card marked with Tristan’s name, in Stone’s desk drawer. Darren had mentioned that I was his redemption. I have no clue what that means, other than I think these cards could be a symbol of some kind of debt he owed.”

  He went silent, absorbing this information, but he didn’t lash out at her.

  She shook her head. “Why aren’t you angry?”

  He let out a harsh laugh. “I suppose I would have done the same thing if I were in your shoes, having grown up as you did.” She stiffened, but he moved to stroke her back, soothing her. “That wasn’t an insult, just empathy. I hope you’ll finally believe me. I have nothing to hide.” His arms instinctively flexed around her as if he could block out her doubts.

  “I guess I don’t either, not anymore.”

  He dipped his face down to hers but didn’t kiss her mouth. Instead, he put his lips to her ear and pressed a gentle kiss there. “Good. Stop fighting me. We’ll accomplish so much more together.” He pulled away. “I have to get back to Vegas and help Haley.”

  “I’ll come with you.” Several emotions crossed his face, so rapidly that she wasn’t sure what she was seeing. Surprise. Relief. Gratitude.

  “I’d like that,” he said.

  Something inside her shifted. Perhaps she could be a partner, after all.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Four hours later, Jared had arranged for the guard to remain outside Viper’s hospital room. Hopefully Skye’d be able to talk to Viper soon, but Haley was the priority now, especially since the young woman was on Stone’s turf.

  “You and Emily are friends?” Skye asked, matching Jared’s long strides as he headed for Legacy Lounge.

  “Not friends, exactly. I got to know her a bit when I was working security,” he said. “Guess she’s not as loyal to Stone as some of his employees are, or she might have cut her ties to me when I was fired. Or maybe she hasn’t heard that bit of news, though she was still working the party last night when Duffy, Meyer, and I were let go.” He slid a glance her way. “How do you know Emily?”

  “Mark’s credit card was used here, supposedly by Loretta, the day after the Malibu party, though Emily didn’t recognize her picture.” Only a handful of days ha
d passed, yet Skye felt as if she’d traveled around the world. “She’s how I learned about Stone’s Henderson house party.”

  Emily caught sight of them as they wove their way through the tables to the bar. She was mixing a drink for a customer, but tipped her head to indicate a door off to the side. Jared took Skye’s hand and pulled her into a large storage room lined with shelves of supplies, a desk, and a cot set up in the corner.

  Jared let go of her to hurry to the girl asleep on the cot, her face flushed and blonde hair mussed.

  “There was a guy here, buying her drinks during Happy Hour,” Emily said as she entered the storage room. “I would have stopped him earlier if I’d seen them, but it was busy and they were in the back corner. She looked so much older in those clothes and that makeup, but up close you can tell she’s still a baby. Apparently, my waitress finally figured it out, too, and she’s the one who told me.”

  Skye moved closer to Haley and saw the smudges of makeup on her pale face. “Is she okay?”

  “Just sleeping it off,” Emily said. “I woke her a little while ago to drink some water and take a couple aspirin.”

  “Thanks,” Jared said, getting to his feet. “I owe you.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m pretty pissed, but at the waitress who didn’t card her. When I finally did, Haley said she knew people who worked here. She started telling everyone her brother was—and I quote—‘the great Jared Bennigan,’ and then she told me you could kick my ass six ways from Sunday. And then she broke down in tears. The guy hightailed it out of there during the commotion, probably figuring the police would be here soon to arrest him.” Emily’s amusement turned to concern as she looked at Haley. “She looked ready to bolt if I suggested contacting anybody but you. She said something about you being hurt, and how she had to know you were okay. She was willing to lie down as long as I promised to only call you.”

  “I’m glad you did.” Jared brushed strands of hair away from his sister’s flushed face.

  Skye couldn’t believe she’d doubted this man’s agenda. Actions spoke louder than words, and Jared’s actions were of a committed, loving brother. He had every right to be angry and frustrated with Haley, and yet the emotion she sensed from him was concern. And maybe a bit of self-flagellation, judging by the guilt she read on his face.

  “Haley’s condition isn’t the only reason I called.” Emily glanced at the closed door, as if worried someone might barge in. “Before she passed out, Haley mentioned something about Chelsea. You still haven’t found her then?”

  Jared shook his head and turned to Skye. “Chelsea danced here in the lounge twice a week, for the past couple months.”

  Emily frowned. “Here, we set up shadowbox-like screens where the audience only sees silhouettes. It’s a classier kind of striptease. Some of these women can be divas, but Chelsea was one of the professional ones, and always polite. Definitely too sweet for a job that tends to suck the soul right out some girls. I didn’t know she was hiring out for private parties until you came to question me.”

  “Chelsea’s disappearance, and my preoccupation with it, is probably why Haley’s chosen to act out like this.”

  Behind him, Haley moaned and her eyelids flickered. “Jared?”

  “Right here, Bossy Pants,” he said.

  “Don’t feel well.” Haley didn’t look like she’d be bossing anyone around anytime soon.

  “I have to get back out there.” Emily jerked a thumb over her shoulder.

  “Thank you, Emily,” he said. “I owe you.”

  “Just take care of her. She said something about a birthday?” Emily arched her brows, and then excused herself to return to the bar.

  “Shit.” Jared shoved a hand through his hair. “She sent me the email but I haven’t had time—”

  “Don’t need you,” Haley said, pushing his hand away. But as she tried to sit up, he gently pressed her shoulders back to the cot.

  “Take it easy. There’s no rush.”

  “So you’ll be eighteen soon?” Skye asked Haley, returning to Jared’s side.

  “Saturday,” Haley mumbled, opening her eyes again. “Who are you?”

  “This is a friend of mine,” Jared said.

  “Thought you were busy with work.” Haley pushed herself into a sitting position and Skye grabbed a water bottle from a nearby shelf, and put it in the young woman’s hand.

  “She’s helping me find Chelsea,” Jared explained. “So don’t be rude. She’s looking for someone, too.”

  Jared smoothed the sweat-damp hair from Haley’s cheek, drawing her gaze to his. He smelled the alcohol on his baby sister’s breath and his gut clenched. “Why would you do this? Not only is it illegal, it’s extremely dangerous.”

  Haley’s defenses went up immediately. “I was careful. I wasn’t even going to drink. I was waiting for you.”

  “Why were you waiting for me here, on a school night?”

  “Do we have to talk about this now?” Haley cast a glance toward Skye, but he wasn’t going to let her dodge his questions.

  “Don’t worry about her. She won’t judge you.” And he couldn’t send Skye away because he was afraid she was in danger, especially here, within the enemy camp. At the moment, he was trusting Emily not to say anything about their presence, but the need to get them somewhere safer pressed on him. “Let’s get you home.”

  “Home?” Haley laughed humorlessly. “Not sure where that would be.” She was lashing out from inner pain, and she had a right to that emotion.

  “I am.”

  He talked to Jane, explaining he would take Haley for the night. He drove them to his house and settled Haley on the couch with another bottle of water and a deli sandwich they’d picked up at an all-night grocery store. “Eat. Hydrate.”

  Haley wrinkled her nose, but at least she didn’t look green at the thought of food. “I’m not hungry.” But she unwrapped the sandwich.

  “I can make a run to the store or something,” Skye said. She was offering them privacy, for which he was grateful, but he couldn’t let her leave the house without him. Too much was at stake, and he didn’t know if someone was out to harm her. With Tristan on the loose, it was a real and constant threat, especially with the crazy theory about redemption. Besides, she was a part of this now.

  “I’d like you to stay,” Jared said. Watching them with interest, Haley didn’t object. “Tell me what happened,” he said to his sister.

  “I got a call from someone who said he works with you. He said you’d been hurt.” Her eyes flicked over him.

  “I’m fine,” he said. Skye perched on a side table, seemingly reluctant to get too close. He could see she felt like an outsider but didn’t know how to draw her in. “What else did the man say? Did he give you a name?”

  “Floyd,” Haley said. “And he asked me to meet him at Legacy, said that he’d send a cab for me and that you’d be calling him soon and we could both wait for your call.”

  Jared gritted his jaw. Tristan Floyd. It had to be him. He could see Skye was thinking the same thing.

  Jared saw the misery on Haley’s face. “Did he hurt you?”

  “No.” But Haley wrapped her arms around her waist. “Just wanted to talk. He bought me a drink. Or two.”

  “I’ll kill him,” Skye said, surprising both of them into looking at her. She waved a hand. “Sorry. Continue.”

  Haley sighed. “He said it would steady my nerves while we waited.”

  Jared shuddered, thinking about what could have happened to his baby sister if Emily hadn’t stepped in.

  “I’m sorry I drank,” Haley said. “I thought maybe he was right, maybe it would numb things until you returned. I didn’t want you to leave me, too.”

  Guilt stabbed at Jared. Haley’s father had left. Jared had left. “You could have been drugged by him, or taken advantage of…” As the images swirled through his head, he felt Skye’s hand at his shoulder, halting his words.

 
Haley had gone pale again and her teeth were beginning to chatter. Skye picked up a throw Chelsea had given him as a housewarming gift and draped it across Haley’s shoulders.

  He pushed off the couch and paced until he could get his anger under control. He’d almost lost another sister, and for what? Why would they go after an innocent girl? Because they knew it would get to him, and to Skye.

  Skye cleared her throat. “Maybe we should let her get some sleep, and you and I can discuss things.”

  She was right. Haley didn’t need any more stress, and he and Skye had plans to make.

  He helped Haley to her bedroom and made sure she was comfortable. “You can have Chelsea’s room again,” he told Skye as they moved out into the hallway.

  Skye stroked a hand down his arm. “She’ll be back soon, sleeping there.”

  “I don’t care if she wants to live in India, as long as I know she’s safe.” And happy. Happy would be nice. The Bennigans deserved a stable, secure, content life, without complications and drama. Skye was the very antithesis of calm and drama-free. And yet when he was with her, he felt more alive than he had in months, maybe years.

  He watched her turn down the sheets on the queen-size bed, and wondered if he should suggest she sleep with him on his king bed. Or not sleep. But she looked exhausted, and Haley was just across the hall, so he battled down his lust and focused on tomorrow. “Tomorrow, we’ll see if we can find out more about Tristan Floyd and Darren Boscoe and how they might be connected to Stone.”

  Skye hid a yawn. “Sounds like a plan.”

  As she straightened, he stopped in front of her and leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead. Unable to resist tasting a bit more, he claimed her mouth in a hot, but brief, kiss. He pulled away before he could lose himself in her. “Good night, partner.”

  He turned and walked out before she could respond, because the heat that had flared in her eyes, and the way her body had briefly melted into his, was almost too much temptation to resist. She’d be walking out of his life soon, back to Arizona and her world there, and he didn’t need another complication in his life. He needed to find Chelsea, get his sisters settled and happy, get his own life on track, and then, months from now, he could consider his own life plan.