Authors: Natalie Acres
Tags: #Romance
Dragging his hand down his face, Crue studied the streets below once more. His mother had once told him if a person wanted a crowd to cover them, they went to Las Vegas. It was easy to get lost there. Criminals and runaways loved Las Vegas. They could hide among the crowds.
Fighting sleep, he traipsed across the room and made some coffee. While waiting for the first pot to brew, the phone rang. Gabe and Colt reentered the suite around the same time Crue snatched the receiver.
“I hear you’re looking for me.”
Crue’s heart skipped a beat. He made eye contact with his brother. The minute their eyes met, Colt bolted to the bedroom, undoubtedly in pursuit of the other phone.
“I’m looking for the person in your company. I sure as hell don’t give a damn about seeing you again.”
An evil laugh filled the line. “Are you the one they call shadow?”
This time, Crue laughed, a wicked chuckle filling the line with deliberate purpose, too. “I’m going to enjoy killing you, Lorenzo, you stupid fuck.”
“Ah, but you cannot kill what you cannot find, dear boy. Didn’t anyone ever tell you that, perhaps your fearless leader, that pathetic excuse of a gambling man?”
“Let me talk to Kelly,” Colt said, his dark tone dripping with thick despair as he took over the conversation.
“Her mouth is a little too busy for talking at the moment. You two should understand how it is with a woman like Kelly. We men must pass her around to keep her satisfied.”
“Why you sorry bastard!” Colt screamed. “I’ll kill you. Do you hear me? I. Will. End. Your. Life.”
“Put Kelly on the phone, Lorenzo,” Crue said, determined to keep him talking. As soon as Gabe had understood who was on the other end, he’d started running a trace. They only needed another few seconds and they’d have his location.
“Let me see if I can drag her away from my brother’s groin long enough to speak.” He paused. “Kelly, love, your old boyfriends are on the phone.”
A muffled noise filled the line. Crue breathed a sigh of relief. She was gagged. There wasn’t any doubt about that. He’d tried to speak from behind a cloth in his mouth and the noises flooding the phone were distinct and easily determined.
“Got it,” Gabe mouthed. “They’re in the hotel.”
Shaking Kemper and Brand from a dead sleep on the sofas, Gabe motioned for them to go with him and the three men quickly exited the room.
Crue’s fingers flew over the keyboard. He tapped into the casino’s elaborate security system and four monitors came to life with various images. He scanned the monitors, switching screens as he searched for them.
“What do you want in exchange for Kelly?” Colt asked.
“A poker game. Winner takes all. Kelly. The casino. Everything. The loser loses his life at the table.” He laughed. “Sort of gives new meaning to ‘the dead man’s hand.’ Doesn’t it?”
“When and where?” Colt asked, never missing a beat.
“Fifteen minutes. My suite.”
“You mean Kelly’s?”
“The one I shared with her, yes.”
“We have to see her before the game starts,” Crue said. “I want to know she’s all right.”
“Of course you do, Mr. Candy,” Lorenzo said. “But I think you first need to talk with Mr. Donovan and see if the Donovan brothers are willing to stake the casino in a poker game.” A beat later, he said, “Buy-in tonight is a million. Can you come up with it?”
“I’ll be there,” Colt bit out.
“One minute late and she’s dead,” Lorenzo said. “And I need that phone call from Mr. Donovan as well, or I put a bullet in her pretty little head before you can say, ‘Shuffle up and deal,’ understand?”
“You’re taking a big chance here, Mr. Molinelli,” Crue said. “How do you know we won’t call in the authorities?”
“Ha, ha, ha. You’re very funny,” Lorenzo drawled. “My men—two of them—have their guns aimed at your woman’s head. You show up with the police, she dies first. Then, I come after the rest of you.” He laughed aloud. “And, boys, drop the act. Calling in reinforcements is rare in your line of work. Am I right?”
“How do we know you won’t harm Kelly once the game begins?” Colt asked, ignoring his question.
A forced breath filled the line. “Each of you would walk through hell’s fires to save Kelly. You’ve shown me what she means to you. Now, I’ll show you why she is absolutely no longer of any use to me, but in due time you’ll see with your own eyes. There’s more pleasure in watching an enemy tortured. Fourteen minutes and counting, Mr. Candy. Come alone, or you’ll never see her again.”
The line went dead.
Colt rushed out of the bedroom and hurried to the safe. Punching in the combination, he withdrew a brown paper bag.
“You sure it’s all there?” Crue asked.
“I counted it this morning,” Colt replied.
They’d all had a hunch Lorenzo would call one of them for a game. They’d researched his organization inside and out. From what they’d learned, he was a die-hard poker player. There were mixed opinions about his level of skill, but Colt would give him a good run for his money—and his life.
Crue texted the others, sending out a quick summons. “Colt, it’s been a week. You know he’s planned his every move.”
Colt rubbed his eyes. Dark circles encased them. “While he’s been planning, I’ve been thinking. Once I enter that suite tonight, I won’t leave without Kelly.”
The others returned and Crue briefed them. When he finished explaining what had transpired, he said, “We need to call the casino and ask the poker room for new decks. I want those cards switched out every hour.”
“He won’t allow that,” Colt said.
“He’ll allow it, or you won’t play,” Crue said.
“I’ll play regardless of the terms.”
“And if you do, you will lose,” Kemper told him. “Use your head here, Colt. The only way you walk out of there tonight is if this game is fair and square from the start.”
“He’s right, Colt,” Crue said, dialing Brock’s number.
As soon as Brock answered, Crue said, “We’ve got a problem.”
“No we don’t,” Brock assured him. “It’s handled. We’re in Vegas and have been for a few days. ”
The first thing Colt noticed when they entered Kelly’s suite were thick pieces of three-by-five glossy paper stuck to the areas where they’d previously affixed their small surveillance equipment.
Lorenzo removed the one above the door and with pure arrogance, handed him one of the photographs. “We’ve been here in this suite since the beginning. After we had the room swept and discovered your spying eyes, we photographed the room while it was empty, realizing you’d never bother to come over here and check.”
Colt wanted to slug him right then. Instead, he watched the casino employees as they worked to set up the poker table in the middle of the room. He swung his gaze to Lorenzo. “Where’s Kelly?”
“Resting,” he replied, wearing his smirk as proudly as some men wore a tailored suit.
“I want to see her.”
“Where’s your brother? I assumed he’d accompany you tonight.”
Colt snorted at that. “You said to come alone.”
“Indeed,” Lorenzo muttered.
Let Lorenzo and his men worry their criminal heads all night. Crue wouldn’t show his face there until absolutely necessary. “Take me to Kelly.”
“You’re welcome to go in the bedroom and see her for yourself.” His smile widened. “I’ve had enough of her today.”
“Why you sorry damn slime bag! I’ll put an end to you before this night is over. That’s a fucking promise!” Colt attacked him. Gripping his collar in between his hands, he glared at the man who’d abused Kelly, preyed on Daniel, and eventually made all of their lives a living hell by playing them like a game of craps, working too many side bets for the bystanders to understand what was happening straight down the middle.
“Go ahead, Mr. Candy,” Lorenzo challenged him, his demeanor cool. “Snap my neck. But when you do, make sure you understand the consequences. Every action provokes a reaction and it isn’t always pleasant for either side. Too often you want to undo the damage, repeat the detrimental play, but it’s impossible when so many lives are at stake. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Colt slowly released him. The burning anger in the pit of his soul needed an outlet, a real release.
“Go on, Mr. Candy,” Lorenzo said, indicating the door. “No one will die if you play by my rules until the last hand is dealt. You have my word.”
“Your word means nothing to me,” Colt snapped, stalking to the bedroom. Swinging the door wide, he marched inside and glared at a burly fellow sitting next to Kelly. “Leave, asshole.”
Lorenzo’s man sneered. “You’re as friendly as the woman, I see.”
After the door closed behind him, Colt hurried around the room, checking the closets and underneath the bed. He locked the door and went to Kelly. His heart stilled when he took a seat next to her. Brushing her hair away from her face, his pulse stopped as he noticed the black mascara marks down her cheeks.
She’d been crying. Fucking son of a bitch had made her cry. That alone spiked his need for retribution.
He dragged her body to his, wrapping his arms around her torso and holding her head against his middle. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“Colt?” Rousing from her sleepy state, she cupped his face. Her eyes appeared heavy. “I thought they’d kill you.”
“No,” he whispered, dragging his thumb across her bottom lip. “Kelly, has he drugged you?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so. I just haven’t been sleeping.”
“Kelly,” he paused. He wasn’t sure he could ask her if she’d been abused, but he needed to know. He had to know if they’d harmed her in any way. “I’m so sorry.” Instead of questioning her, he embraced her, roughly dragging her body against his.
“Colt, they didn’t touch me, not sexually,” she assured him, wiggling free of his grip.
“They didn’t?” He breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh God, Kelly.” His eyes watered. “Oh God, I don’t think I could’ve handled that.”
Tears pooled in her eyes, too, as she rested her palm against his cheek. “I promise. I’m fine.”
His cheeks filled with hot air and he steadily released a ragged breath. Realizing they didn’t have much time, he cradled her head between his hands and drew her to him. “Listen to me carefully.” He moved his mouth to her ear, inhaling her sweet honeydew scent before he spoke. “We’ve had the opportunity to research Lorenzo and his crew. He has a nasty habit of poisoning his victims. Do not drink or eat anything he gives you. Drink the water from the spigot.”
“Okay,” she whispered, turning her head and kissing the inside of his palm. Her wicked tongue traced the fine lines in his hand.
“Kelly,” he crooned, taking a deep breath.
“Just a quickie,” she whispered, her eyes filled with lust.
“I don’t have a condom,” he told her.
Her eyes flickered with desire. “And what’s the worst thing that can happen there? I’m on the pill and I happen to believe you haven’t been sleeping around.”
A hard knock pounded against the door. “Ten minutes, Candy!”
“Ten minutes,” he whispered, his cock already making the decision for him. He’d spend the next ten minutes loving his woman.
Rising to her knees, Kelly looped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. Her lips were succulent and warm, but her tongue. Good God, her tongue was like a serpent’s as she broke their connection and slid down his neck, finding those tender little spots that drove him mad.
Reaching for his belt, Kelly toyed with the leather as he freed himself. Her head was in his lap before he could lean back, bracing himself on his elbows.
Taking his cock between her lips, the little vixen suckled his dick, bouncing her head over him. Fisting a handful of hair, he guided her over his heavy penis, watching as her mouth filled with his size, her cheeks swelling with the weight of his swollen prick.
Popping her lips, she rose over him again. Pushing his back to the headboard, she lifted her flannel shirt, the only clothing she wore, and towered over him. Mounting him, she pressed down on his cock, her pussy enveloping him as her hands fell against his shoulders. “Fuck me, Colt.”
He cupped her face and kissed her like crazy as his cock impaled her. She nipped at his lips as he thrust higher.
Good God, she felt so warm and ready. Her pussy was like a silken channel, wet and soft, but tight enough to draw the hot spurt of his release in under a minute.
Bending his knees, he flattened his feet on the bed and drew her to an upright position, locking her legs around his waist. Throwing his arm behind him, he rose and fell with her body until he felt the tighter squeeze of her cunt.
“Don’t hold back, baby,” he crooned. “Come with me, pretty girl.”
Her head tilted sideways before flailing about and she screamed out as he pumped his cock inside her, filling her with his seed. Dragging his hand up and down her back, he jerked as his cum spilled deep inside her pulsing pussy.
“Colt,” she whispered, her forehead resting against his. “I love you, Colt.”
He felt the tug of his lips as he lowered them to hers. “And I’ve always loved you, baby.”
Slowly, she abandoned his body, acting as if sliding away from his cock took too much effort. “Colt, you have to listen to me. Lorenzo has spent the last week playing some of the best players in the business. He’s good. He’s called in several pros and paid them big bucks to train him. I’ve watched him play hundreds of hands since I’ve been here. I don’t know if you can beat him.”
He quickly dressed. “I can beat him.”
She thinned her lips. Her nostrils flared.
“I’m not worried about the game,” he admitted. “I’m concerned about you.” Cupping her ear, he whispered again, “This whole room is probably full of cameras.”
Her eyes sparkled. “You think that bothers me?”
“You always were my little exhibitionist,” he rasped, stroking her bottom as he held her. Lowering his mouth to her ear again, he said, “Let me tuck you in bed, sweetheart. I have a present for you, so maybe you can playfully throw a few covers over my head so I can give you a little bit of security.”
“Too bad it’s not the kind of gift you used to leave me for entertainment purposes,” she whispered back, nipping at his ear.