Chapter 6

• It’s the thrill of not getting caught that enticed me to cheat. It has nothing to do with the financial gain. I don’t need the money. But I do thrive on excitement and this is the most fun I have had in years—apart from last night with Bloss. I get a vision of her above me and I feel myself harden slightly under the table.
• God, she was so fucking on point.
• Mind.
• Body.
• Mind.
• Two men across the table are arguing about something, so I take a moment and glance down at my phone, scrolling through my pictures to find the photo I took of her while she slept. She’s naked and on her side with both hands underneath her angelic face. Her long, honey-colored hair is splayed across my pillow, and the white linen is draped over her body. It’s weird really—I have never been inspired to take a photo of a woman before then, but she just looked so gorgeous asleep in my bed… I couldn’t resist. I send the image to my cloud to save it. My phone beeps, alerting me to a text. It’s Joshua.
• If you get me barred from this casino
• I am going to break your fucking neck.
• I’m unable to hide my broad smile, and I glance around the room to see all of the security staff watching on. Joshua, my brother, is a millionaire app developer. His security staff go everywhere with him, and seeing as he is my best friend, they are everywhere with me, too. I’m used to it, but he’s completely right. If I get caught cheating here all hell is going to break loose. I smile across the table at him and wink. He raises a sarcastic brow. The round starts again and I start to count.
• “He’s counting cards!” the man opposite yells.
• My mouth drops open in mock horror and Joshua breaks into a smartass grin. Bastard wants me to get caught.
• “What are you fucking talking about?” I shuffle through my cards in a fluster.
• “He’s fucking cheating. I’m telling you!” he snaps.
• “I am not.” I roll my eyes. “Have another drink, you alcoholic.”
• The lunatic across the table goes ape-shit, lifting the table and throwing it in the air. Our drinks and cards are sent flying. Next thing I see, he is swinging punches in the air and, thankfully, he can’t fight for shit so is missing me every time. The bouncers come running in from every direction.
• “I’m going to kill you.” He snarls.
• “Yeah, well, throwing punches like that means you’ve got jack shit chance of that happening,” I mock as I step to the side to evade his next hit.
• Joshua bursts out laughing at this fool. He looks ridiculous doing air swings and not connecting a single hit.
• “You shut up or I will kill you, too!” he screams at Joshua.
• Joshua raises a brow. “Is that a threat?”
• “That’s a promise.”
• “Have a go, prick.” Joshua snarls as he steps forward and pushes him hard in the chest.
• He launches himself at me, instead, and I hit him once in the face before I am grabbed by the bouncers and ushered to the door with my arms held behind my back. “Take him downstairs to the police,” the bouncer yells to his co-worker.
• “What?” Shit, this could affect my criminal record. “I haven’t done anything wrong and I didn’t even receive a payout.”
• “He said you were cheating.”
• “He’s as drunk as a fucking mute. Why would you believe anything that came out of that fool’s mouth?” I argue as I am rushed toward the doors, out into the elevator area.
• The bouncers exchange looks as they realize they have nothing on me. They push me forward and I go flying. “Go back to your room immediately. You are not to come back on the gambling floor tonight.”
• I retract my arms from their grip. “I hate your fucking grubby casino anyway.” I dust my shirt off.
• I glance around at Joshua’s two security guards who have followed me out to the foyer, and I wave them back in. “I’m going back to the room. I’m tired. Tell the others I will catch them tomorrow.”
• “Yeah, okay.” They both turn and return to where they came from.
• I take the elevator to my floor and smile to myself as I walk along the corridor. That was kind of fun to be honest. Pity I didn’t get away with it.
• Next time.
• God, I’m so fucking tired. That chick wore me out last night. I smile at the memory. I’m going to ring her now and tell her just how much.
• I go to grab my phone and realize it’s not in my pocket.
• What?
• I feel all the pockets in my pants. Shit, where is my damn phone?
• I think for a moment and my mouth drops open in horror.
• Fuck’s sake. It was on the table when that idiot tipped it over. It could be anywhere now. I turn and jog back up to the high rollers room and am greeted by the same two security guards again. They step in front of the door, blocking my entrance.
• “Hi, I just left my phone inside. I won’t be a moment.”
• The biggest bouncer shakes his head. “You’re not coming in.”
• “Yeah, I know I’m not coming in. I just want to get my phone.”
• “No.”
• I screw up my face. “Oh, fuck off. I’m getting my phone.” I go to brush past them and they block my entrance once more.
• “Get someone else to get it for you.”
• “If I had my phone, I would fucking ring them and tell them to get it. I don’t have my phone!” I snap.
• “Too bad.”
• “This is ridiculous. I want my phone.” Fuck, her number is on there. If I lose it, I have no way of contacting her. I start to get agitated. “I’m going back in,” I announce.
• “Like fuck you are.”