Chapter 57

The chandeliers were a little too dusty to sparkle, and red carpet was worn thin under my feet, and it all felt like a world away from my usual haunts. In all fairness that’s exactly what it was. The only gambling I’d ever done had been around a kitchen table, so even a subpar casino was a huge change of scenery for me.

I resisted the urge to adjust my wig, since that would rather give away the fact that it was a wig, but it did feel strange to suddenly have bangs and a bob. The world looked a little odd through the green contact lenses, but I felt like it was safe to say I was unrecognizable. I’d even gotten a temporary tattoo of a bird to put across my chest, just to throw the trail off a little more.

I knew no one would recognize me, so why was I so damn on edge?

Probably the abundance of security guards, Olivia, I scoffed to myself. Or maybe the fact that you walked into an enemy operation alone? Oh wait, you’re not alone, you have your baby with you!

I knew this was the best choice we had, but now that I was in here and surrounded by potential attackers my nerves were fraying.

I sidled up to a craps table, feigning interest (and calm) while observing the flow of patrons and staff. I looked around idly, subtly clocking the exits and security cameras. My gaze lingered on my ultimate target—the owner's personal blackjack table, where she held court surrounded by burly guards.

"Easy, Olivia," I muttered under my breath. "You've got all night. Play it cool."

I sensed someone coming up behind me, but I had assumed they were here to watch the craps game too so I was startled when a hand grabbed my elbow. "Well hello there, gorgeous," a middle-aged man in an ill-fitting suit leered. "Care to blow on my dice for luck?"

This man was not worth the scare he’d just given me. I wished I could sneer at him. Instead I extricated my arm, forcing a tight smile—had to play nice to stay.

"No thank you,” I said, as politely but firmly as I could. “I prefer to play my own games."

He crowded closer, alcohol heavy on his breath. "Don't be like that, sweetheart. I could show you a real good time."

My wolf bristled beneath my skin, already too close to the surface and urging me to put this creep in his place. I couldn’t afford to cause a scene, though, not with security stationed seemingly every other foot from me. Though Matt said they’d taken security here very seriously, so they’d probably come to help a girl being harassed by a drunk…

"I'm not interested," I said firmly, meeting his bloodshot eyes. If this didn’t work then I’d raise my voice a little, just enough to get guards over here. "Please leave me alone."

His face darkened almost comically fast, and I inwardly cursed. This son of a bitch was going to make this hard for me, wasn’t he? "Listen here, you little tease-"

Anger surged through me (I was in jeans and a loose fitting t-shirt, in what world did that scream ‘come fuck me’?) but before I could open my mouth to call out there was a man between me and the creep. Oh, good, I thought, I’m not even going to have to cause a fuss.

"The lady said no,” the second man said, tone coldly insistent. “I suggest you move along."

The man was standing with his back to me, so I couldn’t make out his face, but it must have been thunderous because my harasser clearly didn’t like this turn of events. He probably thought the new player on the board was a body guard, just like I initially did, but at second glance he was definitely a patron. Just a patron with a really intimidating face, apparently.

My harasser opened his mouth to argue, but something in the masked man's stance made him think better of it. He skulked away, muttering curses. The new man just stood there with his arms crossed, watching the creep go.

With the drunk no longer a threat, I turned my attention to my supposed ‘savior.’ I appreciated him stepping in, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t wary of his motive. He had scent blockers on, but even without scenting his secondary gender it was obvious this man was strong enough to take me on in a fight.

I exhaled slowly, torn between relief and wariness. What was this guy’s angle?

That concern only increased as the man turned to face me, revealing a full-face black mask that completely concealed his identity. His clothes and shoes were immaculate, too—this place was clearly way below his income range, and while he wasn’t the only one using a mask tonight he still stuck out like a sore thumb.

The masked man turned to me, his eyes glinting through the slits of his disguise. "Are you alright?" His voice was low, with a hint of familiarity that set my nerves on edge.

I nodded curtly. "I'm fine, thank you. I could have handled it."

He chuckled, the sound sending an unexpected shiver down my spine—not an entirely unpleasant one. "I'm sure you could have. But why risk making a scene when you're trying to blend in?"

I frowned, not liking how perceptive this stranger seemed to be, but liking how comfortable I was around him even less. Even my wolf had relaxed a little when he showed up, and in spite of my wariness she hadn’t shown any concern through this entire interaction. "What makes you think I'm trying to blend in?"

He shrugged, his broad shoulders rolling beneath an expertly tailored suit. "Just a hunch. You've been circling the room, watching more than playing. It's an interesting strategy."

I forced myself to relax, adopting a coy smile. "Perhaps I'm just choosy about my games."

"Speaking of games," he leaned in slightly, "I've been looking for a partner for some of the two-player tables. Care to join me?"

My wolf stirred, curious rather than alarmed. It was odd; usually, she was far more wary of strangers. I studied the man, trying to place why he seemed so familiar. "I don't know you," I said carefully.

He spread his hands. "That's the beauty of it, isn't it? We're all strangers here, hiding behind masks and false names. But I promise, I'm an excellent gambler."

I weighed my options. I did need to start playing soon to avoid suspicion, and having a partner might provide better cover for observing the room.

I hesitated for just a moment, my instincts warring with the necessity of maintaining my cover. Then, pushing aside my lingering doubts, I extended my hand.

"Deal," I said, sticking my hand out for a shake. "Let's play."

His grip was firm, warm through the thin material of his gloves. As our hands met, a spark of... something... passed between us. My wolf perked up, suddenly more alert.

"Excellent," he purred, his voice low and rich. "I think we'll make quite the formidable team."

As he led me towards one of the two-player tables, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something crucial. The familiarity nagged at me, like an itch I couldn't quite scratch. Those scent patches hid his scent so entirely that I couldn’t use it to identify him, either, but he somehow didn’t feel like a stranger.

My pulse quickened, both from excitement and a touch of apprehension as he guided me towards the team baccarat. What exactly had I gotten myself into?