Page 15 of The Devil's Playground

“Yeah? Why’s that?”

He shrugs. “I’m hosting a private poker game in ten minutes. Big rollers only. I was hoping to invite you to it. There’s a chance to make a lot of money… but you know the drill.”

Miles’s greedy dark eyes dart down to the briefcase. “Cash in hand. Alright. Yeah. No, this is just a little chunk of change I brought to make sure Nicolette is free tonight.”

“Are you?”

Again, he sounds so aloof, but I can’t help but wonder why he seems so interested. Because I work here? Or is there something more to it?

“My shift is over at midnight.”

“And at 12:01, she’s coming home with me,” brags Miles.

Rolls raises his eyebrows. “You’re not taking her upstairs? That’s not how we do things at the Playground.”

I know why, too. It isn’t just that the Sinners expect a cut of their girls’ profits for renting the room upstairs. They—we—aren’t paying for the space. It’s the level of protection we’re assured, where if any of the wallets try to take more than they paid for, someone will be there to make sure they don’t.

“I know,” Miles agrees easily, though there’s a dare in the way he juts out his chin. “But for ten grand, I’d prefer to spend the rest of the night somewhere I’m comfortable.”

“I see. Well, if you’re interested in the game, come on by.”

“I will.”

He waits a moment to see if Rolls is going to walk away first. When my boss doesn’t, he mouths something to me—I pretend not to see—then shuffles away.

As soon as he’s gone, Rolls leans in so that I can hear him over the loud music. He obviously doesn’t want anyone else to listen in as he murmurs, “If you don’t want to go with him, you don’t have to.”

I know that. But if I don’t? I won’t get that money, either. “Thanks for looking out for me, Rolls. I appreciate it. But if he’s willing to pay…” I feel a little embarrassed admitting that, but what can I do? “You said, if I changed my mind about what I sell here…”

He nods as my voice trails off. “I get it. Okay. It’s my job to make sure to check in with you, but you’re right. It’s up to you if you want to go with him. But if you’re looking for some extra trips tonight, tell Jessie I said to put you onto the casino tables instead of the floor until your shift’s over. It’s only another half an hour or so, but every little bit helps, yeah?”

I nod. “Yeah. Thanks.”

His pretty blue eyes gleam warmly down at me. “Don’t mention it.”

It’s the first hint I see of the ice around him beginning to thaw, and I just wished that had happened before tonight.

FIVE

BET

ROYCE

Nicolette isn’t going anywhere with Miles Haines.

I didn’t talk her out of it. I didn’t expect to. From everything I’ve learned about this woman, once she makes up her mind about something, that’s it. If she gives her word, she’ll go through with it.

If I can’t figure out how to keep that wallet from walking out of here with her tonight, she’ll fuck him for all the money I saw in that briefcase.

I don’t know where he got that cash from. It doesn’t matter. I know Haines. I know his reputation, both at the poker table and with the girls upstairs. He’s got money, plenty of disposable cash he throws around to see like a big shot, but the most I’ve heard him paying the girls for their time is a grand, tops. For ten? Something’s not right.

Add that to how sure he is that he has to take her out of the Playground? I’ve never been able to pin him down on our turf, but I’ve heard rumors about the sick and twisted shit Haines does when he gets a woman alone. No foreplay. Rough sex that includes blood play, with or without consent. Forced anal with the excuse of ‘it slipped’. That shit doesn’t fly with our girls upstairs, but if he leaves and someone goes with him?

Unless they come to us to fix the problem, what can we do? If I went to Devil and asked to eliminate anyone with questionably kinks, he’d point out that he’d be one of the first in line to go. Especially when Haines could just say that she wanted it, and for the kind of paydays he provides, his victims often do.

I’d need proof to off one of the big spenders here. Link might let it pass if I pushed it, but with all of this truce bullshit happening lately… Haines doesn’t just frequent the Playground. He’s a regular on Dragonfly turf, too.

So I can’t pull rank and stop her; not as her boss, and not as a Sinner. But I’d be a shit fixer if I didn’t have a plan within the next five minutes of how I was going to accomplish that.

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