Page 80 of Burn for Me

“Go grab us some drinks, Darlin’,” I whisper, pressing my covered mouth to the side of Jasmine's head.

“Try not to lose our fortune.” She teases, and I let out a forced chuckle to maintain the façade, even though my body is itching to snap at her for how quickly she pulls away.

“This is quite the event.” Pulling out a chair, I track Jasmine's figure through the crowd. Her flaming red dress makes her easy to spot, but it dips in and out of the crowd of people as she weaves through.

“She's free to mingle if she wants,” Casey says, unbuttoning his shirt as he sits. My attention is drawn to the motion, and I glimpse his pistol.

“That won't be necessary. I prefer to keep her close.”I like to know she's safe.Leaning back in my chair, I clasp my hands over my abdomen and spread my legs.

“Where were we, boys?” A man in the corner claps his hands impatiently. Judging by his posture and demeanor, he is older than the rest at the table, yet he wears the same mask.

I roll my neck and glance back at Jasmine as she leans against the bar.

“Well, Rurik was bitching about his house, and Diego…” Casey raises his hand irritably towards the man on his right, “was kicking our asses.”

The dealer sets some cards in front of me, and I reach into my pocket for my wallet, but Casey stops me with a harsh scoff, causing me to pause.

“We all have enough money,” Casey whispers, leaning back in his chair and lifting his mask just enough to take a drink. A nasty gash runs along his lip, and he winces as the liquid touches it.

“Then what's the point of gambling?” I huff in response.

Diego leans forward on one elbow, raising his mask to rest on his head with the other hand. His expression is unreadable and slightly unsettling, especially since his eyes seem to be two completely different colors in this lighting.

"Secrets. Who cares about a penny when you can hold years' worth of blackmail over government officials and celebrities?"

Jasmine returns, and I pull her into my lap, wrapping my arm securely around her waist. Her presence seems to shut the idiots up; they lean back in their relaxed seats and pick up their cards. Jasmine takes a sip from a tall glass and taps my arm, prompting me to lift my hand so she can see my cards.

“And just to specify, I wasn't‘bitching’about my house. I can build a new one. It's the fact that those bastards not only took something but endangered Dove in the process.”

Jasmine suddenly goes stiff, prompting me to check if I’ve placed my hand awkwardly. I squeeze her waist, but she doesn’t respond. Instead, she scans the area as if looking for someone.

Not now, little devil.She needs to focus on the mission. It feels hypocritical to say that when I can’t concentrate on anything but her behavior.

"I think the only danger around Dove is you." Casey huffs out a laugh. Rurik growls something under his breath as he throws acard at the dealer, who scrambles to pick it up off the floor before handing him a new one.

"Where is she, anyway?" Diego mutters, waving his hand with the cards, prompting the dealer to turn his attention toward me. Jasmine seems to have regained her composure; she taps the Ace in my hand and takes another sip of her drink.

“Got pissed about meunintentionallyscaring her…again. Told her father she wasn't coming.”

“Yeah, like Connor will let that happen. There's no way he'll let his daughter out of sight after what happened to the last. Besides, I'm sure you gave them awarning.”

As he speaks, Casey tosses another card onto the pile, and Rurik shakes his head.

“What happened to the last one?” I ask, unable to sit silently without drawing attention to myself. The room goes still, and I can sense I’ve touched a nerve. Even Jasmine freezes, her breathing becoming noticeably different.

“Connor's wife, Lacy, pissed off the wrong people. After their house was burnt to the ground, he shipped the oldest off somewhere.” Rurik mutters quietly, barely audible, over Diego's cursing. I notice Jasmine has won my hand, but she doesn't appear happy when I look at her. I take a deep breath, easing my hold on her and gently brushing my fingers against her skin as I finally process the fact that we're discussingherlife.

“So, who hands over the secrets?” My voice is monotone as I lean my mouth to the side of her head, trying to calm her down. The dealer steps away from behind the table, and no one provides an answer. Instead, they all continue their conversations.

“We’re losing time like this,”Caspian says.

I clear my throat and move my hand to Jasmine's thigh, slipping it beneath the slit in her dress. She takes the hint and lets out a long sigh.

“I thought you said this was going to be fun.”

“Darlin’, I’m sure it will be.”

“You’re bored?” Casey perks up, and I grip her leg a little harder.Mine. His focus shifts to the motion, and he tilts his head back with a laugh.

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