Page 1 of Assassin Daddy

Chapter 1

Kyan

1 YEAR AGO

The atmosphere around the table was bubbling up toward boiling point, just like it always did when the stakes began to rise. This was Vegas, and the lights were just as bright as always. Kyan knew that he was gambling way beyond his means, but at the same time this was the way he had always played...

High risk.

High reward.

Living in the moment.

‘Hit me,’ Kyan said, nodding at the dealer and doing his very best not to show any emotion.

Kyan might have looked like he didn’t have a care in the world, but underneath his innocent and breezy exterior, Kyan’s heart was thumping as the scale of the gamble became all too clear. Over the years, Kyan had learned how to keep his nerves in check though – something that his wonderful grandfather had helped him with back when he was young.

Play it cool.

Breathe.

Let them think you’re an innocent boy…

Kyan knew that he needed the cards to fall in his favor. So far, the evening had been mixed, with some good hands being dealt and some others that weren’t quite so kind. But Kyan had a good feeling about this one. Maybe it wasn’t a total knockout of a hand, but it was strong enough to just about warrant the risk…

‘I’m good,’ Kyan said, again keeping his voice calm and devoid of any expression.

As he subtly cast his eyes around the table, Kyan could see that the remaining players were looking ready to fold. They might have stronger cards than him for all Kyan knew, but if his cold and calm bluff could work then he would be in the money and ready to walk away.

‘I’m out,’ the handsome guy with the dark glasses said, flicking his cards onto the table.

‘Me too,’ the woman in her mid-forties with the dark jacket and white t-shirt said.

There was one player left who was standing between Kyan and his biggest win of the year. Kyan might have been twenty-two years old and a country boy at heart, but when it came to gambling, he had the toughness of a true big city badass.

Kyan shot a look at the remaining player and ran his hand through his chestnut colored hair. The man standing between Kyan and winnings worth a year’s rent on his city apartment wasn’t giving anything away. He was in his forties, dark glasses,black t-shirt… and pretty damn handsome too. But Kyan wasn’t looking for a man… he was looking for abigwin.

‘Count me out,’ the man said, shaking his head ruefully as as put his cards on the table and wasted little time in standing up to leave. ‘Well done. Enjoy your winnings.’

With that, Kyan was victorious.

And despite his cool as a cucumber exterior, Kyan’s heart was racing inside his chest faster than he could remember in a long time. The truth of the matter was that Kyan had been on a losing streak for some time, and this win was the kind of cash injection that he had been desperate for.

‘Thank you,’ Kyan said, taking his chips from the dealer and letting out a flash of a smile as the small crowd around the table wished him well. ‘Take it easy guys. Have fun… and don’t take risks like me!’

As he was about to leave the table, Kyan caught a glimpse of two somewhat unsavory looking men in the mid distance. Both of them were well over six feet tall and had the look of off-duty security guards. Kyan suspected that they might have been undercover casino security, but there was something about them that was giving him the jitters. The two men may or may not have been looking in Kyan’s direction, but he knew enough about casino life to know that if in doubt, it was time to get out.

They’re probably not even looking at me.

I’m being paranoid.

But… I’m going to move my butt out of here either way.

Kyan laughed nervously and made his way to the reception area so that he could cash his chips. The card game had been tough,very stressful, and a far cry from the old card games Kyan used to play with his grandparents as a young boy back on the ranch.

But with the money in the bank, it was time to forget his worries and meet his friends for some Little fun… Las Vegas style!

PRESENT DAY

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