Page 115 of Devious Madness

“You like smacking my ass.”

“Almost as much as you like me doing it.” He pinches my arm. “Now shush. I need a nap.”

I watch the light dance off the jewel.

“Mrs. Mira Mikhailov. I guess that’s not so bad.”

“You don’t think Mario’s death will cause trouble?” Kaz tosses a card down on the table.

“No.” Rurik stretches his shoulder. “There’s been no tears shed for that bastard or his brothers.”

“I heard their mother didn’t even come home from Italy to attend their funerals.” Kaz shakes his head. “Even my mother came home for my father’s funeral. God knows he didn’t deserve it.”

“Any ideas who might be taking over the Gallo’s gambling ring?” I ask.

“So far, no one has tried,” Rurik answers.

I place my card down. “Ten of diamonds.My trick.”

I swipe up my winning hand and place the cards in my line of wins. One more trick and the game is mine.

“It’s a good thing we aren’t playing for money.” Rurik frowns at the single trick lying next to his drink.

“You don’t have any to spare?” Kaz teases. “I noticed Mira’s new car when she picked Elana up tonight.”

Rurik’s frown deepens. “I wanted Sergei to drive them.”

“You know Elana, she doesn’t want armed guards with her all the time. Even if Sergei drove Mira over, Elana would have ditched him somehow.” Kaz looks over his hand.

“You’re her brother; you should put your foot down.” Rurik drops a card.

“Oh, yes, just like you put your foot down with Mira.” I laugh. “Or Alexander puts his foot down with Megan.”

“I don’t know why you laugh.” Kaz takes a sip of his beer. “You get the same look in your eyes when a particular waitress makes her way around.”

“Don’t start.” I point a finger at him. “Leave her out of this.”

“Oh, no.” Kaz picks up his phone as it lights up with messages coming through.

“What’s wrong?” I lean over to get a look.

“Your sister.” He frowns, dropping his cards so he can use both hands to answer the texts.

I raise a brow. “She must be doing something wrong if she’s my sister.”

“Benji at the Black Pearl wants to cut her off.” Kaz swings his eyes to Rurik. “Well, her and the girls.”

“Mira is drunk? She’s driving!”

Kaz scrolls through his messages some more. “No, she’s not. Benji took her keys two margaritas ago.”

Rurik throws his cards down on the table. He gets up so quickly, his chair falls back. “I’ll go get them.”

Kaz grabs his suit jacket from the back of his chair, already getting his arms in the sleeves as he stands. “I’ll come, too. I’ll drop Megan and Elana at Alexander’s. Let him deal with them.”

Tossing my winning hand down, I down the rest of my drink. The game is over, and I should get downstairs to check in on the club. Alexander’s going to be busy with his drunk wife and our probably even more drunk sister.

“Mira swore she wasn’t going to drink if I let her take her new car.” Rurik grumbles while angrily shoving his arm through his jacket sleeve.

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