Page 5 of Big Beefy Kingpin

You feel unstoppable.

For one brief second, you’re in the sky, at one with the wind. That is until you hit the cold hard ground beneath you and break all your front teeth and give yourself a concussion.

Yeah, well, I’m that dumb kid that didn’t know when to stop.

I should have stopped when I realized I could take home ten thousand dollars. No, that would have only kept a roof over my head for two months, so I had to keep going. Swinging higher and faster until I was at twenty thousand dollars and excitement filled my throat.

A little more.

Just one more game and then two and then three and now…I’m fucked.

I can feel his eyes on me. They are laser sharp, piercing through my body with an intensity that is unlike anything I have ever felt before.

Glancing at him discreetly under my lashes, I take him in. Long midnight black hair and a square jaw that could cut through glass; with the way he is dressed, he is more than just security. He must be someone of rank in the casino as his presence is enough to make our dealer nervous.

I suck in a shaky breath and look up again to find him watching me with a laser focus, and it’s then that I realize that there is no leaving here.

At least not with my winnings.

Oh, Christ!I should have stopped when I had the chance.

Whatever happened to not raising suspicion about myself?

“Hey, Scarlett, how many drinks did you have?” Quinn whispers from beside me and I turn to my friend who is staring up at her cousin with a silly grin on her face.

“I bet Sheila that I would take a shot for every game I lost,” Scarlett whispers before breaking into a fit of giggles. “I lost all of them.”

“You’re wasted,” Quinn says. “Let’s get you back to the hotel before Maverick kills me for letting his little fiancé get plastered.”

“What? No!” Scarlet says with a pout. “I don’t want to leave yet. I want to play more games and spend more money. Maybe Ivy can teach me how to win a game.”

“Scar…”

Scarlett shakes her head, dark hair swinging all over the place, unwilling to leave but it’s clear to all of us that she is as drunk as a skunk. I have never seen my friend this wasted and it would be hilarious if my heart wasn’t pounding in my throat.

“We have to leave, Scar. I bet Maverick is waiting for your call before –”

At the mention of her fiancée’s name, Scarlett perks up and is already heading for the exit before Quinn can finish her statement, leaving all her stuff behind.

Quinn lets out a sigh, rolling her eyes before picking up Scarlett’s bag. She turns to leave before stopping and swinging around to face me.

“Luna and I will take Scarlett back to the hotel. The other girls mentioned wanting to stay back to party a little longer. Do you want to leave with us or are you okay to get back by yourself?”

No!

I want to scream for them to not leave me behind here, but I can’t leave without taking my winnings with me. I need this money to take care of all the bills waiting for me back in New York.

Christ, what did I get myself into?

“Ivy?” Quinn asks, placing a hand on my shoulder but I can tell her attention is on the exit that Scarlett disappeared through.

“I…” my throat threatens to close and when I look up to meet the sharp brown eyes staring at me a few feet away, a chill passes through my bones. “I’ll stay a little longer. Please take care of Scar.”

“Of course,” Quinn whispers, squeezing my arms before rushing out after Scarlett. I watch Quinn and her friend Luna quickly exit before turning to the other girls.

“Let’s go play something else,” Sheila suggests but I simply shake my head, nudging the girls to go on ahead without me. I notice their reluctance to leave me alone but I plaster on a reassuring smile. Promising them that I’ll seek them out as soon as I’ve collected my winnings.

The girls leave, albeit reluctantly, and when they are gone I find myself all alone at the table with the nervous dealer.

---