Page 24 of Love on the Line

Chapter 9

Parkedin Anne’s apartment lot, Devon drummed his fingers on the steering wheel of the dented, weathered pickup truck he’d bought. The piece of junk fit in with the other vehicles and wouldn’t stand out at any hick bar she might go to again.

He’d done his homework and checked out Wyatt Pearson, the former pro-football player who had met Anne at a diner. Just like Devon’s brother, another star athlete. Devon’s gut roiled. Made him want to take Pearson down.

He jerked to attention when Pearson’s Lexus pulled into Anne’s apartment complex. The asshole must have managed a second date with her. Needles pricked Devon’s backbone.

Anne opened the door and Pearson entered. A few minutes later, he and Anne came down the stairs and got into his car. Devon followed them to a chain restaurant with a full parking lot. Cheap bastard couldn’t afford fine dining with all his franchise money? If this was Pearson’s game plan, he’d be easy to one up.

With the crowd, dinner would take a while. Devon waited a minute to make sure they didn’t bail, then doubled back to Anne’s apartment.

Since it was dark, the old lady across from Anne’s wouldn’t be going out. He’d spent days and nights surveilling the place to get a handle on people’s schedules. The hag never went anywhere after sunset, and she was the only one he needed to worry about being close enough to see him.

Devon picked Anne’s lock, entered her apartment, and shut the door. The place was small and modestly furnished. It fit a teacher’s salary. A few seashore pictures adorned the walls, and a gold-framed mirror hung in the entranceway. Wait until she got a load of his mansion, which she would, soon.

Too bad he didn’t have time to snoop around and gather more information about her. Not worth the risk or the bother. He had her number. And he’d have her.

After he bugged the rooms and landline, careful to leave everything as he found it, he locked the door on the way out.

He scowled as he drove. Pearson might have some short-lived celebrity status, but Anne had no idea what Devon had to offer. He’d blow that soon-to-be-has-been out of the water.

His phone dinged. He stopped for a red light and glanced at the screen. A text from Jake telling him to call when he had a chance. He’d make the time. They went way back.

Devon had grown up in foster care after his family died in a fire. For five years he’d been passed from home to home and used by people to get government handouts. Hard to say which was worse, the fondlings or the beatings.

At age fifteen, he ran away and took up with the carnies. It wasn’t a complete waste of his life. They taught him how to play poker, and he escaped the foster nightmare, but he was destined for better things. He waited for the right opportunity, which came when he decided to take his poker skills to the next level.

Vegas. That’s where he met Jake and his life changed for the better. He’d worked his way into the high-stakes poker games when one day two bouncers escorted him to the casino owner’s office.

“Been watching you, boy,” said Jake.

“Yeah, why?” Devon asked.

The two guys who’d muscled him there stood in front of the door, blocking the exit.

“I’m trying to figure you out. I’ve never seen a kid play poker like you. Not a single tell, no matter what cards you’re dealt.” Jake leaned back in his chair and folded his hands across his ample belly. “No sunglasses, no hat. You’re beating players twice and three times your age. I don’t get it.”

“Well I’m not cheating, so what’s your beef?”

Jake’s gaze bored into his. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-one.”

“Bullshit.” Jake stared him down for a long, silent moment. “Time to turn you in.”

Devon said nothing. He sat perfectly still; his eyes locked with Jake’s.

A slow smile formed on Jake’s face. “Damn. This must be how you do it. You gotta be scared or pissed or fucking something, but I have no clue what you’re thinking.”

“Why am I still here?” Devon tapped his fingers on the arm of the upholstered chair.

“You’re a cocky son of a bitch, aren’t you?”

Devon merely shrugged.

Jake unfolded his hands and leaned forward. “Here’s the thing. I could use someone like you around here. You help me, I help you.”

Devon arched a brow, and after a pause, he nodded. “I’m listening.”

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