Luck of the Devil (The Forge Trilogy #2)(22)

I grit my teeth together, hating that he knows exactly how he affects me. I cross my arms over my chest and pop my hip.

“Fine. Now, where’s my money? Oh, and by the way, I’m taking the chopper. I am Mrs. Forge, after all, aren’t I?”





20





Forge





Three hours later, I watch the chopper hover over the blue water holding three of the most trusted members of my security team, and a woman who probably wouldn’t cry at my funeral if I got pushed off a cliff. More than likely, she’d be the one to shove me over.

India wasn’t supposed to affect me like this. She wasn’t supposed to get under my skin and into my blood. She wasn’t supposed to entertain me and challenge me.

We all know how that worked out.

Now she’s on her way to a game in Mallorca. Every instinct tells me I should have gone with her, but I couldn’t. A very important visitor will arrive here in two hours, and India’s not ready to meet her father yet. Not by a long shot.

Grigory Federov won’t be happy either when he realizes the daughter he’s expecting to be reunited with isn’t here. But that’s my choice. I refuse to spring something like this on her before she’s ready. For now, I’d rather face his wrath alone.

Especially when he finds out that I didn’t just find his daughter . . .

I married her.





21





India





Forge’s ego knows no bounds. I’m settled between three hulking men, all of whom look like former black-ops types who kill people for fun and hide bodies in their spare time.

I’ve nicknamed them Batman, Spiderman, and Superman in my mind, because I was arguing about not needing any kind of security when Forge told me their names, and now I feel like too much of an asshole to ask after the fact since I already forgot them. I mean, they should be flattered, right? They’re the best superheroes the comic-book world has to offer.

When we land on Mallorca, I reach for the small duffel bag at my feet, but Superman, who wears a royal-blue shirt beneath his dark suit, grabs it for me.

“I’ll carry that for you, Mrs. Forge.”

Hearing him address me by that name is strange as hell, but I suppose that’s who I am now. And since I’m already basking in the luxury that comes with the title, I might as well own it.

“I should’ve been comped a room at the casino.”

Spiderman, the youngest-looking of the three who gives off Peter Parker vibes, nods. “We’ve secured the penthouse, and Mr. Forge directed his assistant to have a hairstylist, makeup artist, and personal shopper meet you upon your arrival.”

Mr. Forge did what?

I look at Spiderman like he lost his damn mind along with his Spidey sense. “Excuse me?”

“Mr. Forge wanted to make sure you had everything you needed.”

That shouldn’t send a whoosh of lust through me, but of course my traitorous body doesn’t listen.

“Is he planning on making some kind of grand entrance, and he wants me to be properly outfitted on his arm?”

Spiderman shakes his head. “No, ma’am. He has a business meeting and won’t be leaving the island tonight.”

“Who is he meeting with?” My mind riots, thinking of him having a cozy dinner for two with that bitch Juliette.

“I’m afraid I don’t know, but Mr. Forge prefers to meet in his own territory.”

Of course he does.

I bite down on my lip and take a deep breath. Forge made the stipulation about not sharing. He didn’t just spank me, hand me a million dollars, and send me on my way so he could get a piece of ass. I don’t care who he’s meeting. I will not let my brain psych me out. I’m here to work.

I paste a smile on my face before I speak again. “Wonderful. Then there’s no chance of my concentration being disturbed tonight.” I look at each man’s face. “Which means . . . I would be forever in your debt if all three of you could figure out how to do your job without making it look like you’re doing your job.”

“But, Mrs. Forge—”

When Batman, the guy dressed in all black with a Bruce Wayne look about him, tries to chime in, I silence him with a raised finger.

“I swear I’m not trying to make your life harder. I know you have orders. I get it. But I’m here to outplay and out-bluff every man at the table, and I can’t do that while you’re hovering over my shoulder. There has to be some middle ground that we can all live with, because I need to win tonight.”

Because I can’t be dependent on Forge for every nickel and dime I want to spend, I add silently to myself.

Each man nods, but only Superman replies.

“Understood, Mrs. Forge.”

“Are you sure? Because I can’t have any of you looking like you’re working as a team and sending signals to one another or to me. If you do, I’ll be tossed out on my ass for being a cheater. My reputation will go to shit, and I’ll never get to sit a decent game again. That’s a chance I can’t take. Understand?”

This time, I get three “yes, ma’am” responses in unison.

“Glad we’re clear,” I tell them with a blindingly bright smile.