Luck of the Devil (The Forge Trilogy #2)(61)

“Sleep, Indy. I’ll go through the rest. You’ll be ready tomorrow. I promise.”

Strong arms slide under my body and lift me.

I curl into his heat. “You need sleep too.”

“I’m used to going without. I’ll be fine.”

“But—” Whatever I was going to say is silenced with the press of his lips on mine.

“Sleep, Ace. We got this.”





65





Forge





I’ve felt pride before. Like when I caught my first fish, and Isaac ruffled my hair and taught me how to clean and fry the fish for dinner. Or when I made my first purchase of a cargo ship, and Isaac beamed with approval. When my assets hit the billion-dollar mark, and I knew he’d be smiling down on me from above for being a good steward of his legacy.

But I’ve never felt pride like I do right now, watching Indy sweep her first game with the notorious Chen Yang at the table. The man’s placid features stiffen with each hand, as he realizes there’s nothing he can do to stop her. She’s a beast. Cunning, yet brilliant in her strategy for betting and goading him, while handling the rest of the players at the table like they barely exist on her radar.

It’s a master class in poker, and the crowd around the table has grown to the point where people are shoving to get a better look at Indy. Her dress, a bold purple satin number, is more suited for evening, but she wears it like royalty.

When the game ends, the other players at the table rise and clap—all but Yang. He hangs his head in shame, a feeling he’s probably not accustomed to dealing with.

Indy waves at the people watching, collects her chips, and steps away. Goliath is at her side instantly to take the trays, and she hands them off without a question as she scans the crowd for me. As soon as she sees me, standing just off to the side of the crowd where I could get a better view, the most dazzling smile stretches across her lips as she runs toward me, not missing a single step in her tall heels.

She launches herself at me. “I won! Against Chen!”

Joy, like I’ve never felt before, fills my entire being as I catch her with open arms, lifting her into the air.

“You didn’t just win, you schooled the poor bastard so badly, he may never show his face again.”

Indy lets out a squeal as I spin her around and carry her away from the encroaching crowd. Donnigan and Goliath keep them at a distance as we steal away to a corner.

I put Indy on her feet, and she bounces like a kid at Christmas.

“I can’t fucking believe that just happened. First game.”

“You made a hell of a splash.” My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard for the last few hours as Indy destroyed Yang.

“I was torn. I could let him win, and stay a sleeper player, but too many people in this room already know me and my reputation. They’ve probably studied me like I’m studying them.”

“So you said fuck it and crushed him?”

“Yes, and it felt incredible.” She leans up and presses a kiss to my lips. “Thank you for making that possible.”

I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to Indy kissing me without being asked, but I vow in that moment that I’ll never take it for granted.

“It was all you, Ace.” I wrap an arm around her waist. “Let’s get some food and water in you, and get you back down to play the next game.”





The morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. Indy wins soundly at every table. She takes out one more favorite and wipes away plenty of mid-list hopefuls. No one in the room can tear their eyes off her, least of all me.

When the last card has finally been dealt, I sweep in to get her chips and hand them off to Goliath.

“You’re about to be swamped with people who want to talk to you, and that’s not what you need right now.” I whisper it against her ear, picking up the subtle hint of citrus from her hair.

Her posture started to droop in the last game, and I know the daylong event has taken a toll on her, even if no one else would notice.

“Oh God, I don’t want to talk to anyone. I’m talked out. My brain is mush.”

I jerk my head at Goliath, and he and Donnigan form a protective barrier around us. “Then we’ll get you to the room, and you can chill out in the tub.”

“But I need to study too.”

“You chill in the tub, and I’ll help.”

Instead of replying, she thanks me with another kiss that I add to my tally.





66





India





When Bates opens the door to the penthouse, the scent of food makes my stomach rumble. Even though Forge has kept me fed and hydrated all day, the last game seemed endless. I’ve been dying for some quiet, and for my hands to be empty of cards and chips.

Forge pauses at the doorway, giving orders to the men before closing the door behind him.

I’ve already fallen on dinner like a ravenous beast, and I can’t bring myself to care. Across the table from my heaping plate of pasta, Forge cuts into his steak with a grin. Obviously, he doesn’t mind either.

“Oh, damn, this is good.” Fresh veggies keep it light and crisp, but the sauce coating the chicken and noodles is delicious. I fork up another bite as I swallow.