No Limit (Armed & Dangerous #1)(22)

Aylee could sense the tension and glanced at me out of the corner of her eye. I wanted to pick her up over my shoulder and carry her out of the room so no one could think about her. I knew what was on their minds; it wasn’t hard to guess.

“Miss McFadden,” Drake called.

Gritting my teeth, I watched her gracefully walk over, her head held high, confident. Everything about her was intriguing. Instead of walking over to Drake, she walked over to me and sat down on the edge of my chair. “I must admit, sir, you have me at a disadvantage. You know my name but I don’t know yours,” she said.

He stood and extended his hand. “Drake Blackwell.” Aylee took his hand and instead of shaking it, he lifted it to his lips. Arrogant bastard. “I wanted to see if you and Mr. Avery would like to join us at my house this weekend. That’s where the true fun begins.”

“I see, and what kind of fun are you talking?”

He smirked. “Let’s just say you have to be willing to gamble with just about anything. You interested?”

Aylee turned to look at me, her gaze searching mine, but she knew it was what we had to do. Plastering on a fake smile, she focused back on Drake. “Sounds intriguing. I’ll be there.”

“Mr. Avery?” Drake asked, lifting his brows.

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

Will cleared his throat and stood. “All right, time to play. Let’s go, gentlemen . . . and ladies. Be prepared to empty your wallets tonight. I’m feeling lucky.”

I wished I was; I felt the opposite. I was leading Aylee into a den of wolves, and I didn’t like it at all. I had never failed on a mission and I wasn’t going to let this one be my first. I had to protect her, no matter the cost.





“Aylee, you know you don’t have to go to Drake’s,” Diane whispered, concern in her voice.

I snapped back and gave her my attention. “Are you afraid something’s going to happen?”

She sighed. “You seem like a smart, young woman and I know you can do more with your life than what you’re doing. Why don’t you come work for me? I’ll pay you well and you won’t have to worry about getting your money this way.”

“What exactly do you do?”

“I design clothes.”

I laughed. “That’s the last thing you’d want my help on.”

“You wouldn’t be designing clothes, silly girl. I’d hire you to be my assistant. I’ve always wanted one and since you and I get along so well, I think it could work. What do you say?”

Turning my body toward her, I spoke low. “You never answered my question. Are you worried something’s going to happen to me?”

Her jaw clenched. “All I know is, girls are getting hurt and I don’t want you going down that same path.”

“Did you know some of them?”

“Not personally. I’d never talked to them like I do with you. They were focused on earning their money, not caring who or what they had to do to get it.”

It was in that moment when I really got a good look at her. “Do you have kids, Diane?”

She sat back, her brows furrowed. “Why do you ask?”

“You’re so much like my mother, or the way my mother was. She died when I was young. I never realized how much I missed talking to her until now.”

Her eyes misted. “I’m sorry to hear about your mother. And no, we don’t have kids. William and I weren’t able to have any. With our work schedules, it probably worked out for the best. About next weekend though, what are you going to do?”

The game came to a close and the men stood. Squeezing her hand, I looked into her eyes and said, “Don’t worry about me. I know how to take care of myself.”

Jason walked over and I caught a glimpse at the large bills he just stashed in his pocket. “You ready to go?” I nodded and took his arm. “Diane, it was a pleasure seeing you again,” he said.

“Likewise.” Then Diane focused on me. “I’d like you to consider my offer. How about next Monday we go shopping and I can give you a taste of what it is I do?”

“I’d like that.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. I can pick you up at the hotel late morning. I’ll give you a call Sunday to confirm.”

More like confirm I was still alive. She knew something and I was going to make sure I figured out what it was. “I’ll see you then.”

She nodded at Jason and then glanced at me one more time before she took off toward Will.

“We have a lot to talk about,” he murmured in my ear.

“You have no idea.”





“Thank God, we’re back,” I stated, kicking my high heels off.

“No shit. Tonight was hard as hell. Having to listen to those cocksuckers talk about you made me so goddamned pissed I couldn’t see straight. And we’ll be right back into the thick of things this weekend.”

“Isn’t that what we’ve planned since the beginning?”

Sighing, he ran his hands over his face. “Yeah, but I’ve grown to care about you and it f*cking blows. We need to talk about what we’re going to do . . . what you’re going to do.”

“That’s great and all, but I need to get out of this dress before I do anything else.”