Back in Her Husband's Bed

Jerry didn’t look at her as they walked, stopping only at the end of the hallway to open the door to one of the rooms. There was no room number, just a sign that designated the space as private.

He shoved her inside and to her surprise, it was less of a hotel room and more of an office space like Nate’s quarters. There was a seating area with a television, a conference table with leather chairs and a desk piled high with paperwork.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“This used to be the suite where George Reed ran his casino. Any decisions were made in this very room. Nate, of course, wanted something a little flashier with his makeover, so he allowed me to use the space when I came back here to work for him.”

“And why are we here?”

Before he could answer, Eddie Walker appeared through the doorway that led to living quarters of some kind. She was right. This had nothing to do with Nate. But everything to do with Tessa. It had never occurred to her that Nate wouldn’t be the only one angry with her stunt today.

“Sit down, Annie.” Eddie pointed to one of the seats surrounding a glass coffee table. When she hesitated, she felt the hard prod of the gun in her rib cage and it urged her forward.

She flopped into the chair, able at last to look at Jerry. She’d met him once over the past week but had never really given the man much notice. Nate had spoken of him a few times, grateful that a man with his experience was there to help him keep operations on track. She knew he’d worked with Nate’s grandfather for years, then came back to work with Nate after an unfulfilling retirement, but that was it. No reason to suspect or ever consider Jerry had any reason to hold a gun on her.

“You played well today,” he said, lowering himself calmly into the opposite chair. “As always, I enjoy watching you. You’re so much better than Tessa. Sometimes it’s all we can do to keep her from putting herself out of the game, much less win.”

Annie didn’t know where they were going with this, but Jerry had the gun, so he could talk as long as he liked. He eyed her, the pistol now resting in his lap. She didn’t doubt for a moment that the older man would spring to action with the gun if she even shifted in her seat.

“That, of course, is why I put you two at the same table today. With Nate and Gabe watching her every move, I knew you wouldn’t let Tessa hang herself. Or interfere with you winning.” He leaned back in his seat and chuckled. “That was quite a stunt you pulled off today. You’re lucky my dealer was feeding you the cards you needed to beat her.”

Annie let a ragged breath slip through her lips. The dealer helped her win? Suddenly, she realized her mistake. She’d thought she was doing the right thing, but she had played right into his plans. She was the one they were really after. They had just used Tessa to get to her.

“Tomorrow, the Barracuda is going to sweep the tournament,” Jerry announced.

“Nate has probably arrested your dealer by now,” she argued. “It won’t work. They’re watching everyone so closely.”

“We have more dealers and another player heading to the final table tomorrow. They’ll help us ensure that you’ll win it all. After Tessa and Darrell are arrested, they’ll relax their surveillance. No one will suspect you because they’ll believe you were instrumental in catching the real cheaters. You’ll be able to waltz out the door with your winnings.”

Annie’s heart started pounding frantically in her chest. She had worked for years to win, but she wasn’t a cheater. She couldn’t. Wouldn’t. “I don’t want to win that way.”

“You have no choice, Annie. Tessa going to jail could be the least of your worries. She was involved with some really dangerous people. Something might happen to her before her court date.”

Annie swallowed hard and closed her eyes. She wouldn’t let them hurt her sister. “My marriage will be ruined.” She could barely imagine the expression on Nate’s face if he found out she really was involved.

“From what I hear, your marriage was ruined the day you said your vows.” He tapped the radio at his hip and sighed. “What’s left of it will be destroyed tonight. You can’t go back to the suite. I don’t trust you not to tip Nate off.”

“I won’t, I—” she started, but he cut her off with a curt shake of his head.

“You’re going to go to Nate and tell him it’s over. That you’ve fulfilled your part of the bargain and now you want your own hotel room. After your stunt today, I doubt it will be a surprise. He’ll be so distraught that tomorrow’s outcome won’t matter.”