Adler (The Henchmen MC 14)

But, I reminded myself, that was impossible.

He didn't know anything.

And that was just as it should be.

I needed to get - and keep - my head in the game.

"Whatever ya say, duchess. It's yer case."

With that, he turned, and walked away from me.

It was stupid, but there was an odd ache in my chest seeing it.

"Pushing that man away," the girl at the coatcheck - blonde, stacked, pretty and well aware of it - started, clicking her tongue, "you are out of your mind, girl. If that was mine, I'd never walk right again."

"He was never mine to begin with," I mumbled, but somehow, I needed to hear it more than she did.

I got myself the drink I needed, traded some cash in for chips because I needed to play the part, then I made rounds at a few tables, losing hands, winning some, pretending not to notice Adler's every move as he did the same. Well, except he didn't lose much. The man was on a streak.

And so far, no Thomas.

I wanted to know the time, to see if we had wasted too much of it in one place. But my phone was in Adler's pocket. And casinos learned long ago that they got more money out of you if you had no way of knowing how early - or late - it was.

I sighed, getting up to move to another table, taking one of the empty seats in front of an older gentleman with tired blue eyes and a small red stain on his white shirt. I watched as a hand went his way before I saw a body slide in across from me.

I almost didn't look up, the bigger part of me already back at the hotel room eating two armfulls of junk food from a convenience store before passing out.

But my gaze rose to see him.

The man from the picture.

The man who tortured and killed a girl.

Sitting there with a stack of chips like he hadn't a care in the world.

The bastard.

I had to work to keep my dark thoughts off of my face, forcing my lips to curve up slightly at the side before ducking my gaze timidly, then raising it again. Playing a role I had countless times before. Because every guy fell for it. I had yet to come across a man who wasn't a sucker for the coy thing.

Little did they know, there wasn't a shy bone in my body.

No one could accuse a man thinking with his little brain of being all that bright.

His hand pushed chips forward, making me think of that hand as it murdered a girl who hardly had a chance to live her life, who now never would. While he thought he could cheat the system, disappear, end up on a beach somewhere likely looking for his next target.

I watched as the cards were dealt, a movement behind Thomas catching my eye.

Adler moving to position himself near the closest exit.

Just in case.

I could have just done it.

Hauled him out.

Right then and there.

But this wasn't some dive bar.

This was a casino in Atlantic City.

We'd both be hauled into the back and questioned.

I could lose him.

So, no.

I couldn't make a scene here.

I had to get him to leave with me.

Willingly.

And there was only one way to do that.

"Damn," I hissed when my hand came up high. "I guess that is it for me," I added, giving the dealer a smile as I pushed a chip toward him as a tip, then casting another look at Thomas, one that I hoped said Follow me instead of I am going to enjoy bashing your face into a wall before slipping cuffs on you.

I sashayed my way toward the bar, making it a point not to look, not to get too eager.

It wasn't long.

Two minutes tops.

A body pressed in behind mine.

Close.

Too close.

The kind of close only assholes got to a woman they didn't know in a bar.

The kind of close where I could feel the tag of his zipper against my asscheek.

My stomach rolled even as his breath came down low by my ear.

"Think your luck just turned around, beautiful."

Ugh.

It was painful to smile when I wanted to grimace. But the backbar was mirrored. He could see my face. And until we were out of the front doors, he needed to see a woman in heat, wanting, needing him.

Not one who was repulsed that we were even breathing the same air.

"Oh, yeah? How's that?"

"You caught my eye."

Ugh.

That wouldn't even have been sexy coming from a guy like Adler who was worthy of it.

Taking a breath, I leaned back slightly, letting my ass press into his pelvis, my tits push outward. His head over my shoulder, he saw the way they heaved as I took another deep breath.

"Now that I have your eye," I said, letting my tone dip low, "why don't we get out of here."