King(36)

“Can I play?” At first his temper began to soar, thinking she was talking about Rory, but then he realized she was now focused on a card game going on at one of the tables. Desmond, the mayor, and Tony Reid were playing.

“Afraid not. Choose another table. That’s an Executive Game. It’s by invitation only and the stakes are high.”

“You don’t think I can afford it?” Evie tilted her head to the side, studying his reaction.

“Can you?”

“Yes.”

King hid his surprise. He was aware she was well set financially, but not to the extent she was insinuating. Then it dawned on him that The Last Riders must have given her the same financial stake they had given the original members, as she had been one of the first in the club. The patents The Last Riders held were worth a fortune. King had discovered the highly coveted patents when he had checked them out. He refused to acknowledge even to himself that it was a gesture that showed they were protective of her.

As if reading his mind, Evie gave him a wry smile. “The Last Riders have made sure that I can buy any purse I want. Money is not an issue for me. I also have an inheritance from my father’s family. They were one of Atlanta’s wealthiest families. I grew up surrounded by old money and snobs. I can tell you the type of caviar by looking at it, and the year of a wine from the taste.” Evie shuddered. “I’ve attended dinner parties for two different Presidents and traveled to countries most people only dream about.”

King leaned against the bar. It was the first personal information she had revealed about her family.

“You’re not close to your family now?”

“That’s putting it mildly. My father and mother divorced right before I graduated high school.”

“That must have been difficult,” King surmised.

Evie shrugged. “I don’t miss the parties or the people, and I sure as fuck don’t miss the wine. I joined the service when I graduated and didn’t look back.”

“Wade, give me a tray of chips.”

When the bartender set down a tray of chips on the bar, King slid them toward Evie.

“You want me to sign a note?” She looked at him questioningly.

“I think you’re good for it.” He touched the tray. “A hundred thousand enough?”

“To start with.” Evie slid down from the stool.

King watched as she went to Desmond’s table, asking to join. Desmond’s eyes met his, and King gave an imperceptible nod. Consequently, Desmond got up from the table, pulling out a chair for Evie.

At first, the men dealt with her in a patronizing manner, thinking it was a joke until she won the first two games. King noticed a change come over the table as, one by one, they discerned they were dealing with a skilled player.

“They don’t look too happy right now,” Wade said.

“Give me a drink. I’m going to enjoy this.” King settled on one of the stools as Evie meticulously and without mercy began to fleece his friends. The mayor lasted an hour before he threw in his hand, leaving with a frustrated expression.

“The girls aren’t going to be happy,” Wade commented as they watched the mayor leave without a backward glance.

The mayor would always pick one of the women to spend an hour with before he went home to his wife, often leaving a five thousand dollar chip for the banging session.

“He’ll be back tomorrow night. He has to have his weekly fuck session to put up with his icicle of a wife.”

The game continued with Evie winning. Desmond nor Reid were patronizing her any longer; both had a steely gaze that had King tensing on his stool.

Evie held her own throughout the night, winning and losing in equal turns with the men before she won the last game, pulling her chips to her and gracefully excusing herself from the game. Neither man looked pleased at her departure with their money, however.

He had watched her closely. She had played fair, and Desmond and Reid couldn’t say otherwise. It must be a hard pill to swallow seeing her feminine ass walk away from the table with a large chunk of their money without having to blow them for it.

Evie came to stand next to him at the bar, sliding her original stake back to him.

“Wade, cash her out,” King ordered.

Wade took her chips before going into the security room and coming back minutes later with a plain envelope of cash for her.

Evie opened the envelope and then pulled out a hundred and handed it to Wade.

“Can I buy you a drink?” Her seductive voice had King’s hand curving around her waist, pulling her closer to his side.

“You can buy me the bottle.”

Rory came to stand at the bar on the other side of Evie. “Two mojitos, Wade.”