Page 116 of Diamonds

He deals cards to me and Maddox.

Maddox has a King and a Queen.He stays.

I have a five and a ten.Harder choice.But I decide to ask for a hit.

Shellby deals me a card.

I turn it over.The six of clubs.

Yes.Blackjack!

Shellby deals himself another card, and he turns his over.He busted.

He slides us both some chips.

Off to a good start.We keep playing, and Maddox and I are both winning more than we’re losing.Pretty soon we have patrons looking over our shoulders, watching the game.

A smooth female voice sizzles into my ear from behind us.“Another winning night, Maddox?”

I turn, expecting Rouge.

But it’s not.It’s another woman.

Tall and gorgeous.Short blond hair in a bob style.

Maddox flashes her a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.“Lovely to see you again, Pia.”He gestures to me.“This is my girlfriend, Alissa Maravilla.”

Pia raises an eyebrow, her lips pouted.“A new girlfriend already?”

What the hell does that mean?

Something squeezes at my heart.

Another ex of Maddox’s?I’m not sure I can handle meeting two of them within twenty-four hours.Three, if you count his liaison with Rouge.

Maddox blinks a few times.“It’s been something of a whirlwind, but yes, she’s my girlfriend, and I love her more than anything.”

The fist around my heart loosens its grip.

Pia cocks her head.“A loss for womankind.”She sits down next to Maddox.“But a game between friends can be nearly as fun.”She scratches the table.“Hit me, Shellby.”

The game continues.Pia is not nearly as good as Maddox, or even me, and she busts quite a few times.I get the feeling she plays just for the sport of it, not really caring how much money she wins or loses.

I don’t like how her bare shoulders are brushing against Maddox more than they should be…

She’ll stay away from him if she knows what’s good for her.

The crowd around us grows, and finally, like a hot knife through butter, the haughty voice of Rouge Montrose breaks through the murmurs around us.

“I see the King and Queen of Diamonds are once again defending their titles.”

My pulse quickens, but I swallow down my nerves.

This is the plan.We’ve drawn Rouge here like a moth to a flame.

But Pia is here, too.That wasn’t part of the plan.

I paste on a smile.“Nice to see you.”