Page 43 of Grace of Spades

"Yeah!" I nod.

"I knew about Christian and McConnell," Andras says.

"Yeah, add in Jai from the Yakuza, and Keir from the Bratva," I explain. "I managed to talk down Keir to just being friends, but... I don't know what else to do." I confess.

"Hmmm... let me think on that," Richard says with a nod.

"I'm rooting for Christian. He's always so sweet." Ruby smiles dreamily. I just shake my head. Gossips, all of them!

"Oh, Kennedy and I are going out with Keir and his friend to see a band tonight. Pick up is at seven." I let them know.

"What band?" Andras asks.

"I have no idea," I admit. "Some friends of Keir's."

"May I suggest finding a date that isn't one of these boys?" Richard asks.

"More boys? No, I'm good." I chuckle. He laughs too.

"That is a fair point. Never mind that then." He chuckles.

"It's almost six-thirty. You better get dressed." Ruby says.

"Thank you, guys." I smile before racing off to my room.

Jai

This is where Grace lives now? Rudy said she had moved, but I didn't expect her to be a Van Doren.

Mr. Van Doren is frigging scary. I understand why no one else wanted to talk to him. I'm glad I volunteered, though. I found Grace.

She barely gave me the time of day, which kind of hurt, but I'm on business anyway. I don't want her involved if I can help it. She's too sweet for this kind of thing.

I did, however, get the balls to ask Mr. Van Doren for his blessing to ask her out. I figured she might like the whole gentleman approach after the last time we were together.

Last time, I was not such a gentleman. She didn't seem to mind, but she deserves to have all the stops pulled out for her. She is something special, and I intend to treat her as such.

I pull into the parking lot and head into the pub where I'm meeting Tai. I find him at the bar already drunk and chatting up a pink-haired girl who looks like she would love to be anywhere else.

"Leave the poor girl alone, Tai." I chuckle slinging an arm around his shoulders.

"Hey, man!" He grins. "You made it!" How is he drunk already? It's not even nine.

"Yeah, sorry I'm late. Had to report back." I shrug.

"All good, my man! I was just talking to this lovely lady. She said she's not interested, but I bet her a hundred bucks I could change her mind." He boasts. Oh god.

"No, I said I was gay." She corrects with a raised eyebrow. Oh god! That's even worse.

"Tai, that's not how that works. Pay the lady her winnings, and let's get you out of here before you hurt yourself...or someone hurts you." I suggest.

"Yeah, you're probably right." He sighs giving the girl two hundred. She goes to argue, but I shake my head.

"Keep it. Trust me." I assure her. He's probably been harassing her for a while. She earned it by not decking him.

"Is this guy still bugging you, Ken?" A hard female voice calls.

"No, I'm good. He's leaving with a friend." Ken calls back before turning to me. "Thanks, man." I nod and start herding Tai out of the pub.