Page 17 of Playing with Forever (Players Club Sinners #1)

Andrea

“T he guy went absolutely berserk and so of course we had to call security,” Violet said, telling me all about the latest incident at the casino where she worked.

I held obediently still as she painted my fingernails and I listened to her story.

We were having a lazy night in, and I wanted to have my nails painted dark red to match the fun lingerie I was going to wear to see Chase tomorrow.

He’d invited me to the club again as his guest, and I couldn’t wait to see what he had in store for us.

“You wouldn’t believe it,” Violet went on, shaking her head. “The guy was kicking and screaming as they carried him out, like a kid that had a toy taken away. As if he thought he made a big enough scene they’d just give him his money back.”

“He lost a few hundred grand at your poker table,” I pointed out.

“He sure did. Which don’t get me wrong, it sucks. But he bet the money and lost it, all his own doing. Now, he’s banned from the casino and I’m pretty sure there’s some embarrassing videos of him online somewhere.”

“That’s crazy,” I said, and meant it. “I don’t understand how you handle it all.”

Life at a casino seemed wild. I knew how to play poker and Blackjack and all that—you couldn’t live with Violet and avoid a card game forever—but I’d only gambled at a casino once.

I lost a hundred dollars, which had been enough to freak me out and swear off gambling forever.

Especially considering my father’s own addiction to gambling that had not only destroyed his life, but had put myself and Madison in debt after he’d taken out numerous loans and credit cards in our names.

Violet paused a moment to look up at me and grin. “What can I say. I like the excitement.”

“Easy for you. You keep a cool head. Me, I’d be freaking out.”

“Not my fault you have no poker face whatsoever, unlike moi .” She rolled her eyes at me. “God help you if you ever had to lie to the police.”

“Why would I need to lie to the police!?” I never understood how Violet’s crazy mind worked.

“When you help me pull off a daring casino heist, duh , why do think I work there?” Violet said playfully as she capped the nail polish bottle. “Okay, let that dry.”

She stuck her toes out and grabbed a sparkly green color for herself to start on them while I gently blew on my fingernails.

My phone buzzed and Violet immediately smirked. “Chase again?”

“Maybe.” I couldn’t check my screen from here and I didn’t think my nails were quite dry enough yet to risk grabbing the phone. “I’m seeing him tomorrow.”

“Lucky you,” she said, swiping her big toe with the polish. “I’m so jealous that you get to have sex on the regular with a hot guy, while I have to resort to my battery operated boyfriend. So not fair.”

A knock came at the door and Violet groaned. “I can’t get up like this.” She waved a hand toward her foot.

“My nails are close to being dry. I’ll get it.” I’d just be careful with my fingers on the knob. “Coming!”

I headed to the door and peered through the peephole. I wasn’t as surprised as I probably should’ve been to see Violet’s younger half-brother, Christopher, standing on the other side.

Ugh.

I opened the door. Christopher grinned at me. He looked a little disheveled, the way he always did, with his dark blonde unkempt hair and wearing a wrinkled t-shirt and a pair of old, faded jeans. He stood in a slouch, with his hands shoved into the front pockets of his pants.

“Hey, Andrea, good to see you.”

“Christopher, hi,” I replied, forcing myself to be polite when I was already irritated because there was only one real reason why he’d stopped by. “Here to see Violet?”

“Not that I don’t love seeing your pretty face too, Andrea, but uh, yeah,” he said, trying to look past me. “Is she here?”

Christopher was the kind of guy who could be charming when he wanted to be. When I’d first met him, I was charmed too, although not attracted. That shine had worn off quickly as I’d gotten to really know him over the past few years.

“C’mon in.” I opened the door further for him to pass by, and for Violet’s sake, I tempered my annoyance. “You want anything to drink? We ordered pizza but it hasn’t gotten here yet.”

“I’m all good, thanks,” he replied, then smiled too enthusiastically at his sister. “Hi, Vi!”

“Chris, hey!” Violet stood up as Christopher approached her and gave her a quick hug. “Nice of you to stop by. Are you sure you don’t want some pizza?”

He shifted anxiously on his feet. “I, uh, really can’t stay long…I just need a couple extra twenties if you have them?”

And there it was …I turned away so that neither of them would see me roll my eyes.

Christopher and Violet had different fathers, but shared a mom, and he was always in some sort of trouble.

Violet said it was just growing pains, that he was only twenty, and that being there for each other was what siblings did, especially considering the difficult way they’d grown up—with two absentee fathers and a mother who was always off chasing some man to take care of her.

My own father had been one of those guys.

I admired Violet for being such a great big sister.

Violet, for the most part, didn’t let anyone too close, but she was so caring when it came to Christopher, and it reminded me of how Madison had raised me when Dad wasn’t around, which was most of the time.

Dad was nothing more than a drunk or a gambler, often both at the same time, and I wasn’t sure I would’ve even finished high school without Madison’s guidance and support through some of the most difficult years of our lives.

But this—this wasn’t about cooking meals or helping with homework or taking him shopping for proper work outfits when he interviewed for jobs. Christopher just showed up, asked for money, sometimes stayed for dinner, and left until the next time he was strapped for cash.

I just couldn’t help but worry that he was using her.

“Of course, whatever you need.” Violet waved her hand and glanced at me. “Can you grab my purse, Andrea?”

I fetched her handbag. Violet always carried a ton of cash on her from tips and bonuses. I worried sometimes that she’d get mugged, but unlike me who was hopeless at self-defense, Violet took kickboxing and carried a butterfly knife and knew how to protect herself.

Violet counted out the cash. “Are you sure you’re okay, Chris?”

“I am, it’s just hard times, y’know,” he said, taking the money and stuffing it into his jeans pocket. “Not enough shifts at work to cover the rent with my roommates…our landlord’s an asshole…”

“I get it.” Violet fondly ran a hand through his hair and smiled. “You know I’ll always be there to look after you, or help you when you need it.”

“Thanks, sis.” Christopher gave Violet another hug, then left.

“His excuses are getting better,” I noted, not holding back the sarcasm in my voice.

Violet gave me a sharp look. “Knock it off.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “He only ever shows up when he wants money, Vi.”

“He’s a good kid,” she said defensively. “And once you get behind financially, it can take a while to get caught back up. I see it all the time with people who blow their money at the casino. It takes one night to lose it all and months or years to build it back.”

I didn’t want to turn this into an argument. Violet was going to see the best in her brother, and that was that, so I changed the subject.

“All right, you said it was your turn to pick the movie tonight, so, what’ll it be?”

Of course she chose a horror flick, and in order to distract myself from all the jump scares, I thought about meeting with Chase at the club the next evening.

I was sure a good play session would take my mind off my worries for Violet.

I was probably being paranoid. Violet was responsible with her money, tough, street smart, a badass.

She could put her foot down with Christopher if she needed to, and she wouldn’t give him more than she could afford to give.

Speaking of paranoid…

The following night, as I walked to my car to leave for The Players Club, an odd sense of unease trickled down my spine. I looked up and down the street, but it was too dark and I couldn’t see anyone. And yet…I had the strange feeling I was being watched.

I tried to shake off the sensation as I headed to the club…except my anxiety escalated when I realized that someone seemed to be following me in a dark vehicle, but from a distance. As soon as I neared the gated community in Summerlin, the car veered off in a different direction, much to my relief.

I was beyond grateful when I saw Chase waiting for me out in the courtyard when I arrived, since as his guest he’d have to escort me into the club.

“Hey, you.” Chase’s easy smile turned into a frown as his gaze searched my expression when I reached him in front of the main entrance. “Everything okay?”

I forced myself to put on a happy face. “Umm, yeah, I’m fine.”

“You sure?” He tipped his head, his stare more direct now. “You look tense.”

He looked genuinely concerned, and considering Chase worked in security, I decided to tell him the truth.

“I just had this weird feeling, getting into my car to come here. Like someone was watching me. And then I thought a car might be following me, but they went a different direction as soon as I reached the gated community.” I laughed, trying to shake it off.

“I’m probably just being overly sensitive.

Violet’s half-brother stopped by last night and he always puts me in a weird mood. ”

Chase straightened, his demeanor serious. “You feel unsafe around him?”

“Around Christopher?” I snorted and shook my head. “No, just pissed off most of the time. I’m sure I’m just imagining things.”

“But maybe you’re not, so trust your instincts,” he said, his tone gruff. “If your gut is telling you that someone is watching you, then be aware and vigilant of your surroundings. And if anything else strange happens, then you tell me immediately, okay?”

I resisted the urge to salute him. “That sounds like an order, sir .”

His eyes darkened as he stared down at me, gaze narrowed. “Trust me, it is. And one you don’t want to ignore. I also want you to text me when you get home from work from now on.”

I held up a hand to stop him. “Okay, that’s a bit much. You aren’t the boss of me, and I’m not one of your clients.”

Chase’s jaw clenched. “I want to make sure that you’re safe.”

I sighed, not pleased with his over-bearing attitude.

“Chase, I thought someone was watching me. And that could be true. It’s nice to know that you don’t think I’m crazy.

But it could’ve just been a nosy neighbor watching from their window, and the car thing…

they could have been headed to Summerlin, too.

There was no direct threat, and I don’t think I need to start reporting my whereabouts to you every day. ”

“I’ve seen how quickly these situations can escalate—”

“There is no situation!” I said, raising my voice loud enough that the valet glanced our way. I exhaled a breath and lowered my tone. “Here I was worried I was overreacting but you’ve got that covered.” I folded my arms across my chest. “I’m fine.”

“You might not be,” he said, determination flashing in his eyes. “Consider this an order from your dom.”

My jaw dropped open, and it took me a moment to respond.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” I snapped. “You don’t get to use the dom card outside of our playtimes.

What’s next, you telling me what I can and can’t eat?

Who I can or can’t see in my free time? You don’t control me, mister.

” I poked a finger into his very hard, very solid, very unyielding chest. “Let’s get that clear right now.

If I’m not in a scene with you, you don’t get to tell me jack shit. ”

Chase looked at me for a long moment, a quietness settling over his body. It made him look intimidating, threatening even, and a hot anticipation pooled in the pit of my stomach.

Chase wasn’t some mafia boss and he wasn’t truly dangerous. But right now? I felt like he could be, at least for a scene. And that illicit fantasy playing out in my mind, of him overpowering me, got me embarrassingly wet.

“You think I can’t control you?” he asked, his voice as dark and menacing as his expression. He grabbed my elbow in a firm, unshakeable hold and guided me toward the front doors to the club. “We’ll see about that.”

Oh, shit. I felt like I’d just taken a leap off a cliff without realizing it—but I also suspected I was going to enjoy the fall.