Page 3 of Tangled Lies

I rolled my eyes at her.

“First? How many are you planning to have?” I asked.

She shrugged.

“Mother said the first one is for money and the second or third can be for love. So that many, I guess. Too bad I really don’t need money.” Reina shut up when the door opened.

She lifted her phone, showing the guy something. He nodded and moved aside.

“Head to the bar. No names. Serve the players. Rules are simple. Sign the paper you’re handed. Nothing leaves here,” the door guy said.

I followed close behind Reina. I couldn’t ignore the hope running alongside the apprehension.

Money I’d seen before. Casino poker games? Sure. But this was the first time I’d come with Reina to one of these poker games. Reina took me out when we could, but the fear of getting caught always ended our nights earlier than either of us wanted.

But this? No fear of getting caught here.

“So this is where the really rich people gamble, then?”

This was a penthouse in a casino I knew by name but had never stepped foot in, and thanks to Reina’s detective skills, I knew this particular hotel was owned by the Barone family. I just had no idea what that actually meant.

The heels I wore might have already started to hurt my feet, but this was the price of my freedom. If only Uncle Grayson could see me now, he’d probably have a heart attack, and that was enough dopamine to make me ignore any pain. I smirked as we entered a large room with tables set in the center. There were several men already talking, but they stopped as we walked in.

I liked the way their eyes raked over my body. I liked that I was something they couldn’t have and yet wanted. Something I could control. I liked being seen more than anything and that was just sad. Uncle wanted to hide me until he wanted to use me.

I stood a little taller. I could take my uncle's power away when it came to my body if I wanted to. I could tame these men and entice them. Uncle used me enough to get in the good gracesof people, men he needed, my uncle had no idea that all those skills would be what would get me out of his control, as long as I could keep up this new game.

I scanned the men in the center of the room lounging on chairs. None of them looked powerful enough to rival my uncle, but looks could be deceiving. They all had expensive looking suits on.

“Look at the watches. Which one costs the most?” I asked Reina.

I wondered if any of them would be a better marriage option than the arrangement I wasn’t given any say in.

I looked down as Reina grabbed my wrist.

“I’ll let you know when I figure it out. Come on, we have to get to serving drinks.”

We followed another guy leading us further in the penthouse and into a high-end bar set away from the game and the main living area that was now a poker lounge.

“Ladies, in here. You serve the drinks, get the cigars, flirt, and most importantly make sure you defuse any tempers. There’s nothing a pussy can’t achieve.”

He pointed to papers on the bar. I grabbed a pen and signed. He walked away just as quickly as he’d grabbed the signed NDA’s from our hands.

I glanced at Reina fighting excitement and nerves. I tasted blood and stopped biting the inside of my cheek.

“What exactly are we expected to do again?”

Reina rolled her eyes.

“It will be fine. This game’s a little bigger than the last few I’ve done, but honestly just flirt and serve drinks. They get drunk and their bodyguards take them away. Easy peasy.”

I got closer to her and just nodded.

“Is this through the same guy you use typically? You know, since you said it’s bigger?”

She grabbed my bag and put it next to hers under the counter.

“Yeah, why? I mean, it was a little odd. My guy actually reached out to me and asked about you. He said I had to bring you with me this time. I remember I mentioned you once when you said you needed money, but he seemed to know more than I recall telling him. Whatever. Sometimes I get a little tipsy at these things. And a lot of times these guys are a little scary.”