Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 142783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
I shrugged like it was no big deal. “Like I said, I ran into her last night and thought we should catch up.”
Trent’s brow lifted and his voice lowered, “You ran into her? Where?”
I knew I was going to get the rain of fury from my brothers. I respected the hell out of them, but in this instance, I was having a really hard time finding any fucks to give. Still, I tried to play it off like I wasn’t in deeper than I’d ever been. “A friend’s house.”
“What friend?” he pressed.
I sighed. “A client of mine. No one you would know.”
“Why was she there?”
“Not really sure.” At least it was some version of the truth because really, what the hell was that prick Jarek doing there? “A few acquaintances and I were having a friendly game of poker, and lo and behold, there she was.”
Nothing but a perfect dream wrapped in black silk.
My dick stirred again.
“Friendly?” Trent pushed.
“Just wagering on a little good fun.”
Jud groaned.
They didn’t exactly approve of my playing. I did my best to keep it on the sly most of the time, but there’d been instances when I couldn’t turn over a car as quickly as I’d like, and they’d get a whiff of what was going down.
“Shit,” Jud rumbled, scrubbing a meaty palm over his face. “Want to tell us what was on the table?”
“Things might have gotten a little dicey.” I eased in the confession.
“How so?” Jud asked, eyes narrowing as he lifted his beer to his mouth.
I paused, hesitated, then let the truth bleed out. “I might have won her.”
“The fuck?” Trent spat.
They stared me down like I’d lost my mind. Why I bothered pretending I hadn’t, I didn’t know because I knew I’d stepped into a world I’d do better to pretend I never knew existed.
We all three eased back when the server showed with my regular drink.
The second she was gone, Jud sat forward, his elbows propped on the table and his face in his hands. “This is a joke, right? Tell me it’s a fucking joke, Logan.”
His giant arms were bound in muscle that flexed and bunched. Like he was coming up on a battle that would require him to fight to the death.
I prayed to God it wouldn’t come to that.
Because it didn’t matter if I knew agreeing to her staying with me was the right thing to do, didn’t matter that I knew she needed help, her being here was going to come at a cost.
Problem was, I still didn’t know how steep that might prove to be.
Blowing out a sigh, I scratched at the back of my neck in discomfort. “Not a joke.”
Anxiety gusted around the table, quiet taking hold for a moment.
My throat worked, and I forced myself to lay it out because there was no use in trying to keep any of it from them.
We had each other’s back, whatever messes we found ourselves in. And when it came to us Lawson Brothers, we always seemed to find plenty of it.
I let myself feel it. The weight of what I’d done. The decision I’d made. How it might impact us all.
Aster’s face flashed through my mind. The way she’d begged me to let her stay. The way the pain in her eyes was greater than the fear of what standing up for herself might be.
The way it had me itching to go on a murder spree.
I doubted much weighing any of the risks now would make me change my mind.
None of it would make me take it back.
Still, I was letting the disquiet come out with the explanation. “There was a big game at one of my most affluent client’s places. He likes to play big. High stakes. All-in kind of shit. Played a couple times at his table over the last few months. I didn’t know what I was walking in on last night, but I found myself sitting across from Jarek Urso.”
“Fuck.” It heaved from Trent in a bout of horrified shock. He scrubbed a tatted palm over his face, like it might flush out the mistake he’d undoubtedly believed I’d made.
“Yup.”
Trent eyed me seriously, like he was calculating those days, trying to make it add up.
“You have history with her?”
Shallow, disheartened laughter rumbled out. “You could say that.”
Shame bound my spirit.
All the warnings Trent had given me to lay low when it came to the Costas. The way I’d promised again and again that I would. That I was keeping my nose clean.
Never had I let my brothers in on what’d gone down with Aster. Not after everything that had happened. Not with the choices I’d made that started a domino effect that I couldn’t undo.
I didn’t even know how to give voice to the loss.
Guilt bottled tight in my chest.
Agitation buzzed from Trent. “How deep, Logan?”