Titan stood. “Of course. But you know you can bid on whatever you want.”

“If I’m going to bid enough to buy a car, I kind of need you there to do it for me. I think I’d puke otherwise.”

“All right. I’m coming. Eden, would you like to join us?”

I looked at the dwindling pile of chips in front of me. “I think I’m going to finish this out and probably head home.”

“I think you’ll be playing a lot longer than you think. Good luck. We’ll be around if you need anything.”

The couple, gorgeous in their evening wear, moved in the direction of the silent auction, and I played one more hand before the red card popped out of the deck.

“New dealer,” the current one said as he stepped back to make room for another man. Another player sat down at the table and shot a glance at me with a nod. Not wanting to seem rude, I smiled back at him.

The deck was reshuffled and play continued, but with one very important difference.

I started winning. Every time. It was crazy. I started to bet ten dollars on each hand, and my pile grew and grew. I’d lose once and think my streak was over, but then I’d win the next six in a row. The stacks of chips seemed to multiply, and a heady feeling swept over me.

This was fun.

I finished wrapping up the tattoo, locked up the shop, and checked my phone. It was almost one and I hadn’t heard from Eden. I’d lost track of time as I’d put the finishing touches on the piece, so it hadn’t even occurred to me until I was done.

I texted her.

BISHOP: Did you decide to stay in?

I hoped she hadn’t. Tonight was the best night for her to check blackjack off her list. I just hoped she didn’t get bit by the bug and want to go more often. It wasn’t something I could do with her because showing my face in a casino was the fastest way to bring my past crashing down on me.

Now that I had something to lose, I wasn’t taking any chances.

My phone buzzed with a text as I wiped down my station. It wasn’t from Eden.

CON: Your girl is playing deep at the tables. She a card shark?

BISHOP: Never played before in her life.

CON: Something seems off. Pit boss is watching her close, but it’s not my place to step in.

An uneasy feeling twisted in my gut. Fuck. What the hell was going on?

BISHOP: Beginner’s luck?

CON: More like card-counter’s luck.

My stomach twisted and fell to my feet. Eden wasn’t a fucking card counter. No fucking way. I grabbed the keys to my bike off the counter and headed out the back.

When I parked my bike in the lot closest to the casino, I hurried up the stairs. My phone had two more texts from Con. The last one was from two minutes ago.

CON: I’m going over there. I think the pit boss is about to call security.

I flashed my ID for the guy at the door and rushed past him. If he ran my ID, there was a good chance it would pop up in the system.

“Hey, I need to see that closer.” He stood to follow me, but I wasn’t stopping for anything.

I scanned the tables, looking for Eden. I’d get her and get the hell out before security caught up with me.

I returned a text to Con.

BISHOP: I’m here.

But before I could find Eden, I saw two men in suits closing in on a blackjack table. Con’s blond head stood out above the crowd as they stopped.

Fuck.

“She’s done. She’s leaving. It’s a simple case of beginner’s luck,” Con told the men as he stood between them and Eden. Lord, Titan, and Simon were headed over as well.

“I didn’t do anything. Mr. Titan showed me the ropes and I started playing. This dealer just gave me good cards.”

“We need you to come with us, miss. We just have a few questions for you and your associate, and we’ll need your ID.”

“Associate? I don’t have an associate.”

One of the security guys had a man in a white shirt and brown pants by the arm. “We’ve been watching both of you. You’re clearly working together. You both need to come with us.”

I stepped up to the other side of Eden. “Not fucking happening. She’s leaving with me.”

Her head whipped around and shock flashed over her face at my appearance. I didn’t fucking care if she was pissed because there was no fucking way I was letting casino security take my girl any goddamned place.

“Gentlemen, I think you’re getting worked up over nothing. She’d never played before we sat down tonight. She also doesn’t know this man.” This came from Titan. “To assume anything else is simply ludicrous.”

The pit boss recognized Titan. “Mr. Titan, we appreciate you vouching for her, but we need to handle this internally.” To the dealer, he said, “Take her chips.”

The dealer reached for them.

“Seriously? You’re gonna go there?” Con interjected.

“I won those myself,” Eden said, protesting as the dealer pulled them away.

Another man in a suit joined the group. “Do we have an issue here? All we ask is for your cooperation. Please come with us.”

“Fine, but I didn’t do anything wrong.” Eden stepped toward them in a move that seemed like she planned to follow them.

I grabbed her arm. “No way. She’s leaving. Keep the fucking chips. We’re done here.”

“Sir, that’s not your call.”

Eden whipped around to look at me. “It’s fine. I’ll explain, and they’ll understand this is all a big misunderstanding.”

Did she seriously think I was going to let her go? I kept a firm hold on her arm and pulled her behind me. “You gonna back me up here, guys?”

Titan, Lord, Con, and Simon formed a wall between me and Eden and the casino security personnel.

“It would be in your best interest for you to let them leave,” Titan said, his tone daring them to try to do anything else.

“Mr. Titan, we’re not looking for trouble.”

“Then you should get back to work. There’s a fundraiser happening tonight, and you’re attracting the wrong kind of attention from your patrons.”

A crowd was gathering around us, including Yve, Vanessa, Charlie, and Elle. The entire place felt like a powder keg about to blow if the security crew took one wrong step.