Chapter 4

Mia’s hand was good enough to hold—for now. She scanned the table. All men. Typical. At least it would make it easier for her.

Lauren had decided to sit this round out, swirling a gin in hand, cheeks flushed from drinking, eyes bright with mischief. She played the clueless card perfectly—leaning forward just enough, smiling just right—nudging the men into overconfidence. A tilt of her head here, a lazy grin there, and they all started betting like fools on garbage hands.

Soon, players began folding one by one, unable to keep up with the mounting tension and Mia’s steady, unbothered expression. All except him.

The man from last night.

His gaze locked onto hers across the felt, unreadable, dangerous, intense. Mia felt the heat crawl up her throat, her skin tingling under the weight of that look.

There was something… wrong about him. Gorgeous, yes. His nearly-black hair groomed perfectly, thick dark lashes framing eyes that should’ve belonged to a saint, not someone who radiated the kind of evil that made your instincts whisper, run.

And yet Mia stayed rooted in place.

He hadn’t spoken a word. Just watched her. Daring her.

The dealer laid down the last card. Without breaking eye contact, the man slid all his chips into the middle of the table.

“All in?” Mia’s voice came out light, breathless, edged with a giggle she didn’t fully feel. She pushed her chips in too, feigning the awkward, slightly clumsy girl she knew men underestimated.

Then he dropped his cards.

Nothing.

Not even a single pair.

His whole hand a dud.

Her eyes flickered up, meeting his again, and for a second—a single heartbeat—she thought she saw him smile. Almost like he’d wanted her to win.

And then he stood up, silent as ever, and walked away into the crowd, disappearing like smoke.

The dealer slid a slip of paper toward her. Neat handwriting showing: $30,000.

“Oh my God, Mia! How do you do this?!” Lauren hissed, grabbing Mia’s arm as they hurried toward the bar.

Mia’s heart was pounding so hard she thought it might knock the breath out of her chest. “Told you,” she murmured, eyes locked on the bottles lined up behind the bar. “Started with the free chips. That’s it. Turned a hundred into five grand last night. Just… kept going.”

“But that guy—”

“Not the cowboy,” Mia interrupted before Lauren could ramble. “The other one. He’s… weird.”

“Which guy?” Lauren asked, distracted now as she waved down the bartender for another  cocktail.

Mia ordered herself a vodka and orange, but as soon as it hit her stomach, she felt the buzz clash with the adrenaline already flooding her veins. She ordered a bottle of water next, sipping slowly, waiting for her head to stop spinning.

By the time they moved over to the roulette table, Mia felt steady again. She exchanged her note for cash at the counter, keeping most tucked safely away in her bag but trading a thousand dollars into chips for the next round of play.

“Last number was twenty-one, red,” the dealer called.

Mia tossed a handful of chips on red, just for fun, letting herself get pulled into the hypnotic spin of the ball.

“Thirty-four, red.”

Nice and easy.

“Bet a single number,” Lauren whispered with a grin, leaning close. “The payouts are better, and we’ve got all week to blow through this. C’mon, live dangerously.”

Mia rolled her eyes but smiled. Why not? She placed a small stack on thirteen—just to test fate. Unlucky number, right?

The ball spun. Click. Click. Click.

“Thirteen, red.”

Mia let out a soft laugh, caught somewhere between nerves and disbelief.

“You’re one lucky woman, aren’t ya, doll?”

A low voice purred right by her ear, thick with a smooth American accent. The warmth of his breath brushed against her exposed shoulder.

Mia’s stomach tightened instinctively. She didn’t have to turn to know who it was.

“I guess I am,” she replied with a teasing smirk, straightening her back. “Does that bother you?”

“Course not,” he drawled. “Enjoying the game’s the whole reason I opened this place.”

Opened?

Mia’s lips parted slightly, shock flashing across her face. She turned then, properly, coming face to face with the man she now knew as trouble incarnate.

Dark eyes. Clean-cut beard. Suit tailored within an inch of his life. His gaze traveled slowly down her body, lingering at her waist, her hips, the hem of the glittering white dress.

Predator. Prey.

But the heat in her blood didn’t entirely feel like fear.

She leaned closer, chin tilted slightly upward. “Good to know the owner,” she murmured. “Could be useful… in case I get into any trouble.” Leaving a slight purring emphasis on the word trouble in an attempt to flirt.

His smirk deepened. “Mmm. You like trouble eh, don’t you, darlin’? Guess I’ll have to keep my eyes on you.”

She turned away before she could enjoy that look too much, placing her next bet. Even numbers. Safe. Steady. Her heart definitely wasn’t steady, though.

Across the table, Lauren was busy chatting up some Adonis in a tight black suit, muscles straining under the expensive fabric, olive skin catching the light beautifully. Of course she found herself a model to flirt with.

Mia’s pulse still buzzed at her throat when the man leaned in again.

“Name’s Axel,” he said, sweeping her curls aside gently to expose her bare neck. His lips brushed the delicate skin, his breath warm. “If you get lost in here, you come find me.”

Before she could react, he was already walking away, heading to the bar. He returned with two elaborate cocktails, both decorated with fruit, flowers, the works. He handed one to Mia, signalling to a nearby staff member to deliver the other to Lauren.

“Six, black,” the dealer called, snapping Mia’s attention back to the table. The pile of chips in front of her grew. Mia’s lips pressed together, but it wasn’t the fear of loosing that left a knot in her stomach—it was the way Axel was watching her now, like a wolf waiting for the rabbit to stop running.

Lauren appeared by her side again. Her complexion was pale, her steps a little uncertain. “Hey… I’m not feeling so hot. That last cocktail did me in. Mr. Muscles over there’s gonna help me back to the room. You’ve got your key?”

Mia frowned, glancing at her. She did look rough. “Yeah, I’ve got it. You good?”

“Totally fine. Just tired. And gorgeous, obviously,” she grinned faintly before giving Mia a quick hug and heading toward the elevators with her new companion.

With Lauren gone, Mia focused on her drink again, sipping cautiously while thinking through her next move.

Then—everything went sideways.

The casino blurred. Lights bending, spinning, tilting in on themselves. Her stomach lurched violently. Her vision funnelled down to a pinpoint of flickering light, everything else melting into black.

And as she stumbled, her knees giving out, she didn’t hit the hard marble floor.

She landed in someone’s arms.

Axel’s arms.

“I’ve got you, darlin’,” he whispered, his voice dripping with satisfaction. “Don’t you worry. I’ll take care of you.”

As her consciousness slipped away, Mia heard one last thing before the dark swallowed her whole— Axel’s low, wicked laugh.

He’d won this round.