Chapter 4.

MAEVE

Who would have thought there was a seedy underground casino tucked away beneath one of Russia's biggest tourist traps?

Getting inside was easy enough once Marina filled me in … I just flashed a nice smile and greased the bouncer's palm with some cash. Not much of a bargain.

It had been nine days since I accepted Marina’s proposal. Things had moved fast: tests to ensure the supposed mafia heir would be in good hands, checking my ovulation period, and now it was up to me to get Maruska within these seven days which I wished would all end in one night.

I descended the stairs, the air growing thick with cigar smoke and the reek of desperate misery.

This place made the club’s underground seem like a kindergarten playroom. Dangerous men in expensive suits prowled around the dimly lit tables, eyes hungry for their next big score. Two giant slabs of muscle hauled a briefcase from a table near me and stalked toward the right end, onto small stairs, and into a private back room, no doubt storing the evening's earnings or arranging whatever shady business deal was on tap.

Meeting him at a club or rather a fancy gathering would have been much easier. Fuck. What a way to die.

My skin prickled with unease, but I was in too deep to back out now. I tugged my red dress down a bit, letting the neckline plunge as low as decency allowed. If I was going to catch Maruska Romanovich's eye, I needed to bring my A-game.

Being a surrogate for a dangerous mafia lord without his knowledge? Yeah, not the safest gig, but the payout would be life-changing.

A shaky, disbelieving laugh, and then I made my way toward the long, sleek bar. It was the perfect spot to get my bearings in this huge den of depraved elite.

“One vodka tonic, please," I requested, letting my eyes roam over the smoky gaming floor as the bartender went to work. Marina's briefing couldn't prepare me for the sheer anxiety crawling inside me.

“Here you go, miss." The bartender slid my drink across the polished bar top.

As I turned to take a sip, a smooth voice cut through. "Well, hello gorgeous. Didn't think a classy thing like you would slum it in a place like this."

I eyed the man leaning against the bar. He was young, rakishly handsome, with artfully tousled copper hair that only reminded me of Zhenya. I suppressed a shudder.

He seemed to take my silence as an invitation, leaning in closer with a cocky grin. "What's a beautiful woman like you drinking alone for? Let me buy you another." He was clearly wealthy based on his expensive suit and arrogance.

I simply turned away, sipping my vodka tonic as I continued scanning the room. The very idea of conversing with this arrogant fop made my skin crawl.

My gaze finally landed on Maruska through the smoky haze …tucked away in the VIP lounge behind a thick pane of bulletproof glass. A meeting of sorts. Even from here, I could tell he was as dangerous as they said, that chiseled jaw and smoldering gaze. He was a king holding court, the whole casino, his kingdom. For now, his attention seemed focused on the poker table directly across from his viewpoint. Perfect – that's where I needed to be.

Without sparing the young man a second glance, I drained my glass and slapped some cash from Marina's stash on the bar.

I sashayed over, and a tall, severe-looking woman in a suit assessed me coolly. "Buying in?" Her tone made it clear she expected me to scurry away like a dumb bunny.

I met her frosty stare, allowing the barest hint of a smirk as I slapped my cash on the table. "Does it look like I'm here to sell Girl Scout cookies?"

A man chuckled deeply.

Her pierced eyebrow climbed upward as she gestured to an empty seat perfectly positioned in Maruska's line of sight. "Have it your way."

Sinking into the chair, I crossed my legs slowly, feeling his eyes burning into me already. So far, so good. Now to really reel him in. I caught his gaze briefly, letting my tongue dart out to wet my painted lips.

Get his attention, huh?

The dealer silently dealt out the cards to each of us seated around the table. There were five of us in total. I discreetly stared at Maruska, who signaled to one of his men. The bodyguard leaned in as Maruska whispered, and then he flexed his wrist dismissively.

"Eyes on your cards, ma'am," the dealer's sharp words pulled my attention back to the table and I stared at the cards arrayed before me. A card game wasn't just a simple pastime when played in a place like this casino. My father had lost a literal hand over a bad deal once upon a time. It was dangerous, but this was my only way to catch that bastard's eye.

I slid a card forward, watching as the portly man to my left leered openly. Some old pervert, hilarious. I knew exactly what he wanted – I could smell the lust radiating off him, just like the skeezy men at the club.

My eyes shifted off him to meet Maruska's predatory gaze once more. I swear I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears. His eyes were so intense, that slight smirk playing at the corners of his mouth as he watched me, like a hunter evaluating its prey.

The dealer pushed another card to the center of the table, all eyes on me, expecting me to fold. One of the men snickered, "The odds don't favor you, little girl."

Stupid.

I studied the spread of cards carefully. I couldn't falter now, not with Maruska's rapt attention fixed on me. While they all expected me to fail, I had one more surprise up my sleeve.

The man snorted derisively, a trail of smoke curling from the cigar clamped between his teeth. "She's poison to this game."

I allowed a proud smile to curl my lips as Maruska cocked his head ever so slightly from behind the glass partition. “Why? Ran out of money to lose already?"

The man's face reddened. He abruptly shoved his chair back and shot to his feet. A few nearby players turned to gawk at the commotion. For a split second, my heart froze. I couldn't look to where Maruska was. Not with the way my heart pounded and my palm became clammy.

But I met the man’s glare, keeping my expression impassive despite the way my insides quivered. I wouldn't show weakness here.

Before the hotheaded man could retort, the one who had initially laughed spoke up. "Don't get your panties in a twist. The little lady's just having fun."

His fists clenched, but he held his tongue, slinking back in his chair with a glare.

I watched the bodyguard Maruska’d dispatched, return to murmur something in his ear, and then Maruska was rising, leaving the VIP area.

Oh, fuck it.

I made a move to abandon the table. "I fold—”

“Running already?" The hotheaded man jeered.

But the dealer cut me off sharply. "You can't leave the game now."

Say what now? Maruska was gone, with only two other men remaining behind, but I was trapped here playing this twisted game of cat-and-mouse.

I opened my mouth to protest, but a hand nudged me and roulette pieces came clattering onto the table.

A woman carrying a board game had tripped near me, sending the roulette wheel and tiles flying everywhere. In the distracted chaos, I managed to slip away from the table unnoticed. Fuck, this was crazy. I hadn't planned for Maruska to just disappear in the middle of trying to seduce him. Playing this game could cost me my life. Heart pounding, I turned to make my escape—

Only to pull up short as a deep voice purred, "Going somewhere?"

It was Maruska himself, looking sinfully good in an exquisitely tailored black fur coat over his impeccable suit. Up close, his magnetic presence was overwhelming and seducing.

I feigned nonchalance, tilting my head as I gave him an admiring once-over. "And you are...?"