For a second, I couldn’t understand the words that Lyra said. Or maybe I didn't want to understand them.The lingering tears of relief burned my eyes like acid as I stared at my sister. How on earth could she do something so stupid? A hundred thousand dollars. How would we pay back a hundred thousand dollars? We were running from men already because of our debts, and the least she could do was lay low. Instead, she decided what we owed was not enough and had to add to the number. Turning away, I started to pace, compulsively twisting a long tendril of blond hair into a tight ringlet around my finger as I struggled to make sense of all my worst fears coming true. I had feared something like this would happen at the resort. I had dreaded the day we would be stuck in a terrible situation and flee our job. I tried to control my shaking hands, but I couldn't. I tried desperately to think of a way out, and my mind was blank. There was only one way out in situations like this. “But I to
“No! It’s my fault, Illyra, and I can fix it. Listen. On Christmas Eve, I met a man who told me how...”But I didn’t wait to hear whatever cockamamy sob story someone might have fed my softhearted sister this time. No one was coming to save her, and I had to do it. I grabbed my black leather motorcycle jacket and headed for the door.“Illyra, wait! Don't do it! You don't have to do this for me. I could get you into trouble.” She cried but I ignored her. I didn’t look back. I walked out of our tiny apartment and went down the open-air hallway to the moss-covered, crumbling concrete steps of the aging building where all the Hale Ka’nani Resort’s staff lived."It’s just like riding a bike. It will be easier than you think." I told myself fiercely as I raced down the steps. It was just as easy as dozing off after a long workday. Even after ten years away from the game, I could win at poker. I could. I didn't have a choice, or my sister would be indebted. And I knew just the way Aldric w
“This is my outfit for the night.” My voice was cool as I stared him down. “For poker.”"Are you going in to play?" He asked me, looking shocked. "Yes, my sister started a game and I am here to end it." I replied. “Oh.” His round, friendly face looked confused. “Well. Okay. Go in, then.”“Thanks.” Forcing the ice in my voice to fully infuse my heart, I pushed open the door. There was no going back, and I knew it. I walked into the room and exhaled. The private room for the villa residents had a cavernous ceiling and no windows. Everything was built with security and privacy in mind. The walls were soundproofed with thick red fabric that swooped from a center point on the ceiling. The effect made the room glamorous and cozy, and claustrophobic all at once. It felt all too dark and unhealthy for me. I wondered how Lyra was brought to a place like this and didn't freak out. To me, it felt like entering the tent of a sheik’s harem. But as I approached the wealthy men who were playing
Andrei Andreevich's eyes narrowed with recognition, and then I felt the rush of his sudden searing hatred like fire. I could feel the heat of his intense eyes all over my body. “Have you met Prince Andrei?” Aldric asked, looking between us. Everyone at the table was staring as well. Maybe it was the way I looked like I had seen a ghost or the way he was gritting his teeth. Either way, we both looked vicious. “Prince?” I choked out. The last time I remembered, he didn't use his worthless title. I could not look away from his face, the face of the man I’d dreamed about unwillingly for the past ten years.His cruel, sensual lips curved as he leaned back in his chair. My heart tried to pump blood aggressively, but I resisted. I wasn't going to let my guard down for him. “Miss Bennet,” he drawled. “I didn’t know you were in Hawaii. And gambling. What a pleasant surprise.”Miss Bennet? He would never call me that ten years ago. He loved to call me Illyra all the time. His tone also carri
Fine. I felt the same about him. Let him hate me. I hate him as well. He could glare at me for hours, and I don't care. His hatred bounced off the thickening ice of my scorn for him. I’d thought he was so perfect and noble. I thought he was the right one who would love me unconditionally. I’d killed myself trying to be worthy. I gave away everything trying to fit into his life. But when he’d learned the truth about my past, he’d deserted me without giving her a chance to explain. He had abandoned me without thinking about all the promises he had made to me. So much for his honor. So much for his love.My lips twisted. Turning away, I gave the rest of the men a sensual smile. “Win this first hand, and you’ll have me at your mercy. You’ll get your revenge. Humiliate me completely. Take my body, and make your last memory of me one of your own pleasure.” I gave a soft sigh, allowing my lips to part. “My skills at cards are nothing compared to what I can do to you in bed. I’ve learned
My brow furrowed as I tried to read his expression. I couldn't understand what he was trying to do. What on earth was he doing? What was Andrei planning in his dark mind? Was he trying to help me? Or giving me more rope to hang myself with? It had to be the latter because his eyes screamed mercilessness. Andrei would never help me, especially when he had a chance to revenge. Repressing my inner tumult, I stared him down. In for a penny. I could use his idea to my advantage. I lifted my chin. “If it’s worth five more, why not ten more?”The corners of Andrei's mouth lifted. “Yes, indeed. Why not?” He looked around the table. “Miss Bennet has raised the wager by ten thousand dollars.”To my shock, one by one, the men agreed to my supposed “raise,” except for the German, who folded with an unintelligible curse. What was happening? Could I really win and save Lyra? Was Andrei helping me, and for what reason? And just like that—oh, merciful heavens—there was suddenly a pile of chips at
“You’re firing us?” My jaw dropped. “For what cause? What did we do?”“I don’t need one,” he said coldly.I stiffened. I hadn’t seen that coming, and I should have. A small-minded man like my boss would never stand being beaten in a card game by a female employee. He’d already resented me for weeks for the respect I’d quickly gained from the staff and all the notes I’d left in the suggestion box, listing possible ways to improve his management of the resort.“Fine.” I grabbed my handful of chips and glared at him. “Then I’ll tell you what I should have written up in the suggestion box weeks ago. This resort is a mess. You’re being overcharged by your vendors, half your employees are stealing from you, and the other half are ready to quit. You couldn’t manage your way out of a paper bag!”Mr. Aldric's face went apoplectic. “You—”I barely heard him as he cursed at me. These extra chips, worth thousands of dollars, would give both Lyra and me a new start—buy us a plane trip back to the
LyraMy eyelids fluttered, then flew open as I sat up with a sharp intake of breath.I was still fully dressed. I was sleeping on an enormous bed in a strange room. The masculine, dark-floored bedroom was flooded with golden lights from the window.How long had I been sleeping? I yawned, and my mouth felt dry. Who had brought me here? Could it have been Viktor himself?The thought of being carried in those strong arms against his hard chest as I slept on, unaware, caused me to tremble. I looked down at the mussed white bedspread.Could it possibly be his bed...?With a gulp, I jumped up as if it had burned me. I glanced around the room and expensive furnitures. The clock on the fireplace mantel said three o’clock. Gracious! I'd slept for hours.I stretched my arms above my head with another yawn. It had been nice ofViktor to let me sleep. Flying to and fro to save my sister had drained me completely but I felt so much better after the long nap.Until I saw myself in the full-length m