“Alright, alright, let’s get this thing started.” One of the hosts stood. “I’ll let my brother make the introductions. For now though—Garrak, right? We’ve all heard of the poker-playing orc, how you never lose, yeah yeah.” Hewaved his cigar dismissively. “Kiss your good luck charm goodbye and let’s get a move on.”
Reluctantly, I moved Stevie off my lap, but rather than going to sit beside the other spectators, she took a deep breath and rested her hand on my shoulder. Ifelther drawing strength, and I twisted to stare expectantly up at her.
“Actually, gentlemen, I think I will excuse myself.” Her hold on my shoulder tightened, as did her jaw, and I saw her blue eyes swimming with unshed tears. “I am a very good poker player, and I know your tells.”
Gods below, my Mate was the bravest female I’d met.
There were murmurs and shifting around the room, but the males at the table—many of them dangerous—merely narrowed their eyes. Except for her father, who sat forward.
“What the fuck do you think—” he began.
But one of the LeClair brothers interrupted with a dismissive laugh. “You’re asking to be let into the game, lady?”
“No.” Stevie took a deep breath, staring at the pile of poker chips in the front of her father. “But I don’t want to cheat again either.” She swallowed and slowly lifted her eyes to her father. “Dad, Garrak has taught me that a good man, a good father, wouldn’t threaten or hurt me to get what he wanted. I should never have helped you.”
The whispers increased, and I watched the eyes of every man at that table harden…except her father, who began to sputter. I tensed, ready to stand, to throw myself in front of my Mate if any of these assholes offered her violence.
“Stevie,” I murmured, reaching up to touch her hand. I don’t know if I was warning her or reminding her I had her back. My senses were on high alert as I tried to watch everyone in the room.
But my brave Mate merely switched her gaze to the LeClair brothers. “I am truly sorry,” she said, almost regal as two fat tears ran down her cheek. Did they see how much this cost her, how afraid she was? “I hope you’ll understand that I never wanted to participate in his scheme.”
“Youbitch—” her father snarled, throwing himself out of his chair to reach for her.
But I was moving before he’d even finished forming the thought. I pushed her behind me, grabbed Hendricks out of the air, and held him by his collar as I turned back to Stevie, beaming proudly.
She placed her hand on my forearm. “Garrak, I love you.”
Pretty sure my heart stuttered.
Had she said those words before? No, she hadn’t. She called meMate, and her letter said she cared for me. But…she loved me? I knew Mated pairs who took years to grow to love one another. How’d I get this lucky?
While I stared, dumbstruck at her, Stevie took another deep breath. “I love you, Garrak, but I need you to know that I can’t just sit around and do nothing.”
“I know, sweetheart.”
My chestachedto reach for her, to wipe away the tears streaming down her cheeks. But her father was kicking and struggling—and yes, choking—in my hold, and I wasn’t about to let him near her. So I just beamed at her.
But she shook her head. “I’ve had a shitty life.” She glanced at her father, then away. “And you’ve protected me from that, but I still need to do good for the world. Like now, I’m not going to sit here and help him—or hurt him—with what I know about your tells or the LeClair brothers or?—”
Her words broke off in a sob, her arms wrapped around her middle, and Iachedto wrap her in my strength.
But she was strong, and I had to trust her.
“You’re the most remarkable human I’ve ever met,” I whispered, and as soon as the words were out of my mouth, I knew they were true.
She glanced around the room, at the hard looks the other males were giving her, and her gaze lingered on her father, whom I hadn’t even turned to look at. Then, still crying silently, she ducked her chin and turned toward the door.
“Wait.” My command cut through the tension in the air, and she froze. “Say it again,” I ordered. “Give me the words.”
Her lips curled just slightly, and I saw her courage. “I love you, Garrak.”
MyKteerhowled with glee.
Holding her love in my heart, I knew I could do anything. So I nodded once, arrogantly. “Good girl.”
Tears still on her cheeks, Stevie’s smile grew. “Good luck, Mate.”
Then she was gone. I pushed Hendricks aside and went to follow her, but a burly male holding a gun stepped in front of the closed door, silently telling me I was to stay in the room.
