“Fuck you, you filthy wop!” he snarls, slamming his palm down on the table.
“Easy now, McErlane.” I smile back at him. “I’ll throw in half of my business too.”
That gives him pause. There’s practically no way to attach a value to what I’m offering. The others around the table are shaking their heads, raising their hands in surrender. This round will be between just the two of us.
“Let’s get this straight. If I win this hand – which I will – you’ll give me your seventy mill penthouse plus half your business?” he says slowly. I feel my smile begin to spread as I nod.
“But if I win, I get half of your interests…” I say. Robbins is laughing under his breath, disbelieving.
“You’re fucking out of your mind,” he chuckles. McErlane’s rubbing his hands together.
“Plus,” I go on, turning my eyes to the scowling woman at his side. “I wanther.”
Chapter 9
Emma McErlane
“What?!” I hear myself blurt sharply. This has to be a joke. I can see the flush of color spreading up the skin at the back of my father’s neck. Any second now, he’s going to explode. He’s going to start killing people. I’m sure of it.
“You want what?” the senator says, glancing at my dad, who hasn’t reacted yet. But he will. I know he will. He has to.
“The girl,” Raoul replies, running his eyes over me in a way that’s reminding me of being on my knees at his feet, limp with pleasure. “I want the girl.”
“For the night?” Robbins says.
Holy fucking shit, is he actually discussing this?
My father still hasn’t said anything. Why hasn’t he said anything?
“Dad?” I whisper urgently, putting my hand on his shoulder.
“Quiet, girl. This is business,” he snaps at me. I suck in a breath so sharply that I almost choke on it.
No!
“Dad, you can’t be—”
“I saidquiet!” he roars so loudly that one of the waiters drops a tray. I stare around in a panic, trying to find a sign that anyone in this room might be willing to help me. Nobody meets my eye – aside from the filthy Turkish man next to Roy. He winks at me.
Oh, dear God!
“You want a night with my daughter?” my father says. Raoul’s shaking his head.
Sweet Jesus…longer? He’s planning to kill me. Oh God, why did I take that fucking ring?
“A week then…” my father is saying. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. He’s haggling as if I’m some piece of meat.
“No,” says Raoul. “I will keep her.” The words seem to come at me from a great distance because, by now, my brain is refusing to acknowledge them.
“What?” Roy snaps. I think my father scoffs, but I’m not certain because I’ve shot to my feet.
“You…! You…! No!” I shout at the dark-haired man watching me impassively across the table.
“Emma!” my father shouts, but I ignore him. I’m aiming a shaking finger at Raoul.
“No!” I yell again. “I won’t do it! You can’t make me!”
This is insanity!
