Fucking hell.
Maybe I should ask Agent Dad to tear up my agreement. If I go to prison, at least I won’t have to pay rent. My lack of income will be irrelevant.
But wait.Considering they must know I’m marking cards, why would they want me there?
Is it so they can take me into the back room and deal with meGoodfellasstyle?
With rapidly blinking eyes and a trembling tongue, I ask, “Mr. Hanley knows about this? Does Mr. Votaw know too?”
Reed answers flatly. “Yeah. Sorry, I didn’t mention that.”
No more nipple play for Reed.
Well, for a little while. I rather loved revving him up that way. Thus, denying him would be a punishment for me as well.
There’s no point in looking at him with all this irritation still blinding me. “Why would they allow me to work if they know I’ve been marking cards?”
“We need you to keep doing it so we can catch as many of the cheating players as possible. Casino wants it to be a big, splashy bust. Front page news that’ll send a message to other would-be cheaters.”
Considering that was an unfamiliarmale voice and lacking a country twang, I’m guessing it’s Agent Angry Chair Chooser.
A warm hand rubs my upper back in small, soothing circles. That’s my man, detecting my reaction and trying to make it right the best he can in mixed company.
Later, he’ll need to apologize in another way for springing this on me.
I shake off the rest of my ire and lean toward Reed’s side of my chair. I want to soak up his support while I come to terms with this new development, even if I’m not touching him.
Despite being ticked at him, I realize it isn’t his fault. He’s saving me from a mess of my own making.
“Okay,” I meekly agree. “I can do that. No problem.” I bunch my lips to the corner of my mouth. “Correction. Thereisone problem. Two, if you count that I gave the dye rings to Reed for evidence.”
“You’ll get those back for this,” Andrews explains. “What’s the other issue?”
No longer hiding my eyes, I answer him head-on. “I’d have to coordinate with Silas for this plan to succeed. Otherwise, he won’t send players to my table,andI won’t know who to signal when the decks are marked.”
“Then set that up when he gets back to you,” Bianca suggests.
“Ifhe replies to me at all, I seriously doubt he’ll believe I’m suddenly on board with helping him cheat. The last few times we talked, I told him I was done marking cards. And the meeting Iblew off last night with my snarky text was to discuss how I could help him in exchange for letting me walk away. Why would he believe I’m suddenly back in?”
My throat feels dry, so I have to swallow before I finish. “Let’s face it. The only way I’ll ever see him again is when he shows up to put a bullet in my head.”
Wow. I just said that like it didn’t matter. Put it out there, stating it flatly as if it’s a forgone conclusion. Unavoidable.
Because it’s starting to feel that way.
Once more, I’m stuck.
I traded Silas’ hamster wheel for the FBI’s.
The only silver lining is that I’ll be on the right side of the law this time, hopefully saving innocent people from further harm. When Silas takes me out, my conscience will be clean.
“Clear the room, please,” Reed orders in a clipped tone. “And cut the recording.”
I stiffen and watch them leave. The red light on the camera in the corner of the ceiling cuts off.
The door hasn’t even closed yet, and Reed’s already dragging my chair away from the table. He spins it toward him, yanking me forward until our knees touch.
With his hands planted on the elbow pads of my chair, he locks me in. It’s oddly comforting. “Listen to me, cookie.”
