Reckless Gamble: a billionaire high stakes suspense romance (City Sinners Book 4)

by Kenna Shaw Reed

  “So, it’s true about the two of you?”

  “I didn’t know she was the consultant until after you signed her.”

  “The lunch?”

  “Nothing. She recognized me, but I had no idea until we came up against each other at a card table later.”

  “How the hell?”

  “You should see her, black leather, hair pulled up and heavy make-up—dark glasses and her legs. Mate, I’d never seen a woman like her.”

  “Okay, but you should have told me.”

  “And you should have told me that you suspected me of fraud! For fucks sake, all of this could have been avoided if you had trusted me.”

  “Or if you had trusted me. Or if you hadn’t lost your shit.”

  “Don’t you mean, if I hadn’t lost so much money.”

  “I still don’t know how anyone can use a salary the size of yours as play money.”

  “I told you before, no wife, no kids and no future prospects of either. It’s my money and I’ve got more than my share of it.”

  “Back to my original question, what the hell am I going to do with you?”

  “I’ll make it easy—leave of absence,” I said as if we were buying a new company instead of saving one. “Bring a in new set of auditors. You and I both know they’ll give the market a clean bill of health. By the time I come back from leave, if I do, the market will have moved on and the smart money will be buying up this week when everyone else is selling.”

  “Feeling like gambling with the share market?”

  “Don’t worry—I’ll submit all the right forms to ASIC.”

  “So, who would have leaked the stuff?”

  “It had to be Carlynn. Vengeful bitch must have made the call when I started ghosting her about the report.”

  “You think she’d stoop that far?”

  “Like you said—it wasn’t you or Darius. It certainly wasn’t me. It had to be her.”

  “She never said anything to you last night?”

  “Not that I gave her a chance. I turned up, practically unannounced and then we got—” I hesitated before diving in, “We got involved in other conversation.”

  Every kiss had been a lie. Every touch and every feeling.

  Lies. All lies.

  My love turned to vengeful hate by her betrayal. Why hadn’t I learned?

  “Scott, I know that I’ve accused you of some serious shit, but I really need to ask—is there any part of you that was so angry about the report that you’d—”

  Really?

  I’d given him a perfectly reasonable way to get out of the mess and he still doubted me?

  “Fuck off, Mason.”

  I couldn’t face another tidal wave of mistrust or betrayal.

  Twenty-four hours ago, I’d been happily drowning my sorrows and planning a new future, possibly away from Softli.

  Twelve hours ago, and I thought my life was starting with the woman I loved—loved as in past tense. Even on an empty stomach, I couldn’t think of the lying, calculating, deceitful bitch without gagging.

  Now, Mason had the audacity to question my integrity, again?

  Fuck that.

  I deserved better than Carlynn, Mason, Softli and the blessed press for taking something that was nothing and blowing it up for the world to see. For what reason?

  One quick check for my keys and wallet, I didn’t even stop to pack up my desk. Layla could either sell my shit or burn it.

  I didn’t give a damn whether Mason crawled over cut glass to beg me to come back after either Darius discovered his expensive firewalls had been hacked, or once Carlynn-fucking-GG Rush confessed.

  Softli was as dead to me as my career.

  By the time I reached the only love that hadn’t let me down, my phone was off and tossed into the glovebox and my security pass ready to swipe out of the executive carpark one last time.

  I’d have my home office packed with anything resembling memories of Softli couriered to the office before lunchtime.

  Until an hour ago, I’d loved Carlynn.

  Even before then, I’d been willing to risk far more than money to keep her safe.

  Not that she ever cared.

  Karma’s a bitch, sweetheart.

  Next time I faced her, it would be at a time and place of my choosing.

  I’d show no love and no mercy.

  I would fucking destroy her or be destroyed trying.

  Melbourne greeted me with a hailstorm. A fitting welcome committee but my cab driver wasn’t fazed.

  Hell was about to be unleashed.

  Fire and brimstone to rain upon her.

  Less than a week after wanting to plan the perfect romantic getaway and surprise her with three little words, I was planning the perfect revenge.

  Ultimate betrayal deserved nothing less than the ultimate and public humiliating take down.

  Every vein in my neck twitched in anticipation. I’d summoned my weapons and not a dollar would be left unspent, if needed.

  I’d loved her, that much.

  Striding into the casino foyer to the beat of the music playing in my head. Wasted Lives by Stormy Waters. Wasn’t that the truth. I’d wasted too many seconds of my life on women who didn’t deserve them.

  “Is she here yet?”

  I found Jarryd at the concierge, as planned. Not that my good friend had a choice. The media hadn’t released the details of his games or other clients, and I’d pulled my own strings to keep it that way. Jarryd had become my weapon, ready to aim and fire.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” Despite my threats, Jarryd hadn’t lost hope in appealing to my good nature, to calming reason.

  My soul had bled for her. A week of fucking headlines and more journalist than job offers. I needed this. To bury Carlynn and my mistaken love within the casino walls.

  “She destroyed my reputation and career,” I seethed between gritted teeth. “Did you actually read that article? It could have only come from her.”

  “Or there was a leak at Softli—how much do you trust Mason?”

  “Given the hit our shares took, I’d say he had every reason to be innocent—in any case he knew about the drawdown.”

  Jarryd had dragged Matt to me, Jarryd was there when we were going through options. He had to remember. “The phone call I took when you were at my place. None of my assets were liquid. I didn’t have time to get a loan or the cash any other way. The only way I could save her was drawing down on my future share dividends.”

  “I’m sorry, can’t you come out and say it was the only way to keep her safe.”

  “That’d only look worse—in any case, her safety is the least of my concerns. Tonight, I’m gonna bury her.”

  “Mate—” Jarryd pressed his hands to my chest. Out of respect, he didn’t land on the floor with a broken jaw. I stood my ground, waiting to finish whatever he needed to say to live with what I was about to do. “It isn’t too late to change your mind.”

  “You had a job. Did you do it?” I growled, my hunger for revenge overwhelming. My fists clenched, jaw almost locked into place as I asked my very simple question, again. “Is. She. Here?”

  “Looking like a million dollars.”

  “Well I hope she puts it on the table.”

  “Scotty dog!”

  Fuck.

  Only one person would dare call me that. I’d have turned for the voice, but the name warranted a place on my shit list.

  Take a number and stand in line, asshole.

  “Edison.” The bullshit handshake formalities over, I tried to brush aside my brother and Jarryd. I needed to check into my room, punch a pillow, have a shower and clear my head. I needed to, but time wasn’t gonna be on my side unless I could dump my would-be babysitters.

  “Seems you still have a few friends that don’t read your press.” Edison’s formidable body blocked my path.

  “Don’t believe everything you read.”

  “Actually, I’m here to make sure you don’t do anything els
e media worthy. Like put everything you’ve worked hard for on the table because you lost your shit over a girl, again.”

  “Back off.” I didn’t need his judgement or to play hero. I needed to prepare for the game of my life.

  “Come and have a drink before you go upstairs—you’ve still got half an hour or so.”

  Edison waited and I recognized the look. He’d had it when we were younger and some punk tried to crack onto his girlfriend. He had it when he spoke of his time overseas. Not the details, just the highlights.

  He wouldn’t stop me from playing, but he’d have my back if shit went down.

  “I’m not drinking.”

  “Good to know, but I need a drink and you could probably do with a coffee or OJ. Gotta get some sugar and caffeine into you.”

  I checked Jarryd who hadn’t seemed surprised or needed an introduction to my brother. Something to remember, later. For now, I slapped Jarryd on the back. “See you up there.”

  “Thanks for turning up. Hopefully he’ll let his baby brother bash some sense into him,” Jarryd said, shaking Ed’s hand and not even having the good grace to look sheepish. “Yes, I got Layla to call your brother. I’ll be there in the room, but I’m hoping Ed will stop you from walking in.”

  “Not a chance.”

  “Scotch, neat and a strong black coffee.”

  Ed ordered our drinks, waiting in vain for me to start the conversation. Not a chance. This was his party. He could start the dance.

  Ice cubes rattled in the tumbler, amber liquid poured and I didn’t even want a taste. The coffee, well, I didn’t need any more adrenalin but the caffeine couldn’t hurt.

  Our two drinks in hand, I was prepared to play Mexican stand-off until called to the table before Ed finally broke, “So, what happened?”

  “You saw the article.”

  “What happened?”

  “Met a girl. Thought I’d fallen in love. Her ex-husband put her name down as paying for his debts.”

  “To the guys upstairs?”

  “Yeah, well I drew down against my share bonus—shouldn’t have been a problem except that the lovely Carlynn Rush decided to do an exposé linking my gambling to the drawdown but calling it a loan. Our shares have taken as big a hit as my reputation.”

  “And your share bonus?”

  “Unlikely to be repaid this quarter. I’m gonna need to keep my job for another three months to pay it off next quarter.”

  Any company associated with me had also taken a hit. Even my other assets had taken a temporary nosedive and no one was taking my calls. I was in a shitload of temporary trouble. And, about to make it worse.

  Then again, if Mason fired me, my severance pay would offset the drawdown.

  I’d walk away with nothing.

  Then again, I already had.

  “So, what are you expecting to get from tonight?”

  “One game of cards, up against Carlynn.”

  “Are you good enough to win?”

  “I’m good enough to beat anyone else that Basilio is putting up. Jarryd knows them and reckons he’d toss a coin whether Carlynn or I walk away with the cash.”

  “What if you lose?”

  “I may need to crash on your couch for a while until my other shit can become liquid cash—seriously it will be tight but I’ll be fine.”

  “And if you win?”

  “I’ve already lost the girl.”

  GG

  “You look stunning.”

  The Sydney crew were out in full force.

  Jarryd, Lachlan, and Cleese greeted me inside the high roller’s private room with looks of desire and hugs that lasted a fraction too long.

  What did they expect? I’d booked in for the tattooed broken heart for next week.

  Men had tried to break me before Scott Alexander had been dealt his first hand. This wasn’t my first rodeo or my first broken heart.

  I’d spent just as much time preparing how I looked tonight, as I had studying for exams. My look was my amour—only tonight the skirt was a little shorter, my top a little more fitted and my lips a hell of a lot redder. Using every technique to make damn sure every man would want to bite away the color of the lipstick. As for my breasts, they were plumped and tantalizingly close to exceeding the casino’s dress standards.

  I wanted all the male players to be thrown off guard for the crucial first hours.

  I needed Scott Alexander to remember what he was missing and could have again if only he’d take the stick out of his ass and believe me. Believe that I’d never have leaked the information—why would I? It had hurt me as much as it had either him or Softli.

  “Thanks, you boys playing or watching?”

  “Think we’ll stick to the little boys table tonight,” Lachlan laughed, pressing one last kiss to my hand.

  “Too rich for my blood.” Cleese only released my waist when I twisted away.

  “I thought about it, but I could just as easily hand over my cash to you and Scott than lose it at the table.” Jarryd’s hug was the most sincere and genuine. Not for the first time I chided myself for my consistent bad choice in lovers. Why couldn’t I have fallen for Jarryd or even Lachlan instead of Scott?

  “You think it will come down to the two of us?” I knew the other players by reputation, but since splitting with Matt, I’d been out of the loop with the Melbourne scene.

  “Not a doubt—but are you sure you want to go head to head with Scott?”

  The million-dollar question.

  The media articles had been bad enough, but Scott had completely trashed my professional reputation by blaming me. Not only did Basilio and his crew know where I lived and my new name—thanks to Matt and Scott—now every potential client knew about my gambling and questionable associations.

  Even worse, they also thought I’d committed the unforgivable sin of betraying a client’s confidentiality.

  No one would touch me.

  Past clients had already withdrawn any future references.

  And Scott hated me.

  “I don’t have a choice.” I blinked away the threat of tears. Scott hated me.

  “Sweetheart,” Jarryd tried to sooth, “You always have a choice—fold or call.”

  “I need the cash and I need to face him.”

  “There are other games and other times.”

  “Jarryd,” I choked back tears. Still, better I break down with time to pull myself together before Scott arrived. Shadows from a week of tears were hidden behind my trademark dark glasses. I gripped Jarryd’s arm, nails digging in for support. “Scott needs this. He needs closure. I can’t convince him that I’d never betray any of my clients, and I’d never do anything to hurt him.”

  “But why play him?”

  “Because he won’t talk to me. He can’t avoid me if we’re at the same table.”

  “If you don’t play, he won’t.”

  “If I thought there was another chance, I’d take it.”

  “GG—” Jarryd winced as he released my fingers. “If you win tonight, you’ll wipe him out.”

  “I doubt it,” I snorted. “He lost that much for fun in the months before we met.”

  “Maybe, but he also had a salary and a career to fall back on. You wiped that out and from what I’ve heard, any company he’s been associated with has also taken a hit. Shares are down. He doesn’t have a backup if you wipe him out.”

  “Then convince him it wasn’t me!”

  I needed a drink, a glass to grip onto. I pushed past Jarryd and headed towards the bar. Trying to find that calm and happy place necessary for a clear head and great game. Every dollar I’d scraped together since moving to Sydney was riding on tonight. If I couldn’t pull myself together, I might as well hand it over to Scott.

  What if I did?

  The air in the room changed. Oxygen gone and music faded.

  Scott.

  He stood in the doorway, still and regal. In a suit that cost more than my car. Exuding power and magnetism just by being
present.

  I could still feel him grinding me against the window at The Club. Fucking me against the glass as the world carried on below. Oblivious to us.

  I could still feel the weight of his orgasm, crashing into me as we made love on the sofa. As I wanted to spread my legs wider, take his whole body, and then cradle him forever.

  I’d almost said the words. I knew he hadn’t remembered saying them to me. But I’d wanted him to know, I loved him.

  Would it have made a difference?

  Would he have believed them at the time, or now?

  I, Carlina Hargraves. Also known as GG and Carlynn Rush, do solemnly swear to love you Scott Alexander, anyway you want me. For as long as we both shall live.

  I’d fallen asleep to the regret of not telling him. Of him going the rest of his life only thinking of me in terms of betrayal and hate. Never knowing how much I truly loved him. As a friend, as a colleague and contemporary, and as a lover and man.

  I loved Scott Alexander.

  Before it had become too late for us.

  His gaze found mine and I flinched as his jaw locked into place. I slowly raised my glasses. My wretched face naked for him to see. If I couldn’t say the words, surely a week of no sleep told him something?

  No reaction before he turned towards one of the hostesses. I dropped my glasses, not willing to let anyone see my jealousy as the bitch spent too long dragging his jacket down his arms.

  I missed those arms, his hands. I craved his touch. I’d even strung together all his voice mails into a single loop to play over again. Just to remember that once, we had a chance.

  I could throw the game.

  I could prove my innocence and my love by throwing him the game.

  We’d need to be the last two standing.

  Easy.

  “Ms.Hargraves, are you ready to play?” Basilio graced my cheek with his lips. I resisted the urge to flinch as his hand found the small of my back. His fingertips tracing small, light circles. A familiar touch from an unwanted hand.

  “I go by Ms.Rush, or GG, these days,” I replied loud enough for others to hear. We weren’t sharing secrets or a moment.

  “Of course, my apologies. I’m so glad that we were able to put that ugly mess with your husband behind us. He is lucky to have such a good friend.”