Sin City Collectors Boxed Set: Aces Wild, Ante Up, All in
Page 34
“Who’d they send?” Jake asked, sitting up.
“Cassie Black.”
“The badass elemental?” Neve whistled.
“The very one,” Luke said. “Her reputation precedes her. I hear she’s hard to control, but if Raoul is trapped in the caves, she’s apparently the one to track him down.”
“She’s an earth elemental,” Jake nodded. “She’s the one I’d send. Louie’s on top of it.”
“Count us in if you need us,” Neve added. “That panther got us to you in time. We owe him. Plus,” she grinned, winking, “he wasn’t too bad on the eyes with those chiseled cheekbones and hooded eyes. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of him around the office.”
Jake gave her a mock growl and leaned over to nuzzle her neck. “I will take that measly panther out if he comes within a foot of you, understand?”
“Relax, puppy,” Neve joked, turning to caress his face. “You’re all the shifter I’ll ever need.” She leaned in to give him a long kiss.
“Okay, okay, I think we’re done here,” Diesel interrupted. “I don’t need to watch the two of you go at it. It’s been a long night, and it’s time for me to take my girl home.” He pushed his chair out and grabbed Sofia’s hand. She beamed at him as she followed. “Luke and Ginger, you have our pledges. If you need us, you know where to find us.”
Sofia nodded as Diesel tugged her toward the door. “Ginger, try not to worry about Raoul. He’s strong and completely capable. He’ll resurface soon enough, and likely have some sort of crazy story to tell. I loved hearing his stories when he helped me move all those years ago. It seemed like he had an endless supply, and now he’ll have one more.”
“I know he’ll be fine,” Ginger said, though Luke heard her worry. “We’ll let you know what we find out soon. Cassie is due to report back in two days.”
Jake and Neve went next. The dhampir trailed behind him as she turned and made silly faces at Luke and Ginger. “This guy—” she thumbed her hand at Jake’s back “—I can’t seem to satiate him. He always wants more.”
“Damn right I do,” Jake growled as he pulled her into his arms, picking her up easily. She giggled like a schoolgirl as she wound her hands around his neck. It was nice to see Neve with her hair down. It didn’t happen often enough. “You drive me wild, dhampir. And until I get a ring on that finger, you’re not going near the panther. You hear me?”
“Oh, I hear you, Big Daddy.” She winked over Jake’s shoulder, and Luke and Ginger both laughed.
“Luke, lock up.” Jake tossed the words over his shoulder as he carried his fiancée out of the bar. “You know where the key is.”
“Will do,” Luke called as he pulled Ginger closer, his arm firmly around her waist. He bent down and inhaled, the gardenia scent had gotten stronger every day. He luxuriated in it for a moment. “I’m so happy all the stuff with the SCC is finally over and we can move on.”
Ginger snuggled into his side, her hand tracing his chest. “I am thrilled, too. That was a long two weeks. And, to tell you the truth, it’s a huge relief that I don’t have to go underground with Dossier again. My life is suddenly an open book for the first time since I can remember, and it feels great.”
“If you take the job with the SCC, you’ll be a permanent resident of Vegas,” he said, grinning.
“Yep.” She tilted her head up and gave him a dazzling smile. “But even if I don’t take it, I plan to stay in Vegas.”
“Is that so?” he kidded.
“It is.”
Luke leaned down and gave her a slow, lingering kiss. Even though the SCC had interrogated her every day for two weeks, he’d been in charge of her so-called arrest and had taken her to a safe house every night after the questioning. “I like the sound of that,” he said.
“Dossier can be headquartered here even if the SCC doesn’t fund me. I’m sure I’ll be working closely with them no matter what happens. I almost like that scenario better.”
“Why’s that?”
“I like being my own boss.”
“Just so you know,” he said, “if you ever want to leave here, I’m open to anything. I go wherever you go.”
She smiled. “I want us both to be happy, and Vegas works. Plus, I get a chance to reconnect with Sofia. Did I tell you she set me up with a new townhouse in her neighborhood? She gave me the keys tonight.” She drew them out of her pocket and bounced them in front of Luke, raising her eyebrows.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard. It’s a hell of a lot better than us bunking with my mom.” Luke had his own apartment, but before he’d gone on the road with Ginger, he’d spent a lot of time with his mom.
“That’s what I thought, too. Care to go see it with me? Sofia said she even had some furniture delivered while I was in the clink.”
“It’ll be my pleasure to escort you home,” Luke said as he and Ginger slid their chairs back and stood. He wrapped an arm firmly around her as they walked to get the key to lock up Hellhounds. At the office door, Luke turned. “Ginger, I promise we’ll find Raoul. If Cassie Black isn’t successful, we’ll go after him ourselves.”
“I know we will. But I have a feeling she’ll get the job done.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because if I know Raoul, he already has everything under control.”
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About the Author
Amanda is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, with a BA in both Speech and Hearing Science & Child Development. She went on to get an A.A.S in Sign Language Interpreting and worked as an interpreter until her first child was born. She’s the author of high octane Jessica McClain urban fantasy series published by Orbit. Look for those in stores everywhere. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and three kids. Find her all over social media: Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram
Other books by Amanda Carlson
If you enjoy high octane sexy urban fantasy try
The Jessica McClain series by Orbit:
BLOODED
FULL BLOODED
HOT BLOODED
COLD BLOODED
RED BLOODED
PURE BLOODED
Nothing is completed without a great team.
My thanks to:
Cover design: Robin Ludwig Design Inc
Digital and print formatting: Author E.M.S.
Copyedits/proofs for ACES WILD and ANTE UP: Joyce Lamb
Copyedits/proofs for ALL IN: Carrie Smoot
Early readers: Koppy Hansen and Cindi Murphey
Table of Contents
Copyright
The Table of Contents
Aces Wild
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Ante Up
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
All In
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
The Sin City Collectors
About the Author
Many Thanks