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The dealer’s in on it. Feeding cards to the smirking rich jackass while the woman slowly bleeds chips in her last season dress.

And she doesn’t even know it’s happening, because she can’t see the other hand. I look around for West, hoping he is seeing it, too. But there’s no sign of him. Of course there isn’t.

My chest tightens at the injustice of it all. She doesn’t know he’s cheating. She’ll just think she lost. That she took a risk that didn’t pay off. And the rich will keep getting richer.

I hate that so much.

My fists clench at my sides. I take one step closer to the open door. Then another. The hairs on the back of my neck are standing up, my heart thumping hard against my ribs.

The dealer slides a card toward her. The smirker leans back, like he’s giving her a sporting chance.

And that’s what tips me over the edge.

“This game is rigged,” I say, my voice sounding braver than I feel. If West comes back now, he’ll be furious.

The woman startles at my sudden intrusion.

And then the man with the tie pin raises a slow eyebrow, his attention fully on me.

I try not to squirm.

“Excuse me?” the dealer says, like I’ve just told him his kids are ugly.

“You heard me,” I say, feeling less scared now, as I step into the room. “You’re cheating. You’ve been palming cards, stacking the deck in his favor. I watched you do it.”

The dealer looks me right in the eye. “You need to leave,” he says tightly, pressing a button under the table. “You’re not authorized to be in here.”

I glance around. I figure I have about a minute before security appears. Or West. I’m not sure which I’m more worried about.

“You’re being scammed,” I say, turning to the woman. “He and the dealer are in on it. You’re not losing because of bad luck.You’re losing because they decided you would. Ask to see the security video. It’s being done in full sight.”

The woman looks between us, confused, uncertain. A breath away from backing down.

And when World War Three breaks out in The Vantaggio’s most exclusive Whale Room, it appears I’m the girl who lit the match.

WEST

Five damn minutes. That’s all the time I was away for. Less, probably. And yet the moment I stride back around the corner, I hear shouting and I know in my gut it involvesher.

As soon as I turn the corner I see her. She’s being held back by two security guards, her arms pinned behind her as she loudly tries to make her point.

Some guy with oiled hair and a sharp suit is up in her face, yelling back in a tone that makes my jaw tighten.

“What’s going on?” I snap, annoyed by the way they’re holding her. Even though I was pretty much doing the same thing earlier.

Yeah, but I like her. Kind of. At least when she’s not pissing me off.

One of the security guards turns to me. “Sir?”

“Why are your hands on my fiancée?” It comes out before I can think twice. It’s a sad fact of life that men treat women differently when they know they’re in a relationship, especially one with a high-powered man, and right now I want them to take their damn hands off her.

The guard swallows. “This woman caused a disruption at a high-stakes table. She accused our dealer and a guest of cheating.” He takes a look at her, in her paint splattered clothes covered with a designer jacket, and it’s obvious what he thinks.

That she’s a hooker I’m trying to sneak in. Yeah, well fuck you. She’s my best friend’s kid sister and that means I’m defending her to my death.

“I saw the dealer palm a card.” Eden’s eyes meet mine. There’s a mixture of fury and panic in them. “And that guy was in on it. He?—”

“Eden.” I step between her and the guy with the slicked-back hair before he gets brave enough to take another step. “Stop.”Before you end up in more trouble.