AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sam
Around midnight,my car pulled up along the alleyway adjacent to the building housing The Library. According to the rumor mill, Joshi planned to announce Devani’s engagement to Neil Joshi tonight at a fundraiser I would have attended as a King family representative. But the last thing I could do was watch another man’s ring sit on her finger, even if it was all a ruse.
“Good evening, Mr. King.” Amir, the club manager, opened the door and greeted me. “We weren’t expecting you tonight.”
“I decided to take Kir’s shift tonight.” Stepping out of the car, I adjusted my suit jacket and lifted my face, taking in the scent of baked goods wafting through the air.
Above the poker club sat its namesake bookstore and cafe, The Library. Though it posed as a cover for our enterprise, my brothers and I ran the business as a proper independent bookstore. An up-and-coming chef from our old neighborhood managed the cafe, and a local retired teacher led the store staff. This was a local SoHo hangout, where people felt relaxed eating, chatting, and reading.
I glanced at one of my security, and he inclined his head. Then, he headed toward the cafe to grab the drink orders for our team, including a double espresso for me.
I moved into the hallway leading into the club.
“What are the updates for tonight?”
“Packed house, with more than our usual share of high rollers.”
“Good thing I’m here and not Kir. He hates the meet-and-greet shit.”
Out of all the King brothers, Kir was shy by nature and happened to be the one who hated anything to put him in the spotlight. So, of course, he was the best looking out of all of us. Even with the scars left from the car crash, he’d kept his pretty-boy baby face. And, of course, being the shy one meant he’d married Jayna. Her exhibitionist tendencies tended to make me want to gouge my eyes out.
No brother ever wanted to walk in on his baby sister doing anything sexual.
“That may be a problem. One of our guests specifically requested a meeting with your brother.”
“They’ll get over it. I can handle anything Kir can. Who’s the high roller?”
Amir hesitated, making me frown in his direction.
“Spit it out.”
“The Queen of Diamonds.”
Everything froze inside me.
“What’s she doing here?”
“She is holding court. It was an arrangement with your brother. A favor for a favor.”
I clenched my teeth. “What kind of favor?”
“I don’t ask questions, sir. I carry out details.”
I stalked to the alcove where I could watch the proceedings in the gaming room without anyone noticing me. The room buzzed with energy as millions loomed in play at the center of each table. Excitement, anticipation, fear, regret, and elation coursed all around, and the level of each depended on the cards each person held in their hands.
The thrill of the unknown, the risk, the adrenaline rush, or all of it drove at something inside each of them.
I understood the exhilaration. Winning over one’s opponents at the table and in life felt incredible.
Around the time I’d turned twenty-five, a reporter with an axe to grind against Arin and me published an article with a headline saying, “Arin King’s Ruthless Heir: What Does a Gang Kid Know About Wall Street?”
When I’d come to Arin, pissed to holy hell, he’d laughed and ignored everything included in the article but the ruthless heir part.
Then he’d said, “You’re making them scared, boy. The plans are working. They didn’t lie. You are my ruthless heir. Keep at it.”
“Here is your coffee, sir.”
Taking the drink from my security guy, I gulped it back and set it on the tray. The heat from the brew burned down my throat. Hopefully, the caffeine would kick in fast.
