Aces Wild by Taylor Lee

his demeanor. Only the hard glint in his eyes, a python confronting a field mouse, spoke to the tension he must be feeling.
    “ What about you, McKenna? What do you do?” Peter asked, his voice sharp, devoid of any semblance of courtesy. “I heard you’re a U. S. Marshal.”
    Gabe nodded. “I was, some time ago.”
    “ Your father get that position for you? It’s not easy to become a marshal. I understand it take connections and a healthy bribe under the table to get those marshal spots.”
    Gabe’s cool tone held the undercurrent of a threat. “It’s easier than you might think, Peter. The best connections are the willingness and ability to shoot a man dead at forty paces or if you prefer a knife over a gun, slicing him to death.”
    Peter paled then replied with a sniff. “My goodness, you have left your Boston ways behind.” Glancing at Penelope, whose expression was stony at best, Peter continued, “I don’t know, Penelope, I think your consort is more uncivilized than you might think.”
    Penelope looked as stunned as everyone else at the table.
    Ana was surprised when Peter refused to quit, just kept pushing.
    Glaring at Gabe, he said, “What kind of work do you do now that you’re not a marshal?”
    Gabe quirked a brow. “What comes my way.”
    Peter didn’t hide his distain. “ Humph, I suppose living off your inheritance allows you not to work.”
    Gabe glanced around the table and grinned. “Hmm, if that was true, and it is not, I would appear to be in good company.”
    There were a few guffaws and Ana looked up in time to see her father nod and exchange a wink with Gabe.
    Ana was intrigued by the interchange. Peter’s anger was palpable and even though she despised Gabe, Ana was glad he had put the pompous fop in his place.
    At that moment Molly and several other maids entered with trays of deserts. Ana saw Molly make a beeline for Gabe. Even across the table, she could hear the husky familiarity in the hussy’s voice as she sidled up to him.
    “ Sir, canna I be gettin’ you any of these sweets to polish off your dinner?”
    Gabe started and then frowned. “No, thank you. I have had quite enough.”
    The Chinese butler, who had been with Chao’s family as long as Ana could remember, stepped between Gabe and the impudent maid. Nudging her aside, he asked in a quiet professional tone, “Perhaps more wine, sir.’
    Gabe gave him an appreciative nod. “Yes, that I will definitely have more of.”
    ~~~
    Gabe took a sip of wine and caught Ana glaring at Molly. Seeing the darts flying across the table, he grinned to himself. He didn’t know if the missiles were intended for Molly or for him. Probably, he thought, for both.
    As Molly made her way around the table offering the sweets, she came to Ana. Apparently unaware of the hostility radiating from her mistress, the brash girl asked in her sugary brogue. “Will you be havin’ some of these “binyets”, miss. They are tasty.”
    “ Did you make them?”
    Molly started at her mistress’s crisp tone. “Yes, miss, I did. I made them meself just this morning.”
    Glancing at the slight redness circling Molly’s wrists, Ana asked, “With your bare hands?”
    Molly looked confused then responded. “Uh, yes, miss. With me bare hands.”
    Ana’s eyes flashed. “Then I don’t want any. Thank you. Leave please.”
    Gabe choked on his wine, struggling to squelch his laughter. Wiping his eyes with his napkin, he smiled at Ana, but she just flushed and looked away. At that moment, Peter took the bottle of wine from the butler and offered to refill Ana’s glass. Ana shook her head and jumped up, knocking her chair to the floor with a noisy clatter. She paled, then shook her head and ran for the door.

~~
     
    Chapter 6
     
     
    Ana clung to the balcony railing, wanting to scream but afraid she might cry. For the moment she was trapped. The veranda door was the closest exit from the dining room and the quickest way to make her escape. At least