The Big Blind (Nadia Wolf) by Nicolette Pierce Page B

win horrible hands with his crazy luck. Not today . . . please, not today . My nails dug into my palm as the dealer turned over an ace of clubs. Caleb made a flush. I was drawing dead. There weren’t any cards that could come on the river to save me.
    Son of a bitch! . . . I lost. My tournament was finished and so was my savings.
    The players erupted with a roar of amazement. Caleb did it again. He was known for plays that shouldn’t win. For him they do.
    The tournament director spoke into a microphone for the announcement. “Congratulations, you’re all past the bubble. From this point on, you will all receive part of the prize pool.”
    The blood drained out of me. No, no, no! I was the freaking bubble? I was one spot away from money. My ten thousand dollar buy-in was gone because of Caleb and his freaking seven-two.
    I stood though my gooey knees protested and mumbled an obligatory congratulations. I stalked out of the tournament room in confusion. He said something to me. I couldn’t hear him . . . I didn’t want to hear him. Curses were exploding in my head.
    I found my way out of the casino and drew in a deep calming breath. It wasn’t working. Every time I sucked in oxygen the flames in my head grew bigger.
    Someone brushed up next to me. I glared over my shoulder to see who it was and flinched.
    “Hello, darlin’. Can I buy you a drink?” The man with the cowboy hat asked.
    “Weren’t you at the tournament?”
    “Yes, but Caleb knocked me out. That man has his own poker playing style. Every time I think I’ve figured him out WHAM! He knocks me out.”
    “He knocked me out too.”
    “Aw, well that’s a damn shame. You looked good at the poker table.” He traced my neck with his finger. “Why don’t you and I go and comfort each other?”
    Ice flashed down my back and froze me to my spot. I was in no mood to be pleasant. And he was scary and sleazy.
    “No. I’m going home.”
    His brows lowered and his lips thinned. “I’ll give you a ride home. Then I’ll give you the ride of your life.”
    “Absolutely not.”
    “Are you afraid of me? Think I’m too much man for you?”
    “Listen you creepy son-of-a . . .”
    “Nadia!” Remy shouted from his limo parked down the curb from us. He jogged the short distance placing his giant hand on my shoulder. “Let’s go. I’m taking you home.”
    He steered me to the back of the limo.
    “You’re not giving me a ride home, are you?” I asked him as I slid next to the privacy window.
    “Yes, that guy is bad news.”
    “Don’t you need to do something for Greyson?”
    “No, he’s got some stuff going on.”
    I settled in my seat and watched the lights go by as Remy drove me home. “Well, make sure this is my last limo ride. A girl could get use to this.”
    In the quiet tomb of the limo, I bit my lip. I didn’t want to cry in front of Remy. I had an inkling Greyson would hear about it, and it would make Remy supremely uncomfortable. I’m sure he could handle ten ninjas, but one crying girl would defeat him.
    Remy parked in front of the chapel. I hopped out the door before he could open his. I called my thanks to him as I scurried away before tears began to fall.
    I ran up the stairs and into my apartment. I kicked off my shoes and threw my purse on the floor. I gazed down to find Gus waiting for me with an angry stare down. Good poker face.
    “I’m sorry, Gus. I bet you’re hungry.”
    I poured his food ration and threw in a few treats for not eating the couch while I was away.
    My cell phone vibrated in my purse. I reached inside and dug around, but the cell phone wasn’t cooperating. I was in no mood to play find-the-cell-phone. I dumped my purse upside down and grabbed the phone as it fell out.
    “Nadia, it’s Mya. Did you make it home okay?”
    “I did. Why?”
    “Greyson asked me to find out. He received a call from Remy.”
    “News travels fast in the casino.”
    “Only about some things. Sometimes I can’t wrench any news