Page 56 of When He Plays

“No.” A quick shake of Freya’s head. “I don’t think she’s that naive. But I believe she might have been looking to talk business with Logan after the game. Logan or Ares. They both own hotels. Maybe she was looking for a merger or a buyout. Or even basic business advice. But then…” A delicate clearing of her throat. “Things got messy. Some people can’t handle messy.” Her attention shifted to a silent Charlotte. “Other people excel surprisingly well in messy situations.”

“Are we gonna have a game?” Sebastian demanded. He glanced at his watch. “Logan’s slow ass arrived late, and Ares wouldn’t let anyone do jack shit until he walked through the door. I have other places to go, and I don’t intend to let my tux be wasted on just you all.”

The woman near the right of Ares stepped forward.

“I invited you all here tonight because I wanted to offer you a fair game,” Ares announced.

“Oh, I do believe he’s implying that your game wasn’t fair,” Pierre hush-whispered to Logan. An overly loud hush-whisper.

“I got that, jackass,” Logan returned. “Thanks.”

Charlotte had stiffened in the chair next to him. Deliberately, he reached over and squeezed her hand.

“So, what happened?” Pierre asked with a flick of his fingers toward Charlotte as some of the red color fled from his face. “Did she save you and, in return, you decided to fuck your bodyguard? Because that’s what she actually was, oui? Not some personal assistant. Her job was to protect you.”

“Like a personal assistant can’t multitask?” Logan exhaled on a sigh. “And I fucked her because the adrenaline was rushing. Need was flaring, and the woman is hot as hell. Now, if you don’t mind, stay out of my private life. I’m not here to gossip.” Logan’s head turned so that he could stare down the table at Ares. “I’m here because, apparently, my honor is being attacked.”

“Oh, crap.” From Sebastian as he groaned. “Your honor? Really?” He stood. “Know what? I changed my mind. I am not up for the level of drama happening between you idiots tonight. Peace out and all that. See you later.” With those words, he stormed away from the table.

But before he could leave the dining room, two hulking guards appeared in his path.

Sebastian stopped. “Ares, tell them to get out of my way.” His tone had changed. Hardened. “Or I’ll have them on the ground, begging for their mothers, in about five seconds.”

A muscle flexed along Ares’s clenched jaw. “Sebastian can exit,” Ares rasped. “Be sure he is escorted to his vehicle and that any weapons are returned to him.”

Sebastian glanced back. “Thanks, you are the best host.” Sarcasm flowed through his words.

That muscle flexed again. “Leaving my party early means you will never be invited back to another game. You’ll be on my list.”

The words were a threat. Logan knew it. So did Sebastian. When he turned his head, Logan could see the understanding in the other man’s eyes.

Only instead of being intimidated, Sebastian laughed. “Great. Your parties are lame, anyway. I’ll just wait for Logan to invite me back to his place. I’d choose him over you any day of the week.” With a twisted grin still curing his lips, he marched out.

The tension in the room amped up even more.

“Anyone else in the mood to call it an early night?” Ares asked. “Because once Evelyn begins dealing, no one leaves until the games are done.”

Carmichael cut a glance toward Pierre. The Frenchman flickered his gaze at all his competitors.

Freya just sat there, appearing mildly amused.

Ares…oh, but that dick was chomping at the bit to begin.

He’s going to fix these games.

Or, at least, Ares would try. Logan had a few tricks up his own sleeves. Literally. They should have searched me better. But he couldn’t look too eager so… “I don’t know,” Logan declared, as if thinking about the matter. He turned toward Charlotte. He brought her hand to his lips. Kissed her knuckles. Might have even licked them because he was feeling a bit wicked and far too on edge. “What do you say, darling?” He released her hand. “Should we stay or go? Curiosity brought me here, but now I find myself almost…bored. You know how I hate boredom.”

Ares slammed his hand down on the table. “You took my casino!”

Logan didn’t look away from Charlotte. “He was the dumbass who lost it.” He smiled at her. “A smart man never loses the things he values.”

She leaned toward him. Her right hand rose to press against his cheek. “You haven’t heard the stakes in his games yet. Perhaps he’ll offer something you want?”

“Doubtful.” Could her eyes be more golden? If a man looked in them too long, he might just lose all train of thought. “I have what I want.” His head turned. His mouth skimmed her palm.

“If you had what you wanted, you wouldn’t be here tonight,” Ares snapped back, his controlled facade fraying at the edges. “You wouldn’t have walked into a situation that very well could have a been a trap. For all you knew, I was planning to kill you the minute you walked into my game!”

Laughter slipped from Logan even as he watched Charlotte’s eyes widen. He kissed her palm once again, then glanced over at his enemy. “For all you know, I only accepted the invitation and came in here tonight…” He let the grin linger on his lips. “Because I’m planning to kill you. And I thought, what an easy way to get up close and personal with my target! I’ll just walk right in. I’ll sit at his table. Then, when I feel like it, I’ll just slit his throat. From ear to ear.”