Page 61 of When He Plays

“How about I offer up the Loutraki casino you just lost?” Logan kept his cards face down. He knew what he had. “In exchange, you can give me this building.”

Ares hesitated.

“Honestly, it’s one hell of a wager for you. The casino is worth more than this place, but I guess I’m just in a generous mood.”

Evelyn’s fingers reached out. Curled around Ares’s upper arm, almost as if she was trying to reach out and stop him.

What is so important about this building? Logan bet the authorities would love to have the opportunity to thoroughly search it. What is hidden inside? Weapons? Drugs?

Striving to appear disinterested, Logan cocked his head and rolled one shoulder. “Or I can just go collect Charlotte and spend the rest of the night having a much more fucking fun time?” Emphasis on the fucking part. “So, what’s it gonna be? Are we playing or is it game over for you?”

Why was the room spinning?

Charlotte slapped her right hand against the bookshelf near her side. She’d searched the desk. Turned up nothing useful, and her attention had shifted to the bookcase on the right. She’d barely started to explore them, though, when the first wave of dizziness hit.

Her eyes closed. She sucked in a deep, gulping breath. Then when she opened her eyes again…

Spinning. The bookshelves are spinning. The room is spinning.

Or…

Am I spinning?

Because she was suddenly on the floor, her knees having just given out on her. She stared up as everything seemed to spin and spin and…

I have to get out of here.

She rolled over and crawled for the door. A journey that seemed to take forever as nausea rose in her throat. She wanted to just stop. To curl up on that floor.

Have to get out.

Have to get…Logan.

She reached the door. Lifted her arm up and curled her fingers around the knob. Only the stupid knob wouldn’t turn. Why wouldn’t the knob turn?

It’s locked, Charlotte. You remember this. Evelyn locked you in.

Her thoughts were getting blurry. Fragmented. Charlotte feared she might just be on the verge of passing out.

That could not happen. If she passed out, she’d be vulnerable.

I need Logan.

But he wasn’t there.

She’d have to save her own damn self.

Evelyn licked her lips. Her hands hovered over the cards. She’d cheated while dealing the last hand. Oh, he knew that she had. Logan had been watching her carefully, and the woman was good, but she wasn’t outstanding. Especially when it came to cheating.

He could teach her a few useful tricks. If he’d been so inclined. But he wasn’t.

When Logan had lost during the second game, Evelyn had dealt from the bottom of the deck. Quick, sneaky movements. He’d been aware, and he’d been curious. So he’d taken that loss. Let her and Ares think that they were in control.

But now, the stakes were rising…

Ares nodded, barely containing his satisfaction. “Fine. I’ll take that bet. The Loutraki casino versus this building.”

Evelyn sucked in a sharp breath.