The Big Blind (Nadia Wolf) (21 page)

“Mya, are you sure I’m in here somewhere? I can’t even recognize myself.”

“That’s what we were going for, right?”

“Yeah, I guess. I just didn’t realize it was possible.”

“Dagor will never be able to figure out who you are. You’ll receive about a hundred requests for dates.”

“I don’t want guys hitting on me.”

“All girls want someone to ask them out on a date.”

“I think I’ve had my fill for the moment.”

“Not possible. I love it when guys ask me out. I always tell them no, but I still love the chase.”

“Are you still dating Stupid Head?”

“Yes, but I don’t know if I like him as much as I did when I first met him.”

I heard the front door open.

Mya jumped up and down. “He’s here. I can’t wait for him to see you.”

“You should tell him it’s me before I go out there.”

Mya shook her head. Her wide blonde curls bobbed along with her head. “No, it’s going to be a surprise.”

“It’ll be a surprise all right.”

She clutched my hand as we strolled to the living room. Greyson had already settled at the table with his laptop. His eyebrows crinkled together as he read the screen.

“Greyson,” Mya called.

He answered though his eyes remained glued to his laptop. “What is it, Mya?”

“Look up, silly.”

He unglued his eyes from his monitor long enough to take in Mya then they drifted back to the laptop. A split second later they shot over to me. A perplexed look spread across his face.

“Well?” Mya asked. “What do you think?”

“Think about what?” His question was guarded.

“About Nadia! Did your brain fall out of your ears?”

I chuckled.

At the sound of my voice, Greyson’s eyes widened. “Shit.”

My hands snapped to my hips, hitching the dress up slightly. “Why is it every time I wear a dress a man says ‘shit’?”

Greyson opened his mouth to speak but I was already on my way out the door. Mya scowled at Greyson and followed me. She fidgeted in the elevator.

“Mya, why are you fidgeting?”

“I’m so confused. Why did he say that and then let you walk away without following you?”

“He knows not to follow me.”

“How do you do it? You know, make them understand.”

“They’ll never understand,” I said dryly. “But you only have to snap once and they know.”

I blew through the elevator door as it opened. The sight of Caleb caught my eye; I veered over to him. Mya was on my heels. As I stalked my prey, I noticed he was chatting to a blonde with enormous breasts. I smiled.
Paybacks a bitch, Caleb
.

If Greyson didn’t recognize me then Caleb might not either. I bumped against him. He was solid and hardly moved an inch.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, altering my voice to the same frequency as the bimbos he loves to date. “Silly me. I didn’t see you.”

The blonde turned to glare at me for the intrusion.

“No problem,” he said. He took in the length of me. His gaze rested on my eyes. “I’ve only seen green eyes like yours once before.”

A flash of nervous energy nearly broke to the surface. I had to stay calm and play aloof.

“Can I buy you a drink?” He asked.

“No, but thank you. I have to get back to my boyfriend.”

“Too bad.” He turned back to the blonde who was amazingly still there.

I sauntered off and winked at Mya.

“What was that about?” She asked.

“I just found us a ride.” I opened my hand to show the valet ticket.

“Is that Caleb’s?”

“Yes, but it’s mine for tonight.”

“How did you do it?”

“Lupier taught me. I didn’t think I could do it.” I smiled at the ticket. Caleb was most likely going to be at the casino for hours. I would have his car back before he missed it.

We exited the casino and headed to the valet. I handed him the ticket.

“Caleb just dropped off the car,” the valet said.

“And I’m picking it up.”

“I don’t know if I should give you the car or not. It’s against company policy.”

“You can either give me the car now or explain to Caleb why I don’t have his love nest ready for him when he returns from working the tables. He’s expecting a lot of girls tonight, and I need the car to arrange every thing.”

The valet’s mouth dropped open. Mya giggled. He fumbled with the keys and finally snagged a set from the box and raced to the car. Moments later, I was behind the wheel and Mya was in the passenger seat.

“Do you want me to drop you off at home?” I asked.

“No, I want to go with you. This is fun.”

“Mya, Dagor is a nasty guy. And I’ll have to play in the high stakes room.” If I showed up with Mya, David would kill me.

“I can help you.”

“I know you can. I need you not to help me this time. I’m not really sure how I’m going to pull this off, so I need to stay focused.”

“Okay, drop me off at home.”

Guilt nagged telling me I should bring her. She could have been an excellent sidekick to round out my look, but then I would have to tell her what was going on so she didn’t slip up. Too many secrets would be revealed and none of them would be pleasant.

I pulled into her driveway. “Mya, thank you for all of your help today. I really couldn’t have done this without you.”

She smiled. “It’s okay. I just wish Greyson wouldn’t put you in such a bad position. Take care of yourself. Don’t let Dagor get too handsy. Once he starts he won’t want to stop.”

I thanked her for the advice as she hopped out of the car. I backed out of the driveway once I perceived she was safely in her house.

My hands were shaking by the time I steered the Porsche to the casino Greyson said Dagor would be. I steeled my nerves as I slipped out of the car and stepped into the entrance. I was a long way from the strip, and this casino was a long way from being on the up-and-up.

The décor was from the Rat Pack heyday and was never updated. Large dusty bulbs dimly lit the casino and worn burnt-orange carpets laid the flooring. They didn’t have to worry about the latest flashiest tourist gimmicks. Most tourists wouldn’t even find this casino since it was so far from the strip and lights. Serious Vegas patrons played here. Most of them appeared as if they escaped from jail or were one con away from jail.

I found my way to the high stakes room where there was a spot open. I perched on a chair and scoped my surroundings. The players were already in a hand and no one took notice of me. From David’s description of Dagor, he wasn’t in the room. I was about to stand up and move from the table when a hand pushed me back down into my chair.

“Hello baby.”

Chapter 14

I turned to glare at the person who was holding me in my seat. A man in his late forties, with cold eyes and a deep scar above his eye, peered down. He looked like a man who was use to getting what he wanted. From David’s description, this had to be Dagor. I swallowed. It was show time and I was ready to pee my pants.

My chest constricted as he grabbed the shirt collar of the man next to me and yanked him out of his seat. He planted himself next to me and took over the man’s stack of chips. The man shot a second look at Dagor then scurried away.

“I was thinking this table might be a little too much for me,” I said, attempting to stand up.

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll show you the ropes.” His voice was deep and gravely. His hand grasped my arm and pressed me back into my chair.

My stomach was slick with nausea from Dagor’s presence. Everything about him, from his oily dark hair to his narrow eyes, made me want to be as far away from him as possible. I never took much stock in womanly instincts, but with Dagor, the alarms were clanging like a ten-alarm fire.

I bought in with my credit line. One hundred thousand dollars of chips were passed to me. I giggled nervously as I stacked them.

I peeked at the two cards dealt to me. They were garbage. Since I didn’t care about winning, I tossed in a handful of chips. It killed me to throw away money, but I had to remember it wasn’t mine and I was trying to help. Dagor tossed in chips too. I followed his lead and tossed chips in as the dealer laid down the flop, the turn, and then the river. I had five random red cards.
Mya, please forgive me for what I’m about to do.

I hopped up and down in my seat raising my dress precariously high. I flipped over my cards to reveal that I had all red. The players at the table gawked at my cards in bewilderment.

“Baby, you need to have the same suit not just the same color,” Dagor said, taking a peek at my legs with vulture eyes.

“Oh, pooh! You mean I didn’t win?” I yanked my dress down.

“Where did you get the money, baby?”

I slid my eyes to him under my glittery lashes. “Big Daddy gave me the money before he died.”

“You’re a woman with money and no man to make you happy.”

I threw in chips. “The money makes me happy. Big Daddy liked his special nap times. I don’t miss them.”

“A girl like you needs a big daddy in her life. I can be your next one.”

“Really?” A little piece of me died inside. This was not going in the direction I wanted. I had to redirect the conversation without causing suspicions. “I do miss him sometimes. Like yesterday, I won money at Lost City Casino and I found out it was fake money. Big Daddy would have dealt with it, but I don’t know what to do.”

“I’ve heard about that. I can help you.”

I turned to him. “You can?” I tossed in more chips. I didn’t even know what my cards were.

“Sure, I know a person on the inside that can switch the money for you.”

I bounced up and gave him a large Mya-style hug. “Oh, thank you.”

His hand grasped the back of my leg and was moving up quickly. My skin shriveled in response to his touch. I sat down before he made his way too far.

“You must be pretty important to have some one on the inside of the Lost City Casino.”

“I am, baby.” His hand brushed up my thigh and headed past my dress hem. I deadened all my senses to keep me from jumping in revulsion. “Are you going to take me up on my offer?”

“What offer?” I threw in chips again.

“You become my girl, and I will solve all your problems.”

“Does this include special nap times?”

“It includes whatever times I want.”

“I don’t even know who you are. You’re not a bad man who makes fake money, are you?”

“Baby, I’m a bad man, but I don’t make fake money.”

“You know who makes it, and that can’t be good.” I ogled at him with the biggest doe eyes I could muster. I wanted information, but I didn’t want him to catch on to my intent.

“Yeah, I know who makes it. I helped set up the operation. I’ll make sure you get your money; I protect my own. I’m only bad when I’m pushed. So, what do you say?”

I didn’t know what to say. “Well, I’m not sure. There’s another man who wants to take Big Daddy’s place too. I wouldn’t know how to choose.” He can’t be buying this. Are there women in this world who have this dilemma?

“Who is he?”

I said the first name that popped into my head. “Caleb Usher.”

“He’s nothing but a poker player. He’ll be working the tables for hours not giving you the attention you deserve. I can give you so much more.”

Yeah, like a dirt coffin. I shivered. I couldn’t pull this off any longer. I was losing control of the conversation, and Dagor was about to become my big daddy.
Yuck!
I stood up from the table and collected my chips.

“What if you give me tonight to think it over? Picking a new big daddy is a serious decision in a girl’s life. I’ll be back here at the same time tomorrow to give you my answer.” With the show tomorrow night, I would have to hurry to make it in time.

His body slid along mine as he stood. “You better pick the right man, baby.”

His hand wrapped around the back of my head, towing me into his lips. They were cold and hard like the man they belonged to. I didn’t dare push him away and blow my cover. When he finally released me, I gave him a shy smile that pained me to bestow and fled. On my way out, David strolled past me and slipped a note into my hand.

Meet me at your place.

How did he know who I was when Greyson and Caleb didn’t have a clue?

David was relaxed on the couch when I opened the door to my apartment.

“Well?” He asked. “From what I could see you were in excellent form.” He smirked.

“How did you know who I was? No one else recognized me.”

“Your green eyes and the way you walk. Mya taught me well. She used to transform through such drastic changes that I recognized her from the things she couldn’t change. Like the curves of her body, her blue eyes, and her naturally bubbly personality. One time she wore colored contact lenses. I almost tripped on that one.”