The Shark (Forgotten Files Book 1) (30 page)

“The ones I liked the best were smart and real survivors. They were strong. Scrappers like Angie. They weren’t afraid of me. I wanted to see the fight in their eyes when I strangled them. Angie fought me to the end.”

He raised his focus, allowing it to trail over her face and hair. “I prefer it when your hair isn’t tied in a knot.”

Panic tugged at her composure, but she shoved it aside, refusing to show him any fear. She took her hair tie out, tipped her head downward slightly, and ran her fingers through her hair. “How much do I remind you of Angie?”

“More than any of the others.” His voice deepened.

She curled a strand of hair around her finger. “When this is over, the first thing I’m going to do is cut my hair.”

He laughed. “Angie would have said something like that.”

“You also killed the singer,” she pressed. “Shield’s informant.”

His expression sharpened. “That pretty girl asked one too many questions.”

“I’m not Angie. Unlike her, I’m getting out of this alive.”

Smiling, he shook his head. “You’re avoiding the real question. Don’t you want to know who was willing to risk your life for a card game?”

Yeah. That was at the top of her list. But right now she needed more time. “I’m more interested in you. Think all this rage means you have mommy issues?”

He laughed. “No. I loved my mother very much. And if you think talking will delay the game, you’re wrong.”

“I’m thinking your mother didn’t love you at all.”

The savage smile vanished.

Ah, she had hit a nerve. “Did Angie remind you of Mommy? Is that why you could never really trust her?”

Despite his age he moved quickly, raising his hand up like a cat and striking her across the face. The unexpected impact sent her head flying back as pain rocked her skull and shot through her jaw. She tasted blood.

He flexed his fingers as his breathing quickened. She was hurting, but he was also struggling.

Carefully, she touched her bruised lip. “You hit like a girl.” If she provoked his temper, his judgment in the poker game might slip. Battered and bruised was a small price to pay if the other player won and she and Hanna got out of this alive.

Seething, he raised his hand to strike again but stopped. “It’s time to play.”

“Hard to believe someone like me could scare the hell out of you.”

He leaned close so that his face was only inches from hers. “You do not scare me.”

“Liar.”

The old man shook his head. “You are trying to provoke me.”

“Just calling it like I see it.”

He smiled. “I think your strength is your best quality.” With the buzz of a bell, the man who had vanished returned. “Bring in the other player.”

“Yes, sir,” the man said.

She wasn’t expecting to recognize the player, but when she turned and saw the familiar face, she felt as if she’d been punched hard in the gut. She blinked, shaking her head as she tried to will the sight of him away.

“Duke?” she whispered, her voice tight with fear and anguish. “This can’t be true. You haven’t gambled for twenty years.”

He looked at her bruised face. A sense of resignation deepened the lines around his eyes and mouth.

She sat there stunned as the pain of betrayal cut into her. Duke. How could it be Duke? This had to be a mistake. He’d said once she was like a daughter to him, like family. Tears tightened her throat. “Duke, you met me at the bus in Virginia. You took care of me. You protected me.”

He sat at the table, staring at the sealed deck of cards. “Riley, I put you on that bus in New Orleans.”

“I don’t understand.”

He shoved out a sigh. “Gambling gets in your blood. You think you can control it, but it’s always there, lurking. I was in New Orleans and the fever to gamble hit me hard. I heard the Shark was in town and I wanted to test him. When I found out what the stake was, I went looking and I found you on the streets. I was so sure I’d win. I didn’t think anyone would get hurt. And they didn’t.”

“And if the cards hadn’t gone your way, would you have killed me?”

Duke didn’t answer.

“The Shark had already killed four girls in New Orleans,” she said.

Duke shook his head. “I had nothing to do with those games.”

“You had to have known about the girls.”

“There was nothing I could do for them. And I was so sure I could save you when I won.” He stared at her. “You were in a bad place in New Orleans. I saw how afraid and hungry you were. It was a matter of time before the streets ate you alive.”

“You
knew
this killer was out here.”

An angry frown deepened the lines on his face. “And he knew where I lived and where you were. He knows about Maria. If I’d spoken up, we’d all have been killed. I had no way out.”

“So you let him go free?”

“Shit, Riley.” Pain mingled with anger. “Don’t you get it? Not a day goes by that I don’t regret this.”

“Why can’t I remember you and the game?”

“The drugs I gave you wiped out your memory,” the Shark said. “It was designed to make you forget several days before the game so if he did win, I could set you free without worries.”

She couldn’t look away from Duke. “And you won? What happened? Why didn’t you dump me back on the streets where you found me?”

“I couldn’t. You could barely walk, and it would’ve been like throwing you to the wolves. So I put you on a bus and made sure I met the bus. I brought you here. I saved your life.”

“But you’re risking it again now.”

“He’s going to kill Maria if I don’t play.”

“We’ve talked enough. Time to play,” the Shark said.

Both men sat at the table. The dealer, while both men watched, broke the seal. The cards were elaborate, like the ones in her pocket and Vicky’s backpack and Cassie’s pocket.

“Who put the cards in my pocket?” Riley asked.

“I did,” Duke said. “It was one of the Shark’s stipulations. Win or lose, he wanted to leave his mark.”

“I trusted you,” she said.

Duke dropped his gaze to the cards, his eyes sharpening. She’d seen that look when he’d been talking to Jax on the phone. This was a man she didn’t recognize, because now she was getting a glimpse into his darker days as a younger man. The gambler. The man who’d lived for over two decades on the turn of a card.

Her mouth still throbbing, she sat, knowing she could berate Duke, but right now she needed his focus on the game. Her life and Hanna’s depended on him winning.

“We’ll play one hand,” the Shark said. “One hand decides it all.”

Duke nodded.

The Shark looked at his dealer. “Would you get Riley some ice for that cut on her lip?” the Shark said. “I think it’s swelling.”

“Yes, sir.”

When the dealer approached her with a white linen cloth filled with ice, she accepted it.
Play nice, Riley. Your shot will come.

“We’re playing five-card stud, Riley,” the Shark said. “You know how the game is played, don’t you?”

“I do.” She gripped the cloth, wondering if she could wrap it around the Shark’s neck and kill him. She looked to the closed doorway and windows. On the slim chance she could fight her way out of here, she’d never get to Hanna in time. She might as well have been handcuffed to the Shark.

Bowman cut the lights to his SUV when the GPS told him his last turn would be around the next bend. He slowed and pulled to the side of the road. Grabbing his gear, he unholstered his weapon and screwed a suppressor on the end. He hurried along the edge of the road, knowing that going directly up the driveway was too risky. The Shark must have surveillance posted around the property. He reached for his radio. “Andrews.”

“Here.”

“Anything on satellite? What do you see?”

“The house is lit up. I see three vehicles. Looks like there are two men standing guard.”

“Two?” Bowman asked.

“Is that a concern?” Andrews asked.

“No. I’ll contact you when it’s over. Where’s the cavalry?”

“Ten minutes out.”

“Everyone comes in quiet. No sirens.”

“Understood.”

“Out.” He clipped the radio to his belt and, gun in hand, moved through the woods toward the house. The early-morning sun allowed him to navigate at top speed. “Just buy me ten more minutes, Riley. Just ten more minutes.”

“Did you bring the money?” the Shark asked.

Duke set a worn backpack on the table. “Two hundred grand. It’s what I have left from our last game.”

“Two hundred grand?” Riley shook her head, fearful if she said more, she’d lose her temper.

Duke unzipped the backpack. “For every dollar I put in, the Shark staked one hundred. I had only five grand in New Orleans.”

“And my life to risk,” she said.

Slowly, Duke unpacked the money and set it on the table in neat stacks. “The plan was to turn it into half a million and save you. And I did it, Riley.”

The Shark snapped his fingers. “I’ve got twenty million to cover that bet.”

Duke carefully removed his watch and set it precisely beside him. Riley wondered if the act were a ritual from his gambling days.

The dealer gave the Shark and Duke twenty poker chips, each representing $1 million. Each player was then dealt one card that remained facedown. Neither player would discover the card’s value until the last moment of the game. The second card was dealt faceup.

Duke’s second card was a queen of hearts; the Shark’s was a nine of hearts. The Shark had the lowest-ranking card, so the rules required he bet first. He pushed in five chips. With no expression on his face, Duke matched the Shark’s bet.

Riley shifted in her seat, doing her best to focus on the fact that Duke was off to a good start.

Duke’s third card was an ace of clubs; the Shark’s was a seven of hearts. Because Duke had the two best cards, it was his turn to bet. He wagered four chips. The Shark matched him and raised him another four chips. Duke accepted the challenge, and now both players had staked $13 million.

Riley could barely breathe. Duke was pulling better cards, but that could all change.

Duke’s fourth card was a queen of diamonds. The Shark received a ten of hearts. Still holding the better hand, Duke bet three more chips. The Shark matched him. The pot was $16 million.

Riley studied Duke’s calm face. He appeared to be in total control, as if he expected to win. A part of her dared to hope the game would go in their favor.

The fifth and final cards were dealt. Duke got the queen of clubs, the Shark the eight of hearts. Duke pushed his remaining four chips into the pot. The Shark matched the bet. Both were all in at their limit.

All that remained was to turn over the first card. Odds were overwhelmingly in Duke’s favor. The Shark would have to produce a six or jack of hearts to win.

Duke turned over his card. Queen of spades. He had four of a kind.

Riley held her breath.

The Shark tapped his finger twice on his card and paused for a long moment. He smiled at Riley before turning it over. Jack of hearts.

“A straight flush,” the Shark said. “I win. Riley dies.”

The blood drained from Duke’s face.

She gripped the towel, which she twisted around the ice until it was a hard ball. Her mind still could not fully process this. Yes, Duke had bet her life twelve years ago, but he didn’t know her then. Surely, now after all this time, he would find a way to save her. He had to be pretending, playing along with all this until he found a way to save them.

Duke did not rise from his seat. He sat frozen, his fingers clenched.

“Time to pay up,” the Shark said.

Duke curled his fingers. “I can’t do it. I can’t.”

“If you don’t, I’ll have a few of my associates visit your house and they’ll skin your wife alive while you watch.”

When Duke looked up, tears glistened in hard eyes. “Riley and Hanna have nothing to do with this.”

The Shark rose and circled around Duke. “We played. Lady Luck chose me. Now you have to pay your debt.”

Duke looked in Riley’s direction but didn’t make eye contact. “I’m sorry.”

She faced the Shark. “Hanna can walk away from this unharmed?”

He nodded. “I am a man of my word.”

Her grip tightened on the towel. A strike to Duke’s temple would hurt like hell and might buy her some time, but then what? There were three candelabra on the sideboard. Get to those and she had a weapon. “You’re not going to kill me. My God, Duke, you’ve been like a father to me.”