“If he loses her to you.” Knox is still not on board.
“Dude, no one can beat me in a game of poker.”
“You ever play poker with a psychopath before?”
“No,” I say with a shrug.
“Then don’t get cocky. I’ve got your back, but I see a hundred ways this can go wrong.”
“It won’t.”
“Whatever. So, we don’t tell Eve?”
“Right. Her reactions need to be authentic.”
“You do know what that means?”
“I do.”
“She’s going to hate you.”
“It’s all I’ve been thinking about. But I can make it work.”
“You can’t play with your new toy, and Benefield is going to be watching. For every bug I remove, they replace it with two more. There will be eyes and ears.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“You’re not crossing that line.”
“I’ll do whatever I need to be convincing. We need to make it to auction night intact.”
“What you’re talking about can leave scars.”
“I’m prepared to accept that.”
“She’s going to hate you.”
“She already does.”
“Bullshit. I don’t know what the hell is going on between the two of you, but it’s palpable.”
I don’t disagree. Electricity charges the air when Eve is near.
“If you noticed, odds are Benefield has as well. The girls he offers are too docile. That’s not an accident. I’ve made my desires clear. Eve isn’t docile. She’s not trained. He can’t afford for me to leave unsatisfied.”
“What happens if it doesn’t work out?”
“It will.”
“And if not?” Knox isn’t arguing with me. He’s doing what a good teammate does. He’s poking holes in my plan.
I get he doesn’t think this makes sense, but I’ve been watching Benefield. He’s getting tired of his little pet. He’s getting aggressive.
It’s day six of our weeklong stint at The Retreat. The auction occurs tomorrow night. I’ve got a little over twenty-four hours to figure something out. In my head, it’s easy. Rope Benefield into a game, take him to the cleaners, then go all in. Make a bet he can’t refuse.
“You really think you’re good enough?” Knox gives me the side-eyes. “I get why you stopped gambling. Makes more sense. You’ve always struck me as a man who has his shit locked down tight. I figured it was your one flaw.”
“One?”
“Everyone has a flaw.”
“I’m sure I have more than one.”
“I’m concerned.”
“Why?”
“It’s been years since you’ve played. Your skills may not be what they once were.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing these past few days? Besides, the game is like riding a bike.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, the rhythm settles back in. The cards never lie. And people are people.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means, players lie all the damn time. Know how to read them and the game’s a breeze.”
“You can still lose.”
“There’s always that risk.”
“Is it worth Eve’s life?”
“When all hell cuts loose tomorrow night, I want her by my side. I’m counting on you to help me get her out of this place.”
“I’ll be right there, brother.” He claps me on the arm and gives a firm squeeze. “When Alpha comes knocking on the door, it’s going to be chaos around here.”
“Organized chaos.”
Sam decided to activate all our teams. Well, all except Delta. That team handles domestic kidnapping cases in tandem with the FBI. Not that Jenny and her team can’t kick serious ass, but we can’t afford to have all our teams on one mission.
Charlie, and the four operational men in Bravo team, will coordinate attacks on the slave pens, where they keep the girls. Alpha is taking on the main house during the auction.
Benefield will protect his assets. The Guardians will interrupt his plans. This is what we live for.
Twenty
Max
Another night in the Oasis.
“You don’t seem interested in my girls.” Benefield reclines on his sultan’s couch. Numerous cushions surround him, as do half a dozen girls.
They massage his arms, his hands, his legs, and his feet. A girl straddles him, facing away, and rubs her ass shamelessly against his crotch in what’s supposed to be a sensual grind.
Benefield looks bored.
Bile rises in the back of my throat.
The no-touching rule appears to be one Benefield holds himself to as well as his guests. I’ve yet to see him fuck any of the girls in the Oasis. Not that there aren’t plenty of hand jobs, blow jobs, and lap dances going on.
“These are too tame for my tastes.” I pointedly glance over his shoulder, making my interest in Eve obvious. “Although, one of your girls has caught my eye.”
Benefield reaches over his shoulder and wraps his fingers around Eve’s delicate wrist. “Are you interested in a virgin?” He deliberately deflects. “I have several.”
“Virgins are delicate treats, but short-lived fantasies. The moment you deflower one, she’s no longer special. Then you’re left with just another whore. I prefer mine to have more—experience.” Again, my gaze cuts to Eve.
Her stormy sea-green eyes rage with fury. I don’t blame her. I’m talking about rape. Not that I ever would, but she doesn’t know that.
Eve presses her delicate lips together, forming a hard line. Guys talk about getting stuck in the friend zone, but I bet no one has ever found themselves where I am right now. There’s no recovery from this. Which I’m okay with. My mission is to rescue Eve, not to make her mine.
My desire comes secondary to securing her freedom.
There’s fear in her expression. I read each of her emotions, but it’s not necessary to be an expert to decipher her body language. Her lower lip trembles and her entire body tenses.
From the look in Benefield’s eye, her exalted status is on a precipice. I have no doubt he’ll toss her over the edge just because he can. It’s what a monster would do, and Benefield is a monstrous man.
I rise from my seat and press out the wrinkles of my pants. Knox kicks off from the wall he’s been holding up, getting ready to follow me out.
“Heading out?” Benefield’s tone takes a dangerous turn.
“Need some fresh air.”
“Fresh air? Or are you looking to lighten your wallet with my men again?” He cackles, thinking it’s a funny joke.
“The thrill of a good game is hard to pass up.”
“And here I thought you came all this way to purchase a slave.”
“You’ve yet to provide one who suits my interests.” I make a sweep of the room. “Docile. Trained. Accommodating. You create the perfectly trained pet.” I want to add for weak-willed men, but hold my tongue. No reason to start an argument. “I crave resistance, fight, and a bit of spitfire. A woman who kicks and screams is far more fun, and worth her price.”