NALEDI’S POV
We walked into the Casino after turning in our fake identities which, much to my surprise, Marcus had in hand.
The air was filled with the competitive sweat of people, trying their hands out at games and hoping to earn some money while at it.
My eyes raked the area, looking for someone that looked like my target. The area was buzzing and it was so easy to blend into the crowd. I figured it would be twice as easy for Luka to blend in too.
I walked around the place with Marcus and Korah hovering over me. At this point, we were going to get caught by their refusal to act normal around me.
“Can you be less conspicuous?” I said when I couldn’t bear it anymore. “I’d like for us not to get outed in a matter of minutes.” I gritted.
“We can not let you out of sight.” Marcus gritted in a low tone. “There are a lot of people here, and the last thing we need is getting in trouble.”
“We will at this rate,” I said and shooed them away. “You can watch me without crowding my personal space.”
Marcus and Korah stepped a few feet away, grumbling. I breathed a new air and continued my stroll, aware of their watchful eyes. As I sought out my mission, I made a few pit stops, watching a game and even participating in one.
Time passed and I felt bored. According to the news, our hotshot basically lived here. I had gone through the entire place and I was yet to see anyone that looked like him.
Suddenly, an angry voice burst to the air, standing up and pointing to a person I couldn’t see. “You! You thief! You rigged this game!” The man accused. “I refuse the results!”
I was drawn to the action like a moth to flame. My legs moved of their own accord and I saw him before I heard him. “You don’t have any more money. Don’t make a fuss and go home.”
The man’s tone was flippant. And that was when I caught a glimpse of him. Luka Donatello.
I didn’t have enough time to glory in the sight of my target because I was caught up by the presence of another man. Caellum Morello. Also known as the Alpha of the Cosa Nostra Pack.
Judging by the vengeful look on his face, I knew I was fucked in more ways than one. What the hell was he doing here?
“No!” The man gathered the chips, scattering their game of poker. “Please! This is all I have! My wife will kill me!”
I rolled my eyes, ashamed of the man. “You should have thought of her before you lost everything in a game of poker.” I muttered, but apparently, it wasn’t as low as I’d intended.
Or perhaps due to the heightened hearing of the people around, I felt eyes flicker towards me. Not the best way to blend in if you asked me.
“I was trying to save our child! I was trying to get more money to pay for the surgery!” He cried but was met with snickers from people, who have heard a lot of stories and somehow managed to grow insensitive to such outbursts.
“Get him out of here,” Caellum ordered with his eyes fixated on me.
“No! Please!” The man struggled against the men who took him out of the place. Men I recognised from the house but decided to play dumb.
Soon enough silence returned to the house and I felt the gazes of two men zeroed on me. Caellum and Luka. I let a soft smile into my face and proceeded like I didn’t just cuss out a man who gambled all his money and got carted out.
“My Lady,” I was stopped by a dark voice, for some reason, I could tell he was talking to me. Luka Donatello was talking to me.
I turned around with the grace of a princess. “Hello.” My smile was spotless, sultry, seductive.
The middle-aged man must have appreciated my smile, or maybe my breasts because his eyes refused to meet mine. It was a battle keeping my tongue from cursing him out.
“My name is Luka Donatello.” He purred, circling me. For some reason, it felt like there was no one else around us.
Like the world had shifted and no one else could see or notice our little interaction. Except for Caellum of course. Whose eyes burned on us like wildfire.
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his intensity. It didn’t help that his gaze did something to me, making me squirm as I rubbed my thighs together with hopes of relieving the ache between my legs.
Don’t judge me. Caellum was one hot man and to top the fact, he was also my mate. My body seemed to go haywire when he was around me. No surprise there.
What was a surprise however was the fact that Luka sniffed the air like a darned wolf. I knew he was a vampire so I figured he wouldn’t be able to tell the scent of my arousal. At least not like Caellum would.
But his smirk proved me wrong.
“Amara Cordel,” I said with a shy smile, batting my eyelids and refusing to meet his eyes. Classic shy girl act.
And boy did he buy it.
“You have beautiful eyes, Amara.” He said in a flirtatious tone, took my hands and kissed it. His lips were cold. “Is there a reason why you are here?”
I shrugged. “I just got into town and decided to try the places out. Someone recommended this place and I decided why not.”
“I am one lucky man then.” He said and led me to his poker table. AKA Caellum’s table. Just kill me now. “The night has not been the best, but with your appearance, I have a feeling the tides are going to change.” He said and I fought the urge to wince.
What was it with this man’s manner of speech?
“I am flattered,” I said as I took a seat beside him, “And I love a good game of poker.”
“Great! I knew I’d gotten something right.” He said with a boyish grin. “Don’t you agree, Caellum?”
Caellum didn’t say a word. But the drop in humidity around us told me everything I needed to know. Luka was going to need way more than a good luck charm to get through this game.
And for me, the heavens would have shown me mercy if I survived the end of this game with my head intact.