Player: Stone Cold MC by Carmen Faye Read Free Book Online Page A

time, but since I’d started counting cards we’d drifted.
     
    “Alexandra,” she said in the same tone my mom used to use on us when I did something wrong. “If I don’t call you, I never hear from you.”
     
      “Sorry, it’s been really busy.” I clamped the phone between my shoulder and ear and dried my hands on the dishcloth. She’d caught me in the middle of house chores.
     
    “I can just imagine what it is you’re so busy with,” Cass said, and she didn’t sound happy.
     
    “Come on, Cass. Did you phone me just to shit on me? We’ll never agree on our lifestyle choices. I thought that was okay because we’re both grown-ups.”
     
    Cass sighed. “I know. I just feel responsible for you. You’ll always be my little sister, and since mom died, there’s no one else to look after you.”
     
    “I can look after myself, you know,” I said. “We’ve been living in opposite parts of the country for years. Have I called you for help once?”
     
    Cass was quiet because I had her there. I hadn’t mentioned that I’d been in a bad place a while ago, where I’d gambled myself into such a hole I could almost not get out of it. There were some things even my sister didn’t need to know. Besides, I was doing good now. I had a house that I paid for myself, a car, I could afford my own medical insurance, and I got to go out partying every night. Life was a blast.
     
    “I wish you would look after yourself better though. I’m always nervous I’m going to get a call from the police saying you’ve been arrested.”
     
    Here was where we got stuck. Cass disagreed with my form of income. Counting cards wasn’t exactly legal, and she was sure I was going to see myself right into jail.
     
    “Don’t worry about it. I’m fine. Besides, I’ve got some money coming in soon, money that will be enough for me not to have to worry for a long time.”
     
    My stomach turned as I said it because I wasn’t a hundred percent sure about that. I didn’t know if I could trust Rip and his plan to get in with the Crucifix Six. And if he did? I wasn’t a hundred percent sure he would give me my cut either. Still, everything in life was a gamble.
     
    I smiled at my own joke.
     
    “Why don’t you come and visit us next week?” Cass asked. “You can stay with us, you know Collin won’t mind, and Dennis will be so happy to see you.”
     
    “I can’t,” I said, glad to have an excuse. I hated seeing my sister and her perfect life. Her husband, Collin, had a job at some IT firm, and he made big bucks because he worked his ass off and studied the right degree. And Dennis was five by now. The last time I’d seen my nephew was on this third birthday, and I’d hated all the moms and their kids and all the sickeningly happy families because it was what I didn’t have.
     
    “Why not? It’s not like your casinos are going to fire you for not showing once in a while.”
     
    I snorted. “Thanks for that,” I said. “But it’s not because of the casinos. I entered into a business deal with someone.”
     
    It wasn’t exactly accurate, but it was one way to put it.
     
    “With who?”
     
    I wasn’t giving her a name. It would already sound bad, and she already disagreed, I could hear it in the tone of her voice.
     
    “A guy I met. He’s well-connected.”
     
    Cass was silent for long enough that I wanted to scream. I knew she was still there, and the connection hadn’t been dropped.
     
    “You really have to be careful, Alex,” she said. “The kind of guys you attract are always bad news.”
     
    That pissed me off. Just because I’ve had my heart broken didn’t mean it was my fault.
     
    “That just makes me feel great about myself, Cass,” I said. “Thanks for your vote of confidence.”
     
    Her voice softened. “I didn’t mean it like that. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
     
    “It’s business, not pleasure. What could happen? Besides, the money is good, and that’s all I’m