Free #LUCKY (The Empire Series Book 2) by Nicole Hite Page B

play?" Ashley asked with a sense of repugnance.
    Making their way into the game room, Sam scanned the room. Acclimating herself to her surroundings, she noticed one giant poker table in the middle of the room. At the table were four other gentlemen, one of which stood out immediately - Cory. Son of a bitch.
    “You piece of shit. You couldn’t just let me go easily, could you? Why the fuck are you here Cory?”
    “What? I can’t I enjoy a lovely game of poker with these lovely angels over here,” he gave Demi and Ashley a wink.
    “Fuck you,” she flipped Cory the bird as she took her seat behind Declan.
    Cory must have paid his way into this game just to try and humiliate Declan. Hell, he was probably there to humiliate Sam as well. His presence was only validation that Cory was the lowest of lows. He was hell-bent on screwing up her life, and any relationship she tried to have for that matter. And for what? He was the one who fucked up, and Sam had zero intentions of going back to him. She found her guy, and he was perfect...well, almost.
    "Cory," Declan sounded off as he took a seat with the other players.
    "Declan," he smirked at Sam avoiding the acknowledgement all together. He gave her his sinister smile, as if he knew something she didn't.
    “How’s the nose, bro? Declan prodded.
    "I hope you’re ready to see your boy go down in flames, baby," Cory gloated.
    "We'll see about that, and stop calling me baby, asshole," Sam lashed back.
    "I like her spunk," Ashley chimed in. "Are you boys ready to get down to business, or are we going to continue this pissing contest? I have plenty other players on standby if you want to leave. Just think about the consequences before you make that decision," she glared at Declan.
    "Aye, no problem, Ashley. The fella and I were just having a bit of a laugh. No worries."
    "Okay, boys, buy in is ten grand. The only house rule I have is no collusion or cheating. You can talk shit all day long, but if you slow up my table because you can't keep your shit together, you're gone, and your money is mine. And if you fuckers splash my pot, you're gone. I don't tolerate that bullshit. Did everyone give their cell phones to Jimmy?"
    The group agreed as the dealer shuffled the crisp new deck.
    "Big blind will begin at one thousand dollars, starting with Mr. Declan in seat two," the dealer announces. "Small blind will begin at five hundred dollars, starting with Ms. Ashley in seat one."
    Sam settled into her seat behind Declan, next to one of Ashley's bouncers. She couldn't see much, but she could feel the icy daggers from across the room. Demi was reclining in a lounge chair with a martini in hand. She was convinced Cory had fucked her at some point or another.
    After the two cards were dealt, the dealer turned to Ashley's guests.
    “Seat 3, call, fold or raise?”
    "Call," a husky gentleman named Paul answered.
    "Call," the next burly gentleman name Glen responded.
    "Call," Cory responded, hoarding his cards away like a smuggler.
    "Ms. Ashley? Call, fold, or raise?" the dealer stated sweetly.
    "Call," she offered sweetly.
    "Pot's right. Here's the flop," the dealer announced as he laid down three cards in front of the table. "Mr. Declan, you're up."
    Arching her head from her seat, she could barely make out that the dealer had dealt a King of Spades, Jack of Clubs and Eight of Hearts. Not much to work with, but it was a start. Glancing at Declan's hand, he was harboring an Ace of Clubs and a King of Diamonds. So far he had a pair of Kings, Ace high, which was great for a first hand.
    "I will raise five hundred dollars."
    "Paul?"
    "Fold," he regretfully offered.
    "Glen?
    "Fold," Glen stated right out of the gate.
    "Cory?"
    "I'll see your five hundred and raise you five hundred."
    "Ashley?"
    "I'll match that."
    "Declan?"
    "Aye, me as well."
    Sam felt a sense of confidence in Declan's voice, which put her mind at ease. She just hoped it stayed that way. Cory was bouncing his knee and biting his