For a second, she wondered what it would be like, being under a man like him. He was probably used to barking out orders. Making commands and expecting nothing but obedience in return.
Leah shivered. He curved his lips slightly upward, to what she supposed passed for a smile.
“Boss.” Guy sounded his voice first.
Boss? So this is Knox Carter?
Leah swallowed the lump in her throat and studied him closer. Black hair. Blue eyes. Knox was untouchable. The king of this city. Knox had dirt on everyone they owned. There was even a rumor the mayor did his bidding.
“Knox, a chair for you,” another lackey in a suit said, dragging a chair from one of the unoccupied tables.
Knox sat down, just like a king. Leah slapped her hands on her cheeks, because she shouldn’t be captivated by a gangster. This wasn’t some fairy tale where a handsome prince was going to sweep her off her feet and carry her back to safety. Knox was probably the devil in disguise, ready and eager to drag her to the dark depths of the underworld with him.
What the hell did Knox want? Maybe he did this all the time. Checked in on his businesses. Maybe he liked lording it over the masses foolish enough to borrow money from him.
“Who are our guests?” he asked.
Guests? More like prisoners. He never spared her brother a glance even once. Knox kept his rapt attention on Leah. She hated herself for looking away first. Leah stared her hands, suddenly finding them way more interesting.
“Larry Taylor. This fucker owes us twenty grand. We gave him an opportunity of a lifetime. If he wins this one game, his debts are considered paid. He only has ten grand. Said his sister Leah will pay us the rest,” Shane said. “He claims she’s a virgin. We haven’t checked to see if it’s true, but we’ll find out soon enough.”
“Hmm.” Knox’s tone and expression were hard to read. His tanned face looked like it was made of marble.
“Yeah, boss. Look at the little shit squirm,” Guy said, obvious glee in his voice.
Guy was milking it all—Larry’s misery. Leah’s suffering and anger. If only she had a gun and knew how to use it. She would gladly put holes in his body.
“Cards, Larry. Don’t make us ask again.” Shane reminded Larry.
With shaking hands, her brother placed his cards down on the table. Shane and Guy did the same. Leah grimaced. A royal flush from Shane.
“The game’s rigged,” Leah blurted.
“Shut your trap, bitch,” Guy said, shoving the bills on the table into a bag. “We’ll find a better use for that mouth.”
“No. She’s mine.” Knox didn’t need to raise his voice. “Keep the cash. The money doesn’t interest me.”
Guy and Shane traded each other looks then shrugged.
“The bitch’s all yours, boss. Enjoy,” Guy said, rising to his feet. No questions asked.
Unease grew in the pit of Leah’s stomach. She didn’t know what was worse—being given to Guy and Shane or being under Knox Carter’s complete mercy.
“Wait, this wasn’t the deal,” Larry blurted, rising from his seat.
“Throw that piece of trash out,” Knox said in the same cold and deadly voice.
Fear raced down her spine. Leah couldn’t move a muscle. She had trouble drawing air into her lungs. She could only watch Guy and Shane haul Larry by his armpits. Larry didn’t give them much of a fight after Guy socked him in the ribs.
Helplessness filled her as she watched her brother disappear into the double doors that led topside, back to the real world.
Leah suddenly felt alone. Vulnerable. Larry wasn’t much help but at least, while he was playing poker with Guy and Shane, he acted like a barrier. The one last line of defense between Leah and her awful fate.
Maybe part of her hoped that the brother she once knew and trusted would have her back. That Larry would somehow find them a way out of there. The last shred of hope she’d kept alive inside her all this time wilted.
“We’re leaving. Come,” Knox told her.
He was suddenly standing in front of her. Knox had the gall to offer Leah his arm. The bastard moved so much faster than she thought was possible for a man his size.