Chapter Six

Smoke wafted in Gable’s face. He hated the smell of cigars. The sounds of slot machines assailed him. The flashing lights and noise had never been his thing. Gable lifted the corner of his cards and checked his numbers. He tapped the table, asking for one more.

“Mr. Gabris would like to see you.” The gigantic guard spoke close to his ear, making it clear it wasn’t a request.

That was exactly what Gable had been waiting to hear. He stood. “Keep my chips as a tip.”

The dealer nodded, and Gable followed his escort. This was what he had been working toward for the past hour. He couldn’t go to Saul like they were friends. No one could know they knew each other. It was important he keep his identity under the radar. Saul ran three casinos in Atlantic City. The richest and most depraved visited these places. It would likely be a common occurrence for him to play his part here.

Inside Saul’s back office, eerie light eyes waited. While seated behind his desk, Saul watched him enter the room. He didn’t speak until the door closed, leaving them alone.

“Gable. What do I owe today’s visit to my establishment?”

Gable sat without being invited. “I wanted to thank you for allowing me access to the cruise. Also, congratulations. I heard you asked Case to marry you and he accepted.”

A hint of a smile touched Saul’s lips. The man was dangerous and scary. He had made more people vanish than the Bermuda Triangle. That small smile proved his soft spot for his future husband. It was good to see the guy was human. “Thank you. We’re looking forward to a bright future. As for the cruise, were you successful?”

Gable dipped his chin. He couldn’t answer further.

“I hear you’ve been reassigned to my town. Does that mean I can anticipate your presence on the casino floor more often?”

“Likely.” Gable braced himself for any reaction. Saul didn’t have to tolerate him. The law might look the other way, allowing Saul to run his businesses as he pleased. That didn’t mean any alphabet organization had any jurisdiction here. They weren’t safe if Saul said they weren’t.

Saul eyed him.

Gable held his stare, despite how uncomfortable it was.

Finally, Saul blew out an irritated-sounding sigh. “I expect anything you do will not interrupt any operations here. You will not implicate us as helping you in any way. Our customers should be allowed to spend their money freely here without your interference. Anything you discover here can wait until you hit the parking lot for arrests. Think of my casinos as neutral grounds. I won’t interfere with you if you don’t interfere with me.” His gaze somehow got more intense. “This is nonnegotiable. ”

Gable nodded. “I have no objections. It’s imperative no one knows what I do, so I don’t make arrests. I’m just an infiltrator.”

Saul leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. His mouth lifted in one corner. “Is that what you’re doing with Cutler?”

He reacted before his brain churned out a thought. A smile exploded across his face at the sound of Cutler’s name. It was too late to lie, nor did he want to. Plus, it was obvious Saul already knew everything. “No. That’s personal.”

A scary-sounding chuckle rumbled from Saul. “And real from the looks of it.”

Gable didn’t respond, but he also didn’t stop smiling. “Are we cool?”

Saul didn’t answer. He spent a moment looking thoughtful. His mouth opened before he snapped it shut again. It was obvious he fought himself. Finally, he leaned forward again. “You know Cutler isn’t who he seems, right?”

Honestly, Gable was a little moved by Saul’s warning. It seemed Saul was a sucker for love. That was good to know. He knew Saul’s weakness. “I know about his past.”

With a sharp nod, Saul stood. “Good. Cutler has more than earned the right to be free from pain and be happy.”

That statement punched Gable in the chest. Maybe he didn’t know quite as much as Saul did. A terrible realization overcame Gable. Cutler had been raised by a monster. He had only spoken of what he witnessed. Not what he had endured. Gable seriously doubted—son or not—he had been spared from the clutches of a predator. The thought made Gable’s chest hurt. Since Saul waited for a response, Gable managed a fake smile. “Agreed. ”

Saul moved toward the door. “Then I think we’re through here. Enjoy your day.” A wicked-looking smile touched his lips. “Feel free to lose your money here anytime.”

Gable snorted, but he realized he liked Saul. Despite everything, he was genuine. There wasn’t enough of that in the world, especially in Gable’s business.

Cutler lit a candle on the table just in time for the doorbell. He smirked. It was out of his control. His pride and ego swelled every time he thought of Gable. His doubts didn’t stand a chance against the memory of Gable beneath him. The desperation Cutler had felt for him had been equally matched. There was no faking their frantic pursuit of sexual gratification. Gable wanted him as much as Cutler craved Gable. There was something between them.

He didn’t want to keep Gable waiting. Cutler rushed to the door. Once there, he took a breath so it wouldn’t look like he had sprinted to answer. When he opened the door, there was no hiding his happiness. Gable stood on the other side holding a bouquet of multicolored flowers.

He held them out to Cutler. “Surprise.”

God. He was perfect. Cutler accepted his gift. “Thank you. These are gorgeous.”

Gable stole a quick kiss. “Beautiful men deserve beautiful things.”

Fuck. That should have been his line. Cutler was older and richer. He could afford to give Gable nice things. Cutler would start with dinner. “Hopefully, tonight makes up for the other night. You should’ve gotten a proper dinner.”

A wicked smile stretched Gable’s lips. “I hope you’re not apologizing. I might have to leave if you’re sorry.”

With a shake of his head, Cutler headed for the kitchen. He had to turn away so Gable wouldn’t see the way he smiled like an idiot.

Gable spoke behind him as Cutler found a vase for the flowers. “Dinner smells good.” Cutler flashed a smile over his shoulder, and Gable continued. “I had a meeting with Saul today.”

Cutler fumbled with the flowers, nearly dropping them at the name. Saul had been handpicked by Zander to run his hotels in Atlantic City. As the owner of the Luna name, Zander was extremely particular about who he chose for the role. That closeness also meant Saul knew too much about Cutler. That had always made Cutler uncomfortable. He wanted to walk away from his past and make himself believe he had always been Cutler Maine. He was still a bad person. Cutler lived in Atlantic City for a reason. Just like Saul, he had been handpicked to work the area. It was his job to ensure no trafficking slipped through the Jersey docks. Occasionally, he picked up jobs with the CIA. Every now and then, the CIA and Zander worked together with Cutler. But that was the guy Cutler wanted to be without the shadow of the past. He wanted to forget.

Gable molded against his back, making Cutler realize he had been standing frozen at the counter, lost in a nightmare. His eyes fell closed as Gable’s mouth touched his neck. “You don’t have a thing to worry about. Saul asked that Case guy to marry him. He’s beyond noticing anyone else. This was purely business.”

Relief washed over Cutler. Gable thought he had frozen in jealousy. “I met Case on the cruise. He seems nice. Hopefully, Saul won’t eat him alive. Was your business fruitful?” The question came out sounding breathless as Gable chose that moment to softly bite his neck. His hands ran up Cutler’s chest before gently urging him back, holding him closer. “I’m still alive, so I’d call it a win.” Gable didn’t sound as if he cared to continue the conversation.

“Will we be skipping a second dinner?”

An evil-sounding laugh vibrated against his skin, sending chill bumps down Cutler’s spine. “Maybe I should let you breathe.”

Cutler turned. “I could stand to breathe a little less.” Again, it was Cutler who went on the attack. Everything about Gable was irresistible. He wanted to watch those tattooed hands move over his nude skin again. Cutler wanted to own him. He very much feared how far he would go. For the first time in a long time, he felt alive. He was scared of what would happen if they stopped. He was equally terrified of what would happen if they didn’t.