PLAYING WITH FIRE

Chloe's fingers rested lightly on the edge of her cards, her expression unreadable. The men around the table played with experience, their faces carved from stone, but she had an advantage—they underestimated her.

Milan leaned back in his chair, one arm draped lazily over the backrest, watching her with quiet amusement. Viktor, on the other hand, was studying her like a puzzle he was determined to solve.

The game had started slow, the bets reasonable, but now the stakes were climbing.

"Raise," Chloe said smoothly, pushing a stack of chips forward.

The man across from her, the grizzled one who had insisted she play, chuckled darkly. "Confident, aren't you?"

"Shouldn't I be?" she countered.

His eyes gleamed with something between respect and challenge. "Let's see if you can back it up."

The dealer flipped the final card. A tense silence settled over the table. Chloe kept her breathing steady, her heart hammering in her chest.

Milan's gaze flicked to her, interest sparking in his eyes. He knew. Somehow, he always knew.

The grizzled man exhaled sharply and tossed his cards down. A losing hand. The others followed suit.

Then it was Milan's turn. He turned over his cards—just shy of a winning hand.

That left Chloe.

She laid her cards down, revealing a perfect flush.

A murmur rippled through the table.

Milan laughed, slow and deep. "Impressive."

Viktor's stare hardened. "Beginner's luck."

Chloe met his gaze with a knowing smile. "Or maybe I just play my cards right."

Milan pushed back from the table and stood, offering Chloe his hand. "Come."

She hesitated for half a second before placing her hand in his. The moment their fingers touched, a current of energy passed between them. He pulled her to her feet, leading her away from the table and into the shadows of the club.

They stopped in a private alcove, the hum of the game fading behind them. Milan turned to face her, his expression unreadable.

"You enjoy making trouble," he mused.

Chloe tilted her head. "You enjoy testing me."

His eyes darkened with something dangerous. "And what if you fail?"

She stepped closer, closing the space between them. "Then I guess we'll find out how forgiving you really are."

For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, in a move so quick it stole her breath, he reached up and traced a slow line along her jaw with his thumb.

"I don't forgive easily," he murmured.

Chloe swallowed, willing herself to stay steady. "Then I guess I'll have to keep winning."

Milan's lips curved into something resembling approval. "Let's see how long you can keep that up."

Before she could respond, a voice interrupted them.

"Sorry to ruin the moment," Viktor drawled, stepping into view. "But I think we have a problem."

Chloe turned, instantly alert. Viktor's gaze was locked on Milan, his usual smirk absent.

Milan's eyes narrowed. "What kind of problem?"

Viktor exhaled slowly. "The kind that makes me wonder if your little journalist here is really who she says she is."

Tension snapped tight.

Chloe kept her face unreadable, but inside, alarms were blaring. Viktor wasn't just suspicious anymore. He was ready to act on it.

And she needed to be ready too.