Liam scratched the side of his jaw. He wasn’t angry when he responded, just matter-of-fact. “Whatever trouble you’re in, it’s not my problem.”
Brian was adamant. “Liam, we really need to talk!” he whisper-yelled.
“No,” Liam said it with finality, and then shooed Brian away.
Irritated, Harvey said, “Can you two quit your squabbling? I’m trying to concentrate.”
Brian wouldn’t allow Liam to deter him. He could not and would not leave the room without speaking to Liam first. Brian sat down in the empty chair next to his brother and stared a hole into the side of his head.
“C’mon. Is that even legal?” Harvey, a balding, older man, whose stomach prevented him from sitting too close to the table, spread his arms wide as he complained. It was evident by the slurring of his words that he had also had one too many drinks. “How the hell do I know that dude ain’t giving you information?”
Liam raised piercing blue eyes above his cards. His icy glare said it all without having to say a word. But, just to be clear, Liam spoke. “Watch yourself.”
Harvey wasn’t too drunk to hear the warning in Liam’s words. The air crackled with tension. Finally, Harvey responded in a much calmer tone. “Just play.”
Since they clearly understood one another, Liam glanced back down at his hand and decided to take his sweet time.
Brian leaned over and began speaking again. “If I could have found any other way, I would not be here. But I’ve run out of options, and I’m running out of time.” Brian was the spitting image of his older brother, just a younger version. His blonde hair, square jawline, and bronzed skin were like holding a mirror up to Liam’s face, except for the eyes. Liam’s eyes were that of a man who had experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly of life. They were very intimidating.
Liam continued to ignore Brian and tossed four-hundred thousand dollars’ worth of chips into the large pot of over two and a half million. He smirked, and then placed his cards face up on the table as he leaned back in his chair. “Full house.” Nothing ever seemed to rattle Liam. Not even his baby brother sitting next to him sweating bullets.
Liam stared down his opponent, but his next words were meant for Brian. “Whatever trouble you’ve found yourself in, you are going to have to figure a way out of it.”
Brian responded through clenched teeth. “Didn’t you hear me? Why do I have to keep repeating myself? I just said that I wouldn’t be here if I had any other choice.”
Liam watched Harvey use the back of his thumb to rub above his eyebrow. In that moment, Liam knew he had won the game. “I don’t care how long you stare at those cards. They are not going to change. Give it up so that we can enjoy the rest of our evening.” A small smile started to form at the edge of his lips. “I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather spend my time with a beautiful woman.”
The older man, who was known as a card shark, tried to keep his features blank, but his cheeks were slightly flushed. Five seconds later, he threw his cards onto the table. “Fuck you and your brother, Lockwood.”
Liam’s lips curved up into a full smile now that the pot was officially his. “I can only imagine how difficult it must be to lose money and your pride at the same time.” Liam and his team stood. “Markos, settle up with the house.”
Brian shook his head. “Markos, man . . . you need another job. Being my brother’s personal assistant has got to suck.”
Markos kept his expression blank. He could have easily been mistaken for one of Liam’s two bodyguards. The man could body double for The Hulk.
“I don’t think Markos needs employment suggestions from you.” Liam picked up his custom designer suit coat from behind his chair and put it on, then nodded to Harvey as he left the table. Liam strode out of the room with his bodyguards following closely. Brian, however, walked side by side with his brother. He mused about the best way to tell him about his problem. Then he remembered what his father always said, when delivering bad news, just get right to it, and let the chips fall where they fall. “I made a wager with Anthony Luccesse.”
Those words stopped Liam cold. His head turned slowly toward his idiot brother. “You. Did. What?” He enunciated each word through clenched teeth as if he hadn’t heard Brian the first time.
Brian detested his tone. It wasn’t exactly a growl, but it was low and menacing and, for a lesser man, very intimidating. However, Brian wasn’t easily intimidated, especially by Liam. He actually admired him and hated to have to ask for his help. “It started with a few not-so-friendly wagers, and it escalated.”
“A pissing contest?”
Brian remained silent.
“Goddammit!!” Liam was struggling to tamp down the rage that was beginning to bubble up through him. “How bad?”
“It could end with me giving up my shares to our company, or dead if I try to back out.”
Liam didn’t need Brian telling him how it could end when dealing with the Luccesses. He’d seen it first-hand. At one point, their father and Anthony’s had been friends. Their father had warned both Liam and Brian about wanting money and power at any cost using the Luccesses as an example. Anthony was the youngest, but he was also known as a shrewd kid.
Liam lost it. Standing in the middle of the private hallway of the club, he yelled, “What in the actual fuck, Brian?! The Luccesses? How many times did both Dad and I tell you to stay away from them? You always have to do shit the hard way!”
Brian tried to explain. “Anthony and I were drinking, and things just got out of hand.”
“How the hell were you two even in the same room?” Liam put up
