JJ 6 ANGELO oey is sweating–badly. We took the party to a private room and the only players are Alessandro and Malik, Joey and two of his friends. His friends were out long ago and Malik curses as his own hand folds, leaving Alessandro to laugh as he claims his win and says with satisfaction, "I'm out."

Joey looks nervous and his hands shake as he holds his cards, which show just how shit he is at poker. Then again, I knew that and as we place our bets, I say with an ominous edge to my voice, "Winner takes all."

He swallows hard and says nervously, "What. Already?"

I nod and he says helplessly, "Money, then, make this for money, not her."

"Are you breaking the terms of our contract, Joey?" I lean forward and my friends follow my lead and stare him down with looks that make grown men weep.

He swallows hard and says with a slight tremble in his voice. "No, of course not, it's just I thought…" "Claudia is the payment I seek and nothing else."

His friends look around nervously because this is one fuc*ked-up situation, and he nods in defeat. "Agreed."

The look of horror on his friend's faces almost makes me laugh because Joey has just proved what a sick fuc*ker he is, and I doubt they will look up to him as much after tonight.

He lays down his cards and, as my own claim the hand, he whispers, "Fu*ck."

Alessandro laughs softly and Malik watches them all with the usual evil dark look he wears so well, and I say with satisfaction, "You have five minutes to bring her to me. My friends will see that you honor your bet."

Malik stands, closely followed by Alessandro and as Joey and his friends hastily leave the room, I stare at the hand of cards that brought me victory.

It's always too easy. Guys like Joey fall into my trap on repeat and I wonder if I'll ever know what it feels like to lose.

I'm almost counting on it one day because at least then I'd feel something. Not this frozen existence that gets more fuc*ked-up every hour that passes.

As always, when I'm alone, my thoughts turn to family, and I picture my father doing way worse than this. He likes to corrupt, harm and cause pain and that's on repeat most days. He wouldn't be feared as much if he wasn't, and I wonder if that's what it takes to survive this world. He certainly has a lot of enemies and very few friends, so I'm better off than he is in so many ways. I have four friends, five if you count Baron, and I have my sister. Now it's up to me to learn my craft well because I have always known I would kill my father and that day is fast approaching.

A tap on the door interrupts the dark thoughts I have of home and as it opens, Claudia enters, looking terrified. The door slams behind her and I know one of my friends will be guarding it and so I look at her with appreciation because this woman is worth every bit of admiration I'm throwing her way.

"You wanted to see me. Why?"

Her soft voice wafts across the room like silk on a breeze and I point to the chair opposite me.

"Take a seat. Do you drink whiskey?"

She shakes her head. "Not really."

"You may want to start now."

I pour her a glass and she looks nervous as hell. "Um, what did you want?"

Leaning back, I hold my own glass and look at her with a hooded gaze.

"You."

The color drains from her face and she looks around as if there's a way to escape.

"What do you mean?"

This is the part I enjoy the most, the one where they learn their fate and I say almost as if bored, "Joey offered you up as payment for losing so we can do this the easy way, or the hard way, your choice."

The glass stops mid-air, and she stares at me with a stunned expression.

"You had better be kidding me."

Leaning forward, I fix her with a dark look. "I'm not."

"No." she says angrily, and I shrug. "Your call. I never force myself on a girl; not my thing."

She looks relieved and her shoulders relax a little. "That's it, I get to leave."

"If you like."

She stands and I say darkly, "Tell Joey the bets off and he can say goodbye to his career."

"What did you say?"

I shrug. "I did him a favor; you a favor, actually. Remember the guy who attacked you at the club in town. Drugged your drink and tried to force himself on you."

She sits back down.

"Remember the reports of what happened to him the next day."

"You?"

I nod, setting my glass down. "Joey came to me with revenge in his heart.

He asked for my help, and I removed your problem from society and protected your boyfriend's image. He gambled away his debt and a night with you was the payment." I laugh softly. "To his credit, he tried to change my mind and offered me money instead. I think he really likes you and would have offered me anything to save you this, shall we say, degrading situation.

But in my world a bet is a bet and there is only outcome if that is not honored. You walk away and Joey's career goes down with him. Shame, really, he has a promising future."

Her eyes fill with tears and she whispers, "So, either way, I get fuc*ked by a b@stard."

"That's life, baby. Just be more careful about the company you keep in the future."

She looks down and nods. "I have no choice then."

Leaning across the table, I grab her chin and force her to look at me, relishing the hurt in her baby blue eyes. Strumming my finger across her lips, I whisper, "Like I said, you can do this the easy way or the hard way. You see, if I were in your shoes right now, I would be mighty pissed at my so-called boyfriend. He has gambled with you and that can't be a great feeling.

What better revenge than to enjoy the fu*ck of your life and walk away with your head held high. One night only with no strings attached. A night of p@ssion with no regret in the morning. A walk on the wild side that will leave you feeling empowered. Don't be a victim, Claudia, be better than that."

"But it's not my choice."