Mellie's Books

Here’s a little peek at my novel, Gambler’s Folly. Enjoy!

Trae wasn’t back yet
and it was past time for dinner. Where was he? She slammed the
brush down on the dressing table and dried her eyes, as anger
overcame disappointment.
Wondering what to do, she heard the sound of his key card in the
lock. “Where in the hell…” she began as Trae entered the room,
followed by two well-built men in expensively tailored suits. “Trae,
what’s going on? Who are these guys?”
“Hi, sweetheart. These men are associates of Mr. Leone. They’ve
come to take you to him.”
“Take me to—Mr. Leone? The biggest mob boss on the planet?”
“Um, yeah. I kind of lost a bet. Sorry.”
“You lost a bet? What kind of bet? What have you done, Trae
O’Brien?”
“Well, you won’t have to worry about the house anymore, or the
car, or really anything. I lost all of it. Then, in order to get out from
under that and a M1,000,000 debt, he insisted I put you on the table,
as it were. Win or lose, one hand, and all my debts were gone. Just if I
lost, he got you. And I lost. Sorry.”
“Sorry? Sorry?! You’re more than sorry, Trae. What the hell?”
she shouted, as one of the impeccably dressed men took her arm.
“Come along, Mrs. O’Brien. Mr. Leone is waiting.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you. Get your hands off me!”
As she struggled with one man, the other one found her purse, and
checked for her passport and papers. Speaking into what must have
been a wrist transceiver, man number two said, “We have the lady.
Mr. O’Brien will be right down to sign the papers.”
“Papers? What papers, Trae?”
The older of the two men smiled and said, “The ones signing
away his rights to you, love. Come along.”
“Trae? Trae!”
Downstairs, watching her husband sign away his debts, Karianna
was numb. How could this even be legal? Did it matter when you
were dealing with the mob?
Pushing the signed papers across the table, Trae said, “Well, that’s
that I guess. You’re sure we’re good?”
“Mr. Leone was very clear about it. One hand, win or lose, all
debts forgiven.”
“What about me?” Kari asked, in shock. “What am I supposed to
do?”
The man in the shadows was quiet for a moment, and then said,
“Go ahead and take her downstairs, to one of the special guest rooms.
Mr. Leone will see her there and decide what to do with her.”
Entering the elevator, one of her escorts used a pass card to select
a private underground floor. From what she’d heard about the place,
the lower-level suites were exclusive and outrageously expensive.
The suite they opened for her certainly bore that out. Stepping
onto the lush carpet was like stepping onto a cloud. Hidden mood
lighting around the perimeter of the ceiling lit the area evenly, while
the trickling water in a small fountain created a gentle background
sound. Live plants grew under specialized lights and the scent in the
air was soothing.
“Just relax, have a drink if you wish. Mr. Leone will be here
shortly,” one of the men told her. And then they were gone.
Turning back toward the door, Karianna tried the latch, just for the
sake of trying. Locked. For all the creature comforts and beauty in the
room, it was really just a cushy cell. But she didn’t intend to stay here
any longer than she had to. Chances were good that, if she could reach
the elevator, she could get back to the lobby. Usually pass cards were
needed only to enter a floor, not to leave it. Now, what could she use
as a weapon?
As the door opened, she tensed, ready to make her escape.
Unfortunately, Mr. Leone had come prepared. The first bodyguard
easily caught the floor lamp she swung at him and set it on the floor
beside the door.
“Restraints,” she heard someone say. After a struggle with both
bodyguards, Karianna found she was snugly restrained between two
poles, clothes torn and disheveled. While she’d been looking over the
room, she’d thought they were for in-room entertainment. She now
saw they were equipped for hand and ankle restraints. Soft and
cushioned, the restraints were nevertheless effective. Adjustable stops
kept her from sliding the restraints up and down, holding her firmly in
place, exactly as she was.
“Thank you, gentlemen,” she heard the voice say. It was a deep,
dark, sensual voice which made her spine tingle. “We’ll be fine now.”
“Yes, Mr. Leone. Have a pleasant evening,” she heard one of the
bodyguards answer. The door opened, closed, and she was alone with
a man many had reason to fear.

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http://www.bookstrand.com/gamblers-folly

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