Chloe inclined her head and offered Joel a quick smile. “I knew you would understand.”
His sarcasm had gone right past her. As he watched, she hurried forward and just casually tossed the SUV’s keys to one of the bodyguards. “I assume you’ll tail us?” Chloe asked courteously, as if the man hadn’t pointed his gun at her less than two minutes before.
The guard glanced at King. King nodded. The guard quickly rumbled, “Uh, yeah, yeah, I’ll tail you.”
“Thanks. Don’t change my radio channel, okay?” She slid into the limo.
King kept waiting by the ride. His eyes were on Joel. “I’m guessing you will join our little party, too?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” But he did have one matter he needed to take care of first. Joel slowly advanced toward the limo. And when he was close to the guard who’d caught the car keys…
Joel’s hand swung out and he punched the asshole in the jaw.
The man bellowed and surged at Joel but—
King stepped between them. “Was that nice?” he asked Joel. “Sometimes, I think you forget that you’re supposed to be the nice one.”
“Says who?” He stepped to the side—the better to glare at the fool who’d had his weapon aimed at Chloe. “Your finger was starting to tighten. I saw it. You ever point a gun at her, you ever think about pulling a trigger again…and it will be your last mistake.”
A long sigh slipped from King. “I already warned them—”
Joel let his gaze sweep to the other guard. “Now I’ve warned them. But what they need to know is that you won’t get a chance to carry out your promise. If they go for Chloe, I’ll make sure nothing is left for you to handle.”
The guards were sweating.
“Don’t fucking so much as scratch the ride, either,” Joel barked at them. “Drive it like the precious baby it is.”
The men rushed away. One ran back into the Serpent while the other headed for the SUV.
“Precious baby?” King repeated.
Joel narrowed his eyes on the bastard.
“My, my. Someone spends a few weeks with Chloe and suddenly thinks he is all big and bad.” King sidled a bit closer. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“I don’t.” If some bastard came at Chloe with a gun, he would protect her. She was far too important to him. He couldn’t lose Chloe.
“We’ll see about that,” King murmured. “Things haven’t really been intense for you yet. Just wait.”
Joel had to laugh. “If you think that, you’re more of an idiot than I realized.”
King stiffened.
Ignoring him, Joel climbed into the back of the limo. He made sure to sit right next to Chloe, putting his leg against hers. He wanted to be damn clear on this. He was with Chloe. To hurt her, anyone would have to go through him.
“You need to be more careful,” Chloe chided softly. “Kingston isn’t an easy enemy to have.”
Neither am I.
King entered the limo and sprawled on the rear seat. The door slammed shut, and a few moments later, the vehicle pulled away from the curb. The privacy screen was up. The bar well stocked. And King’s hard gaze was on Joel. “I have a reputation,” King finally said. “I don’t take insults. Remember that. If you ever insult me again in front of my crew, I will be forced to react.” His gaze dipped to Chloe. “No matter what friends we may have in common.”
Joel shrugged. “If you don’t like being called an idiot, then don’t be—”
“Stop.” Chloe’s voice. Calm. Smooth. “Whatever game you two want to play, do it later.”
“Count on it.” But King focused on Chloe. His expression subtly shifted. The rage disappeared—no, it was hidden—and he studied her tensely. “I assume you know. As you always seem to know secrets in that witchy way of yours.”
Her nose scrunched. “Witchcraft isn’t involved.”
His lips twitched. “No, of course, not. My bad. Probably just got that idea from the time I spotted you in the St. Louis Cemetery with the group of chanting figures. A simple mistake to make.”
Joel hadn’t heard that particular story.
“Not really,” Chloe returned without missing a beat. “Those were voodoo practitioners, and no witchcraft was involved at all. You should be careful making that mistake in this town.”
King’s eyes narrowed. “I can’t tell if you are making a joke or being dead serious.”
She stared back at him. “Interesting.” She didn’t sound like it was, though. “You know what I can tell? When you’re lying and when you’re speaking the truth.”
He laughed. “Doubtful. Most people can’t.”
Chloe didn’t smile. Her expression didn’t alter even a little.
King’s laughter slowly faded. “But you’re not most people.” He raked a hand over his face, and his shoulders sagged a little. “I was sleeping with her.”
Chloe nodded. “Yes, I am aware.”
She was aware? She could have enlightened Joel on that point. He’d just thought that Chloe had seen Lucia dancing at one of King’s places in town—
“I saw the way you watched her. The way you touched her—and how she touched you.”
King swallowed. “It didn’t last long. Just a few weeks. Nothing lasts long in my world.” A mocking smile tilted his lips. “She knew I was her stepfather’s biggest competitor. It’s no secret I want to take over his casinos. He’s been in my way for a while now. She hated the guy, so screwing his enemy was an extra thrill for her.”
This was certainly an enlightening conversation. Joel cleared his throat. “Sorry. I’m going to have to ask you to back up a minute for me.”
King raked him with a hard glance.
“I thought you were FBI. Why the hell would you be someone’s casino competition when you’re just working undercover?”
King’s face underwent a subtle shift. His jaw tightened. The faint lines near his eyes hardened. His nostrils flared. “You are mistaken.”
“I don’t believe I am.” Especially since the information had come from Chloe. His gaze slid to her.
King swore. “You fucking know? Seriously?”
Chloe shrugged.
“How.” A demand. Not a question. “I never told you jack about that. Never gave you any reason to suspect—”
“There were a few incidents that occurred when I was in your presence that tipped me off. Would you prefer for me to go into detail about them now or can we get back to discussing Lucia Rossi?”
His lips clamped together. His nostrils flared again on an angry exhale. Then his stare shot back to Joel. “Chloe doesn’t know everything about me. I am not an acting FBI agent. Don’t go spreading that shit around. You’ll start a war in this town that will destroy far too many innocent lives.”
Joel lifted his eyebrows. “I don’t make it a habit to talk to others about you. I prefer to deny that we know each other.”
King seemed to measure him. “Good. Keep going with that.” Some of the tension slid from his shoulders as he pressed back against the seat once more. “I am interested in expanding my business in this area. Casinos are a natural fit for me. I wanted what Glenn had. But he didn’t exactly like some up-and-coming stranger taking customers from him.”