Deadly Odds Read Online Free Page A

pencil. How the hell she managed to get that pencil to stay in there, he had no clue, but he chalked it up to the magic his assistant could summon at will.
    He’d brought her over from Dominion because she’d figured him out long before any of the other assistants had. In short, she’d had his number. A few years older than him, she knew his moods, when he was schmoozing to get his way and, most importantly, when he was about to blow his stack. Marcia also kept him on schedule and she didn’t take any nonsense.
    Not from him.
    Not from anyone.
    In short, Marcia was the gatekeeper.
    Still typing, she glanced up. “You have a visitor. Kate Daniels from Casino Consulting.”
    “Kate Daniels?”
    Marcia’s eyebrows lifted, but she kept typing. “I didn’t have her on your schedule. Figured you went rogue when she said you were expecting her. I put her in reception. Did you see her?”
    “No. I took the stairs. Didn’t go through reception. She’s a redhead, right?”
    “Right.”
    “She said I’m expecting her?”
    Marcia stopped typing and handed him a file. “Yes, Ross. She said you were expecting her.”
    “Well, I’m not.” He jerked his thumb toward the doors. “I just met her downstairs. She was playing blackjack. Who the hell is she and why is she up here?”
    “Read the file. I knew you’d ask and since I was unaware of her appointment, I did research.”
    And this was why he’d stolen Marcia from Dominion. “Don’t take this wrong, but I adore you.”
    Using both hands, she waved him off. “Blah, blah.”
    Ross took a second to peruse the information in the file. Security consultants? What was up with this Kate Daniels? And why, if she was a security consultant here on business, was she sitting at his blackjack table?
    Checking them out, that’s why. Which explained her behavior—the shifting glances, the studying—at the table. The fantastic Kate Daniels was planning a pitch to convince him he needed her services.
    Well, he needed her, but not for security consulting. He had Don Sickler for that and Don was the best.
    Even if he was a pain in the ass.
    “Where’s Don?”
    “Surveillance room. I told him you might be calling. Do you want me to get him?”
    “Please. Would you let Ms. Daniels know I’ll be with her in five minutes? I need to eat before I drop.”
    He marched into his office, took his seat and went to work on the sandwich while Marcia patched Don through. Ross swallowed a mouthful of his sandwich and punched the ringing line.
    “What the hell is it, kid?”
    Don’s loud voice filled his office and Ross lowered the speaker volume. “Kate Daniels.”
    “Should I know that name?”
    “Actually, you should. She’s a security consultant. That’s your wheelhouse.”
    “I don’t know her. Probably a salesperson.”
    Ross eyeballed the remaining part of his lunch. “She’s also that redhead we were watching.”
    “Dammit.”
    “Marcia’s got her in reception. How soon can you get to my office?”
    “Three minutes.”
    He could finish eating in three minutes. “That works.”
    As promised, three minutes later, Don strode into Ross’s office, his suit jacket flying open, his belly protruding as he walked. “Where is she?”
    “Still outside. I just finished lunch.”
    “By the way, I had the ribs last night. Not the chef’s best work. Not enough flavor. Just so you know.”
    “Crap.” Ross made a note to visit the kitchen after they were done here.
    What he didn’t need was bland food being served to high rollers who would gladly take their millions to another casino. Way out here in the boonies, every detail needed tending to. Every. Detail.
    “Marcia,” he called, “would you bring Ms. Daniels in please?”
    “Sure.”
    Ross drummed his fingers on the desk while Don made himself comfortable in one of the guest chairs. “She works for Casino Consulting, Inc. Heard of them?”
    “Samuels was talking to the Dominion security chief about it last week. I