Stacked Deck

Stacked Deck
Terry Watkins

Mills & Boon Silhouette
No one is better at exposing a cheat than professional gambler and sometimes government agent Bethany James. Now, posing as a glamorous high roller, she'll use every trick she learned at Athena Academy to uncover a mob boss's ugly sins…and his deadly secrets. But when a daredevil with a tantalizing drawl calls her bluff, the stakes–and her heart rate–become much, much higher. Beth can't help but wonder: Have the cards finally been stacked against her?

From: Delphi@oracle.org

To: C_Evans@athena.edu

Re: professional gambler, Bethany James

Christine,

We’re getting closer to naming our enemy. If we can just gain Salvatore Giambi’s cooperation—or at least his information—we’ll be that much closer to taking down the mastermind behind these plots against the academy. There is a certain piece of Giambi’s past that will make him the perfect mark for one of my Oracle agents, Bethany James. She’s taken on many identities in the world of professional gambling, and going undercover in Giambi’s Monaco casinos will be nothing new for her.

Beth will bring us what we need at this stage of the game. She’s the best player I know.

D.

Dear Reader,

Writing about an Athena agent who supports herself as a professional gambler has been great fun and has brought back fond memories. I learned how to play poker as a kid. Not from books or TV, but from the best, a friend of the family who made his living as a professional gambler. With us, it was nickels and dimes, but the lessons learned were invaluable.

I hope you enjoy the adventures of Bethany James, a consummate gambler who always works the odds, both at the table and in the streets.

Terry Watkins

Stacked Deck

Terry Watkins

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

TERRY WATKINS

began filling journals and writing short stories in high school. Following stints in the military and half a dozen universities, and living in 10 different states, he finally obtained his MFA in writing from the American Film Institute. Happily ensconced in San Diego, Terry is writing novels full-time.

This story is for Mike Tooley, the embodiment of a

classy, full-time professional gambler, long before

it became an “in” sport. He was not only a top card

player, he was a philosopher in the fine arts of risk

and chance. The object, he always said, wasn’t to

beat your opponent,

it was to lure your opponent into beating themselves. In gambling,

Mike was a true Tai Chi Master.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22