The Taking of Clara 2: Taken by the Boss by Sam Crescent Page A

Wherever or however
he got the money baffled Matthew. Edward had suffered a big loss at the tables
just last week. How he’d managed to get the money to play tonight plagued
Matthew.
    If
he left the table then he was out of the game but with nothing to bet what
would the man pull out of his empty wallet. The guy didn’t work. From what
Matthew learned the guy spent most of his time in the gambling places. When he did
manage to win, he booked into a room with a woman for the night. None of the
winnings ever went to his daughter.
    Matthew
was only present because of a call he’d received. He wanted to meet the father
of the woman he wanted to fuck. All he felt at seeing him was pity. He felt
pity for Clara for having such a poor role model in her life.
    The
hands he’d been dealt all night were pretty good. He wouldn’t lose too much but
he wouldn’t win big either.
    “Well,
gentlemen, how about I raise the stakes? We’re all upstanding men.” Edward
placed a photograph face side down on the table.
    The
sickening feeling in his gut intensified at the single image.
    “What’s
this, Baines? A photograph is not stakes, mate.”
    “You
can have her. I guarantee you she’ll help me out if necessary,” Edward said.
    One
of the men in the circle of players picked up the photograph then placed it
down for all to see. Matthew saw that all the men recognized the woman. They’d all
seen her plenty of times paying off his debt or doing something to help him.
Clara Baines stared back at each of them. Matthew had seen her in the flesh.
The picture didn’t do her justice. His dick went rock hard at her image alone.
Her lips were fuller and redder in real life. Her skin looked pale in the
picture almost like a ghost whereas Matthew had seen her blushes whenever he
got near her.
    No,
the image really didn’t do her justice. The intent on her father’s face pissed
him off. The bastard intended to use her as leverage in a fucking card game.
    “Go
on then, Baines. What are you saying?”
    “She’s
my stake. If I win the hand my daughter remains untouched by you guys. Whoever
wins the hand gets her.”
    The
desire to slam his fist in the guy’s face grew with every passing minute. How
dare he use Clara in such a way?
    Matthew
stared at the deck of cards with new urgency. This wasn’t about money anymore.
Clara’s life hung in the balance. Staring around the table at the bastards
leering at the photograph, Matthew had far more to fight for than a couple of
hundred grand. The money on the table didn’t dent his fortune. Licking his lips
he tapped the table.
    “I’m
in.”
    How
could he walk away? If he walked away Clara would be at the mercy of one of
these men. The very thought made him sick to his stomach. Even as he stared
around at the men waiting to see who would play and who’d walk away, Matthew
felt disgusted with himself.
    All
of his years, he’d never known such hatred for another person than he did for
himself. He should have taken Clara the moment the chance arose. Now, he was
fighting for her like a dying man.
    None
of the men left the table. Clara became a worthwhile prize to keep on going.
Her green eyes stared up at him. The pleading look he saw in them startled him.
Did she always look like that?
    Saving
her wouldn’t solve his need. After tonight he’d make sure Edward never got a
chance to hurt her again.
    For
the first time since he’d made his fortune, Matthew counted the cards. He liked
to gamble for fun. Counting cards took all of the fun out of playing. He needed
to concentrate if he held any chance of winning.
    Three
men growled and threw the cards on the table in annoyance. They all stayed to
see who’d claim the main prize.
    After
twenty minutes of staring and contemplating, three men remained. Matthew,
Edward and the casino owner stared at each other. The look of pure lust on the
casino owner’s face startled him. He didn’t know why he was surprised. Clara
made you feel special in the