Chapter 7

Calling Their Bluff

The Night Before

Ace stood behind Megan watching in awe as the Irish firebrand literally demolished world class poker players. Her beautiful face wasn't implacable, unreadable. It could easily let the men playing against her know exactly what was in her hand. Except, not a single one was looking at her face. Their eyes would flit between her ample, very visible cleavage and her smiling green eyes when she flirted. The first thing he noticed though was, she flirted more when she was holding nothing. She bet more then, too. Where she'd come up with the five hundred dollar ante to start with, he didn't know. But now, it was up fifty grand with another twenty grand sitting in the pot. And she had nothing but a pair of deuces as she called her lone remaining opponent leaning forward to give him a clear view of the creamy skin of her bosom once again.

"Wot do ye say love, wanna throw another ten thousand inta the pot"

"I think that's a bit rich for my taste, sugar." Her remaining opponent drawled out with a thick as molasses southern accent as he threw his cards onto the table. As he dre3w his hand back, Ace caught a glimpse of a tattoo, the Cobra emblem.

"Sweetheart, I think it's time for us to leave. We have an early morning, chasing snakes." Ace wound himself around Megan's shoulders. When his opponent raised his brows in question, Ace explained. "We're Critter Gitters. Rattlesnakes are very common out here." As Megan started to protest, Ace planted a kiss on her lips, rendering her speechless. "Now, sweetheart, why don't you collect your winnings and let's get home." He took her hand as she gathered her chips and stood. Leading her away from the table, he saw her glare at him through slitted eyes.

"What was that all aboot. I was havin' a run a good luck. The little people were awatchin ova me."

"Your opponent is a Cobra agent." He whispered into her ear. "And as much as I'd like to watch you trounce that guy and put a dent into Cobra Commander's coffers, we need to report this to General Hawk."

"Aye, that we do." She sighed. "But, canna we kiss again. For an American, ye kiss like an angel."

"I think that can be arranged." He laughed as he dipped his head, touching his lips to hers. Tendrils of heat coursing through his veins at the touch. As she leaned into the kiss, Ace pulled her closer, losing himself in the kiss and losing all thought.

He was drawn out of the embrace by a tapping on his shoulder by a suited man with a badge indicating his position as a Casino host.

"Sir?" The suited man interrupted.

"Yes?" Ace turned to face the man.

"We would like to offer you and your lovely wife a room for the night."

"We'd love to take you up on it, but, not tonight. We have an early morning tomorrow."

"Some other time? We'll put it on your account with us." The man replied.

"Thank you." Ace nodded and turned to Megan. "Sweetheart, what do you say we head home?"

"Aye. I canna wait to get home." Megan winked as she ran a hand up and down Ace's arm. He smiled as heat permeated through his suit jacket lighting a fire within him.

The next day at Nellis

Ace woke up to a mass of coal black hair in his face and handful of beautiful woman in his arms. He smiled, remembering the night before. It was a night to definitely remember. She proved to have a fire inside her that not only could no one put out, but, he definitely didn't want to put out. She would easily become an addiction. Too bad they lived an ocean apart. After they'd met with Hawk and Flynn, He and Megan had fallen into bed with one another. Absently, he stroked her shoulder as she snuggled even closer into his chest and moaned slightly in her sleep. As he fell back asleep, he thought, he could get used to this. If only she weren't in the Royal Air Force.

Later that day

"Gentlemen and ladies, we have a report of Cobra activity in the area." Hawk started. "One of my men, Ace, was able to identify a Cobra agent playing in a poker tournament. What we do not know is what Cobra is up to." Hawk continued. "We need to find out what that is."

"Sir, could the player just be here to vacation?" Duke raised his hand, gold band glinting in the light. Hawk immediately noticed and narrowing his eyes at his first sergeant. Duke nearly cowered under his commander's scrutiny.

"It's possible, but, until we know for sure, we're going to treat this like a potential threat." Hawk answered.

"Yes, sir."

"Now, let's be on alert and Lady Jaye, Scarlett, you'll be working with Major Bannister of the Royal Army and Colonel Brekhov to see if you can learn what Cobra is up to. "

"Yes, sir." Both ladies replied. The English Major and Russian Colonel merely nodded.

"Dismissed. Except for you, Duke and Scarlett."

As the senior leadership for all the teams, Scarlett and Duke remained behind.

"Now, is there something you two need to tell me?"

"Well, sir, we're not exactly sure." Duke rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to look his commander in the eye.

"You're not sure if you're married to each other?"

"Yes sir."

"How is that possible?"

"Well, sir, we went out for dinner, saw the Baroness and Destro near a drive-thru wedding chapel and that's the last thing we remember before waking up in a hotel this morning." Scarlett was the one to answer this time.

"Did you eat something?"

"Not after dinner, no. And we only had one glass of wine each at dinner." Scarlett answered. "The only thing I can definitely remember was wondering what the Baroness and Destro were doing in a drive-thru wedding chapel, and then walking inside. After that, everything is missing."

"Is it possible the chapel is being used by Cobra for something other than a chapel?" Hawk asked.

"To be honest, I'm not sure. But, there is something not right about the place." Duke answered this time.

"Well, can you remember where it was?"

"I can try, sir." Duke replied.

"Do it." Hawk ordered. "And if you did actually get married. Congratulations, it's about damn time. I was wondering if you'd ever come to your senses." Hawk walked away.

"Duke, what are we going to do?" Scarlett asked.

"I don't know. But, I do think we should find out if we are actually married or not. And we need to find out about that chapel." Duke replied. "Come on, let's go see if we figure out something."

"Okay." Duke thought she sounded dejected with that sighed response.

"Listen, whatever happens, whatever the truth is. I don't regret this morning. I've been trying to figure out if you felt the same way I do."

"Duke, for so long, I was tied to Snake eyes. But, after he decided we weren't a good fit. I was in a bad place. Now, now I know why. He saw things between us that I didn't see." She responded. "Now, let's go find out what's really going on and then we can decide what we're going to do."