The Golden Mirage Casino was alive with possibility, the kind of place where fortunes were won and lost in a single breath. Selene Sterling stepped inside, her heels clicking against polished marble, her sharp gaze cutting through the chaos.

This wasn’t her usual scene. The trip to Los Angeles was supposed to be a break—a little fun, a little sun—but when she heard the call of a poker table, rest and relaxation became afterthoughts.

She spotted the crowd almost immediately, gathered tight around the highest-stakes table in the room. At its center sat a man who looked as if he’d been born to win.

****Dominic Beaumont. The crowd shouts that was around the table ****

The name hung in the air, spoken in hushed reverence. He leaned back in his chair, his sharp suit impeccable, his confidence practically oozing out of him. When he grinned, it was the kind of smile that promised victory—and didn’t care who it left in the dust.

Selene’s lips curved into a faint smirk. A man like that didn’t intimidate her. No, men like Dominic were puzzles meant to be solved.

She made her way to the table, her arrival drawing his gaze. For a split second, his expression flickered with curiosity.

And then he smirked.

“Here to watch, sweetheart? Or are you feeling lucky?”

Selene slid into a seat without hesitation. Her smile was sweet, her tone sharper than glass.

“Lucky enough to take your chips.” You sat with venom