Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask (by Silver Spoon) novel Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Chapter 72 All In for Love

Ivy’s POV

The private poker room at the Thorne family’s underground casino reeked of expensive cigars and dangerous ambition. Throughout the high-stakes game, Parker maintained his calculated charm offensive, brushing his fingers against mine as he dealt cards and murmuring strategies against my ear. His breath on my neck sent involuntary shivers down my spine, and I ensured Caleb caught every subtle reaction. The Don’s jaw muscles twitched with barely contained rage, his knuckles bone-white as he gripped his cards like weapons.

"Ladies, where shall we take you for dinner after we clean out these amateurs?" Brenda inquired smoothly, stealing glances at his hand before focusing his predatory attention entirely on Zoe.

"What about The Bistro?" Silas suggested with practiced eagerness. "Ivy, have you sampled their cuisine? The food is extraordinary, fitting for a woman of your caliber."

"I’ve heard impressive things, though securing reservations there is supposedly impossible," I replied, allowing genuine interest to color my voice. This observation made Jude’s expression darken like a storm cloud.

"Reservations become quite possible when Silas’s uncle controls the establishment," Hunter chimed in with a knowing grin. "If everyone agrees, it’s perfect. The atmosphere screams old money elegance and the cuisine is exceptional, worthy of such captivating company." He directed a meaningful wink toward Gemma, causing Dominic to shift uncomfortably in his chair.

"Then our evening is decided. But you gentlemen will serve as our drivers afterward. We’ve been sampling Dom Perignon since this afternoon, and French cuisine demands proper wine selections," Ruby announced with supreme confidence.

"Already anticipating our defeat, gorgeous?" Xavier protested, though his complete devotion to her was painfully obvious. "Don’t you have faith in your men’s abilities?"

"Oh Xavier, poker involves so many unpredictable variables," Ruby replied with devastating innocence, her smile sharp enough to cut glass.

Our distraction strategy unfolded with military precision. Every calculated touch, every laugh shared with Parker’s crew was designed to systematically unravel our boyfriends’ legendary concentration. Even Finn, typically unshakeable as granite, showed visible cracks in his composure.

Silas crumbled first, throwing in his cards and immediately abandoning the game to hover protectively around Nora. His undivided attention ignited Jude’s jealousy like gasoline on fire, destroying his famous focus until he too slammed down his cards, joining the territorial battle for his girlfriend’s affections.

Hunter followed the pattern, showering compliments on Gemma with increasing desperation until Dominic couldn’t endure another second and forfeited his position at the table. Brenda whispered something that made Zoe dissolve into musical giggles, prompting Finn to slam his cards down in frustrated defeat. Beckett barely survived another hand before Xavier possessively dragged Ruby’s chair closer to his side and declared himself officially out. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Only Caleb and Parker remained locked in this primal masculine standoff, with me suspended between them like a prize worth dying for. Parker’s confidence radiated through his relaxed posture and amused smile. He was savoring every moment of this psychological warfare like fine wine.

"Appears I’ll have the distinct pleasure of your company tonight, beautiful Ivy," Parker said, his voice smooth as aged whiskey.

"Over my dead body," Caleb’s voice dropped to deadly quiet, more terrifying than any shouted threat. "I’m doubling the current stakes."

Parker studied Caleb with calculating precision, searching for tells, weaknesses, anything exploitable in his poker armor. But Caleb remained stone-faced, every muscle controlled, every breath measured with surgical precision. His poker face was legendary throughout the underground for excellent reasons.

"I’ll see your bet and raise you substantially," Parker countered with practiced smoothness. "Some prizes are worth any gamble, any risk."

Something predatory and absolutely lethal flickered in Caleb’s icy blue eyes. Without hesitation, he shoved his entire stack of chips forward, the colorful towers representing a fortune that could buy small countries.

"All in," Caleb stated with chilling simplicity. "Like you said, some things are worth everything."

The room fell into suffocating silence. Parker straightened abruptly, his casual confidence wavering as he processed the staggering magnitude of Caleb’s bet. He studied his cards again, then Caleb’s perfectly impassive expression, desperately searching for any crack in that flawless mask.

After what felt like several lifetimes, Parker placed his cards face down and pushed back from the table with visible reluctance.

"I fold. Seems tonight wasn’t destined to be my lucky evening after all, lovely Ivy." He lifted my hand and pressed a gentlemanly kiss to my knuckles.

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