Getting Lucky by Viola Grace Page A

Lucky asked herself that and a thousand other questions as she tried to throw off her pursuers. Her blood thundered in her ears as she pounded the pavement in an effort to get far enough ahead of the pack to hide from them. Just a regular Friday night.
    The evening had started quietly enough, the gang members that she joined at the poker table had been happy to have her there. Of course, a low-cut top almost guaranteed an open invitation. It was only when her freakish winning streak began to show that the first murmurings of irritation reached her ears.
    By the time she had taken the entire pot, the murmurs had turned to cursing and the next thing she knew the word cheat was shouted, so she was grabbing the money and running for her life. The shots that had been fired had missed her, luckily. She had made her way out of the back alleys and into the streets in an effort to deter the shots. No glass near her had exploded in the last half a mile so they must be strictly on a foot pursuit.
    She began to slow her steps, smiling at her stamina as she listened to her shoes clicking on the pavement. Lucky had gained her running abilities through practice. Hard and brutal practice on the city streets. A shiver ran down her spine and she leaned left as a car window to her right exploded in a brilliant shower. She didn't even have time to scream as a hand grabbed her and pulled her into a nearby alley.
    "Shh. Stay still and they will not see you."
    The voice was masculine, as was the body she was plastered against. He did not restrain her in any way so she did as he said. He wasn't making any threatening moves, unlike the gun-toting lowlifes looking for her in the street. She could feel the heat of his body, smell his musk and, for some reason, could feel an energy around him. Before she knew it, it had flowed around her and wrapped her in its protection.
    Protection it was, as two of the gang members entered the mouth of the alley and looked directly at them. Shaking their heads, they moved out of the alley and down the street. Lucky's knees almost gave way. The two warm and gentle hands supporting her under her elbows brought her to the unavoidable conclusion that someone had just saved her life. “Is it safe?” She kept her voice to a whisper as she tried to leave his loose grip. Two steps and she was free.
    "It is. May I have the honour of an introduction?"
    His low and gravely voice was harsh and yet controlled. She had an inkling that the politeness did not come naturally to him and was for her benefit. The scar bisecting the left side of his face and nearly hitting his eye was her clue. Polite people did not usually get knifed in the face. “I suppose that it is the least I could do. My name is Westa Lucidine.” A blush heated her skin and she confessed, “People call me Lucky."
    "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lucky. My name is Henry Inlough. Henry."
    His bow was courtly and it was when she felt lips upon her hand that she suddenly felt the absurdity of the situation. “Henry, this has been very nice and all, but I need to get out of here. I have no idea when those goons will find me again and I need to get somewhere safe.” That they would keep looking for her was an inescapable conclusion. They always looked for her after a winning streak. Just not right away. It usually took days for them to realize that something had been a little off in her playing style.
    That something was their cards changing in their hands. Hers always remained the same, but her opponent's hands devolved to give her the winning hand. Thanks to the prevalence of digital surveillance in poker games in general, she was always found out, but usually not at the table. It had been a golden god that had muttered cheat . If she ever saw him again, she was going to kick him in the nuts.
    "If I may offer my assistance, I would be happy to act as your guardian until you are safe.” He straightened.
    Given his grace and physique, he could quite aptly