Disclaimer: I own NOTHING! This is for entertainment purposes only!

A/N: Okay, I had planned on waiting to begin this once I had one of my other WIP's closer to completion, but I just had to get started! =) This story is totally AU, but should have all of the major Torchwood cast involved, at one point or another. I hope you will enjoy this new adventure. As a casino owner, in that sort of life, Jack might be a bit predatory and ruthless at times; but, that's how it is in his world. We'll see how that evolves over time. As always, please let me know what you think! =)

Chapter 1

Jack pulled up the corners of the two cards he'd just been dealt, his concentration on the game complete; while knowing he was to be interrupted shortly. He tossed his chips out into the middle, his eyes piercing the other players at this table, one's that only played for high stakes. In a moment's glance gauging their reactions to the cards before them. He had a more than promising hand, the first one in the past hour... and now, he sensed that Owen would soon be distracting him from the game. After the thousands he had dropped in the past hour, no matter how meaningless the amount may be, the interruption had better be important. The money didn't matter... it was all about winning... and the prestige of having such a reputation.

In his line of business a man lived or died on the strengths of his reputation. Jack had one to produce longevity... and it was one that he intended to keep firmly intact. There were five of them at the private table, in a secluded room; one that was only granted access by invitation only. He watched as three of the five of them tossed in their cards, electing to fold. Well, he might win this hand, he smiled to himself... and then his lucky streak seemed to be about to be broken; as Jack could readily determine by the body language he viewed in his friend and head of security. Jack had slanted his eyes away from the table just long enough to create eye contact with Owen, quickly to ascertain if it was a security matter that was of dire consequence or something of another nature.

Jack quickly determined it to be the latter. Realizing such, he had decided to continue his hand. His gaze back on the table he watched as the other players called his opening bid, deliberately stalling when it came his turn to fold or raise. His eyes narrowed on the other players, as he did the standard glance at his cards while deciding to fold or raise the stakes. Jack had played with this group of men with considerable regularity. Three of the four were bluffing... with the other appearing confident enough, for now. Jack threw another two thousand into the pot, knowing three would quickly opt out of the hand.

Once again, Jack looked towards Owen, catching his look of impatience; mixed in with his grudging interest in Jack's progress. Jack smiled to himself seeing that he had been correct in his assumptions. The three that had much to learn in the arts of the bluff, tossed in their cards, looking exasperated and feeling more than outwitted. Jack arched a brow, stating in a gruff drawl, "Appears it's just you and me, Ted."

"Indeed it does," came the emotionless response. "Now, I wonder what you have over there, Jack. A master bluff... or has lady luck finally smiled upon you."

Remaining impassive, Jack answered, "Guess you'll just have to call to find out, won't you?"

Eyes attempted to pierce into Jack, in the hopes of determining the strength of his position. Uncertainty wavered in the man's eyes as he placed his bid. "I'll meet that... and raise another thousand."

The play continued on until the end of the hand where the final cards would be revealed. Jack raised again, ignoring Owen's none too subtle clearing of his throat. "Looks like it's time to put up or get out, Ted."

Jack was oblivious to the other's at the table all watching the last hand with studied interest. His entire attention focused on his opponent and what he would do next. He was slightly disappointed, when Ted threw his cards down awarding the pot to Jack. Initially he'd only had a good hand, a pair of tens, but the river had been very kind to him, granting him a full house by the end of the hand. A hand that would have been difficult to defeat. He showed his cards, before collecting his winnings with a quirky smile. Chuckles resounded around the table. One player that had folded stating, "Thought you were bluffing, Jack, you lucky son of a gun."

"I was at first... but the flop went my way. Sadly, it seems I have to be leaving you... and just when luck had swung my way."

Ted complained gruffly, "Damn it, Jack. You know that's not right."

Standing up, Jack stiffly told the dealer, "Credit my personal account." Turning his eyes to the players at the table, he nodded towards Owen standing by the door. "I apologize for my abrupt departure, it appears that duty calls."

They all looked towards Jack's chief security man, grudgingly nodding in understanding. "We understand, Jack. It's just bad timing."

"True enough," Jack agreed. "I'll return if I can. Until then, good luck."

Jack straightened his jacket and tie, moving to meet Owen at the door. He proceeded to his office on the upper floor, a standard procedure for anything that required his attention. Privacy along with the closed circuit surveillance equipment often vitally needed in such instances. Once they were secluded inside, Jack poured himself a glass of whiskey, before taking a seat behind his desk. "So, what's the emergency, Owen?"

"He's back. Wandering around the casino. As he has been on various days the past two weeks, having an occasional drink, observing everything and everyone... still not playing," Owen replied curtly.

Jack smiled tightly, more than intrigued by their mystery man. "Where was he last?"

"At the central blackjack table. I say we toss him, Jack. This can't be any good," Owen said, more than willing to flex some muscle.

Opening up the wall that displayed the monitors, Jack scanned the tables until he found the man in question. He had wandered over to the roulette table. At the precise moment Jack focused on him, the man looked up directly into the camera and smiled. Jack laughed, becoming more and more fascinated by this gorgeous specimen of a man, encased in a black suit, white shirt, with a red silk tie. Damn, if the man didn't look good enough to eat... a meal he would be more than willing to engorge himself in.

"Isn't he quite the sight?" Jack mused aloud.

"Uhhhh, that's one way to put it... but, look at him. He knows he's being watched... and he's being cocky about it. I'm telling you, Jack. This isn't good. He needs to go. Let me handle it – as I asked the last three times," Owen fervently urged him.

Jack placed a finger against his lips, his eyes darkening as they fastened on the unknown man. "Oh no, I don't think so, Owen."

"Fuck, Jack. Can you stop drooling over him long enough to see that he could be here with an agenda? He could have been sent by one of your enemies. God knows you've made enough of those over the years."

Jack stood up, quickly closing the monitors, fastening Owen with a cold stare. "Owen, sometimes I think you forget yourself. You may be my friend... but, you also work for me. I make the decisions. I will find out what he is up to... and then, I will deal with him accordingly. Now, go back to your other duties... and I will attend to our guest."

"As you wish, boss. However, don't say I didn't warn you," Owen clipped out, before slamming out of Jack's office.

He smiled as he headed down the elevator, preparing to observe the delightful man, up more closely... and he hoped much more intimately. He wasn't being guided solely by his cock, however... the glimpses he had been given so far – that part of him had already risen to the occasion quite effortlessly. It was more than apparent that the man was up to something, at the very least searching for something. Jack never failed in accomplishing his goals once set... and now he had two of them. First, to find out exactly what the unnamed man intended here... and secondly, luring the man into his bed.

Jack had not a doubt he would succeed in fully satisfying both of those goals.

TBC