Chapter 4

The dealer' s hands moved with practiced speed, sliding two cards face down to each player.

I glanced at mine: a seven and a ten, different suits. Not a strong starting hand, but playable depending on the flop and the players.

Chad, eager to assert dominance, tossed in a large bet immediately.

"Let's see who's serious here."

His eyes dared me to fold.

Silas "The Viper" Stone, seated next to him, smoothly matched Chad' s bet and raised it significantly.

"Just warming up," Silas said, his eyes fixed on me, a predatory gleam in them.

The other players either folded or called, the pot growing steadily.

Jessica, still standing behind Chad, leaned down and whispered something in his ear, a feigned look of concern on her face.

"Don't be too hard on him, Chad," she murmured, loud enough for me to hear. "He's clearly not himself."

Her "pity" was another calculated move, designed to unnerve me, to make me feel small.

I ignored her, focusing on the bets, the players' expressions.

The dealer burned a card and laid out the flop: three community cards, face up.

Ace, King, Jack. All spades.

A murmur went around the table. A very strong flop, offering flush and straight possibilities.

It looked very good for anyone holding spades.

Chad, who I suspected was holding at least one spade, grinned broadly.

"Looks like lady luck is with the Harrisons tonight, as usual."

He made another large bet.

Silas, after a moment of theatrical consideration, raised again.

They were working together, their signals subtle but clear to someone trained by Big Tony to spot such things. A slight tap of fingers, a shared glance.

Chad then looked directly at me, his smile malicious.

"You know, Alex, this is getting expensive. If you lose this hand, how about you get on your knees and publicly apologize for ever thinking you were my equal?"

He wanted to break me, not just take my money.

The humiliation was the real prize for him.

I met his gaze, my expression unreadable.

"Just play your cards, Chad."

The pot was now enormous. The nervous tourist had folded long ago, pale and sweating.

The other regular player looked thoughtful, then reluctantly folded his hand.

It was down to me, Chad, and Silas.