Emi gestured at the table. “Watch, then. You’ll need this puzzle piece if you want to figure out Mira.”
He didn’t want to figure out Mira. He had no reason to. They were going to get out of this, and then they’d never see each other again.
Nonetheless, he watched.
He wished he knew more about poker; from what he could tell, the pots and the bets were getting bigger and bigger. Charles was the first to lose all his chips, and he sat back in disgust as X pulled in the last of his fortune. A woman in skimpy lingerie came over from the bar to comfort him, and he looked instantly less sulky.
Ryder was the next one out, and then on the next round Claudette, who growled and tossed back her whiskey when she went bust. The other three players didn’t move from the table, though, and Naveen didn’t blame them. If he could divorce Mira from this event, he might be excited to watch this showdown, too.
X smiled at Mira over his piles of chips. He had taken the majority of their opponents’ stashes, finishing them, but her smaller wins had proved surprisingly lucrative, especially in later rounds, and they had roughly the same amount of chips in front of them. Actually, Mira might even have a slight edge.
If only they could leave now. Naveen leaned forward, linking his hands together. He wasn’t a praying man, but he was praying now.
“Surprised you got this far?” X purred.
The dealer opened a fresh pack of cards. Mira shrugged. “No.”
X laughed. There was a flush of color on his pale face. He was loving this. “I promise I’ll make this quick, sweetheart. I know you have somewhere to be.”
“Thank you.” Mira took a quick peek at the cards the dealer placed in front of her. X did the same.
Mira went first. “Call.”
X shrugged. “Raise.” He tossed in double the chips.
“I’ll raise.” Mira doubled his bet.
X smiled thinly. “Well, well, well. The lady’s getting desperate, I see.”
Mira cocked her head. “Do I look desperate to you?”
He chuckled and met her reraise. “Call.”
The dealer dealt three cards faceup. Ace of hearts, seven of clubs, three of diamonds.
Naveen wiped his hands on his pant legs. That wasn’t a great flop, but maybe Mira could make something out of it. Otherwise, best-case scenario, he’d get another shot at convincing them to let him pay these people back. Worst case, they’d see if the three of them could fly when they got dropped off the balcony.
“Check,” Mira said, essentially passing.
X sucked his teeth. “Check.”
The dealer revealed the turn. King of spades.
Naveen hoped Mira caught the way X’s face subtly relaxed, but her gaze was focused on that single card. Damn it, the man had something in his hand.
“Check,” she said, again passing. Was this a strategy?
X tapped one finger on the table, then shoved a stack of chips in. “Raise.”
Mira did something she hadn’t done before. She peered at the two cards in her hand again. “Raise,” she said quietly, doubling his wager.
Ryder shifted in his seat, but he didn’t say anything. Everyone in the room was silent, including the harpist.
“Reraise,” X said, and shoved another handful of chips into the pot.
Mira studied him, then matched his bet. “Call.”
The dealer turned over the last card, and Naveen inhaled. A seven of diamonds. What on earth did Mira have that she was so confident? Or was she bluffing?
A slight movement brought his eyes down to her feet, in those ridiculous pink flip-flops. Her toes were curled tightly.
Naveen’s gaze shifted around the room, seeking an exit for that potential worst-case scenario. His heart pounded in his ears.
Mira spoke as soon as it was her turn. “Check.”
X’s smile grew more confident. He shoved the rest of his chips to the center of the table. “All in.”
She let the silence drag out for a second, then matched his bet, leaving her with nothing. “Call.”
His chuckle was long and low. “Honey, you really did want to get this over with quickly.” X flipped over his cards, and Naveen stood so he could see properly.
A king and an ace.
“Two pair,” the dealer intoned, and looked at Mira expectantly.
She flipped her hand over. A seven and a two stared up at all of them.
“Three of a kind,” the dealer said, then hesitated for a beat, betraying her first sign of emotion. Trepidation, with a healthy dose of caution. “The lady wins.”
Naveen shoved his hand against his mouth, to keep in his shout of exhilaration. His pulse was pounding, and it took all his concentration not to fist-pump and crow in relief. By God, she’d done it.
“Jesus Christ,” Emi whispered next to him. For all her confidence in Mira, she seemed as stunned as everyone else in the room.
Ryder let out a low, long laugh. “This chick beat you,” he said between chuckles. “With the fucking hammer? A seven and a two.”
“Congrats,” Claudette remarked. “Well played.”
Mira folded her hands in front of her. “Thank you.” She looked at X. “I believe that settles the debt, and then some,” Mira said quietly.
“How did you do it?” the man asked. His voice was calm, but there was an edge in it that made Naveen tense.
“I’m not sure what you’re asking.”
“You count cards?” Charles asked. He lit up a cigar. “I gotta know.”
Mira barely spared him a glance. “This is poker, not blackjack. It’s impossible to count cards. You must know that.”
X straightened his jacket. Ryder interrupted whatever he was going to say. “You have quite the poker face, young lady. Good strategy, but it’s the face. You looking for work?”
“Thank you for the offer, but I already have a job.” Mira paused. “The money would come in handy, though.”
Claudette tossed back her drink. “No recruiting. Pay these kids, X, and let them go.”
X looked annoyed, but he capitulated. “Yes, yes. We’ll forgive the debt.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out her earrings and Naveen’s watch, handing them to Mira. “Here. Go on.”
She accepted the jewelry, but didn’t move. “I won more than this.”
Emi came to stand next to her, her avaricious gaze on the pile of chips in front of Mira. “Yeah, she won more than the debt.”
“You should be very grateful I’m letting you all leave via the door.” X’s smile slipped. “Instead of the window.”
“We are very grateful,” Naveen said hastily. If he could shove both these women out of here without further threats of defenestration, he’d be thrilled.
Mira shook her head. “Very grateful. But you’re running an honorable game here, right?”
“You’re calling my honor into question?” The man’s glower was chilling.
This was a two-star hotel, not a saloon in the Wild West, but for the life of him, Naveen couldn’t tell the difference right now. He took a step forward. “Let’s not get hasty. I think what Mira is saying is that things ought to be fair. We were willing to hold up our side. You should hold up yours.”
She cast him a surprised glance, though he wasn’t sure why. For one, she deserved that cash. Second, they needed it. It probably wouldn’t get them out of their diamond necklace jam, but at the very least, it might help them on the remainder of the quest.