“With Sinful Threads?” I asked.
“I know it’s crazy, but maybe I could do something to help other victims, other survivors. If she’ll allow me, at first I’ll observe. Who knows, perhaps there’s someone out there who knows about Cindy.”
“Madeline, my only request is that you keep your word by keeping those rings on your finger, proudly using your real name, and waking beside me every morning. The rest is open and up to you. I’m proud of you when I’m watching you command the poker table, and I’ll be proud of you if you work with Araneae and Laurel. The world is yours.”
“The world?”
“Yes, it’s another of the items on my list I plan to lay at your feet.”
“I don’t want the whole world.” She wrapped her arms around me. “I just want the part with you in it.”
Madeline
Wearing the green Sinful Threads dress Patrick had had delivered to the hotel closet, I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror at Boston Club. My long hair was curled and falling down my back. The bodice of the dress was low cut and the back was open. The style didn’t allow the wearing of a bra. The long silver necklace that had also appeared with my things hung between my visible cleavage. While I wouldn’t be showing as much skin as our dealer, if I had a chance of distracting my opponents, this was the dress for the job.
“You can do this,” I whispered, reassuring myself that this tournament was almost over.
With a touch-up to my lipstick, I smacked my lips, put the tube back in my handbag, and made my way out to the hallway and my waiting handsome husband. As soon as our eyes met, I knew something was happening. “What?” I asked in a low voice.
“Ivanov is here. He and Bykov are in the tournament room.”
“I’m not as worried about him as I am at having to finally speak to Marion. I swear looking at his condescending, narcissistic mug makes me see red. I have to concentrate on the game. I can’t let him distract me.”
Patrick’s one eyebrow rose as his shining blue orbs scanned down my body, heating my skin beneath. “Maddie girl, no red-blooded man can help but be distracted by you. You’re gorgeous and that dress matches your eyes.”
The timbre of his compliment went straight to my core, warming and melting.
Placing his hand in the small of my back, Patrick led me toward the tournament room. As soon as we crossed the threshold, I noticed the change from the night before.
“Holy shit, is that the purse?” I asked, nodding my head toward a glass case filled with cash.
“It is. Sparrow informed the powers-that-be about the break-in at Club Regal. Their way of protecting over ten million dollars was to keep it in plain sight.” He tilted his chin to the door behind us. “And they have the firepower. Two armed guards at the door and two who will stand sentry near the cash.”
A cold chill crawled down my spine as I shivered, taking in the armed men. “It’s a bit intimidating.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Elizabeth’s voice came through the speakers. “Welcome to the pièce de résistance of our tournament. Let me introduce our final five contestants. One of these talented or perhaps lucky players will leave tonight with the lion’s share of what you see this evening to my right.”
The room filled with murmurs of anticipation.
Sterling and Mason were already seated near the table where I’d be playing. Andros and Sasha were seated against another wall. With the exception of the seat beside Sterling, it appeared that the room was filled to capacity.
“You should be seated,” I said, smiling at my husband who was still at my side.
“I’m not leaving until you are seated.”
It wasn’t as if I would argue.
“We will now draw for seating,” Elizabeth said as the room quieted. The bowl before her held pieces of paper.
In a way, it was humorously low-tech, considering all that was at stake.
“Our first player to be seated in the number-one chair is…” She unfolded the small piece of paper. “Mr. Grant Walters.”
We all turned and smiled his direction. There was no need for competition; this part of the tournament was beyond our control. When I turned back, my gaze met Andros’s cold stare. With a quick nod, I brought my attention back to Elizabeth.
She was unfolding another paper. “And our contestant in the number-two seat is Mr. Marion Elliott.”
“Well, thank you, little lady,” Marion said with a tip of his hat.
“And our third seated contestant, as well as our player beginning this round in first place, is Mr. Edward Bellows.”
The room applauded.
He bowed toward Elizabeth before approaching his chair.
“Our fourth seated contestant and our prettiest, if I may say so, is Ms. Madeline Miller.”
Patrick squeezed my hand as I stepped forward.
As I sat, the final name was announced. “Mr. Julius Dunn.”
Sitting to my side, Julius whispered, “And look at me getting to sit beside the prettiest contestant.”
I willed my smile to appear. “Oh, Julius, I don’t know about that, but you are sitting next to the soon-to-be-crowned tournament champion.”
As our trays of chips were delivered, I couldn’t help but notice the way Marion kept looking my way. Finally, he spoke to all the contestants. “Well, good luck to one and all. You’re going to need it.”
I looked down to arrange my chips.
“And Ms. Miller…” he said, his Texas drawl thicker than usual.
My neck stiffened as I turned his way. “Mr. Elliott, it’s so nice to see you again.”
“I believe after the tournament we have a few items to discuss.”
“Oh,” I said, “I’m sorry, I will need to reschedule. My husband is waiting.”
Julius’s eyes widened. Once the dealer arrived, Julius whispered, “Is it safe to sit between you and a jaded lover? I’m asking for Edward. He may need to take cover.”
“He’s not a jaded lover.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Elizabeth announced to the room, “it is time for play to begin. May I remind you that Boston Club is a safe zone—no pictures, and phones must be kept silenced and out of sight.”
Our dealer was the same woman I’d had Thursday night. While I still didn’t know if she was cold in her scant clothing, she was very proficient in her handling of the cards. After the ceremonial cutting of the deck, she dealt our first hand.
Edward won the first hand with a heart flush. The next hand went to Julius after hitting an inside straight. We wouldn’t have known that it was inside if he hadn’t been so willing to share. The next hand was dealt.
Slowly I turned my cards. 8, 5, 7, 5, 9.
It was my turn to take the chance and try for an inside straight or keep the fives and take three new cards. I lowered my cards to the table and scanned my opponents. The ante had been ten thousand. It was Marion’s turn to start the bidding.
“Twenty-five thousand,” he said, pushing in his chips.
I reminded myself that I’d won a hand the first night of the tournament with an ace, jack high. A pair of fives could easily be a winning hand. Then again, it might not. Thankfully, I had the chips to lose until I won.