n, thick with the kind of money that could build or bury a man. The heavy green felt of the pok

ays. Old money tycoons, corrupt officials, criminals dressed in silk and shadow-th

w that better

e table with the same quiet detachment he used to size up a b

re to tes

ips with that too-easy smirk, that relaxed postur

at e

he world was one big game and he wa

n to make eye contact, dealt the next round. The ca

rds with his index finger, still smirk

whiskey, letting the silence stretch just long enou

his glass down. "Fate's just a story people tell

s hand. "Yeah, but what if the

gaze steady. "Then you ai

something else in Vinnie's eyes-something unrea

, not entirely, but it lingered longer than usual, as

nued. The stak

ssage behind each bet. A raise was a show of power. A fol

ike a man who had spent years buil

d sharp. Bol

esting

sh his luck, push

d if Vinnie was playing a longer g

folded, their stacks of chips

s who matter

o

nn

who bought half the

owed Dom more th

y thing about power," he mused. "It's like a big stack of chips. You hold

"You planning on gett

know when to bet

he made

raise-t

folded. The real estate ki

n to Dom a

down, let his boss take the win

ed. Not a smirk, not a cal

in his chips, calling Vinnie's b

r turned

nie

d shining, cutting through

nt, there

He raised his glass. "To knowing

ass against Dom's, hi

fold," Vinn

way he s

about it

eneath the camaraderie. His gut tightened, but he dismissed it. Vinnie wa

e it wa

but the night wa

away, Dom leaned in sli

thing for y

lickered with c

et and slid a small black

ut its weight carr

ame, a locatio

"He's getting sloppy. Needs a re

nst the table. "You want pers

" Dom's gaze was steady. "You handle this clean, you hand

he envelope, weigh

en he could trust. Vinnie was

, you didn'

" Vinnie asked, his tone

sitate. "More

, slipping the envel

im. "Remember, Vinnie-it's not just about wi

at familiar grin. "Don't worry, Dom

ollow, leaving a fai

the bar, Detective Ray

hed

ed Vi

aned in just a li

ghed just a lit

ng there. A crack

know how deep i

ke, tapping his finge

was shifting. H

had to decide which side of th

drink, he turned to Vinnie, st

can always count on," Dom mused,

Dom with an expression that a

mo

n't know how to lose

his glass. "Good thi

ie s

ime, he di

first time,

d, but he forced h

overnight, but ne