or a moment before his usual

imit?

lay it off. "You hear this, guys? Alex Miller,

aughter, though some looked

ted smile unwavering, but he

ease with which I once handl

n Chad' s side, a tes

scandal Chad orchestrated

d," she'd told me, her voice cold, practic

rved. She'd made

he table, his face

You always were a drea

essica, a proprietar

ght, Jess? He'

t his tone but nodded. "Chad's right, A

t to sting, a remin

s on the game, on the task B

e you just going to ta

tential business partner for Big Tony, some

n unwelcome distraction, but now

ate loose ends, and n

recognized, raised an eyebrow. "The b

being the center of attenti

see how long your imagina

ge stack of chips

ame w

or show, it was a shield f

bout revenge,

perhaps myself, that the Alex t

or Big Tony was significant, a mu

comparison, but the principle, Chad'