He grins.“I do.Do you?”
“Not even once.”I grab his arm, look up into his piercing eyes.“But I’d love to learn.”
27
MADDOX
Alissa is giving me some serious puppy-dog eyes.
I’d love to get a drink.It’ll settle my nerves—Chet reallywasacting stranger than usual tonight—but I can’t deny this woman anything.
I haven’t played a game in the Diamonds section since that night when I picked up Wade Gimble’s guests at the craps table.I didn’t win big at craps, but I did take home two beautiful women and fuck them both at the same time, so I ended up pulling through pretty well.
Of course, I hit the true jackpot when Alissa walked into my shop a few weeks later.
So I guess I’m returning to Diamonds.
I escort Alissa to the golden lights of the Diamonds section.One Blackjack table is open—manned by the same gentlemen.Shellby.
I extend a hand to Shellby as I sit down.“Nice to see you again.”
He bows his head.“You too, Mr.Hathaway.”He switches his focus to Alissa.“And I haven’t had the pleasure, Miss…”
She smiles at him.“Maravilla.Alissa Maravilla.I’m Mr.Hathaway’s guest for the evening.”
“And a lovely one at that.”Shellby turns back to me.“Will you and your lady friend be playing a game with us tonight?”
“Yes.”I hold a chair for Alissa and then take one for myself.
“I’m going to need a quick rundown of the rules,” Alissa says.
I lean in, lowering my voice.“It’s easy.Just aim to get as close to twenty-one as possible without going over.Face cards are worth ten, aces can be one or eleven.We play against Shellby here.You’ll get the hang of it.”
Shellby places a neat stack of chips in front of both of us.
I nod to him.“Let’s start small.”
Shellby deals the cards, his hands quick and deliberate.
“You’ve got a nine and a five.”I point to each of Alissa’s cards.“That’s fourteen.You should probably hit.”
She nods.“Hit me, Shellby!”
Shellby deals her another card—a six.
“Nice,” I say.“That’s twenty.You should stand.”
She follows my instruction, lightly tapping her fingers on the table to signal her choice.
I switch to my cards.I have a queen and a three.I tap as well, and Shellby slides me a seven.
“Twenty as well,” Shellby says.“Good play.”He flips his own cards—a ten and a six.He hits once, drawing a five.“Twenty-one.House wins.”
Alissa groans.
I chuckle.“That’s how it goes sometimes.Let’s go again, Shellby.”
This time Alissa draws an ace and an eight.
