I didn’t know how I was going to manage it when it felt like I was being burned alive.
Sweat slicked my skin and the knots in my guts tightened.
I opened the box and pulled out the stone.
Jarek salivated.
“Beautiful,” Haille murmured. “It seems we have a game.”
The dealer stepped forward and dealt the dirty hand.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Back and forth to Jarek and me.
Jarek glared.
I sent him a cocky smirk while I wanted to rip him in two, my knee bouncing with the unspent violence that wanted to break free.
He laid two cards facedown.
I did three.
I manipulated.
Worked my magic, if that’s what you wanted to call it, because my wins were nothing more than sleight of hand.
In a normal situation, I would have been gloating as I laid down another straight flush.
But Jarek and Oz had already pulled their guns, just like I’d expected them to, while Haille sat there smug, enjoying the show.
I jumped up before either could anticipate it and tossed the table onto its side.
Aster screeched, and she scooted back on her ass, using her heels to push herself away while Jarek shot to his feet.
Cards flew, but I knew the biggest distraction would be the stone that went sailing.
It spun and spiraled, almost in slow motion as it arced in the air.
Haille and Jarek’s eyes were wide as they watched it, their hunger for its beauty enough to enrapture them as they watched it soar.
It was our only chance.
Jud was already on his way, stealth as he moved around the table to get to Aster before anyone would notice. His job was to get her and get the hell out.
Trent and I would take care of the rest.
“Get it,” Haille shouted at Oz.
Trent moved along close to the wall in an effort to sneak up on Oz.