"Catherine," he said slowly, as he slid into the seat opposite mine. "I heard a mother of three girls was haunting my casino tonight."
"Not haunting," I replied, tracing a finger over the rim of my wine glass. "Just collecting something for diapers and milk, you know they are now very expensive.."
Jhing Jhing and Mylene sat behind me, quiet but alert. They knew the stakes were more than just money. This was personal. The kind of battle that only looked polite on the surface. Underneath, it was blood and betrayal.
The dealer shuffled.
Alec leaned forward, eyes narrowed. "One million. Winner takes all. No splits."
"Deal," I said. I forced a grin, even though my insides were anything but steady.
Mick stood nearby, watching. The crowd hushed. Even the slot machines seemed to quiet, like
