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He also looked to be about twenty years old.
“I thought so,” Teresa responded, taking his payment upfront, then gave me a secret smile before turning to the rest of the table.
After ordering more drinks, everyone played for a moment before the guy spoke to me. “My name’s Aaron.”
I nodded at him politely, noting that El Brujo was watching us carefully, and took another sip of my drink that tasted like club soda and mint.
“Do you have a name?” He studied his cards, not looking at me.
“Sure. You can call me Red.”
He looked up then, meeting my eyes for a brief moment before glancing down at my red dress. He flashed me another smile. “Okay,Red.”
I had to give him points for not staring at my boobs but the guy was way too young for me.
We continued chatting, with most of the conversation on his part, while they finished up their game. When they were done, Aaron collected his winnings, and the three girls mostly talked and giggled instead of paying attention to the fact that they’d lost. I couldn’t help but be a bit envious of their seemingly easy life.
“You playing or just watching?” El Brujo asked me, and I nodded to join. When I had my cards, I tapped the top of my stack in three short strikes.
El Brujo paused, his eyes meeting mine, then looked beyond me at Teresa, who had returned with more drinks. She nodded, and the dealer continued to pass out cards.
I suddenly felt a deep sense of foreboding. I’d been playing a dangerous game with the cartel for months but was still uneasy about it. I was so close to getting what I wanted, I couldn't back out now. But that didn't mean it wasn’t risky. If I wasn’t careful, I could end up as meat in one of their dog food factories.
Seconds later, the dealer turned back, assessing me. I met his gaze with a hardened one of my own. His eyes flicked downward, towards my cleavage, and I knew I would get what I wanted.
It was true, weak men thought with their dicks.
It was what got them killed.
He nodded, then played out the hand. I won the first one, then deliberately lost the next three. I waited one last turn, tucking the note the dealer slipped me into the front of my dress, then bowed out.
Sighing in defeat, I stood.
"You're not leaving so soon?” Aaron asked.
I shook my head. "Looks like luck isn't with me tonight."
He gave me a crooked, drunken smile. "I could change that for you."
I pat his cheek. "Thanks, but you’re too young for me.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m doing.”
I shook my head. “No thanks.”
He shrugged, his attention going back to the table. "Your loss."
“Guess so," I mused, though I really wanted to tell him it washisfucking loss. I certainly wasn't missing out on anything.
I made my way through the maze of people and bleeping machines until finally I made it to the bathroom. There was a long line for the women, of course, so I jumped into the men's restroom. It smelled as disgusting as I imagined it would--did men know how to actually piss in the toilet these days?
Two men were at the row of latrines, and they both looked at me in surprise.
"Hey! You're in the wrong restroom." A chubby faced, middle aged man complained. The other one, younger and a little bit more handsome, gave me a slow look over. His stream of piss became a slow trickle.
"But she's more than welcome."
“Sorry.” I gave them a sheepish smile. "I have to piss and there's a long line for the women’s."