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Chapter One
Carter
“Well,Castle,yougonnafold?”
The voice is nasally and irritating. I’ve learned to ignore the other players when it comes to making decisions about my play. They can’t psych me out if I’m not listening to them.
My heart pounds with anticipation as I sit in the dimly lit room. The air is thick with the scent of cigars and whiskey, the tension broken up only by the clinking of poker chips and the occasional scrape of a chair on the floor. The cards feel heavy in my hands, and cause a smile to try to surface. Given my experience in the poker tournament world, I manage to keep it from appearing on my face, retaining my impassive countenance.
My brother Court stands at the head of the table, his eyes scanning the room with a mix of authority and amusement, but I can’t tell if it’s because of the success of his club or my satisfied expression. He always manages to keep my life exciting, letting me hold these poker tournaments at his club. The stakes are high, the tension palpable, and I can't help but feel a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins.
“Well, brother, what do you think?” I ask him, shooting him a grin.
Court shakes his head.
“I think you’re too damn happy with yourself, Carter.”
“No such thing,” I tell him, letting out a small chuckle. I meet and raise the current bet and the other players in the hand fold their cards.
As the new cards are dealt, I study my opponents, trying to read their expressions for any signs of weakness. Among them is Victor, a burly man with a permanent scowl etched on his face. He’s been playing the poker circuit for almost as long as I have, and he’s good. Suspiciously good. Usually I hold back my thoughts, but tonight the air feels electric. I don’t want to keep them to myself.
"Hey, Victor," I say, a hint of mischief making itself evident in my tone. "You wouldn't happen to be cheating, would you?"
The room falls silent, all eyes turning towards us. Victor's face contorts with anger, his fists clenching at his sides. His round, puffy cheeks first turn red and then unsightly purple.
“You better watch your mouth, Castle, or you’re gonna lose a few teeth,” Victor says. The man to his right, the one with the nasally voice, looks cowed.
“I’d look better than you even if I didn’t have a single tooth left in my mouth.”
Without a word, the big man lunges across the table, spittle flying from his mouth as his fist connects with my jaw in a swift, decisive blow.
The impact sends me sprawling backward, my chair crashing to the floor. Pain shoots through my face, but I can't help but find the situation amusing. It’s just one of my talents. The rush of adrenaline that surges through me heightens my senses and makes me feel alive.
I chuckle, wiping the blood from my split lip with the back of my hand as I get up from where I’d fallen.
"Well, that's one way to spice things up.” My voice is tinged with a mix of amusement and defiance.
“You’re a little bastard.” Victor sneers as he regards me.
“Little? Victor, I’m six foot two.” I shake my head. “We can’t all be too large to ride a common roller coaster, now can we?”
Court approaches, threads of anger and concern lighting up his face.
"You all right, Carter?”
I give him a reassuring smile, my eyes still fixed on Victor.
"I'm fine. Just a little love tap, that's all."
“Then shut up and stop taunting him.”
Victor glares at me, his chest heaving with anger.
"You won’t think this is funny when I shove your teeth down your throat.”
"I probably would. It's all part of the game, isn't it, big guy? The thrill, the risk, the unexpected. It's what makes life interesting. But I don’t suppose you’d understand that. That’s why you cheat."
Victor's face contorts with rage, his fists clenching even tighter. He lunges at me again, but this time, I'm ready. I dodge his punch with a quick sidestep, my reflexes honed by years of living on the edge.