Page 16 of Ace of Hearts

Rose

June

Las Vegas, USA

By the time Levi arrives at his allotted table, the other players are already in their seats.

Tito is one of them.

I shoot a nervous glance in Levi’s direction, but he’s managing to look as though he doesn’t give a damn. I stay near the door, dressed in my server uniform and an itchy wig, while he sits down and acknowledges the player to his right with a nod.

I notice Lucky’s there too. He’s wearing yet another patterned shirt—flamingos this time—and a bucket hat. I usually can’t stand sentimental buffoons like him, but for some reason I like Lucky.

“Don’t go too close,” Thomas whispers as he walks past. “Tito might recognize you.”

I nod discreetly, and he goes back to his own table with a determined look on his face. My stomach tightens. I don’t know why I’m so stressed. I can’t take my eyes off Levi’s face, and I find myself scrutinizing his every expression.

He’s impassive, as always, but I know him well enough now to realize he’s tense. His body is stiff, and his ankles are crossed under his chair. He’s in defense mode, but his eyes are still fixed on Tito.

I circle their table as soon as the round begins, curious to see what will happen. The air is electric. Tito seems confident even though he looks tired, which doesn’t entirely surprise me. Lucky appears completely oblivious to the rivalry playing out right in front of him.

“Wow, playing next to you is a dream come true!” He smiles at Levi. “Can we take a selfie?”

“No. A daiquiri, please,” Levi asks me without looking around.

A daiquiri? At eleven in the morning? In the middle of a game? I hesitate, but he ignores me completely. He should keep a cool head and not let himself be distracted by alcohol. What’s gotten into him?

I turn around, feeling annoyed, and order the drink at the bar. The bartender seems to hesitate and asks me whom it’s for.

“Levi Ivanovich.”

He nods, as though he already knew, and disappears for a moment. When he comes back, he’s carrying a glass. I put it on my tray and head back, wondering whether I should lie and tell Levi they’re all out of daiquiris.

Wondering how strong it is, I take a sniff of the drink. It doesn’t smell at all. When I’m sure no one’s looking, I take a little sip.

What the . . .

It isn’t rum. Just fruit juice.

I consider going back to the bartender and asking what he’s playing at, but then I think twice. This is probably for the best. I wipe the edge of the glass, go back to Levi’s table, and put the cocktail down next to him.

“Thanks.”

At that very moment, he folds, which makes Tito snigger. I hover nearby, doing my best to melt into the background.

“I’ve known you to play more aggressively,” Tito comments, sneering.

Levi doesn’t take the bait but only leans back in his chair.

“A good player knows when he needs to bow out.”

He grabs his glass and swallows half the contents in one gulp.

I expect him to turn around and glare at me because it’s so weak, but he just makes a face as though the drink burned his throat.

A moment later, he downs the other half in the same way and hands me back the glass with an arrogant gesture.

“Same again.”

Oh. I get it now. He never had any intention of drinking alcohol. Tito’s got no idea, and he gazes at Levi in disgust.

“What a fall from grace ... I guess the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“I’m sorry?” Levi says.

“That’s what brought Jacob down in the end.

” Tito continues speaking as I take Levi’s glass.

I have to pry it out of his hand because his fingers have tightened around it.

“Or one of the things, anyway. There was love, as he called it. Money. Parties, and of course, his true soulmate, the bottle. That didn’t end well for him, though. Don’t you think?”

At that moment, while Levi is blinded by silent anger, and the other players are exchanging embarrassed glances, I see it happen.

I watch Tito glance quickly to my left, where a journalist wearing dark glasses is standing, then look back at the game.

But now a triumphant smile is spreading over his face.

I make the connection immediately. Lucky is sitting just in front of the journalist in question, feeling overconfident and not paying attention to his cards. That asshole in the dark glasses is spying on the players’ cards and telling Tito what they are with one flick of his fingers.

“What I think,” Levi says in a quietly careless tone, “is that you’re far too fond of the sound of your own voice.”

Tito shrugs and places a high bet. I’m waiting to see what Lucky will do. He takes another look at his hand and calls, a big smile on his face. Levi remains silent, his jaw clenched.

I don’t know what cards Lucky and Tito have, but judging by Tito’s expression, it would take a miracle for Lucky to win the hand. I find myself holding my breath as the croupier turns over the last card.

An eight of clubs.

Tito’s smile evaporates immediately, and Lucky whistles as he gathers the chips into the middle of the table. This one card has allowed him to win with a weak flush.

“Don’t take it personally,” Lucky chirps to Tito, his face glowing. “I’ve always been a lucky bastard. I think it’s something to do with my name—thanks, Mom!”

Levi is smiling openly now. He toys with his chips, eyeing Tito mockingly. “See? You should focus on your game instead of gossiping.”

The day drags on in a strange, tense atmosphere. I continue to bring glasses of orange juice to Levi, and he continues to pretend they’re alcohol. I have to say, he’s a good actor.

Eventually, Tito changes tables, and my fake fiancé drops the act.

When we get back to our suite, he heads into the shower without saying a word.

I take the opportunity to go out as soon as I’ve changed.

But first, I check to make sure Thomas isn’t following.

For a while now, I’ve noticed that he’s always keeping an eye on me, whatever I’m doing, wherever I’m going. It’s a pain.

I meet Li Mei by the slot machines.

“So?” I ask.

She smiles at me, lifts her sunglasses up into her white hair, and pulls a wad of notes from her handbag. “Check it out. I bet on twenty-four, like you asked me to.”

I can’t suppress a smile, and my heart starts to beat faster.

Li Mei and I have become ... I wouldn’t say friends, exactly, but it’s fair to say she’s the only person I speak to other than Levi and Thomas.

We had a drink together the other night in one of the hotel bars, and that’s when the idea hit me.

“It didn’t work the first few times,” she says. “But the fourth time was the charm!”

I thank her and hand back the money, which seems to surprise her.

“Tomorrow, bet everything on three.”

She frowns and asks why I don’t do it myself. “After all, your fiancé spends all his time playing poker. You must be dying of boredom, all alone!”

I mumble some excuse and beg her to do it for me. I’m trying to be strong and avoid the tables, but the temptation is too great. That’s why I sent Li Mei to play roulette on my behalf. I figured I could play indirectly without getting sucked in.

Except it’s having the opposite effect. I spend the whole day thinking about gambling. Every time I can get away from our suite, I venture down to the slot machines and the poker tables. Yesterday I nearly cracked. I’m weakening; I can feel it.

“OK, on one condition.” Li Mei smiles, taking my arm. “The vultures are circling, and if I have to face them alone again, I think I’ll die.”

“Huh?”

I don’t have time to ask what’s going on. She fixes a false smile on her face as a gaggle of older women comes up and greets us enthusiastically. I recognize one or two of them, Alice and Lin, both players’ wives.

“Li Mei! I didn’t know you were friends with the future Mrs. Ivanovich ...”

Her eyes shine with ghoulish interest. Li Mei introduces me, and I play along and smile politely.

They tell me their names one by one, and I nod, immediately forgetting them all. I think the blonde is called Judith, but I’m not sure.

“You will come and have tea with us, won’t you? I saw your fiancé going upstairs, and I’m sure he could use a rest.”

Weird, I think, then dismiss it .

“ I should go and join him ...”

“Come on. Leave him in peace for a while!” she cuts in, taking me by the shoulders, “You seem very young. Come have tea with us, and we’ll all get to know each other.”

Li Mei glances at me as if to say, You owe me one .

I sigh and follow them reluctantly.

It quickly becomes clear that Judith, Alice, and Lin are gossip queens. They tell me they meet in Vegas every year and make the most of living the high life for two months. Li Mei apparently joins them sometimes, but I get the feeling she’s more of a hostage than a friend.

After we’ve been at the bar a few minutes, Judith starts bombarding me with questions about Levi.

One glance at them craning eagerly forward, eyes wide open in avid curiosity, tells me the real reason for this little ladies’ get-together: they want to interrogate me about my fiancé.

But are they just curious and envious, or are they spying on behalf of their husbands? After all, Levi is the one to beat.

I really don’t like this way of going about things.

“Where are you from, exactly?” one of the ladies asks.

“Italy.”

They blink, as though they’d never heard of such a place.

“That’s . . . in Europe, right?”

Seriously? I shoot a furtive glance at Li Mei, who’s trying not to laugh.

“ Yes. It’s in Europe.”

“ Hola! ” one of them says, with a proud smile.

“That’s Spanish.”

Li Mei splutters into her tea, trying to disguise her laughter as a nasty cough. While they’re all distracted, I pull out my phone under the table and quickly tap out a message to Levi. Come and save me, quick!

“Haven’t you gotten engaged rather quickly?” asks Judith. “It seems quite sudden.”

“It was love at first sight,” I explain with a sigh.