Page 39 of Diamonds

The Chicago winter wind has a way of finding any exposed part of your body, so I’m bundled up as best as I can get.

Why the hell does anyone live in the Midwest?The winters are brutal.Especially for those of us this close to Lake Michigan.

I get in and have to dig through several layers of clothing to get my ID so Chet can check me in.Even he’s bundled up—wearing a thin pink sweater under his pinstriped jacket and fingerless gloves.He looks like some sort of vaudeville actor.

“You’re all set, Mr.Hathaway,” he says, grinning from ear to ear like usual.“No guest tonight?”

“You know as well as I do that I come here to meet women, Chet.”

He nods.“Of course.I think you’ll find the selection tonight to be quite…appetizing.”

I lean over the desk.“Really?”

“Indeed.Some very lovely ladies have come on the arms of members this evening.”

I frown.“Then they’re probably here as dates.I can’t exactly horn in.”

Chet twiddles his fingers together.“I’m sure you’re aware that a lot of the club’s members don’t mind sharing.”

Shit.I’m not interested in a three-way.At least not with another man.

Two ladies?Sign me the fuck up.

But another dude?Not my thing.

Harrison told me once about being in a three-way with another guy.He said it was a little weird at first, but that he got used to it.You just focus on the girl.

But I’d rather have the girl all to myself.

Whatever.Chet always says weird stuff.He probably doesn’t even mean it.

At any rate, I’ll keep my eyes peeled for single women.It’s been a few weeks since I last had a good piece of ass.

“Is Rouge in tonight?”

“I believe she’s attending to one of her other clubs tonight, Mr.Hathaway.”

I nod.Good.

I’ve been avoiding Rouge ever since that night a year ago.The night that started with a fistful of psychedelic drugs and ended with what I assume was a really bad trip.

God, I hope I’m right about that.

But whatever.I shake the thought from my head.

Rouge isn’t here tonight.I won’t have to worry about avoiding her.

Normally I make a beeline for the bar in the Spades section as soon as I go through the Green Door, but tonight I’m itching for a game of chance.I’m going to try my hand in the Diamonds section.

It’s a great way to pick up chicks.Once you’re on a roll, they flock around you, mystified at your perceived fortune.

Fortune my ass.

These games do have an element of luck—all games do, from Candyland to Russian Roulette—but casino games are all about reading the room, getting a feel for the cards in your hand.

Of course, if the ladies of Aces Underground want to think I’ve been kissed by Lady Luck, I won’t stop them.

Lady Luck might just lead to Lady Fuck.