Page 86 of Diamonds

He grins.“I do.Do you?”

“Not even once.”I grab his arm, look up into his piercing eyes.“But I’d love to learn.”

27

MADDOX

Alissa is giving me some serious puppy-dog eyes.

I’d love to get a drink.It’ll settle my nerves—Chet reallywasacting stranger than usual tonight—but I can’t deny this woman anything.

I haven’t played a game in the Diamonds section since that night when I picked up Wade Gimble’s guests at the craps table.I didn’t win big at craps, but I did take home two beautiful women and fuck them both at the same time, so I ended up pulling through pretty well.

Of course, I hit the true jackpot when Alissa walked into my shop a few weeks later.

So I guess I’m returning to Diamonds.

I escort Alissa to the golden lights of the Diamonds section.One Blackjack table is open—manned by the same gentlemen.Shellby.

I extend a hand to Shellby as I sit down.“Nice to see you again.”

He bows his head.“You too, Mr.Hathaway.”He switches his focus to Alissa.“And I haven’t had the pleasure, Miss…”

She smiles at him.“Maravilla.Alissa Maravilla.I’m Mr.Hathaway’s guest for the evening.”

“And a lovely one at that.”Shellby turns back to me.“Will you and your lady friend be playing a game with us tonight?”

“Yes.”I hold a chair for Alissa and then take one for myself.

“I’m going to need a quick rundown of the rules,” Alissa says.

I lean in, lowering my voice.“It’s easy.Just aim to get as close to twenty-one as possible without going over.Face cards are worth ten, aces can be one or eleven.We play against Shellby here.You’ll get the hang of it.”

Shellby places a neat stack of chips in front of both of us.

I nod to him.“Let’s start small.”

Shellby deals the cards, his hands quick and deliberate.

“You’ve got a nine and a five.”I point to each of Alissa’s cards.“That’s fourteen.You should probably hit.”

She nods.“Hit me, Shellby!”

Shellby deals her another card—a six.

“Nice,” I say.“That’s twenty.You should stand.”

She follows my instruction, lightly tapping her fingers on the table to signal her choice.

I switch to my cards.I have a queen and a three.I tap as well, and Shellby slides me a seven.

“Twenty as well,” Shellby says.“Good play.”He flips his own cards—a ten and a six.He hits once, drawing a five.“Twenty-one.House wins.”

Alissa groans.

I chuckle.“That’s how it goes sometimes.Let’s go again, Shellby.”

This time Alissa draws an ace and an eight.