Page 57

Zyon

T he people around me were disturbing my thinking. The entire hand was on repeat in my head. I tried to disclose what combination Chester could hold to add Valeria into the pot, but I couldn’t concentrate.

He caught me unprepared. He risked his wife in a poker game, which forced me to believe he had the best hand, but at the same time, my gut screamed at me to watch the signs.

Exhaling loudly, I leaned into my seat, flinching when Jamal appeared on my right side. He brought me the items I’d commanded him to fetch, placing them on the table before me and the leather briefcase at my feet.

“So, Zyon, what’s it gonna be?” Chester asked, and I lifted my gaze from the rectangular black velvet box to meet his eager look.

“Let me clear things first,” I said, repositioning myself. “Your daughter is part of the package, right? If I win the mother, the daughter comes with her.”

Gasps around the table started to annoy me. This fucked-up situation was as shocking for me as it was for them, but Christ, can you just shut up?

“Yes,” Chester confirmed without hesitation. His smug expression was making me sick. “If you win, you’ll get Valeria and Zara. ”

My skill at hiding my emotions was at the highest possible level, but I still almost snarled at him like a rabid dog. The fucker had no respect for his family. He felt no love for them. Or was he that good he knew he couldn’t lose them?

Suppressing a frustrated groan, I held the velvet box to occupy my nervous fingers.

Too much was at stake here, and I didn’t mean money.

Money meant nothing compared to the woman I loved.

I could win Valeria from her husband without a war.

I could have her in my new house, which I’d bought for us tonight.

Fuck! Think straight, Zyon! I mentally scolded myself, focusing on Chester’s arrogant grin. He’s toying with you.

I narrowed my eyes at Chester, ignoring everything and everyone else. I knew him. It shouldn’t be hard to make the right decision. But the pressure of my beautiful Valeria being part of it was too intense.

My heart beat so fast it almost collapsed, and a heavy boulder of fear preoccupied my stomach.

If I messed this up and lost in the showdown, Chester would feel like the king of the world.

It would’ve been okay with anybody else, but it would be a disaster with him.

I had to skate out of this as a winner or with minimal damage. The real player knew when to give up.

“What’s it gonna be, Zyon?” Chester repeated his mocking question, smirking at my indecisiveness.

“Give me a moment, Chester,” I said, frowning. “I don’t like making rushed decisions.”

“Your guests are waiting,” he pushed, his lips smiling but eyes throwing deadly daggers at me.

“We’re good,” Stefano interrupted, raising his glass and slamming my shoulder. “Take your time, my friend.”

“Thanks,” I gritted out through clenched teeth, directing my attention to the five community cards. I didn’t want to take my time. I just really didn’t know what to do.

“Okay,” I mumbled inaudibly, only for myself. “You can do this. ”

The cards before my eyes blurred as I returned in time to repeat the hand one last time. I raised, Chester reraised, and we moved to the flop that gave me a straight draw, and he continued betting.

His bet was small, which made me wonder with which combination he would only put a few thousand in the middle. A set of kings didn’t make sense because if he were so strong, he would have wanted to win more. Aces? Maybe, but why not protect his hand?

The flop isn’t the place that tells much, I mused, moving to the turn.

The diamond completed the flush, and I checked again. Chester looked at his cards without any emotion and made another small bet. I listened to my gut and raised him to two million, which he called after a minor moment of hesitation.

If he already had flush, why not put all in there? Why wait for another card when I’d presented a strong hand, and there was a big chance I would pay him more?

Only two options arose here. Chester either held an unbeatable combination of an ace-high flush and wanted to trap me, or he held the ace of diamonds that gave him a flush draw. He blocked the best combination possible, called, and waited for another card to improve his hand.

Shit! This was the breaking point.

The ace on the river finalized my straight, tying me into the hand. If any other card came, I would have folded my cards when he pushed it all in ten minutes ago. But with that fucking ace giving me a great combination, I wasn’t sure if giving up was the best solution. What if…?

Think, asshole! I reprimanded myself, gathering my thoughts.

The action on the river was messed up. I checked. Chester bet too little, but when I raised him, he pushed all in.

What the fuck?

I returned on the turn, wondering what was possible. My opponent was a sick gambler. He loved the slot machines, but he wasn’t stupid. Still, was he clever and patient enough to try to trap me with the best hand?

Yes to the first, no to the second .

Chester was anything but patient. If he held the nuts, he wouldn’t have waited for the last card to push all in.

And the flush with lower cards didn’t make sense.

He wouldn’t have raised me with a queen of diamonds.

I had to go for a better starting combination, which catapulted me back to a pocket pair of aces or flush.

Fucking hell!

I raised my head to look at Chester, and our gazes clashed with intense hatred. He sat motionless, holding my look, and I felt the helplessness overcoming my body, but then I remembered.

“He knows,” Valeria had said hours ago, stunning me. “He knew the entire time.”

The realization flooded my system, showing me the path. I had been thinking about the cards and Chester as a person, but I forgot the most significant detail.

I fucked his wife. He knew I wanted her. Well, he couldn’t know how obsessed I was with her, but he was well aware of the affair. His play to outsmart me had only one problem—his ego.

Chester was an asshole who didn’t value and respect his wife. He wasn’t patient enough to trap me with his hand. He would never have only called on the turn if he was better than me. He bet Valeria and his daughter to bluff me out of the hand. Or maybe he was good but not my level of good.

My straight was a winning combination!

Relief washed over me when I opened the velvet box. The shiny silver keys stared back at me, tempting me to shout my exhilaration into the world. I knew I won, but I still wanted to punish him for this stunt.

“Valeria,” I addressed her in a hoarse voice, raising my eyes to meet her frightened look.

“These are the spare keys from my two-hundred-million-worth yacht.” I lifted the glossy set for everyone to see.

“These.” I took the black, tiny pocket and spilled the miniature rocks into my palm.

“These are diamonds worth around three million dollars, and here,” I pointed at my feet, “I have a briefcase with another five million.”

I returned the rocks to the pocket and stood up, relishing in the amazement I had caused.

“Here are the keys from my Maserati, my golden Rolex, and the diamond cuff links.” I threw everything on the table, casting her an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry, but that’s all I have in my safe right now.

Do you think it’s enough to call the bet your husband made? ”

“Why are you asking her?” Chester whined, obviously angered by my audacity to leave him out of the discussion, but I was done with him. This was his last stunt. He wouldn’t go any lower because I wouldn’t allow him to drag his family down with him.

Wait! Did I say his family? Wrong, very fucking wrong. I meant my family!

“Keep your mouth shut when I’m talking to the lady!” I spat, my stare sharp as a blade when it collided with him. “Valeria?” I returned my attention to her, seeing her evident nervousness.

“No,” she whispered, her lower lip quivering and gorgeous eyes watering. “No amount of money can equal my daughter’s life.”

“I know,” I confirmed immediately, feeling my anger at Chester growing in my chest for putting her into this position. “And I promise this is the last time you suffer disrespect and humiliation. Your soon-to-be ex-husband will never bother you again.”

“What?” Chester yelled, abruptly standing up, but I only smiled at him.

“I call,” I announced, throwing the keys from the yacht in the middle of the table. “Show your cards,” I challenged, the buzz in my ears making me uncomfortable. My heart almost collapsed when I momentarily doubted my decision. If I had made a mistake…

Fuck!

Chester released his cards from the chip protector and threw them face up before him. Two aces shone brightly against the table’s green surface, and I almost patted my back. My analysis of his hand was spotless—long but spotless.

The gasps and murmurs erupted around the table. His hand was good. Not good, great, but I only smiled victoriously and slowly showed my cards.

“I have a straight,” I said, watching as the realization settled in his eyes and reflected on his face. He was horrified. “Goodbye, Chester.”

“W-what?” he whispered in apparent disbelief, staring from my cards to the board. Alice was extremely helpful in showing the winning combination and moving the money and my keys to me .

Yet, I focused on different things. Before anyone could react, I exchanged glances with Malin and Dorian, giving them silent permission to do what was necessary.

I craved Valeria, to snatch her into my arms and never let go, but this wasn’t the right time.

She had to leave with my brother to take her daughter before Chester understood the weight of his gambling.

I had always been one step ahead of my enemies until Chester and his schemes and secret moves appeared.

He outsmarted me in many ways, but here, he underestimated me.

I tried to keep up with him for the past few months, and today, I finally outran him.

I beat him in the biggest game of our lives, but I knew this wasn’t the end.

Too bad I couldn’t put a bullet in his head to give this hand the finish it deserved.

That would be a birthday gift to remember.

“Do you wish to continue?” Alice asked, interrupting my staring at Valeria. She argued with Malin because she didn’t want to leave, but with barely two words, he persuaded her. She flashed me one last grateful glance and headed toward the exit.

I looked at a smiling Alice, winking at her when she mouthed a silent “thank you.”

“Let’s take a five-minute break,” I suggested, accepting congratulations on the big win.

“What about him?” Jamal materialized on my left side like a ghost, glaring at an enraged Chester, who started shouting profanities and insults like a lunatic. He accused me of cheating and demanded Valeria's return.

“Have some fun before kicking his ass out,” I said, refusing to submit to his provocation. I’d just gotten everything I ever wanted. I wouldn’t allow anyone to ruin this pure happiness and pride moment.

Pulling out my phone, I checked Valeria’s message, a smile tugging on my lips.

Valeria: Stay safe, please.

Zyon: You too, mon c?ur. Get our girl, and Malin will take you home. We’ll meet there.

I smiled at the text, for the first time confirming her suspicion. But there wasn’t any reason to pretend anymore. She was mine.

Valeria: Home ?

The sound of breaking glass and shouting interrupted my reply. I locked my screen and placed the phone on the poker table, watching Chester shatter my belongings. I removed my suit jacket and rolled the sleeves of my button-up shirt to my elbows.

Enough was enough. He had three seconds to stop, or he would eat the muddy sidewalk outside the Starlight building.