Page 69 of Vampire so Virtuous

The table folded in succession around to Gabriel on the small blind. “Hmm,” he said, thoughtfully. “That’s a real power-play. But I’ll call.”

Antoine kept his face neutral as the big blind folded. Was there hidden meaning in that comment? Had Gabriel already picked up on his power levels? If so, there was little he could do about it now.

“Two players,” the dealer announced, placing a king and two nines on the board. Gabriel checked, watching Antoine closely.

Antoine held two pairs with an ace kicker and pushed forward a third of his stack. He was entirely indifferent; it was only a fifty-grand buy-in, and he had no interest in the present company. He was eager to leave, return to his solitude, maybe even check on Cally. Betting recklessly could get him there sooner—but not just any hand. He still had a reputation to maintain.

“Another power-play,” Gabriel commented dryly. “Call.”

The turn brought an ace, improving Antoine’s position. Gabriel’s repeated mention of power wasn’t lost on him; twice was no coincidence. He’d sensed something and he wanted Antoine to know.

Gabriel checked, and Antoine bet again. This time, Gabriel re-raised him. “You think you have something, but will it be enough?”

Antoine pushed all his chips forward, indifferent. If he won the hand, he’d be in for a while, but at least he’d have a shot at beating Gabriel. If not, he could go home. Gabriel’s not-so-cryptic comments were becoming tiresome.

“Call,” Gabriel said, turning over a nine and a king—a full house. Antoine was beaten unless he got lucky on the river.

Antoine turned over his cards and tapped the table, showing respect. “Nicely played.”

“Sometimes, the sensation of temporary power leads one to act rashly,” Gabriel smirked.

Antoine smiled ruefully. The river card was dealt: another king. Antoine had won with a higher full house, and his jaw tightened. He was now thechip leader, by a significant margin. It was going to be a long night.

“And sometimes, it seems, power lingers,” Gabriel said. “Do you think yours will last, Anthony?”

“I honestly don’t know, Gabe,” Antoine replied truthfully, stacking his winnings with a sense of resignation. “But while I have it, I may as well use it.”

Gabriel nodded, conceding both the exchange and the hand, and the dealer collected the cards.

Eighteen – Cally

Eve opened the door before the ring of the bell faded through the apartment.

“Babe! I missed you!”

Cally endured the cheek bussing with rueful capitulation, but there was some comfort in the hug.

Eve leaned back, a small frown appearing. “Why is it each time I see you, you look more worried than the time before?” She shook her head. “Come in. Let’s get drinks, and you can tell me all about it.”

Unsurprisingly, Eve’s apartment reflected her personality: happily chaotic, full of warmth and light. Cally didn’t visit often—they usually met at the café between their offices or at a restaurant—but there was something undeniably reassuring about the clutter, the mismatched yet comfortable furniture, the half-finished canvas propped on an easel by the window, and the scented candles flickering on the bookshelf. The rhythmic notes of smoky, modal jazz drifted from her Bluetooth speakers. The purple lava lamp on the small corner table, with its oddly shaped bubbling globules, exuded a distinct Eve-esque charm.

“Have a seat,” Eve said, walking into the kitchen. Even dressed lazily in an oversized T-shirt, joggers, and fluffy socks, she still wore black. “We’ve got an hour. Wine? We can walk to Zara’s.”

“Yes, please,” Cally replied, shifting yesterday’s clothes—black—off her favorite armchair before settling in. Eve returned with a bottle of red wine and two glasses, and dropped onto the couch, one leg tucked beneath her. She held both glasses in one hand, the stems between her fingers and the bottle in the other, unconcerned about the risk of spilling as she poured.

The bottle went on the coffee table, and she proffered a glass to Cally. “Cheers.”

Cally took the glass, and the ruby liquid seemed to shift, looking like blood as it swished in the bowl. “Cheers,” she said, trying to shake the image, clinking glasses and forcing herself to take a sip. She half expected it to taste metallic, but it didn’t. It was only wine.

“What’s with the haunted looks?” Eve’s smile was playful, but the flickerof concern in her eyes said she wasn’t fooled. “It’s not too late to switch to white.”

Cally toyed with the glass, rolling the stem between her finger and thumb. “I don’t know where to start.”

Eve’s brow furrowed, concern growing at Cally’s tone. “What is it? What’s happened?”

“You remember the night I told you about?”

“When you ‘kinda fainted’ after walking home from your date with that jerk?”