No one hesitates to follow suit and as I draw back from throwing my own bet in, I pick up my drink and sit back in my seat. I watch the dealer begin to shuffle the cards before he tosses three cards out face down in front of him before continuing to deal us all our hand. As I pull my cards up to look at them again, I feel pleasantly happy with an eight and nine of spades. Silence beckons around us all and as I pull my cards off the table, I feel smugness settle as I hope there’ll be more spades in the dealer’s lot.
When I look up, I see Zane’s eyes are on me and I make sure nothing gives away how happy I am with my draw. Likewise, he gives nothing away apart from offering me a needy look. It’s sultry and heavy on me, and I feel the need to move a little on the spot. My movement breaks the moment.
As three cards are revealed, Costello is first to add another bet, upping his wager to two grand. My father and brothers join, even Zane does. Andrew folds as do two other men, but the rest of us throw our money into the middle and await the new card. I notice a four of spades and a two and king of hearts and feel confident to continue. The dealer gives us another card and I see another nine of diamonds. Again, I wait for the rigmarole of whether to put a new bet in or not happening before the final card is revealed as a nine of hearts.
Everyone bets a fourth and final time, Enzo and Carlo folding. I know I have a three of a kind so I go with it – it’s only four grand. When we’re all done, a deafening silence erupts and we all wait with bated breaths.
“Show,” the dealer commands and we all hand our cards over, revealing. I feel satisfied with my three of a kind kings, but when I hear Zane announce what he has, my stomach bottoms out.
“Two aces,” Zane lays down his cards, matching them to the two aces laid out by the dealer.
“I guess all the money goes to our new recruit!” Costello announces, putting his arm around Zane proudly. It’s one reason I love playing poker with the likes of Costello – there are no such things as sore losers. Unless you count Giovanni, that is.
No one says anything as a new game rolls around. Before I know it, we’re on to our sixth game, and it’s anyone’s game to win the jackpot tonight. No one is a clear winner, but I’m just waiting for Costello to demand we put all in and then some. It seems my brother is growing tiresome of Zane having another win when he sits back, arms crossed over his chest in petulance.
“Beginner’s luck,” Giovanni snarls as Zane pulls the money closer to his body. He then releases a small burst of mirth before growing rapt with intent. “I say we really up this ante.”
“What do you have in mind, Giovanni?” Costello asks, watching Giovanni while the dealer prepares for another round.
With a self-righteous smile on his face, Giovanni reaches into his side pocket and my heart thuds slowly to a halt. I see him place my mother’s pearls down on the table before he reaches back into his pocket and lays out a diamond necklace that I remember Zane bought his mother with his first wage check. My heart flutters and struggles as I look at those perfect pieces of jewelry set out as the biggest insults ever. I can see in my peripheral vision as Zane’s body bridles with prickling anger.
I look wildly at Enzo then Carlo, back to Enzo, until I settle on my father, praying he’ll take note of my panic-stricken expression and save one of the few things I have of my mother’s. The fire that burns through his eyes is strong and he reaches out to snatch the pearls back, but Costello’s hand reaches out, stopping him with a tight grip.
“Na uh, Salvatore, they’re on the table now. You’ll have to win these.”
“You seriously think I’m going to allow something so valuable as those to be bet away?” my father barks, ripping his hand away. He narrows a death glare upon Giovanni and shakes his head in dismay. “I thought we only played for money and material crap.”
“Sometimes I like seeing a little rebellion like that,” Costello comments and snaps his fingers at the dealer to be ready. “I guess I can add ten grand in and be done. They look like they wouldn’t be worth a thing.” He turns his nose up at the invaluable items of jewelry, only further angering the Abbiatis at the table.
“You’d be fucking surprised,” my father sneers, his aggression just waiting for the right trigger. “You’ll know exactly what they’re worth when I strangle the life out of my son with them.”
I realize my purse is about to become suddenly a hell of a lot lighter as my ten grand begins to disappear. As I count out the wads of cash, I send a silent prayer that my mother – hell, even Zane’s - will be looking over us. With the sickening idea that I’ll lose something I hold so dearly to my heart, I just throw all my money down and try to cover how much panic I’m burning through with every single inhalation.
“Maverick?” Costello urges, waiting on him to join. “Do you not have enough?” he jokes, laughing, forcing his own minions to join.