Bluffing the Devil

chapter 16



We arrived at the casino with twenty minutes to spare before the game would start. The place was much more crowded than the night before because tonight was the main event; whoever won tonight would have a seat at the final in the biggest poker game in the world.

The floor had only nine tables set up for the final. Two players from each table the previous night were set to battle until the final six would meet at the main table and duke it out to find out who the champion of the entire tournament was.

Rey and I were, luckily, placed at separate tables again. I had played with a few of the people on my table before and knew their style. Three of the players actually greeted me before being seated, the other two were apparently much too busy and important to speak. My sites were set on them first to leave. No respect in a game like this meant you didn’t go far. Players smell cockiness and attitude and swarm. They aren't called "poker sharks" for nothing.

I saw Rhea and Victoria taking their seats in the assigned area. They were in my direct line of sight at my current table, so that put my mind at ease. I wouldn't have to look around all awkward all night to catch a signal from them in case Devin notified us about Carly.

I ordered a cranberry juice, put my hoodie in my lap, and lazily played with my lucky bracelet. I rolled the beads between my fingers almost like worry beads or a crucifix. I sent up a tiny, silent prayer for strength in the game and focus, before I knew it the announcer was telling us it was time to play.

The game started off quickly for me. I was getting great hands and making chips hand-over-fist. The two cocky players that were far too busy to notice us "fish" at the table were knocked out first. One of the other players I recognized gave me a slight nod after knocking the second jerk off the table.

"Well played," was all he said. It was a simple, but powerful term of respect, from one player to another.

"Thank you. You also," I returned the respect, always.

The rest of the game went by pretty quickly. The cards were coming and people were betting like there was no tomorrow. The fact was, this was the final night and there really was no tomorrow for any of the players. If someone wanted to make a move, being aggressive early and making things happen was the way to go. If you were someone that wanted to stay around a while though, you took your time, played the right hands, and changed things up so that no one could ever see what you were up to.

An hour into the game, I decided I wanted to try my chance with bluffing. I had a good, strong hand, but the board was not being nice to me. I made it look like I was excited about the potential of a good hand and made someone fold what I know had to have been a better hand. I didn't want to admit that I had done that and I immediately felt bad, so I just sat back and slow-played for the next few hands.

Time ticked away so slowly and I was becoming antsy when the first break was announced. I nearly vaulted from my seat and over to my friends for an update.

They had heard nothing from Devin on Carly's well-being. I contemplated taking a stroll back to the hotel to check on them, but was nervous not to make it back on time for the game to start back, so I stayed and got a new drink for myself and chatted with my girls for a bit.

Victoria volunteered to go back to the room in an hour if no one had called yet. She just wanted to make sure things were okay, and was worried that I was going to be distracted all night if I didn't have some information soon. She was right, of course, but I didn't want to admit that.

The break was over and Rey walked up to me as we were about to be seated again.

"Heard any news on your girl yet?"

"No, not yet. Victoria will go check on her in an hour, she says."

Rey looked over into the spectator area, sent a small wave to Rhea, who reciprocated quickly, and nodded to Victoria. She surprised me by nodding back. Their unspoken "I have her back when you aren't around" sort of truce was cute to me.

"Good luck," I said to Rey as he was heading to his table.

"You too, buttercup."

I rolled my eyes, "Really?"

"What? I haven't called you something cute all day. Give a fella a bone over here, geez!"

"Ha! Okay. Good luck, sugar bowl!"

"Well, okay you need to work on your nicknames, but see? That's a start and much better," he said with a sweet smile, and then sat at his own table. He and I had a rocky start, but he was turning out to be a really great friend.

I sat down, feeling uneasy and strange, but I couldn't figure out why. I chalked it up to nerves of nearing the end of this round.

When the dealer arrived, a chill crept up my neck. I looked up to see her.

"What are you doing here?" I asked in a hushed, but aggressive tone.

"I'm working here, lady. Do you have a problem with that?" The Devil grinned at me with her million dollar smile. I couldn't say anything or fight the fact that she was our dealer. Certainly she didn't usually work for the casino. She tricked someone into getting to deal. I knew her game, but what she was doing at my table was beyond me.

"What do you want?" I asked urgently, hoping she would get what she came for then leave.

"You."

"Oh, just like that. That's all?"

"Yes, you surrender yourself to me, I will have someone kill you, and then I will leave Rey and Devin in peace with their newfound freedom." She spoke so calmly as she brushed the felt and prepared her seat for the game.

"And if I don't want to "surrender" myself to you?"

"Then you are in for a world of hurt. I will have your soul, theirs, and everyone's that you love before the night is over. Don't test me, little girl. Your power means nothing to me." Her eyes flashed in anger and heat bellowed off of her.

"I have no power! Why would you want me?"

She looked up slowly from the table, "You don't even know what you are, do you?" I could feel her evil chuckle all the way at the pit of my stomach. "You are preciously delightful."

"No, what am I?"

"Oh no, I’m sorry darling. One doesn't show their hand until they absolutely have to. Pay to play," she sneered.

"No thanks. I don't play your kind of game, bitch." My contempt for her and her bullshit was definitely showing on my face. The other players at the table looked a little bewildered and then one signaled the floor manager and let them know that there was a conflict of interest at our table.

"Your little buddies can't protect you. You pushed my hand," she said as she stood and a new dealer was placed at our table.

"I don't know what was going on with you and fake, sexy bitch, but it looked like you were going to rip her face off," one of the players said.

"We have a little bit of history. I'd like to gut her with a rusted knife though," I said sounding more and more distant with each word.

"Yeah, I could see that. Are you okay?" the player's concern was so sweet.

"Yes, I’m fine sweetie. Thank you," I said and patted his hand. "Thanks for having her escorted out."

"I didn't want to get entrails all over my stack," he joked.

"Right? I hate it when they stick together. It's like "Ew, keep your blood off my hard-earned chips, lady," and they never listen, do they?" Our laughter was soothing to me.

"Well, this one time someone listened and she's gone now," he added.

"A point that is very well taken now, let's do this!" My attempt at sounding excited and ready seemed to go over well and the dealer began our game.

I looked up to the spectator area and saw Rhea and Victoria looking like they wanted to scream. I would have to update them later. I took a mental note.

I played more aggressive than normal and knocked out two more players, leaving me to be heads up with the guy who joked about entrails with me. The next break was announced and I rocketed out of my seat to meet Victoria and Rhea to tell them what was going on and what she had said to me.

"That was her? Holy shit, she's hot!"

"No shit, Rhea. She has to use her looks to help her get what she wants and pull people to her," Victoria added. "She's good looking, I'll give you that, but that nasty face she makes when talking shit, just makes a person want to throat-punch her and steal her shoes."

"You sound like Carly for a second," I giggled. "Has anyone heard from her? Are you guys going to go check on them?"

"We will go right now so we can be back to watch the final table," Rhea announced and squeezed my hand. "You are doing so great. I saw that guy try to donk-out and slow play you with nothing. Love that you had the nuts. Idiot!"

My eyes widened a bit. "Did you just pull a poker-rich sentence out on me, Rhea? I'm so impressed right now," I said with a giggle. "Poor baby, you have to hear me talk about poker way too much if that sentence flowed so easily from you. Sorry!"

"I'm not sorry. It's exciting to watch you play. I love it. I couldn't do it, but you are great and it's thrilling to watch you size people up and crush them. Sexy!"

"Yeah, I guess," I said, still working my way around the giggle she induced before.

"Okay babe. We are going to head that way, check on things, then come right back. Love you!" Victoria pulled me in for a huge hug. "You're kicking ass. I'm always proud of you, just so you know," she whispered into my ear, making me smile. I knew she was proud, but to hear it was awesome.

"Dude, what the hell? It's my turn for a hug," Rhea stepped in, shoving Victoria over. "Geez, greedy bitch!"

"Where's my hug?" Rey said, typical snake in the grass. That guy could sneak up on you without a sound, always. If I didn’t know him, I would think he was some sort of ninja or at least a kid hiding his actions from his mother. That somehow seems more apropos.

"I don't know, I think we all rubbed it off on Rhea though."

He took my words and scooped Rhea up in a big hug. "Yep, seems about right. She was covered in the stuff. So glad I was able to take some away. A girl could smother under all of that love," he said with a smile. "Are you girls going somewhere?"

"We are just going back to the suite to check on Carly and Devin. He might need some food by now, and we want to see how she's feeling. You know Alexia, always worrying about everyone else. We don't want her to lose focus, so we volunteered to go."

"That is so nice of you girls. Do you need an assistant?" he offered.

"You’re playing and we’re big girls, we can handle anything," Rhea said with a fake-war face going on.

"I didn't mean me, sweetie. I have people that would join you if need be," he said, as he raised his hand, Rhea looked behind him and saw three ridiculously huge, sexy, tattoo covered guys raise from their seats.

Rey put his hand down and they all sat.

"Wow, cool trick. You should teach me that sometime. I'd love to have a horde of sexy boy toys at my beck and call," Victoria said with a look of pure joy on her face. She was lost in a daydream for a moment, when I snapped my fingers in front of her to wake her.

"Uh, daydream about half naked, God-like creatures later. You have a mission," I reminded her.

"Yes, of course. Yes," she said as she grabbed Rhea's elbow and dragged her out of the casino. "We will be back in a jiffy," she shouted over her shoulder as they cleared the doorway.

"So, ready to go back in and win this thing?" I asked Rey.

"It’s like shooting fish in a barrel, babe. Let's do it!"