Bluffing the Devil

chapter 19



Rey and I made short work on the walk to the beach even though I had no shoes and was physically exhausted, bruised, and starving.

The warehouse where Carly had taken us was just a few blocks over from the hotel. It was just an old abandoned mirror factory.

I dashed for the beach and ran straight to the water. I splashed my face and sunk my feet deep into the sand. I calmed my mind and just took some deep breaths and paused to thank God for my life.

I turned to see Rey standing quietly in the grass, waiting for whatever I would do next. He was my unofficial bodyguard at this point. He protected me when I needed it he badgered me about things like my brother when needed. He was just there for me. Funny how things turn out, huh?

I walked up and gave Rey a tight hug. "I really appreciate all that you did for me in the last few days. I know it's tough to be alone in the world, but hopefully you will want to be a part of our little herd."

"You speak as if you are animals," he chuckled.

"Hi, have we met? Of course we are animals," I cracked up with him.

"It would be my great honor to be welcomed into your herd."

"Okay, I guess that means I need to go get Devin. He might like to be invited to the herd as well."

"Please be safe. You do not know fully what she is capable of yet."

"I'm not going to mess with her and she cannot mess with me," I said. "Plus, I'm too stubborn to die, and I'm pretty sure there should be a rule somewhere that I'm not allowed to die. None of us are allowed to, in fact!"

"Yes, we are banning dying from now on!" Rey agreed.

"You promise?"

"I promise!"

I lay back, letting my hair spill across the sand. I was going to need a shower, hot tub, another shower, and God only knows what else to scrub this day off.

I closed my eyes and imagined Devin's face. I called him to me and immediately was swept away to him.

"My love. Oh God are you okay?" Devin jumped on me as soon as I appeared and checked me over.

"Yes, baby. I am fine. Are you okay? You are the one that was drowned, if you recall."

"I don't care. I didn't know you are the nuhra, love. I didn't. I promise. I wasn't trying to be with you for any reason other than that I care for you and have always been drawn to you."

"I don't even truly understand all that it means to be the nuhra. I will learn more as it goes and I didn't, for a second, think that you were with me for anything other than really great sex at first. Then we had a good time together and it was almost magical. I am not sure what is in the future for me but for now, I want you there with me. If you will have me, that is. What I'm saying is Devin, would you be my boyfriend?"

"That might have been the cutest thing anyone has ever said to me."

"Is that a yes?"

"Of course it is!" A sweet kiss to my lips sealed the deal. "The only thing is…"

"Oh goodie a stipulation, I will not like any basketball team named after a body of water, nor will I eat mushrooms. Those are both deal breakers."

His riot of laughter warmed my heart. He took my hand, "I want you to leave me here."

"What? You want to stay here without me?"

"No, I want to always be with you, but I think if I stay here, I can earn her trust again and have an inside scoop on what is going on. You can visit me in your dreams and, whenever we decide it's a good time, you can come storming in and steal me away again."

"I do not want you to be deceptive for any cause. I want you to be with me and fight on my side. If you stay here, surely she will punish you or worse. I don't want to leave that to chance. I know I am strong enough to beat her. In time, I will figure out what I can do and with you and the rest of my herd, we will keep the peace, fight for good, and eventually triumph."

"Herd, really?"

"I just used that term earlier and it just sorta stuck for now, though I see us more as a flock, especially since we have an angel on staff now," I chuckled.

"An angel? I have missed so much apparently."

"Jamison came to me tonight. It's a long story that I will tell you all about… if you come home with me." I held my hand out as my final offer. Devin was a good soul and wanted nothing but good for the world. Going with me was the true way to get it. Staying, while it had benefits, would make us both suffer and might help us find victory, but not in a way that we should earn it.

Epilogue



The buzz around the poker community was that the top two players of the tournament had run away together, leaving the next in line to ultimately win it all. The fellow that had joked about her entrails being on our chips walked away with the bracelet and cash prize. The kid had talent and was going to go far.

We had gone back to the suite, quickly thrown our belongings in our suitcases, and got the hell out of there. No good was coming from that place and we’d had our fill.

Rhea and Victoria attacked me when they saw me. Victoria had checked me over completely and then let Rhea have a turn.

Rey had explained to them what I was and a bit of what happened. The craziest part of it all was that they just accepted it. Right away, no questions asked, just accepted. They both said that they knew there was something special about me and that they wouldn't have it any other way. That was just another reason to add to the pile of why I loved them so dearly.

Then we all cried together over the loss of our friend. I told them my plan about eventually trying to save her. While they appeared slightly skeptical, everyone came to the agreement that if I thought something was worth saving then it probably was. Either they were scared to hate on the nuhra or they truly believed in me. Either way, it was nice to configure possible future encounters with our friend-turned-enemy.

~

Heading back home was a bittersweet moment. I was leaving behind a place where I had learned so much about myself in such a short time. I was also forever leaving behind the life of professional poker that I had grown to love so much. Of course, I could still play local tournaments, online, and occasionally guilt my friends into playing with me, but nothing gets a girls blood pumping quite like $250,000 on one hand. Blind, all-in. What.a.rush!

The house seemed so huge and cold when I walked in. That early fall weather crept in before I knew it. I dropped my bags in the foyer and headed to the kitchen to make tea.

"Well it's about time you made it, I was starting to wonder if you told me the wrong address to try to get rid of me," I heard behind me.

"As if I could get rid of you so easily," I said and jumped into Devin's arms and he dropped the keys to the other car on the side table.

"Did you drop Rey off at the guest house?"

"I sure did and Rhea decided to stay and help him get settled," he added with a knowing grin.

"I'm sure she did!" I grinned with him. The past few days certainly turned our lives upside-down. Amazing what a little change can do for a girl!

"And now, I need a shower!" he announced. "I recall someone owing me one of those. You know, I'm new here. I need guidance to learn how to use one of those things." His wicked grin pushed me.

"Race you to the top of the stairs, second door on your right, ready? Go!"