“You in?” Vale questions him as he mixes the cards.
Everest’s eye meets mine, and I can tell he’s calculating the odds, same as I did.
“Whatever,” he grumbles.
Vale deals.
I glance at my hand. King of hearts and ten of clubs. I’ve won plenty with worse.
To my left, Everest folds without a word, after peaking at his cards.
One down. Goddamnit.
Igor, sitting forward now with a predator’s gleam in his eye, stays in the game. He never wins, he’s far too stupid, but the prize he imagines is actually being dangled before him keeps him trying. Pretty soon, though, he loses yet again.
The odds are back in my favor.
Vale waits a beat before announcing a raise, pushing a stack of chips into the middle.
“Two thousand,” he smirks.
Logan calls again silently, and so do I. I pass a hand through my hair, and for the first time, I realize I’m sweating. I never sweat.
There are three of us left. Me, Vale, Logan.
The turn card comes: eight of hearts.
I keep my face smooth, staring straight at Vale, willing him to read me, but I know I have a better hand than him. A straight.
Logan is still playing like he has nothing at all. Maybe he doesn’t. For some reason, he feels unreadable to me right now.
Vale studies me for a long time, then folds without a word. If he had anything decent, he would have stayed in.
I exhale.Thank God.
That leaves Logan. He pushes all his chips forward and mutters, “All in.”
I let him win, because the danger’s passed, and I don’t care anymore. I lean back on the couch, exhaling. If anything, this is better than if I’d won. Because I can bluff all the way to the end. Vale can’t accuse me anymore of being too obsessed with the girl.
I lock eyes with Logan again, telegraphing to him that he needs to make it right. He needs to explain it to her. He nods imperceptibly, though a look of distaste is etched on his features. But he disguises it under his classic Logan smirk as he stands up.
“Well, guess I won, fair and square. C’mon over here, Seraphina.”
He grabs her arm, and I notice Vale grinning in his twisted way, just as happy as if he’d won himself. He really doesn’t understand.
Neither does she, I realize a second later, as she wriggles out of Logan’s grasp.
I remember with a sinking feeling that she hates him. She must hate him even more after what I made him do. But it’ll be alright. He’ll explain it to her. And so will I, the minute I can get to her.
I try to tell her now with my eyes. I try to show it to her urgently. To beg to her in silence, even though I’ve never begged before. But I would do a lot more than that for her.
You’re mine. This changes nothing. Go with him. I’m doing this to protect you. Remember who owns you, .
She doesn’t understand. Fuck. She doesn’t. Her eyes are glazedover in anger and fear, and she won’t let me in.
She cries out, “Let me go!”
The others turn to stare. Vale’s mouth parts into a cruel grin. I stand up, anxious to get her out of here.
