“You’re Jace Fields,” someone said, and we turned to find a man in a black shirt with thick eyebrows and a buzzcut looking us over. There was something predatory in his eyes that had me instinctively inching closer to Jace.
“That’s right,” he replied, standing tall.
“You here to bail out your bass player?”
“Well, I don’t have twelve grand on me, so no. But I can get it for you in the morning if you let Elias go now.”
The man shot him a thin lipped smile. “I’ll do you one better. We’ve another game starting soon. We’ll let you play, give you the chance to win back what your pal lost and perhaps even make a little profit for yourself. What do you say?”
Jace stared him down. “I don’t gamble.”
“Well, then—”
“But I’ll make an exception on this occasion,” he went on, and the guy grinned like the cat that got the cream. Foolish man. He thought Jace was a mark, a famous, wealthy mark.
The slimeball chuckled. “Wait by the bar. I’ll come get you in a few.” He turned and walked away.
“What are you doing? He obviously only made that offer because he’s trying to make even more money out of Elias’ foolishness. Do you even know how to play poker?” Isla questioned.
At this, Jace and I shared a look, both smiling.
“Oh, he knows how to play,” I said, and Jace’s smile transformed into a smirk.
“We both do. In fact, the person who taught us used to frequent places just like this back in his day.”
When we were kids, Jace’s dad would tell us stories about how he’d use his magic tricks and mentalism to swindle unsuspecting gamblers out of their cash. All the while, he’d teach us the game. The three of us, sometimes with the addition of Fran, would play for hours sitting at their kitchen table. Pokerwas hardly a game for kids, but honestly, it was a cherished childhood memory. I had no clue at the time that we’d one day find ourselves in a casino just like the ones Jay had frequented when he’d been young, poor, and in need of money.
“Let me guess, your dad?” Isla asked.
“Yep.”
“Let’s hope he taught you well enough to get Elias out of this mess,” she went on.
We went to sit by the bar, but we didn’t order anything, instead watching while a woman in her forties with giant dangly earrings won a hundred euros on a slot machine then proceeded to lose it again in quick succession. My mind went to Elias, as I wondered how he’d gotten into gambling. Then again, the band played concerts in places like Vegas and Monte Carlo. They’d even been to Macao once. Perhaps he got a taste for it there, made a few seemingly harmless bets, and then suddenly he couldn’t quit.
Finally, the same guy from before reappeared.
“Come on back,” he said to Jace. Isla and I moved to follow, but he held up a hand. “No looky loos allowed. You two will have to wait here.”
I started to panic because I definitely didn’t want Jace going back there alone and getting locked in just like Elias had. Technically, what they were doing was illegal, but then again, this place didn’t seem like it gave much heed to the law.
“I’ll be fine,” Jace said, calm as a cucumber as he ran a hand down my arm. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back with Elias before you know it.” He looked to Isla. “Keep an eye on her, yeah?”
Isla nodded, and my heart gave a hard thump as I watched Jace walk to the back of the casino and then slip through a dark door. A small quiet fell, and I realised this was the first time I’d been properly alone with Isla where we had to makeconversation. She was American, like Dixon, but other than that, I didn’t know much about her.
“Is he really that good at poker?” she asked.
“Oh, yeah. Jace is a natural. He often won even against his dad, so that’s saying something. Only thing is, when the other players realise he’s not a rube, there could be trouble.” I paused to glance at her. She wasn’t a large woman, but she looked like she could handle herself. Still, perhaps having more backup would be a good idea.
“Do you think we should call Dixon to come over? Just in case?”
Isla checked the time on her phone. It was almost midnight. “I don’t fancy facing his wrath if we wake him up.”
“You two are close, though, right? Surely, he’ll be understanding, given the circumstances.”
Isla shook her head. “I mean, we’ve worked together for three years, but I wouldn’t say we’re close. Dixon is a real closed book, doesn’t like to get personal, you know?”
“But didn’t he hire you?”
