Page 2 of Sacrifice

Only true gamblers are out past midnight on Christmas Eve. I chuckle as the high rollers keep dropping out of the Texas Hold’em tournament I’ve carefully orchestrated.

I’ve been planning this night for a fucking year. Hell, I had to bribe players out of state to come participate. Every player worth their salt around here knows that Carlos is a card counter and will be able to beat them outright. Looking around the table, I realize that the only player that I didn’t buy is Carlos Tremiane himself. He sits across from me with a disgusting smirk on his face.I can’t wait to rid him of it.

“Carlos, it seems you and I are the last two standing,” I say, taunting the cocky son of a bitch for sport. He’s the key to everything I need to unlock. Tonight, though, is when I take his card shark ass down. The casino’s biggest investors are counting on it.

Still, I respect the fact that he’s worked his way through the ranks to sit at this table with me. If he had worked for me, I’d not be here, about to end his world. Instead, he’s slipped past every trap I’ve laid out for him.

“Yes. Shall we do an all-in round to close out the night?” He’s fidgeting with two poker chips, trying to read the cards. If I only had one deck in the shuffler, he would have won this hands down and I’d be out a lot of damn money. Too bad I have eight decks intermingling and skipping cards every time the dealer deals. It was Mossimo’s idea to have the deck skip every four cards when it deals them out. Originally, it was going to be three decks all in the shuffler together, but Mossimo’s idea is genius. This way noone can tell if there are two cards of the same suit somewhere on the table.

Those sunglasses he’s wearing aren't helping him any, and the twitch in his upper lip gives him away. Even with all the security measures and the traps I’ve set, he still has a shot. My respect for the exceptional player irritates me. Why couldn’t he have taken the job I’d offered?

Instead, he’s taken my cousins, my brother, and four other casino owners for twenty million each. He’s on the kill list, and while I don’twantto shed blood, I will. This fucking charade of a dance we’ve been doing for months has to end.

“Agreed, all-in.” I push my chips in and watch as he does the same.

Eye on the prize, I remind myself. You carved him under a mile-high pile of debt for his sister.

The dealer presses the shuffle button on the card machine. Once it stops, she deals the cards out to us. The community cards are dealt upwards and I peer at my two.

“Turn your cards up,” she requests, and I notice Carlos worrying at his bottom lip.

My two queens sit before me, and I look up at the cards on the table. Carlos has a king and a jack. Not bad. The community cards are eight, ten, and five. Both of us have the opportunity for a straight. Fuck, that’s not what I was expecting.

Carlos’s fidgeting is getting worse as we wait for the dealer to turn the fourth card over. For the first time tonight, I’m worried he may walk. If it comes down to that, the next step of my plan won’t work. To get his sister immediately under my thumb. I’m not sure I’m ready to kidnap her. No, I’d prefer he bargains his life for hers.

A ten is dealt, which gives me two pairs. He has no chance of winning. The dealer lays the river card down, sealing his fate. Carlos sits there, clearly realizing what this means for him. But,so am I. This year hasn’t been shot to shit after all. My insides grow warm with the knowledge that I’m about to get everything I want. My cock throbs with need.

Taking a moment to compose myself, I stand up and straighten my clothes.

“You must pay in full the notes on the table before you leave,” I demand as Carlos stands up. The frantic look on his face is priceless. Had he won, he’d have walked out of here a free man who could pay off over half his debt. I would let him leave, too. I may be a bastard, but I’m fair.

“I’ll need twenty-four hours to come up with that kind of money,” he whispers as he sees each casino’s name written on a card with the amount he owes. I’ll give it to him, he’s trying very hard to cover up how nervous he is. Too bad I have his fucking number.

The dealer leaves the room as Mossimo, Leo and a few other guards come into the room. “You knew the rules of the tournament. The minute you signed up, you were given the buy-in fee and how much you would win or have to pay if there were any debts to your name. Hell, every player that made the final table had to show proof of payment.”

I shake my head and run my hand down the left sleeve of my suit jacket. “The buy-in you used is deducted from the total amount due.” I walk around the table and come up to him. “Don’t tell me you came here with no money?”

Carlos’s once cocky smirk is gone, and he’s ashen faced and sweating.

“No... No, of course not. I’ll have to have a few days to get the bank to move that kind of money around. That’s all.” He shakes his head and won’t make eye contact with me. “I honestly didn’t think I’d lose tonight.”

His shoulders slump, and for a moment, I feel a twinge of remorse. I quickly swallow my emotions. This is business. Hehas something I want and I’m going to have it. One way or a fucking nother.

Of course, he didn’t think he’d lose. Cocky son of a bitch. He hadn’t counted on me being here tonight to rig this entire tournament. The sunglasses he has on slip down his nose from all the sweating he’s doing.

“Well, this is unfortunate. You hustled millions from the casinos around here. The last straw was when you tried to do it here—at my casino. It looks like you were trying to run another swindle.”

Stepping in front of him, I crowd him against the table. This move gets his attention and I smile coolly at him.

“Give me one good reason not to kill you.”

“Wh-what?” His head jerks back so he can see my eyes. Oh, he didn’t think I’d get rough with him. Stupid on his part. “I was overconfident. It was a mistake.”

Carlos gulps and I stand there unmoving like a brick wall. “There’s no need for all of this,” he pleads.

Sighing heavily, I pull my nine-millimeter out and point it at his head.

“That’s what you have to say for yourself? That’s too bad because this ends tonight, Carlos.” To prove my point, I cock the hammer on the gun, and he shakes.

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