Page 49 of Destined To Fall

The room explodes with a mix of what-the-fucks and the roars of cheers, and Max just sits there in aholy fuck-stunned stupor. I snap to and squeal with excitement, tugging on Max’s arm and repeating“we won!” over and over.

“That seems to have been a lucky play, Max.” Skeeze glowers, pulling Max from his shock.

“You’re tellin’me. Guess my lucky charm here worked like a treat.” He smiles a shit-eating grin at me.

“So it would seem.”

“Nothing like bedtime to motivate someone.” I giggle, if a little uncomfortably.

Max chuckles as he pulls in all his chips, his grin getting wider and wider.“It was nice doing business with you, boys. We’ll have to do it again sometime.”

“With your lucky charm by your side?” Skeeze responds with a hint of something I can’t quite put my finger on. Questioning curiosity is the closest, with a side of hostility, maybe.

Max looks at me with a beaming smile, and I crinkle my nose, making him and a few of the others chuckle.“Aw, come on, it ain’t so bad.”

“I prefer the after-game.” I wink.“And I really don’t want to outstay my welcome.” I smile sweetly at Skeeze.

“And deprive the men of your company? We couldn’t have that, now could we? Besides, Max here needs his lucky charm, ain’t that right?”

“You know I like having you by my side.” Max’s response is on cue with a sweet smile of his own, only his eyes showing any concern.

“Then I’ll be where Max is.”

“Wonderful.” Skeeze smiles at me, all teeth and no lips, reminding me of that old wives’tale—never smile at a crocodile.“Well then, we’ll be seeing you both next time. Max?”

“Uh, yeah?”

“Cash those chips in before you leave.”

We don’t need to be told twice, both more than eager to be gone. And with that, Skeeze goes back to the game at hand, several grand poorer and a big chip on his shoulder.

Max and I don’t speak a word to each other as we leave the room, close the door behind us, or walk down the narrow hall in the dark toward the exit, but the silence is too loud,toodeafening. I jump a little as the beefy, bald dude appears out of nowhere to let us out, his stoic stance saying he’s not thrilled about it.

We’re halfway down the alley when Max finally breaks the silence.“Vivienne?”

“You played a good game, Maxwell. Can we leave it at that?”

“I want to take you to dinner.”

“When?”

“Now.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

“But it’s two in the morning.”

“I know a little place that’s open twenty-four-seven.”

“Why?”

“I need to explain.”

“No, you really don’t. I don’t—”

He cuts me off.“Please.”

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