Page 133 of Gambler's Fallacy

Seven nods, squeezing my hand back. “Let’s get it over with,” he says with an obviously forced smile. “We have other things we could be doing, right?”

I smile back. “Right. Let’s go.”

The casino itself is still bustling with activity, completely unaware that I’d been missing for a day. It’s almost surreal, but it’s also proof that I’ve done a good job picking my staff. They can handle things without constant micromanagement.

We walk past all the blackjack tables and to the private room in the back. I knock briefly, then enter without waiting for my grandfather to welcome us in.

Leon is sitting at the poker table, shuffling cards. He has a glass of whiskey next to him and a plate of appetizers.

“About time,” my grandfather says. He glances up from his cards and sets his piercing gaze on Seven. “So that’s the reason for all this trouble.”

Havoc puts himself between Seven and Leon. “Watch how you talk about him, old man.”

Leon’s eyes narrow, then he looks at me. “You need to keep your underlings in line.”

As if I can keep Havoc in line.

“Havoc won’t do anything I don’t approve of,” I say mildly.

Seven stays behind Havoc, and I can’t quite see his face. Vortex, on the other hand, is radiating hostility that he’s usuallymuch better about hiding. He never used to be this much of a hothead.

I guess Havoc is rubbing off on him.

“Is this a thing your kind do? Dress up in matching shirts?” Leon asks.

I’m confused, until I remember that we’re all still wearing the clothes I’d bought at the gift shop last night. We’ve all got the same Calamity City t-shirt.

“If I’d had more time to prepare, I wouldn’t look like I just rolled out of bed,” I say mildly. “But I thought you’d appreciate haste over presentability.”

From his glower, I’m not sure my grandfather even knows which he would have preferred.

I spot the server standing near the bar. She gives me an imploring look.

“Clara, thanks for your hard work,” I say to her. “You can go back to your regular duties.”

“Yes, Mr. Spade,” she says gratefully.

My grandfather scowls as she leaves. “You never could handle having a woman around, could you?”

“I have no problem with women,” I say, taking a seat at the poker table. “Half the staff are female, and I have more women in upper management than is the industry standard.”

Leon scoffs loudly. “That’s not what I meant.”

Vortex guides Seven into a chair on the opposite end of the room, then sits next to him.

Havoc joins them, still staying between Seven and Leon.

“No? Then what did you mean?” I ask my grandfather.

He sneers at me, and I wonder if he’s going to say the sexist or homophobic comment I know he’s thinking.

Instead, Leon ignores the question and looks back at Seven. “Rory Lockwood, is it?”

Seven’s face drains of color, but his chin juts up and he stares defiantly at Leon. “Yes,sir. And you’reLeon Spade.”

Vortex glances at him, surprise briefly flickering across his expression before he gets it back under control.

Leon deals two cards to me. I pick them up out of habit. I don’t see an immediate play, but Texas Hold ‘Em is highly dependent on which cards appear on the table.

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