Page 11 of Play to Win

She sighs.“He really isn’t.I don’t know why he was acting so weird tonight.Unless ...”She pauses.

“What?”

“Never mind.”

“Why’d they do that?Just to get back at you?That’s beyond assholery.”

“It’s a long story.”She glances around at the other guys.

I get it.It’s none of our business.Call me crazy though, I’m concerned about her.And about the comment Douche One made as they left, which was definitely threatening.She’s in trouble of some kind.

I’m leaving tomorrow, so there’s nothing I can do about it, but at least I helped her out tonight.

Crystal arrives with Lacey’s drink, and I watch Lacey tip it to her lips and take a big swallow.

“Man.”She shakes her head, her lips gleaming with the spirits.“What a day.Cheers.”She holds up the glass, then takes another swig.

“Attagirl.”

Some of the guys disappear to go play a few rounds of blackjack, including Jimmy, so I shift away from Lacey to give her space.Not that I mind having her pressed up against me.But that’s sure as hell not what this is about.Now that we’re almost alone, Brent and Jeff sitting across from us arguing about whether players should be suspended for licking (it happened, no shit), I ask again, “Wanna tell me now what’s going on?”

She’s making short work of her drink, and it’s apparently loosening her tongue.“My brother owes them money.”She tosses down the last of the Jack.

I lift a hand and catch Crystal’s eye.I hold up my own empty glass and point at Lacey’s empty one as well.Crystal nods.

“I don’t know where Chris is,” Lacey continues.“He disappeared days ago.After cleaning out my bank account.”Bitterness laces her words.

“Jesus.”

She meets my eyes.“This isn’t the first time this has happened.”The curve of her lips is glum.“He’s a gambling addict.”

“Well, shit.”

“I know.”She heaves a huge sigh.“It’s been going on for years.Since before our mom died.As if we didn’t have enough financial problems because of that.She was sick for a couple of years, and I ...well, we didn’t always have the money for the treatment she needed.I got into debt myself and Chris got this crazy idea that he could make enough money gambling to help pay for her medical care.”

My gut cramps up hearing all this.

“Sometimes it worked,” she admits, accepting the next drink from Crystal.I take mine as well.“And he felt like a hero, contributing.But then it wouldn’t work, and he’d lose money, and ...he started going into debt too.Only not just with Visa and Mastercard.”She lets out a short laugh.“Who are bad enough to owe money to, believe me.”

One problem I’ve never had in my life is financial troubles.But I’m not an idiot.I know not everyone’s been as lucky that way as me.“Yeah.”

“I know he’s been dealing with some bad actors.They’ve showed up at the apartment looking for him.But none of them have ever threatened me before.”

“How did they threaten you?”

“Apparently my brother is trying to pimp me out.”She takes another gulp of booze, blinking rapidly, and I can see the pain in her shiny eyes.

I slap a hand down on the couch between us.“Fuck that!”

“Preferably not.”She gives a watery smile.“I mean, I’ve worked a lot of bizarre jobs to try to get ahead financially, but I’ve always hoped I wouldn’t have to resort to prostitution.”

“Hell no!”

She slumps against the back of the couch.“I don’t know what I’m going to do now.I get the feeling those dudes aren’t going to give up.Chris must owe them a whack of money.Oh my God.”She rubs her forehead.“I’ve bailed him out before, but now I have no money either.”

“Maybe it’s betternotto bail him out,” I offer.

A puff of air escapes her lips.“Yeah.I know.It’s just ...hard.”She turns big brown eyes on me.“He’s my brother.”

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