Page 105 of Devious Truth

“You can.” He nods. “You’re going to be my eyes. While you’re pouring drinks, you can get a look at their fucking cards.”

“Oh my god! I can’t do that. Are you insane?”

“Look. I’m telling you want you need to do to get rid of me and to get your friend back. It’s up to you what happens.” He tilts his head.

This isn’t happening. It can’t be.

“I will help you for two rounds. That’s it, then you leave. You win, then you go. Caroline gets released right away.”

“Of course.” He nods with a smile. “I’ll just meet you in there, that way it won’t look suspicious.”

I’m still trying to conjure up a reason I need to switch places with Lulu in the room with the Santuccis when Frank comes to my rescue.

“Ah, there you are.” He saddles up next to me. “I was hoping you’d be our waitress tonight. You brought lots of luck last time you helped us out.”

Meredith stops when she sees us talking. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Frank nods. “Was just saying I’d like to have...uh…Vee here help us tonight.” He taps my name tag. “She’s been good luck for us in the past.”

“I was just going to tell him that I’m not in the game rooms tonight.” If I stay out of the room, maybe I can get upstairs to Ivan. He’ll know where this pleasure house is that Caroline’s being kept, or at least he can find it. I just need to get up there.

“I can move things around if you really need her in there,” Meredith smiles at Frank, already taking out her little iPad and tapping away. “Yes, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Oh, I don’t think you need to do that.” I argue, needing this to work. If it’s out of my control, maybe I have a way out of this.

“No, it’s no problem. Lulu was going to be splitting her time between two rooms; I have her stick to one room and make a sweep through the lounge when it gets out of hand out here.” She clicks a few things on her screen and disappears.

“Great.” Frank claps his hands together. “The bar is stocked, and we’re just about to start.”

“Yeah, great.” I mutter as I follow him to the gaming room.

“Everything okay, Vee?” Serenity asks as I march past her, probably looking as though I’m making my way to my execution.

“Yeah. Fine,” I say, unable to keep my voice from shaking.

Kieran sits at the table, a lit cigar dangling from his mouth. He looks up from the cards in his hand when I walk in with Frank, then goes back to checking out his cards like he doesn’t know me or care I’m there.

Frank takes his seat and picks up the cards lying face down in front of him while I busy myself at the bar getting out a tray and making sure everything is stocked.

“Beers all around!” Frank calls out as he throws a chip into the middle of the playing area. “Best you got on tap.”

On tap. On tap. Okay, I can do that. There’re only two beers we keep on tap in the gaming rooms, so I line up the steins. With shaky hands, I fill each and place them on my tray.

I can barely hear the conversation it the room, my heart is beating so hard in my ears as I make my way around the table.Kieran clears his throat, catching my attention when I place his drink in front of him.

Right. I’m supposed to be getting a look at everyone’s cards. I drop off the last three drinks, glancing quickly at the hands that I can see. None of it means anything to me. I haven’t played poker since high school, and even then, I was no good at it.

I tuck the tray under my arm, and step back into a corner. Kieran lifts his eyes to me, waiting for me to relay some magical message. He’s playing with three chips. If I’m reading him right, and there’s no reason to believe I am, he wants to know if he should raise the call when it’s his turn.

If I give him the wrong information and he loses, I could lose Caroline.

“I need an ashtray over here.” Anthony twists to look at me, holding up his cigar.

“Sure.” I smile, rushing over to the bar and digging out a clean ashtray. As I make my way back to him, I walk around the circle trying to get a look at everyone’s hand.

Miserably, I move back to my corner and catch Kieran’s eye again. With my heart climbing up through my throat, I tip my chin. Go ahead and raise the call.

He drops the chips into the pot, laughing and making jokes about having to have good luck sometime. The last bet is placed, and the players lay out their cards.

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