Page 61 of The Sinner and the Gunslinger
“I’m looking for two invitations to tonight’s poker game.”
Andrei blinks. Then roars with laughter.
“I heard you were involved in the game,” I continue, unperturbed. “I see your money laundering habits haven’t changed. Bit risky, don’t you think? Using the same old tired scheme?”
Andrei’s eyes go dead at the insult. “We have plenty of police under our protection now. We think of everything, unlike you.”
I could enter an argument and tell him all the ways he’s wrong, but honestly, I don’t give a shit. I just want the invitations.
“If that car isn’t enough to buy my way in, then what do you want?” I ask. “There has to be something, otherwise you would have killed me on sight.”
“Always direct and to the point.”
“Am I wrong?”
His eyes fill with dark thoughts. I feel them in the air. “Why do you want to go to my game?”
“A man attending has information on an artifact I’m looking for.”
“Why not follow him home? Why do this at my game?”
“You might be surprised to know this, but I’m not trying to cause trouble. I didn’t have to come here with the money or to let you know I was here, but I’m trying to do things a little differently. No violence. No trouble.”
He snorts. “The God of Guns has turned over a new leaf. I do not believe it.”
“I’ll be out of your city by the night’s end. You won’t even remember I was here.”
Andrei’s distrust sizzles, but he seems to be accepting my explanation.
“I want nothing from you,” Andrei says, “but I will allow you to come for old times’ sake. On one condition.”
Of course there is. “What?”
“I can’t let you go without looking like you have paid for the trouble you caused me when you left this city. Take a beating from me and still walk out, then you can go.”
I exhale. “Fine. Do what you need.”
He stands, opens his jacket again, and pulls a hotel key for what I’m guessing is the poker game room. I see a flash of his firearm holstered. Glock. He puts the key card on the desk and motions for his men to hold me down.
Submitting goes against every cell in my body. Fear and defiance rises. I want to fight back and defend myself, to make sure I get back to Leila. I hear Cisco’s voice in my mind: Love makes you better. I chant it in my head on repeat, willing myself to take the beating, to breathe through the pain he inflicts. Hit after hit to my midsection is swallowed until panic sets in.
What if he doesn’t stop? What if I misjudged everything?
I remember Raven’s warning. She knew we’d be at this game. I can’t get there if I’m dead... right? So this has to end with me walking out of the office. As long as I keep telling the truth.
Andrei’s next strike doesn’t land. He stands back and frowns. “You truly do not want to stay in this city?”
I spit out blood. “It’s the last thing I want.”
“Why?”
“I...” Tell the truth. “There’s a woman I’m dedicated to. I’ll go where she goes, and we’re only here for the collector.”
“Ah. A woman.” Andrei massages his hands. “You risk her life by telling me she exists.”
I sigh. “I just want to talk to this man and then leave.”
“Okay,” he says, surprising me. “I will give you the key, but I change my mind, and now there are two conditions. You will bid against Petrov over there any time he bets. This way, we can inflate the pot and we have less trouble later with the money.”
