Page 98 of The Silence Lies

“What do you have?” she asks Luca.

“Four of a kind.” He spreads his cards on the table, revealing four sixes.

“Royal flush, boys!” she smirks, sliding her hand across the table. Her eyes are wide with elation. I can tell she’s just as surprised that she’s winning because her tells are all over the place. I remind myself we need to work on her poker face, but for now, I’m just enjoying this time with her.

We’ve been all over the Bay today, dropping in on her clubs to make sure everything is ticking over smoothly. Minus a few short deliveries, everything is going well and there haven’t been any attempts to fuck with Bianchi’s businesses. So with the Vulture’s new allegiance to Bianchi, we took the opportunity to relax a little in Haze tonight.

“I’m bored,” I huff, slinging back a glass of bourbon.

Sera laughs at me, dealing out a new hand to each of us. “You’re bored because you’re losing.”

I gape back at her playfully, clutching my chest and mocking a painful death.

“She’s not wrong,” Luca chuckles.

“Not you too! I thought you were on my side.”

Luca shrugs back at me, fanning his cards. “I don’t know what gave you that impression.”

Giovanni stifles a laugh from the corner of the room, so I toss him a glare for good measure too.

“Well,” I say, setting my eyes on the pair now ganging up on me. “How about we make it interesting?”

Sera narrows her eyes on me. “How?”

I can already see the cogs turning in her head, which should make me nervous. I’ve had enough whisky to ignore her glare, though. “Blackjack,” I answer. “But with a twist. First one to go bust loses a piece of clothing.”

Luca shakes his head, muttering into his cards, “Any excuse to get naked.”

Sera shifts in her chair. “Okay, two things. “ She holds up two fingers in the air. “One; I’m only wearing three items of clothing. Two; you’re already losing. I don’t think your luck is going to change.”

“Oh and shoes don’t count,” I add—just to level the playing field.

“So I have two items of clothing to lose!” Sera exclaims.

“Scared?” I ask, raising a brow at her. I already know I’ve got her. Knowing Sera for so long means I know that she’ll never back down from a challenge. She hates to be seen as weak, and while this is just for fun, I know she’ll take the bait.

Sera looks at Luca, contemplating in silence for a heavy beat before she flattens her palms against the green cloth. “Fuck it. I’m in.”

“Atta girl,” I smile. “Luca?”

“Fine,” he huffs, throwing back the rest of his whiskey.

On cue, Giovanni steps out of the room. I guess he doesn’t want to be around his leader when she gets naked, which is fine by me because I’m anticipating it.

We refresh the deck, Sera dealing the first round of cards.

Glancing at Luca, he doesn’t even shift in his seat. His face is stoic, calm, collected. He’s always had a good poker face, even when he’s losing, so I’m not really surprised at what I see.

I stare down at my own cards.

Figlio di puttana.

I’m looking at a ten and six in my hand.

“What’s the matter, Marchese?” Luca smirks.

“Hit me,” I order Sera.

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