Page 48 of A Player for A Princess

It’s exactly what I hoped would happen.

I nod to Selena. “Go again.”

Her small hands tremble as she collects the cards and shuffles them in her clumsy manner. I told her not to let me shuffle. Nothing gives a card shark away faster than an expert shuffle.

I wait as she deals each of us a card facing down and then a six to her, a three to me. “Hit me,” I say fast.

I watch as she deals me a king, and I know what’s coming. It’s all playing out perfectly. She deals herself a five, and it’s time to flip our remaining cards.

Selena has a ten, and I get a nine—and even louder laughter from Mako.

“Un mucha bati abo!” he laughs, pointing at me. “Un mucha!”

His laughter and taunting makes me think of bullies on the playground. I remember when Ava and me were little, and I would kick their asses. I got in so many fights in foster care.

I allow the anger to show on my face as I glare at the little man who holds so much power over us. He sees me glowering and laughs more.

“Abo rabiá!” then he changes his voice, so he sounds like John Wayne. “Abo pissed.”

“I’ll play you!” I say loudly to him.

He only looks at me, not understanding. I nudge Selena. “Tell him what I said.”

Her eyes are wide as she looks at me. “No, Selda, we don’t play with Mako.”

“I’ll play you!” I say, infusing my voice with as much fury as possible.

He speaks quickly to my young friend in their language, and she answers equally fast. I sit at the table watching, warm satisfaction filtering through my insides. Get ready to get hustled, I think, still holding my expression steady.

Black eyes are on me, and I can see him gloating.

“He wants to know what you’re playing for,” Selena says, nervously.

“If I win, Ximena gets a pass,” I say and Selena translates.

Mako sits back, looking from me to her. I don’t know what he will ask for if he wins. I don’t know if he’s been instructed not to touch me. If I’m a bargaining tool in Wade Paxton’s plot to win Monagasco, I might be off-limits.

He looks at my young friend a moment, and a sick gleam sparks in his eye. It’s so fucking familiar. I’ve seen that lecherous look before, and I know what it means. His words come fast, and Selena’s face goes white. Her head jerks to me.

She jumps up from the table and runs out of the house. Mako explodes with laughter, but I only pause a moment to give him an angry glare before I’m fast on her heels.

; I find her in the back garden kneeling in front of the tomato lattice. She’s sniffing and holding her legs, and I see her little body tremble.

I drop beside her in the dirt and put an arm around her shoulders. “What did he say?” My voice is soft.

She doesn’t answer me right away, she only shivers, and I’m right back in that fucking culvert in Florida holding my little sister as she shivers and cries. Only this time, I’m ten years older and about a hundred casino cons smarter.

“He said if he wins, he gets me.” Her voice is so soft, and I know she’s terrified.

I want to tell her not to be afraid. I want to tell her while it sounds scary and she might think it’s a huge risk, it’s not. I know I’ll win. I know it as sure as I’m standing here looking at her. I’ll get that pass and Selena will never be in danger.

“I’ll beat him,” I say. It’s not a wish. It’s not even me being reckless or bragging. I’ve been winning at blackjack against tougher competitors than a jacked-up pimp since I was old enough to sneak into bars. “Come with me and tell him it’s a deal.”

Her green eyes are huge when they flash to me. “You can’t even beat me! How will you beat Mako? I won’t do it!”

She crosses her arms over her stomach and turns away. I hate putting her in this position, but I don’t have a choice. I can’t tell her about a hustle. I can’t tell her anything she might accidentally slip up and repeat.