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The middle-aged man hesitated, his heart a slow, cautious thump. He gestured for a hit. He hit again. His heart leaped with joy, and optimism tugged at the corners of his mouth. That was a twenty-one, then.
Now, it was my turn. I giggled, shifting around in my seat as I revealed a blackjack. The dealer flipped his hole card, a King, bringing his total to fifteen. He drew another card, a seven. Bust.
I hooted excitedly as the round concluded, then collected my winnings. The young man sighed, the older woman nodded with satisfaction at her respectable finish, and the middle-aged man beamed at his win. The emotions around the table had shifted, each heartbeat a tribute to the highs and lows of the game.
Lux leaned in and whispered, “Think you’ve pushed it far enough. Cash in, let’s go.”
“Ho ho ho, no way, man. One more for the show.” I nodded at the dealer, who dealt another hand.
“We do have that thing to get to.” It was a lie; we had nowhere to go. He was just trying to be discreet about being pushy.
“Well then fly away, little birdy! I’ll catch you later.” I waved him off, examining my hand and assessing the table.
“We’re not going without you.”
“Awwww…” I gave him a patronizing grin. “I want you to know I love you too.” Then I cleared my throat and grunted at him for trying to tear me away from the table, his words drowned out by the clamor of the casino. My fingers tapped against the table as I shifted around in my seat, the rest of the players still absorbed in their hands.
The young man to my left, face flushed red, watched the dealer intently, his fingers drumming a rapid beat on the felt. The older woman, her face a mask of stoic determination, adjusted her cards with deliberate precision. The middle-aged man, buoyed by his previous win, leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips, his heart rate slowing to a more relaxed rhythm.
I giggled again, feeling the eyes of the crowd on me right where I wanted them and pushed all my chips to the center of the table:twenty-one. A ripple of gasps and murmurs swept through the crowd as the dealer flipped over his cards–a bust.
I jumped to my feet and shouted as cheers erupted around the table, a cacophony of excitement and disbelief. The noise was deafening, a mix of applause, whistles, and shouted congratulations. As I raked in my winnings—a hundred grand this time—the triumph sent a thrill through me. I didn’t need the money, but the surge of adrenaline was intoxicating.
People crowded around us, their faces a blur of excitement and curiosity. Some reached out to pat me on the back or shake my hand, their voices blending into a single, indistinguishable roar of approval. The lights of the casino seemed to shine even brighter, reflecting off the sea of faces and the glittering chips, splashing a dazzling glow over everything.
I was soaring at the top of the world. My heart raced with the exhilaration of the moment. I always loved these big, explosive moments. They made me feel alive, which was hard to do with how long I had been around. I whooped loudly, taking in the awe and admiration of the crowd. This was my domain, my playground, and I was the king.
“Great job. Now let’s go,” said Lux.
“Not a chance, Lance. I’m on fire!” I nodded to the dealer again. “Let’s dance.”
“Mav.” His deep voice was heavy in warning. Not that I cared.
He and Stone were both over-cautious, in my opinion. Something we had all discussed endlessly, and I was over it. I copied his tone. “Lux.”
He groaned, a deep sound of exasperation nearly lost amidst the ambient noise of the casino. The dealer’s eyes gleamed with curiosity and wariness as he began the next round, his hands a blur as he dealt the cards with practiced precision. The atmosphere at the table was tense,every player’s heartbeats thrumming like an underlying symphony to the game’s rhythm.
My cards felt cool and firm between my fingers as I glanced at my hand and groaned. The rest of the table went through their turns, stealing glances at me and my vacillating emotions. When it was mine, I revealed my cards—a twenty, just enough to edge out the dealer’s nineteen. The table collectively held its breath as the dealer flipped his final card, revealing a bust. Cheers erupted a third time, louder and more fervent than before, echoing off the high ceilings and reverberating through the crowded room as I got up on my chair to celebrate.
The dealer’s voice was lost in the sound of applause and shouts as he tried to tell me to get down. Eventually, I did, raking in my second hundred grand. Beaming, I soaked in the flashing lights and the sudden burst of streamers that shot across the table.
The crowd pressed in closer, faces alight with excitement and admiration. The air was thick with the mingled scents of perfume, air freshener, and the ever-present tang of money. The cacophony of voices rose higher, each shout and cheer adding to the electric atmosphere.
Amidst the celebration, three men in business suits appeared beside me. Their tailored attire and composed expressions stood out starkly against the casual revelry of the other patrons. They watched me with interest and cautious respect.
One of them, a tall man with sharp features and a meticulous haircut, stepped forward slightly. His voice cut through the noise, smooth and controlled. “Congratulations,” he said, extending a hand. “Quite the impressive streak you’ve got there.”
I gave him a high five and giggled at his expression. Of course, I knew he wanted to shake. Despite the weight of his scrutiny, because of the thrill of the game, I didn’t care. I sat there flush with victory, thelights, the sounds, the rush of winning big—all of it combined into a heady, intoxicating cocktail.
“Mr…”
“Call me Maverick.”
“Mr. Maverick, would you come with us, please?”
“No thanks. Don’t know if you noticed, but I’m on fire here.” I nodded at the dealer, but he didn’t seem sure.
Lux interrupted, stepping forward. “Mav.”
