Page 66 of Underground Prince

Kai plonked down on the seat across from me. He steepled his hands over his notes and stated, “You came in here thinking we bet our thousands using colorful plastic toddler toys.”

“I said nothing of the sort.” Well, I didn't. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’m stuck without learning more.”

“You want to move up the corporate ladder, do you?”

I made a face at him. “No. Yes. I want to be more than a waitress.”

“So you’re aching to be like me.” He reclined in his chair. “And acquire my baller lifestyle.”

I grinned, stacking the mess of chips into neat rows. “So…can you?”

He said nothing, choosing instead to consider my proposal. I wanted to squirm under his study, but I tried to remain calm, like asking to learn poker was just another part of my life I was mildly interested in.

“With one caveat,” he said, crossing his arms. “You answer a question.”

“Sure.” I said it automatically, before really thinking that people didn’t usually grant things for free.

“You doing this for Sax?”

“I—” My shoulders dropped. “What?”

“You heard me, young grasshopper. Does this have something to do with Sax? I see him and you together and there seems to be….”

I finished organizing the chips and readied to get up. “There’s nothing.”

“Uh huh.”

“There’s been nothing,” I repeated. “We’re just hanging out.” Even I knew how lame that sounded. “Not even that. I haven’t seen him in two weeks. We run into each other sometimes, but we’re not together or trying to get together or—”

“You’re terrible at this.”

“What I’m horrible at is poker.” I stood. “If I’m going to excel and get into the big buy-ins, I have to move up. And the only way I can do that is if I understand the game. Not Sax.”

“I see.” Kai stood with me. “He has no idea you’re asking this of me, does he?”

“There’s no reason for him to sign off on what I do.” My hackles were rising, and I worked to tame them. Maybe it wasn’t often cocktail waitresses wanted to learn the trade—or maybe it was. This could be the twentieth time Kai was asked to do this.

“You know what he is? What his family does?” Kai asked.

“I’ve been warned. And like I told you, this isn’t about him.”

“I’m sure.” But then he said what I’d been waiting for. “If you insist, Scarlet, I’ll teach you as much as I can.”

“Thank you.”

“But behind the scenes,” he said. “And on my turf. I don’t want Sax breathing fire over this.”

“He won’t hear a word about it, I promise.” I picked up my purse and jacket, saying to him as I headed into the kitchen, “And besides, don’t you want to see his face when I challenge him to a hand?”

“It’s like you look forward to dancing on my corpse.” Guests arriving prevented Kai from saying anything else.

There was only one table at this location, and six people showed up to play—a slow night. Verily was off at another club, so it was just me, Craig and Kai manning the front lines, and by that I mean it was me serving the odd can of beer, Craig giving one or two halfhearted glares, and Kai taking on the air of a snotty dealer. Gone was the affable guy with big smirks and expressive reactions. In his place sat a resigned, unreadable man who didn’t twitch at anger or react to threats.

For such a skinny guy, he managed to be damned intimidating.

I was taking orders for the new burger place down the street when the door opened, bringing in a cool draft and perking up a few heads as the figure walked in.

“Sax,” I said when I turned. I motioned to my notebook with my pen to cover up the lightning bolt searing my chest. “Want a burger?”

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