Page 50 of Betting Blind
“Ah, ah. Secrets are no fun,” the man in charge scolds with a wry grin.
“Let’s change it up a bit,” Jack says loud enough for everyone to hear. He makes a motion for the music to start playing and as it does, he’s handed a bottle of Jägermeister and a stainless-steel cocktail shaker from the brunette.
The announcer seethes, and Rudy’s shocked face makes me laugh as Jack begins swinging the bottle of liquor around gracefully, pumping up the crowd. He takes position at center stage and fluidly flips the bottle end over end while switching it with the cup between his hands.
Derrick whistles loudly, and Juliana and I jump up and down. The bottle passes from left to right before Jack pauses a moment and tosses the silver cup to the bartender—who in turn, throws him a bottle of Hennessey.
Catching it with ease, he watches his work, lobbing each bottle up into the air. He pauses for half of a second with the Hennessey in his left hand, spins the Jäeger behind his back and over his left shoulder, then catches it in front of him in his right hand. Turning his back to the crowd, he repeats the same move, showing off his skill.
When he spins back around, the grin on his handsome face has the women in the audience screaming his name. His talent never ceases to amaze me, but the energy I’m drawing from those around me has my heart kicking wildly in my chest. I spare a quick glance at our host, expecting to see shock and awe, but Lenny is anything but awed. He’s downright angry that Jack is effortlessly conquering this challenge.
Jack is quick enough that not an ounce of liquor spills from the bottle spouts, and my jaw drops when he walks backward, nodding to the bartender to throw him another bottle. Against Lenny’s protests, she obliges.
Tossing two of the bottles high in the air, he rotates the Grey Goose clockwise in front of him. Catching the Goose, he spins in a full circle, grabbing the other two gracefully between his fingers as they fall back down. His time is almost up, but right as he’s about to repeat the move, I catch sight of someone shifting behind him. Everyone else is so enthralled by Jack’s act that they don’t notice Lenny slyly place a hand towel behind Jack’s foot.
The female bartender watches Jack intently, unaware of Lenny’s intent.No!There’s no time for me to say anything, and even if I could, there’s not a chance he would hear me. With his final spinning move, he slips on the rag, momentarily losing his balance. The bottle of Jäeger goes flying toward the opposite end of the bar and my stomach sinks.
The crowd grows utterly silent.
Making a split-second decision, Jack tosses the other two bottles to the bartender and races to the opposite end of the bar. He somersaults, head over feet, and catches the green liquor bottle at the last second. Rolling to his back, he turns it upside down and pours a shot of liquor directly into his mouth.
The space breaks into absolute chaos. “Jack, Jack, Jack!” the crowd screams as he lies flat on his back, chest heaving with a wide smile. He laughs as Rudy gives him a hand and slaps his back, congratulating him.
“He did it! He did it!” Juliana and I jump up and down, screaming so loud our throats are sure to be raw. Derrick joins in, whistling loudly for his best friend.
The host straightens his spine and gathers his composure, reluctantly announcing Jack’s victory.
I have half a mind to report him for attempting to throw the competition, but given that we won, I want to avoid anything that could potentially jeopardize our situation with Ben. So, I let it slide.
Jack is helped off the bar and brought through the doors that lead back inside the casino, and the three of us race to get in front of the crowd to meet up with him.
Lenny probably thought he was going to get a few ordinary, talentless schmucks to compete tonight—ensuring he wouldn’t have to fork over the money. But what he and the rest of these people couldn’t possibly comprehend, is that Jack isanythingbut ordinary.
Chapter 23
Jack
After meeting with the casino boss for the paperwork and wire transfer, I find my way to the piano bar where Derrick, Juliana, and Cassidy wait for me. A crowd of people slap their greedy palms against my back, congratulating me on my success, but my skin is stretched too tight as it, and the rest of my body filters the excess adrenaline.
I don’t get far before I’m bombarded once again by people wanting to buy me shots and asking for some spare gambling money. It’s a damn circus, and all I want is to sit down for five fucking minutes to get my thoughts together. Over their heads, I spot Cassidy smiling as she chats with some guy by the bar.
“Excuse me,” I mutter to the man speaking to me, shouldering my way through the crowd. I want nothing more than to walk over to the bar, grab Cassidy, and make a show of how much I need her right now—but I refrain. I won’t embarrass her, but dammit if it doesn’t grate on my every nerve to see some guy fawning over her.
Her long blonde hair fans out across her back, and I nearly stumble when her light laughter winds itself around me. I purposely throw my two-hundred-ten-pound frame directly in front of the man she’s talking to, blocking his view of her.
“Dude, what’s your problem?” He scoffs, pushing away from the bar and wandering off.
Cassidy’s sweet little mouth pops open. “Jack!” She laughs, swatting me, and I can’t resist a smile. I’m so happy to see her that the center of my chest aches.
“What?” I shrug, tucking a stray lock behind her ear. “I didn’t want him messing with my girl.”
There, I said it.
I want Cassidy to be mine, damn the fucking costs. We’ve got the money to get Ben, and once we move past this, there’ll be no reason I ever have to talk about my past with Royals again.
I’m not proud of myself for hiding who I was when I worked there—or the people I harmed just to stay in Diablo’s good graces—but none of that matters now. The answering glow in her eyes is the only thing I care about.
She balls her fists in the front of my shirt, dragging me toward her for a searing-hot kiss, and I groan as the front of my jeans tighten uncomfortably. She’s the one I wanted to see in the crowd when I was up there performing like a circus animal. I needed her eyes on mine, reassuring me and giving me that boost of confidence I get whenever I’m around her.
