Page 55 of Royal Shark
Ivan pulls me aside. “Thank you so much for this trip. These guys are incredible.”
I beam my Sunny Sara smile. “My pleasure. Adrian was also a help. Pays to have great connections.”
“It does. Listen, Mario invited us to his game in Manhattan next week. It’s all former Yankees players and some Mets. A few current guys too. They rotate in, depending on who’s in town. They said they have room for us. They play a room with several tables. You understand, yes? It’s too good an opportunity to pass up.”
My stomach drops. “Sure, have fun. Just one game, right?”
His eyes are back on his new friends. “Depends. We’ll see.” He meets my eyes. “I just want to be straight with you.”
Shit. I’m losing them. Pro athlete poker. Bigger pot, more fan-boy excitement. I can’t compete with that, and I know it. I want to cry. The game is falling apart right in front of my eyes. The best, most lucrative job I’ve ever had.
“Still on for the following week, right?” I ask, trying not to sound desperate.
“I’ll let you know,” he mutters before rejoining the group.
I’ve lost my game. I can’t believe this. One chance meeting with a ball player and it’s all over? We’ve been doing great for more than two months. I finally felt like I could breathe, my money problems solved. Now I’m going to have to start all over again. Manhattan is run by Lee Tran. I would be blackballed or worse for trying to poach. I’ll have to try again in Brooklyn fast before someone else sets up a more desirable game. Or shift farther out to Long Island, which is basically like starting with a blank slate, trying to make connections and find the best venues. Su-u-uck!
Adrian appears by my side. “You still want to go with them to Monte Carlo? They seem pretty content with their new friends.”
The guys are all talking, laughing, slapping each other on the back.
I feel peevish in light of their obvious happiness. “Did youhaveto bring the ball players up here?”
“It’s the first time those players were here. I was excited to see them too. Jackson is the one who had the connection and invited them. He just didn’t know when they would show.”
I sigh as the guys file out with their new friends, so busy yukking it up they don’t even notice I’m not with them. My eyes sting. “I’ve lost them,” I say quietly. “There’s no point in tagging along.”
Adrian drops an arm over my shoulders. “I’m sure you didn’t lose them forever. They just want to have some fun tonight. And the best part is I get you all to myself.”
I shrug his arm off. “Ivan told me they’re moving to a new game in Manhattan with the ball players next week. They’ll stay there as long as they can—bigger pot, celebrity athletes. I can’t compete with that, and I can’t horn in on the game either. Someone else runs Manhattan.”
“Did you run Brooklyn?”
“I was getting there. That was the next step. There’s a few other private poker games, but mine was the best.” I look up to the sky, trying to keep the tears from escaping.
“Sara, it wasn’t my intention to ruin your game. I was trying to add to the fun with the ball players.”
I blink rapidly and dash at a tear with my fist. “They’re having fun all right.”
He gives my shoulder a squeeze. “You want to shadow me again? Saturday night is our busiest night.”
“Actually, I think I’ll head back to the palace and spend time with Chloe.” I take a deep breath. “If I can tear her away from her studies. The girl is nonstop.”
“Okay. Good luck with that. I’ll call for a car to take you up to the palace, and catch up with you tonight.”
I nod woodenly.
“Are you okay?”
“No, but I will be.” That’s me, always hustling to make sure everything is heading in the right direction.
“You can wait in my office until the car gets here.”
“I’ll wait out front.” I try for a smile but can’t manage it.
I manage to keep it together all the way out of the casino before bursting into tears.
Ugh. I wipe my tears away furiously. They accomplish nothing. I have to keep my head clear and think of next steps. I walk around the building to take in the view of the sea. It’s near sunset, beautiful, but I can’t appreciate it. And because I already feel shitty, I recklessly look over to the north beach, where most of my memories are, but the view is blocked by the spa. I remember there was a black rock. It always seemed so far off in the distance. Adrian dared me to race to it. Of course I did. I remember treading water and telling him about my parents fighting and my fear that they’d divorce, and then when we started to race back, I sliced my foot open, probably on a submerged rock.
