The Poker King Returns novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: The Full House

Four dealers stood in the Wren's parking lot at seven in the morning with their coats on and their bags at their feet.

They looked like people waiting for a bus to a funeral.

Bea stood in front of them with her arms crossed and a cigarette hanging from her lip.

"Here they are," she said. "I'd say good morning, but I'm still deciding."

The oldest dealer, a gray-haired man who had worked here since I was a teenager, took off his cap.

"Pamela, I'm sorry."

"Did he pay you double?"

"He paid me triple," the man said. "I took it. My wife needs a surgery."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because I watched that video last night."

He glanced at Cade, who had come up quietly behind me.

"A man grabbed you in the dark," the dealer said.

"And a waiter took him apart.

"I thought, if that's how Kray's people play, I don't want his money."

The woman beside him nodded hard.

"He paid me to quit and then texted me what I'd be doing at the Meridian," she said.

"I won't do it. I'd rather deal for nothing at the Wren."

"Not for nothing," I said.

"We'll come back," the oldest said. "On one condition."

"Name it."

He turned to Cade.

"He runs the room."

"No," Cade said.

Every head turned.

"Pamela runs the room," he said. "It's her floor and her name. I play."

The dealers glanced at each other.

Bea laughed, one short bark, and dropped her cigarette.

"Kid, I like him."

"I know," I said.

"That's an offer I can take," said the woman.

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