“Yahtzee!”
Yumi pumped her fist staring at 10 and K. Shade clapped beside her while the rest of the table did the same and the crowd behind her did a small cheer. Turning around to the crowd Yumi tipped her drink into the air and so did the onlookers. She took the shot in unison with the rest which seemed to have been some magic effect she had on them.
“Someone should tell her that’s the wrong game,” a woman said away from the crowd and standing behind one of Yumi’s competitors.
“They did but she insists on it,” replied another woman.
Shade glanced their way and smirked, “Maybe you should try shouting it and get some good luck your way instead of being bitter.”
They scowled at him and he cheered with his own drink taking a slow sip. Turning back to Yu he watched her draw her colorful chips forward and covet them like a dragon over shiny trinkets.
“Looks like all that last minute coaching was good for you,” he whispered in her ear and kissed her cheek lightly.
She turned and caught his lips before smirking, “I’d like to think I’m just a natural at this.”
“That so?”
“Hell yeah,” turning back to the dealer she put half of the winnings she’d just achieved and pushed them forward as her starting bid. “Now let’s do it again. Come on.”
The other competitors looked at her uneasily and looked at their own diminishing pile of chips. Yumi offered her challenge again to not just the other three seated but anyone in the crowd who wanted to jump into the game. In the meantime Shade stepped away from the crowd and started towards the bar.
Everything had been business as usual. Joker, last time he checked, was still at the slot machines trying to carefully hack into the machinery and start winning for once. She wasn’t getting far but her stubbornness rivaled Yumi’s in intensity. Rogue on the other hand was far more lowkey choosing to hang around the fountain.
The bartender, who Shade had visited at least three times now, recognized his face and smiled. “Same thing?” she asked.
“Please,” he replied and she proceeded to mix the tequila and juice. “She’s on a real hot streak isn’t she.”
“That she is. I’m lucky to be rolling with her this time,” he replied glancing over his shoulder. “When she’s on a cold streak its real ugly. Thanks for the drink.”
He picked it up, sipped it and turned around resting his elbows on either side of the bar watching the crowd gathered around Yumi’s game. “Calling the lookout team. We need a bit of help on our money scheme,” Feint said over their comms.
Shade laughed wheeling through to the channel as he walked from the bar to walk the length of the casino. “This is Shade. What kinda help are you looking for?”
“We found the vault for the casino,” Feint said. “Way more cash than I guessed. And we need some help getting it out. There’s an elevator here and if I’m guessing correctly it’ll take us to the second floor or maybe some hidden third floor. But going there blind with a bunch of money isn’t my idea of a good idea.”
“So you want some of us to try and see where it goes. Get on that side of the elevator and help transport the money out.”
“You got it.”
“That’s a tall order Feint,” Shade stepped around to look at the elevator. “Not sure what’s even at the top of that elevator. Plus if we get caught we’re going to need another look out team.”
“I know. This isn’t clean but improvisation, right?”
“Right. Let me ask the team,” he dialed the channel back. “You hear that guys.”
“Yeah. Sounds like a setback which, it wouldn’t be a job if there weren’t setbacks,” Rogue chuckled. “I’m down for looking around.”
“So that’s what that shit was!” Joker shouted and both Rogue and Shade winced hearing her loud voice across the casino.
Shade rubbed his ear slowly, “Inside voice kid.”
“Who you calling kid?” Joker said indignantly. “Anyway. There’s a big ole spot above the second floor that’s hogging a shit ton of power. Couldn’t figure out what it was for like ever. But it being some super swanky VIP room makes sense. I wanna go up there.”
“Pretty sure you have to be invited to it, hence the VIP part,” Rogue shook his head.
“Most likely going to have to get invited,” Shade said but looked toward the table where Yumi last was and he saw a pair of suits that looked very different than the usual patrons of the casino. “Uh. Hold on for a second. Might have a situation to resolve.”
He took the drink in one guy, regretted it almost immediately. Wiping his mouth, he walked quickly over to the table moving through them and getting to Yumi’s side. He heard whispering from the crowd but he got to Yumi’s side at the tail end of the conversation.
“If you’ll come with us.” One of the suits said and Shade glanced at them and then back at Yumi meeting her eyes. She just shrugged at him but looked toward the suits.
“A VIP game sounds right up my alley. Love to meet some of the heads of this place. But. I have a requirement. He comes with me,” she pointed right at Shade. “He’s my good luck charm. I mean look at him. What wouldn’t you do to that.”
Shade met her eyes putting his hands onto his hips and she just blew him a kiss. The guard looked between the two of them before finally nodding, “You may bring him along with you. But that is all.”
“Fine by me. Where are we going?”
“Follow us please miss,” he said and bowed motioning toward the elevator.
Yumi looked over at the dealer, “Hey can you wrap up these chips for me. I don’t wanna lose out on this money.”
Shade leaned down and whispered into her hair, “Have you been paying attention at all?”
“Of course. Listening to all of you. Feint needs a bit of improv and I’m happy to help,” she whispered back and smiled. “And I think this counts as just great timing.”
Shade thought for a moment and gave a short nod, “You’re not wrong. We lucked out. What were they saying when they came over?”
“Apparently I’ve been pretty damn interesting to the people upstairs. Made them and myself a good chunk of money being my usual charming self. So I’m being invited upstairs to play for some real stakes.”
“They probably want to win back everything you’re taking from them,” Shade shook his head. “You’re on fire tonight.”
“Hell yeah I am.”
“Keep your eyes open though. Got no idea where this is going to take us.”
“Don’t sweat it,” Yumi saluted. “I’m definitely on my game.”
The two walked them toward the elevator. They took spots in the corners of the elevator while Shade and Yumi stood in the middle. Yumi and Shade both glanced at the pad and there were only two buttons above a keyhole. However, neither of the two hit those buttons as the elevator began to ascend quickly.
They went above the first floor, past the party on the second floor and into the ceiling. The elevator went pitch black for a few seconds. Yumi’s hand found Shade’s and squeezed it tightly. But then the elevator doors opened and flooded it with cool air and a soft yellow light.
“We are here,” one of the suited men said.
Yumi and Shade exchanged glances at one another before nodding slowly. They got off the elevator and went forward stepping onto the maroon carpet. They took a few steps forward and the doors closed behind them. They walked forward a few steps leaving the reception area and into a small lounge like area. There was only one table in the center of the lounge and a bar against the right hand wall with an old man resting his hands on it calmly.
Sitting at the table was a white man in a comfortable green dress shirt and slacks. He had white hair and an older face but talked so loudly that they could hear him from the elevator doors. Next to him was a woman in a black dress with curly red hair, pale skin and a wine glass in hand. She listened to his boasting but Yumi knew a bored woman when she saw one.
There was a couch and a short oval shaped table behind the large one in the center. There were small stacks of chips and a short old woman shuffling cards. She looked at the two of them and stopped shuffling to motion toward one of the other two open seats. Yumi walked over to the chair and sat down letting Shade occupy the space behind her.
“So I played the guy. Beat his hand in front of his friends and took him for all he owns. Guy is still trying to pay off the debt. Maybe I’ll throw him a bone. But any way this is the woman who’s been throwing all kinds of chaos into my casino!”
He turned around to face Yumi and held out his hand. Yumi hesitated but reached out and shook it, “What can I say, just having a good night with my good luck charm at my side.” She motioned back to Shade who put one hand on Yumi’s hip and smiled.
“No no. There’s a certain skill to outplaying your opponent’s time and time again. Especially in a game of chance. I want to see that kind of play for myself in a few games.”
“Where are your manners Jonathon? You’re not even going to properly introduce yourself?” the woman said sipping from her win glass. “That excited to lose a few hundred thousand?”
“Come on my dear. I’ve got a little allowance to waste,” he laughed facing her and she chuckled in response. “But you’re right Kylie. Where are my manors.” Turning back to Yumi he bowed his head having never let go of her hand throughout this. “My name is Ronald Flip. Owner of this fine establishment. This is my cousin Kylie Flip.”
“I had a feeling that was you Ronald,” Yumi replied. “But I appreciate a proper introduction. You can call me Yumi.”
“Yumi. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” Ronald kissed her hand lightly.
Yumi took her hand back and fought the urge to shudder. Instead she said, “Careful Ronald. Can’t imagine my good luck charm here likes that too much.”
Ronald burst into laughter and clapped his hands together, “You are right. I didn’t mean to over step my bounds that much.”
“No harm no foul,” Shade said tersely trying to sell his new role.
“So when are we going to start this game?”
Ronald clapped again, “Ha! I like this one. Always eager for the game. But we have to wait. There’s going to be one more person joining us. A good friend of mine in fact.”
“The more the merrier. I hope that bar isn’t just for show by the by,” she pointed with her thumb.
“Oh it’s very real. And he’s very talented,” he said. “Though he’s a little heavy handed with the good stuff!”
An old cackle came in response and Yumi laughed back. “Shadeow if you would?”
He glanced her way and she tried her best to look cute but Shade was immune to such looks. But he ducked back and walked over to the bar. The old man appraised him with a crooked smile and a bad eye.
“Tequila on the rocks. Whiskey sour,” Shade ordered. “Do I give you money or what?”
The man just cackled again, softer this time. He made the drinks fast, splashing the liquor into the respective glasses, the Tequila resting around the ice. The whiskey sour had to be shaken a good bit but he poured it into the accompanied glass on ice shading it dark orange.
Both were shoved toward Shade with another cackle and wink. Shade took them both and tasted his own. He let out a loud breath and tipped the drink toward him, “Alright. That’s good. Definitely heavy handed.”
A cackle saw him away as he walked back toward the table. Before he got back to the table though the elevator doors dinged open. Looking toward the doors to see who their final companion was going to be and froze. Walking through the elevator, wearing a dark grey suit and a black shirt, was a Nathan Pierce. Wrinkled white skin, cold green eyes, and short grey hair. The last time he was in the same five miles of the man he’d got shot. So. he wasn’t exactly happy to see the man.
But it was the woman behind Pierce that almost made him drop his drinks. Wearing a long red dress that went down to her ankles, hair straight and flowing down her back but parted at the forehead, soft brown skin, and the same fiery eyes and smirk he woke up to and went to sleep to was Yumi.
Shade was stunned staring at this woman as she and Pierce walked into the room. She didn’t spare him a glance but he couldn’t look away from her. She looked exactly like Yumi at first glance, even walked like her. But there was something wrong about her. Like the difference between twins, looking exactly the same until you got to know one of them.
Ronald spread his arms wide and shouted snapping Shade out of his trance, “Nathan, you old bastard! Took you long enough to get here.”
“You know how it is. I love the slots. It’s a bad habit that’s gotten me into a bit of trouble but it’s a guilty pleasure,” he spread his arms and they embraced one another. “It’s good to see you too.”
“You’d have seen me before if you weren’t off hiding. Doing whatever the hell you were doing.”
“Family obligations,” Pierce replied. “But I hope to change that very soon. Kylie wonderful to see you too.”
He walked to her and kissed her on her cheek and she kissed his, “A pleasure Nathan.”
“And who is this?” Nathan asked finally getting to Yumi.
Yumi stared at the man, knowing damn well who he was and hating every second that she sat near him. But she had learned to at least keep a poker face going in the face of something she didn’t like. She forced a thin smile and said, “Yumi. Passing through and having a good night. And me and Ronald were just hitting it off.”
“That we were,” Ronald said turning to face her and then patting the seat between him and herself. “I like this one and I get the feeling you are too.”
“What? You talking highly of someone?” Pierce chuckled. “She must be really good at cards or really good at speaking her mind.”
“Definitely the latter,” Kylie interjected. “We haven’t had a chance to see the former.”
Yumi looked beyond Pierce and really looked at the other her. Looking into a dark mirror, something she couldn’t comprehend and wanted to punch. She didn’t know where she came from, why she looked exactly like her, if she could do what she could or if she was even real and not some Royal lab trick. It wouldn’t surprise her if they had perfected some sort of fake face mask bullshit.
“Who’s this new bird?” Kylie asked.
“Yes do tell Nathan. I rather liked your other girl What was her name? Lucy or something or other.”
“Lucretia,” Pierce replied.
Ronald snapped his fingers, “That’s the one.”
“Yes Lucretia. She is no longer in my services. This is her replacement, Mei.”
Mei smiled and bowed her head in greeting to them but she didn’t speak. Instead she turned her gaze slowly to Yumi and gave her a sweet smile. It made Yumi wretch internally. An expression that she’d never have made in a thousand years and here she was staring at it. She wanted to call him out, to ask what the fuck was going on, wanted to punch him. Punch her. But she couldn’t.
Shade stood beside her and handed her drink to her. At first she didn’t react and he pressed his glass against the back of her neck jolting her out of her head. She glared at him then stared at her drink and scowled but took it gratefully. She put it toward her lips and didn’t drink. Instead she looked back at Shade.
She stared at Shade as hard as she could. Her anger, her fear, her frustration, her worry, her near hate. She tried to convey every piece of emotion she had into that glare and Shade met her eyes. He met them evenly and drank. She did the same thing tilting her head back and drinking it all at once.
“Guess Ray was right,” Slamming the drink down on the table she let out slow breath. “Alright. Let’s play some cards.”
“Right to business. I like it,” Ronald clapped his hands and looked at their dealer. “Classic poker is our game. We all know the rules so let’s not delay. Pass out some chips and let’s get to playing.”
Shade started to sip his drink again but when he was met with only ice. Shaking his head he walked back to the bar as the cards started to be dealt. The cackling old man was nowhere to be found and he looked both ways quickly and covered his mouth with his hand like he was thinking.
“So team we may have a set back on our hands,” he whispered.
“How’d we get a set back within the set back?” Rogue said.
“What’s wrong?” Feint asked.
“We’re at the high stakes table. We can’t really investigate it for an elevator. It’s too damn small. But more importantly Pierce is here. And he brought, I’m paraphrasing here, a Knight with him. And she looks exactly like Yumi.”
“Firebug has a sister?” Rogue asked. “That sounds like a nightmare.”
“No idea but long and short there’s no way we’re going to find the elevator like this,” Shade leaned back but stared at Yumi. Saw the hunch of her shoulders and bend of her back. She was going to lose this hand.
“That’s. Challenging,” Feint said. “Shit. Okay. I’ve got a mild idea. And I really do not like it.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we’re going to get creative. We’ll see you soon. Try not to get into any trouble.”
“Trouble?” Shade repeated. “That’s our middle name.”
The Harlequin Library 