I pick them all up, reveling in the fact that they are all face cards. I don’t read a single one. All I know is that my next bet is going to be a good one.
9
Langston
I stare at the men sitting around the table as the dealer gives us new cards. Three men now stare back at me after we lost one in the previous round.
Men.
Why are there only men in this game besides Liesel?
What didn’t Phoenix tell us? What kind of trap did she set?
We both know this is a trap. That’s the only reason Phoenix would tell us about it. She wants us to suffer since she blames us for her suffering.
I replay every conversation I’ve ever had with her. Every kiss. Every fuck. Every time I thought Rose was our child. I remember it all and realize how wrong I’ve been about Phoenix. How much I missed that I should have caught. I should have known that Rose was Liesel’s and not Phoenix’s. I think somewhere deep down, I did know.
What game is she playing? How badly does she want Liesel and I to suffer during these games? Did she just set them up just to ensure we endured complete agony? Are the others playing the game in on it? Are they all their employees, which is why they aren’t doing any of the debts when they
lose?
So many questions and no answers.
My eyes drift to Liesel across the room. She doesn’t look back, but I can see the hairs rise on her arms. Her body stiffens at the feel of my gaze on her. She’s worried that I can’t handle seeing her in pain.
She’s right. I fucking can’t.
Seeing her suffer is worse than any torture I could ever physically endure. I’d rather die than see her in pain.
But she deserves the same right I do to try to get our kids back. We are both willing to lose everything to protect them, as it should be. I have to put my feelings aside for now, but I hope to hell that we get Rose back before I have to watch Liesel endure more.
I take my cards as the next round starts. I don’t have a single face card, which means it’s going to be hard for me to win. At least the tasks won’t add up to anything difficult.
The three men I’m playing against are all middle or upper aged. They all have gray hair, a well-fed stomach, and don more riches on their tuxes, watches, and rings than most people will earn in a lifetime.
I don’t look at what the dares are on my cards. I don’t care the pain I have to endure, as long as it doesn’t hurt Liesel.
I smirk, thinking about my girl.
She might even slightly enjoy seeing me in pain for all the shit I’ve put her through over the years.
When it’s my turn, I bet everything in my hand. “Twenty-three.”
It’s not enough. Every bet after mine is higher. It’s my turn again, so I just lay my cards down, surrendering to the pain that I’m about to go through.
I look over at Liesel, who lets out a triumphant exhale. Thank god her cards were better this time.
A woman stands over me. “Mr. Pearce, right this way, please.”
I stand up and follow her, my eyes still on Liesel. Her eyes grow wide, the corner of her mouth turns down, and the pink from her cheeks whitens. Maybe I was wrong thinking that Liesel could somehow enjoy seeing me in pain, seeing another woman or man touch me? Maybe she feels more for me than I think? Maybe she already loves me?
I walk onto the small stage, and the crowd grows silent, ready to watch the show. No one else is in line to the stage; the losers from the other tables walked right out of the room after they lost.
I’m right in thinking that only Liesel and I will be completing the debts. Only the two of us have enough at stake in order to be humiliated and in pain like this. For everyone else, this is just a silly game or an evil trap.
I find Liesel once again and give her a tight smile, trying to reassure her. I don’t know what is about to happen because I didn’t read the cards, but the only thing they could do to me that would truly hurt is attack Liesel or my kids. Since none of them are on the stage, the pain will feel nothing worse than a bee sting.
I wink at her.