by Cassie Cole
“Oh?” Bryce arched an eyebrow at me from the kitchen. “So if you were a multi-millionaire you would still take crummy gigs at the Lucky Penny for $20 a night?”
I laughed. “Okay, you’ve got me. Things would change a little bit.”
I played a few more hands as the smell of food grew stronger. Dinner was almost ready when Bryce made a phone call. “Hey Xander. How’s the practice going?”
Oh, right. I’d forgotten all about their part working on the switcharoo at the warehouse.
“That’s great!” Bryce said. “Really great. Where’d Eddie go?”
I glanced over at Bryce.
“But I thought he had tonight off.” A pause. “Oh. Okay, well as long as you guys are confident that you have the switch down smooth. Yep, we’ll meet tomorrow at the diner. 11:00am should give us enough time to discuss and get Sage back in time for the tournament. Awesome, see you then.”
I waited a few seconds and casually asked, “They’re done practicing?’
“Yeah! Xander says they’ve got it down tight.”
“That’s good. Where did Eddie go?”
Bryce cracked an egg over the pasta and started stirring it in. “Xander said he left early to take care of some personal stuff. But he was really confident about the switch, so I’m not worried about it. Sometimes you have to trust your teammates!”
He dished out pasta and carried two bowls over to the table.
After dinner—which was incredible, a thousand times better than reheated carbonara—I excused myself to the bathroom and stared at my phone. I couldn’t let this go on any longer. Not this close to the heist.
Me: Do you have time to meet tomorrow?
Eddie: Hey there beautiful. Like, before we meet at the diner?
Me: Yes, just us. It won’t take long.
Eddie: Absolutely. You can swing by my place at 10:00.
I hesitated. If I confronted Eddie and it turned out he was backstabbing us, things might turn out bad for me. Especially if I was trapped in his apartment. But I didn’t want to tip him off, either.
Me: Sounds perfect.
I hung up, flushed the toilet for good measure, and went back out. Bryce was already cleaning the dishes. “Ready to get back to it?”
We practiced well into the night. Bryce pulled out his laptop and played some poker next to me, occasionally pointing out things in his game. He made a pot of coffee at one point but it didn’t seem to help, because before I knew it I was being carried into the bedroom by Bryce.
I looked up at his gorgeous face. His black eye was looking a lot better now. “What…” I said. “We have to practice.”
“You fell asleep on the desk,” he said. “That means it’s time to get some sleep. We’ll start back up bright and early.”
“Okey dokey,” I said as he carefully placed me in his bed, then joined me. I rolled over and let him spoon me, a blanket of warmth and strength that made me feel like I was safe.
Bryce woke me while it was still dark, a fresh pot of coffee gurgling in the kitchen. He poured me a mug and then we sat back down to the computer, joining one of the few online tables that was active at this hour. I was sick of it now. It felt like a job: working late, then clocking in early and getting right back into the grind. Waitressing was something I could at least zone out while doing, but playing poker was mentally strenuous. I was exhausted in a totally different way.
It’s not for much longer, I told myself. Today is the big day.
“You’ve got a really good handle on the game,” Bryce said. “You might not even need me whispering in your ear during the tournament!”
“Don’t even joke about that! I’m sure a big Vegas tournament has tougher opponents than an online website.”
“You’ve got that right.”
He made the other batch of cinnamon rolls for breakfast, which we ate while playing. I guess he cared more about getting his playing cards sticky than he did his computer mouse. Table after table came and went, some wins and some losses, and before we knew it it was 9:30am.
Bryce came up behind me and rubbed my shoulders. I closed my eyes and relaxed in the chair while his fingers kneaded my tissue. “You should have been doing this all along,” I said.
“You know, you are at a good stopping point. And we have some time before we need to meet at the diner…”
I felt a nice little tingle in my abdomen. I wanted nothing more than to cap off our study session by letting Bryce carry me off to bed again, this time with a different purpose than just sleep. Then I winced. I had to meet Eddie.
“I would absolutely, positively love to,” I said, kissing his hand and leaning back against him. “But I need to go home and shower…”
“I have a shower here.”
“And I need to change into my outfit,” I added, “and put makeup on. Have to look the part of a big bad poker player.”
“Most players dress comfortably,” Bryce said. “But if you’re going to distract Yegorovich at the final table, it’s probably ideal if you look your best. Alright, rain check?”
I rose from the chair and hugged him. “We can celebrate when we’re millionaires,” I whispered into his shoulder.
“Assuming you still want to hang out with a guy like me once you have all that money.”
“Pfft. Of course I will.”
“Let me get my keys and I’ll take you home.”
“Oh,” I said. “Don’t worry about it, I can take an Uber. I’m sure you need to get ready too.”
Thankfully he didn’t press the issue. He gave me another long hug, and an even longer kiss of goodbye, and then I was gone.
I took an Uber to the address Eddie gave me. It was an upscale set of apartments close to the Vegas strip, with a big parking lot out front. Across the street was a convenience store with some people shooting the shit. That was good—this was a public place. I’d be safe as long as I didn’t go upstairs to Eddie’s apartment.
I’m safe regardless, I tried to tell myself.
I called Eddie. “Hey. I’m downstairs in the parking lot. Can you meet…”
“I’ll be right there,” he quickly said.
That was a relief. So why didn’t I feel any safer?
He came out the front door all excited, grinning at me as if we’d already finished the heist. He was handsome in his guard uniform, the dark cloth framing his build nicely. “I’m really glad you texted me. I wanted to meet, but I didn’t expect you to have any time with the poker practice…”
We embraced. Just a hug, nothing more. Why did he want to meet me? Was he hoping for something romantic?
It didn’t matter. I pulled away and cleared my throat, ready to say what I had practiced in the car ride over. But it was like my lips were glued together. This was a lot harder than I’d thought.
“Eddie…” I began.
“Before you say anything, come with me.” He took me by the hand and led me across the parking lot. Toward the door.
“Eddie,” I said. “I wanted to ask you about something…”
“Shh, just wait,” he said.
“I can’t go upstairs with you.”
“We’re not going upstairs.” He stopped in the middle of the parking lot and turned around. Then he pointed next to him. “What do you think?”
“Huh?”
He gestured like Vanna White showing off the grand prize. “The car. What do you think? It’s nothing special, but I figured you’d be happy…”
I realized what he was saying. “Wait a minute. Are you saying this car…”
“…Is yours,” he finished. “I got this car for you!”
All suspicion melted away as I looked at the car. It was a Volvo station wagon, brown with white accents. My mind picked that moment to stop working.
“Eddie, I can’t accept this!”
“Sure you can. You need something to drive to all your singing gigs around town. You can’t become a big famous singer if you’re taking the bus, right?”
“
But the cost…”
“I got it for almost nothing,” he said, grinning. “A friend owed me a favor and sold it to me dirt cheap. All I had to do was use my pilot’s license to charter a helicopter and give him a tour of the city. He’s going to propose to his girlfriend and he wants it to be special. One helicopter tour next month in exchange for a used car is a heck of a deal, right?”
Job. Cash. Saturday. Suddenly the phone conversation sounded totally different in my head. “This is what you were talking about on the phone?”
He leaned back. “What?”
I spent a minute explaining how I’d overhead him back at the hotel. A dour expression filled his face. “I can’t believe you heard me. I wanted this to be a surprise.”
“It was a surprise!” I quickly said. “I didn’t think this was a car. I thought you were… Uhh…”
He squinted. “Oh, I see. You thought I was plotting something nefarious? About the casino heist?”
“Maybe…”
I rumbled with laughter. “Shit, I can’t blame you. I’ve been on edge with the heist myself, jumping at shadows. Forget all that. Get inside!”
He pulled the keys out of his pocket and tossed them to me. A single thick car key on a ring by itself. It felt warm in my hand.
I ran around the side and got in the driver’s seat. It was a little dated, but I didn’t care about that at all. And although the exterior had some faded paint, the inside was perfectly clean with fresh vacuum lines on the fabric. It even had a nice gingerbread smell from the air freshener.
I got back out and practically bubbled with excitement. “Eddie, this is the most amazing gift anyone has ever given me!”
“I first thought about it when—” He cut off as I tackled him in a big hug, pressing him against the side of the car and squeezing him with all my strength. This gift meant more to me than all the money in Yegorovich’s vault.
“I’m really glad you like it,” he said into my hair.
“I’ll never have to bum rides again,” I said. “Or take the bus! And hey, this ride will help me blend in after we steal the casino money tonight! Nobody would ever expect a multi-millionaire to drive a station wagon. It’s the perfect disguise.”
“I didn’t even think about that,” he said. Then his face grew serious. “But we need to talk about that at the diner. The special guard shifts were announced this morning. I didn’t get it.”
“No…”
“I wasn’t assigned the money delivery shift.”
32
Sage
Driving back to my apartment was a simple task, but it filled me with a feeling of empowerment. It was so awesome to be able to drive myself around again! I kept both hands on the wheel and used my turn signals, going exactly the speed limit on I-15. It’s amazing how such a simple thing could feel like a luxury when you went without for a few months.
I didn’t care about the stains on the fabric in the passenger seat, or the tiny crack in the windshield, or even how the buttons on the steering wheel were fading. They gave it character. This car was mine flaws and all.
I had to circle twice to finding parking at my apartment, but that was a fun challenge rather than a new annoyance. A good problem to have.
Eddie didn’t get the shift.
It was devastating news. The whole job was in jeopardy now. Distracting one guard was already tough enough—especially since I was now playing in the poker tournament. Distracting two was impossible. The switch could only work if Eddie was one of the guys pushing the cart.
I showered as quickly as I could, which wasn’t very fast since I had to wash my hair. Another 20 minutes drying and straightening it before pulling out my brand new cocktail dress. I’d decided to order it on my credit card for the special occasion… But I still kept the tag on so I could return it, just in case the job failed.
If the job fails, we’ll all be killed by Russians.
I tried not to think about that while putting my makeup on. Everything held exaggerated importance in preparation for the big day. Every eyeliner stroke and brush of concealer. I had to look my very best.
Then I grabbed the last important piece of the plan: my bug-out bag. It had a few changes of clothes, some basic toiletries, an extra coat, my Kindle reader. The stuff we would need if we had to make a quick getaway from Las Vegas.
Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that. Hopefully everything went smoothly.
I got back in the car—my very own car!—and drove out to the diner. Only two minutes late. Not bad, all things considered.
The guys were already waiting at the booth. They whistled and made teasing cat calls as I strutted toward them.
“Easy now,” I said, tossing my bug-out bag at Eddie. He would keep them all together. “I don’t look much different than how you normally see me.”
Xander pointed at the window. “I was whistling at your new ride. Look at that bad boy!”
I blushed as if he’d complimented me rather than my new car. Eddie grinned to himself.
“Not too shabby, huh?”
They both looked at him. “You bought it for her?” Bryce asked.
“I traded it for a favor.”
“Shoot,” Xander drawled. “The guitar I gave her can’t really compete.”
“It’s not a competition,” I said, though obviously that wasn’t going to assuage their argument. “The tournament starts soon, so how about we talk about the job?”
Eddie put both hands on the table. “Right. Our shifts were announced an hour ago. I’m not on the money transfer. They’ve got me monitoring the poker tournament starting at 2:00. I’m watching the outer perimeter, since Yegorovich will be inside.”
“Well it was nice while it lasted,” Bryce said with a deflated sigh. “Try again next week?”
I felt like a girl who had been stood up for the prom, all dressed up and nowhere to go. It sucked that all my poker practice had been for nothing.
“I’ve got an idea,” Eddie added. “It’s kind of a long shot, and I won’t know if it works until right before it’s go time. But it’s something.”
“I don’t like adding new plans at the last minute. What’s your idea?” Bryce asked.
“I’ll tell you if it works.”
“Now you’re being as secretive as Xander’s plan to distract the other guard,” I said.
Xander held up one finger. “Which, by the way, I’ve got all set to go. I think it’ll work just fine.”
“So we’ve got two last minute adjustments that may or may not work,” Bryce moaned.
Eddie leaned across the table. “Just trust me. It’s a low risk sort of thing. If it works, awesome. If not, then we bail and figure out what to do next week.”
“But that means we have to be in position in case it does work,” I said. “So the tournament part of the plan is still on?”
“Yep. That cool with you?” Bryce asked.
I gestured down at myself. “After all the time I spent making myself look so good? I’d hate for it to go to waste.”
Bryce nodded. “Oh and Xander? Tell your delivery buddy he doesn’t need to pick up your equipment.” He put air quotes over the word equipment. “I rented a UHaul truck so I can make the pickup myself.”
He pointed outside to where a big orange and white truck was parked horizontally across five parking spaces. “Oh so it’s okay for you to make last minute plan changes,” Eddie grumbled.
“Now we’ve each made one. So we’re even.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Xander asked. “You can’t walk out to the loading dock. The security cameras will pick up your face.”
“I’ll stay on the truck. No problem.”
“This way does mean we don’t have to involve someone else,” I pointed out. “One less loose end to potentially go wrong.”
Eddie begrudgingly nodded. “I do like the idea of the money staying in our possession the entire time. Okay, fine.”
“I’ll be parked in the lot two blocks away while
I wait,” Bryce said. “I’ve got my laptop and a cell phone with a mobile hotspot in the truck so I can stream the poker tournament and give Sage advice.” He turned to me. “But when it’s time to pick up the crates of cash, I’ll be dropping off communication. At that point you’ll be on your own.”
“Think you can manage?” Xander asked.
“If I’m already at the final table? Sure,” I said. “At that point I’ll just be trying to distract or tease Yegorovich to get him to stay.”
“She’s a pro now,” Bryce said, and I could tell he was genuine. “I’m not worried about her at all.”
Eddie looked around the table. “Is this it? Our plan is tentatively on?”
“Sounds like it,” I said, putting my hand out on the center of the table. It was a silly gesture, but I felt like we ought to do something.
Bryce put his hand on top of mine, then Xander did the same with a grin. Finally Eddie put his on top.
“Let’s go rob these fuckers,” I said.
“Here here!” Eddie said.
We rose one by one and filed out of the diner. I felt like a cold war spy being sent out on a mission. My target was Russian, after all. But if I got caught I wouldn’t be imprisoned and then sent back home in a prisoner exchange. Something much worse would happen.
But surrounded by my three partners in crime? I felt a little braver about the whole thing.
We could do this.
Bryce stopped outside the door. He waited for the other two to walk toward their cars before saying, “Hey. I got you something.”
A small rectangular box was in his hand. The kind that held jewelry.
“Bryce, you didn’t have to…”
I trailed off as I opened the top. On a silk cushion was an emerald teardrop pendant attached to a thin chain. It was the size of my thumbnail.
“Bryce…” I breathed.
“There are matching earrings underneath,” he said. “I thought green would look good on you.”
“This is too much!” I said.
“You’d better not tell me you can’t accept it,” he quickly said. “Xander bought you an expensive guitar. Hell, Eddie got you a car. I’m just trying to catch up.”
