Page 5 of Underground Prince

But in truth, this was one of the most asexual rooms I’d ever been in. All emphasis was directed at the game. No music, zero outside entertainment. Not even the TV mounted on the far wall was switched on.

As such, I had no freaking clue as to why I was in a raunchy Halloween costume.

Wasn’t Verily saying that this was supposed to make me feel alive? Because cracking beers open, pouring the odd whiskey for the one rebel—who was, obviously, Theo Saxon—and prancing around in a bawdy costume was not breathing new oxygen into my lungs.

Two hours and thirty beers later, the table paused for a break. I rushed to stand, wiping the streak of drool on my chin and subtly patting my cheeks a few times to look more awake.

I didn’t pay much attention to the men as they stood, choosing instead to adjust my “uniform.” But when voices rose, my head snapped up.

“You little bitch.”

3

YOU'RE HIRED

“Hey.” Theo smacked his hand into a player’s chest, a large beefy guy with a navy baseball cap and baggy green t-shirt.

The beefy guy pointed to another guy, tall and boney with a prominent hooked nose. “I heard your pockets, man.”

Hooked Nose stepped back, but cocked his head as if he didn’t understand. “What’d you say?”

“Your pockets!” Beefy Guy slapped Theo’s hand away. “Empty his fucking pockets.”

“Curb him, buddy,” Hooked Nose said to Theo. He pointed at Beefy Guy. “Don’t you come near me.”

Theo stepped between the two, hands out to both. “Keep it up,” he said, his eyes on the floor. “And there will be a problem.”

My left hand ached for my attention. Lifting it off the wood, I flexed my fingers. I was gripping the corner of the bar too hard.

“He’s the problem.” Spit flew with Beefy Guy’s words. “He’s been goddamn check-chopping.”

More players moved closer to the conflict, originally happy to watch until that accusation was brought out into the universe.

Theo asked, “That true?”

“No way!”

“That true?” Theo repeated, drawing closer to Hooked Nose.

“No man! No!”

“Empty your pockets.”

Hooked Nose cleared Theo’s height by at least a forehead, but there was a banked wildness in Theo, something requiring the faintest friction to set alight.

“I told you I ain’t no check-chopper!” Hooked Nose said.

“The dude folds, he offers to help with distributing the pot and fucking palms other people’s chips!” Exercise-Head shouted over Theo’s shoulder. “I ain’t stupid! You think I can’t see through that basic shit?”

“Show me your hands,” Theo said to Hooked Nose.

“Fuck no. Get away from me.” Hooked Nose turned, ensuring his shoulder bumped into Theo. “I don’t gotta deal with this shi—”

Beefy Guy’s roar spiraled across the room and he shoved Theo out of the way, landing on Hooked Nose, but all three toppled sideways and onto the card table.

I staggered backward, suddenly much too close. Cards sprayed across the floor, chips scattered, wood cracked, and shouts swarmed.

Someone’s body crashed into mine as he jumped into the fight, and I squealed when warm spray splattered across my legs.