been playing all night.”
“You know what, that’s a good idea.” Antony turns to them. “Look, you two get out of here. Have Jerry up front take care of you and settle everything…cash out. Next game’s buy-in is on me.” He hands them each a brightly colored plastic chip. “You two can go too. I’ll tip you out later. Let me deal with this first,” he gives a dismissive wave to the young bartender and dealer.
“Alright then.” With a shrug, the pretty girl gets up.
The cargo shorts guy—Donny—seems similarly disinterested, and not stressed about the situation at all, so he follows in her footsteps. As he heads for the door, he pauses for just a moment to stare at my face, and then at Deanna’s, and then back at mine. “Fuckin’ twins,” he murmurs under his breath. Then they’re both out the door. The two employees trail after them.
“They’re an easygoing crowd,” David remarks, watching them go.
“Thank fucking god. The way this one’s been acting for the past hour,” Antony jerks his head at Deanna, “I’m surprised they stuck around. Guess they found the circus entertaining.”
“Are you calling me a fucking circus?” Deanna advances on Antony, her fists clenched.
David, without hesitating, steps in front of her. His voice is calm and controlled. “Take it easy, Deanna.”
“Take it easy? Don’t you tell me what to do.” She jabs her finger in David’s chest. Mike steps forward slightly, but remains in the shadows. “You’re the reason I’m in this mess.” She keeps jabbing her finger into David’s chest with each word. He just stares down at her, his face an impassive mask.
“The only person who got you into this mess is yourself, Deanna,” he says.
“Deanna,” I step forward and put a hand on her arm. “How much money do you owe?”
“She’s down $110k at the moment,” Antony turns to me. “Got the big bucks to bail your sister out, honey?”
I shake my head, mute and afraid. When David first got the call, she had owed less than $100k. Things seem to have escalated, rapidly.
“You going be able to come up with that amount of money in a week?” Antony looks from Deanna’s face to mine, his hands on his hips. His gelled hair glistens in the harsh lighting and his eyes have a cold shine to them.
I shake my head slowly.
“Yeah, I can get you your crummy pile of cash. Just let me back on your tables!” Deanna says.
“You’re not playing anymore at The Glamazon,” Antony shakes his head firmly, “not until I get my money.”
“Fine, I’ll play somewhere else,” Deanna hisses at him, stamping her foot. With a start, I realize she’s not wearing shoes. Glancing back at the card table, I see with relief that she simply kicked them off when she ran over to say hello. The feeling is jarring though. Did I really believe that my sister would be out and about without shoes on?
“Word on the street is you ain’t got too many tables left to play on, sweetheart.” Antony looks at her coolly. “I should’ve known better than to let you in on this game.”
“Deanna, I don’t think more gambling is the answer,” I say hesitantly, laying my arm gently on her shoulder.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Lilly,” she gives me a sullen look. “You know, I was trying to make this money so I could buy you back from him.” She points a finger angrily in David’s direction.
“I told you not to do anything when you came by the Fortuna the other day!” I tell her. Usually I would ignore her accusatory tone, but now, something inside of me snaps.
“I couldn’t leave you there! I got into this game to help you. This was all for you.” Her eyes are crackling with rage as she talks. But for once, my anger matches hers.
“When you showed up before, I told you everything was fine. There are only a few days to go now anyway, so what would be the point? I’m fine where I am.” The fear I had been feeling up until now gives way to frustration, and my words come out faster and faster. “This isn’t about me, it’s about you, Deanna. You have a problem.”
“Oh come off it, Lilly! I don’t have a fucking problem, I’m just living life. An adult life, in the real world, outside of Parkville.”
“You don’t live in the real world, Deanna!” I cry out. “You’re living in some kind of delusional fairytale. You’re drunk and I don’t even