“We got the Intel you asked for.” Alex said wincing. Sure. He had to be the one to give it to Him. Him being, Michael Guerin, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New England. His partner. Alex Whitman was a smart man, most of the time. Not calling in sick today, was one of his larger oversights of late. A tall thin man, he was deceptively gangly in looks with short trimmed dark hair, and deep brown eyes. His smile was friendly and inviting. His look altogether screamed trustworthy.

His foil was his not so friendly partner, Michael. About the same height, but bigger in stature, his lighter brown hair and golden brown eyes rarely smiled, and his mouth seldom knew anything but a frown. Since their boss had been on a leave of absence for medical reasons, Michael had been pushed into a desk job covering their division. His misery was shared by all those around him, so close they were to a certain death, slain by his ill humor.

There was only one thing that made his humor worse than being forced to take a desk. That was one man. Sean Moran, a festering boil on Michael Guerin’s professional life.

“Michael, State’s Attorney is on line three.” Alex said on his way out.

United States Attorney Maxwell Evans, his once college roommate was currently the bane of his existence. “Maxwell?”

“Tell me it’s not true.”

Michael scratched his eyebrow. “Okay, it’s not true.” Hearing Max’s sigh of relief, he sniffed. “Of course if you tell me what’s not supposed to be true, I can better confirm or deny.”

“The weasel. Tell me you didn’t lose that…”

“Sean is gone. He walked from protective custody.”

Michael put the phone down and went to get more coffee while Max expressively explained himself in four letter words, and other figurative expletives. Very informative. That was Max Evans.

Michael came back after taking a long drink from his coffee, letting the soothing rush of caffeine calm his inner id. Yeah, he was so calm. “Max….” Michael waved off an interruption at his door. “Max! Yeah, look, I can hear you clearly. I found him again. My people picked up his trail.”

“Count yourself lucky, Michael. Friendship or not….”

“Don’t threaten me, Maxwell. If you must place blame, I suggest you contact Tess Hardy, Special Agent of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Remember her?” Michael paused. Of course Max did. Tess and he had a clandestine affair for the past four years. Everyone knew except Max’s trophy wife, a woman with good family connections but short on brains. She was the perfect wife to a man who had political aspirations. Perky. Connected. Pretty. Oblivious.

Max was silent. “What does Tess have to do with this?”

“She took over the case. Her people were in charge of keeping Sean under wraps and safe until he could testify. That was the deal. She felt I had a ‘conflict of interest’ in the case and relieved me and my department after we apprehended him.”

Max seemed to be mulling it over. “Just find him! I don’t care how many rocks you’ve got to turn over, or the deals you have to make! Get him back. Trial is set in two weeks! No more continuations and this will be tossed as a delay tactic and a mistrial. I want my damn witness.”

“Whatever it will take?” Michael asked quietly.

“Whatever.”

Michael breathed in deeply. Great, just great. The potential for disaster was increasing exponentially. “Give my regards to…” Michael winced at the slam of the receiver on the other end followed by the hollowing dial tone. “Bambi and the kids.” Michael hung up the phone. “They need them.”

~~~

“Alex, tell me some good news.”

Okay, that might take some thought. Alex seemed to concentrate on all he knew, separating the good from the bad. Nope. Wasn’t going to work. It was all bad.

Well…. “Um….” Alex scratched his brow. “We know where he is, or specifically, we know where he is going to be in about three days, and where he’s been.”

“How long is he going to be there?”

“Four days. I suspect the reason he took off was for this one event. My sources tell me that Sean Moran has been hitting up all the favors owed to him, in the form of money. I suspected he had to have a purpose for that money, something other than a flight opportunity.”

Michael sat down putting his feet up on the desk. “Sean is a chronic gambler. Nothing is more important than a game.”

“Bingo!”

“He’s putting together open scratch for a big game. He must need opening roll of some major numbers. How many goulash joints you track him to?”

“Half a dozen. He was hitting the illegal numbers hard. We’re looking at an opening with at least a quarter large.”

Michael rubbed his face. Sean Moran with quarter of a million on hand was nothing but disaster. “How many possibilities?”

Alex blew out hard. “Angel Island is sponsoring a huge tourney of Hold ‘Em. Four days. Come sweet. Best of the best, illegal as hell, and outside our jurisdictional waters. Numbers are climbing as the entrances are tallied. Word is Sean is a contender for the take all pot.”

“That’s Valenti’s spot.”

“Invite only, Michael.”

“Shit!” Michael sat back. “What’re the chances our little bird will come flying off the Island in a week? We could sweep him then.”

“No good. Word is that Ramirez knows his pigeon has flown protective coop, and he’s sent out a gun. They’ll be targeting him on Angel or off. Either way, he’s a dead man.”

Michael put his head down on the table. “And dead men don’t talk.” How frickin’ worthless? Michael rubbed his eyes. Great. Sean got nabbed for illegal gaming, and turns State against a larger fish, Jesse Ramirez. Then the stupid idiot goes on the lam for another illegal poker game. He had to get Sean back in protective custody, and fast. Not just for professional reasons, but for some very personal ones as well. Piss up a rope, some days, he should call in sick.

“Michael,” he didn’t want to say it, but there was no other option. “We’re going to need an invite to get in.”

Shutting his eyes, Michael shook his head. Of course they would. They had no jurisdiction, no reason to be let in. Where there was smoke, there sure as hell tended to be fire. Story of his life, another day in the tinderbox.

~~~

LadySlippers. Lady gambler. A creature merciless in the game of poker. No tell. A preternatural ability to read the table, and turn a hand. Most wanted on the FBI list of illegal gamblers, or was, until three years ago. Three years ago, LadySlippers retired.

She was their invite to Angel Island. LadySlippers unknown to the world had cut a deal, a promise to stop gambling for a sort of probation. Pursued ruthlessly for six years by a young upcoming agent, after a six year song and dance, the gambling lady was brought in, by one, Michael Guerin. So at twenty-eight, the woman was retired, living out her life in relative peace and quiet.

~~~

Binion’s Horseshoe Casino, Las Vegas. A place of possibilities and lost dreams. All possible in the turn of a card.

She tapped the table calmly. Michael stood over her shoulder, watching the dealer at the button and the two other players. The first folded to the pressure, but the other nodded accepting the tap. All his chips in.

Without emotion, his LadySlipper turned to a flop, nut straight. The man was out. Feeling his presence, she looked up and groaned. Pushing her stake, she requested the dealer rack her out minus the rake.

Ignoring Michael, she pushed passed him.

“Maria…”

“No. I don’t see you!” Maria nodded to a waitress for a drink.

“I need to talk to you.”

“Talk to my lawyers!” Maria took the drink, vodka martini, dry. Tossing it back, she gave Michael an evil stare. “I’m not doing anything illegal! This is a legit gaming house! I can be here.”

“I didn’t say it wasn’t. Do they know who you are?”

Maria stomped her foot. “Guess you’re gonna tell them? Filthy G-Man! I swear….”

“Ah, ah!” Michael held up a finger. “What’s got you so riled up?”

“You.” Maria huffed. “How did you find me?”

Michael laughed. “I always know where you are Maria. You should know that by now.” Maria huffed again. She gave him a glare, and went to take off. He stopped her. “Look, can we talk? Just talk?” Maria refused to look at him. “Why? Why are you so pissed at me? You’re still gambling, and making more money at it than I do at my job. What’s wrong?”

Maria ripped her arm from him, shoving him away from her. “I have to pay taxes!” Her tone was so horrified, Michael couldn’t help but laugh. That laugh was soon swallowed into a cursing groan. She stepped hard on his instep.

LadySlippers. The lady gambler, given her name when she started making a name for herself at fourteen. She had followed her deadbeat father around from one illegal game to another, literally her entire life after her mother died when she was four. At fourteen she got her first game stake, and the rest was legend. Her love of shoes was notorious, and the older and more mature she became, the more noteworthy her shoes.

The pair she donned tonight had a nice five inch spiked steel heel. That heel was lodged in Michael’s foot. Scurrying off, Michael quickly followed limping on his one foot. Things changed, but not Maria DeLuca.

“Look…”

“Busy!”

“Maria, I….”

Maria parried to the right, ignored him, and with a quick dodge, made an elevator on its way up. She waved as the doors shut. Smiling at a small child with his mother, she gave her head a shake. Time to put that nasty man out of her head.

He was waiting at her suite door. Breathing hard and looking more than a little irritated. Good. Aerobic exercise was a cornerstone for good sound cardiac health.

“What part of me being mad at you doesn’t compute?”

Michael shrugged. “You’re always mad at me, for something.”

Maria’s eyebrow went up. “How about arresting me?”

“Those charges were dropped and sealed. The deal still stands.”

“Uh huh. Go away!” Maria opened the door. “We have a deal. I play nice. Legal. You don’t harass. Remember?”

Michael ran his hands through his short spiky hair, his irritation evident in the lines on his face. “I’m not harassing you!”

Maria made a face of disbelief. “Really? So what is this? A mating dance?”

Damn her. “I need your help.”

“Okay,” Maria dug in her bag. “He charges about three-fifty an hour. That is hundreds. But, I promise, he is the best psychologist I could find you, highly recommended.”

“Not that kind of help.” Michael paced the room. “I need your professional help.”

“I know this is Vegas, but darling….I don’t pull tricks. Your sexual deficiencies….see the man on the card.”

“Maria! I don’t have any sexual…” Michael stopped, closing his eyes. The amusement around her mouth was apparent. So easy. She always could push all of his buttons so easy. “Gambling. I need an invite to a high stakes poker game, this weekend, starting Thursday thru Sunday. You need a quarter large to get in the game…invite only.”

“Angel Island.” Maria shook her head. “You want me to get you….on Angel Island? Valenti’s hold? Are you crazy?” Maria shook her head and made her way towards the wet bar. This damn man has been slowly driving her to drink for years. He has been the one deciding factor in her life. Damn him.

Michael’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “How did you know?”

“About Angel Island?” Michael nodded. Maria rolled her eyes. “I’m in forced retirement, not dead!”

“You can get an invite?”

“In a heartbeat. Not a problem, you are.” Maria mixed a highball, stiff and straight, and tossed it back.

“You’re drinking too much.”

“File that under not your concern.”

“I beg to differ.” Michael sighed. She was such a damn hedgehog at times. Prickly. “I need you thinking. Sober. Doing what you do best.”

“Michael,” Maria threw herself down on the sofa kicking off her shoes, somehow making her seem so much more vulnerable. Maria DeLuca, vulnerable was laughable. She came from a family of grafters, con artists, gamblers, and players. She and Sean Moran shared a common blood fever. Always looking for a quick fix, games of chance, and danger was her narcotic. He pinned her wings, but he couldn’t stifle her nature. It had been a fight between them since. “I can’t break the code. You know that. A snitch or blind loses creditability fast. Jon DeLuca would spit if his daughter took Feds to a party.”

“Angel is outside jurisdiction. You know that. Illegal, yes. Touchable, no. I’m not going to spoil the party. I’ve got a fleer. I need to bring him in, before those gunners take him out. Dead men don’t walk, and they sure as hell don’t talk.”

Maria sighed. “Who we talking about?”

“Sean.”

Maria moaned and buried her head in her hands. “Sean Moran?! He’s elite! That means he’s in to the final days. Valenti tourney, you lose, you walk. I’d have to play for real, all the way. No dubbing. You realize that?”

“Yes. Sean is good. You’re better.”

Maria snorted. “You bet your ass.” Maria sniffed, clearing her throat; she went to stand next to him, close. “This sounds like a grey line, G-Man. How close you walking, Gee?”

“Close. I can’t lose this one. Can….” Michael closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Totally against the rules. He was asking for a favor. It couldn’t be helped. “Will you help me?”

“Why should I?”

Michael shrugged. “For your government?”

Maria rolled her eyes and looked at her nail job in interest. “I pay taxes. Give me a real reason.”

“For me.”

Maria searched his face. This meant something to him. Her eyes narrowed, and she moved in close to him, her mouth almost touching his. “What’s in it for me?”

“Dammit! Can’t you….” Michael stopped. No she couldn’t. That would be her stepping over a line. Careful lines. Them and Us. Gamblers versus Feds. She crossed, her entire world came crashing down. She walked close at times, but there were rules. “I can give you things, but since you asked I know you already know what you want. Why don’t you tell me.”

Maria ran her hand up his front, her perfectly polished nail flicking at a button on his shirt. Licking her lips, she looked up at him and slowly smiled. “Immunity. My record gone. Parole agreement. Gone. You cover the two-fifty large, I keep it and all I make.”

Michael pushed her off him. He could’ve written that request. “That’s a lot.”

“Non-negotiable. You came to me. Not acceptable. Walk.” Maria pointed to the door.

“How long would it take you to get an invite?”

“After tonight. There’s a grafter’s game. Backroom. High stakes. I could make that. I’d have an invite first thing in the morning. Early.”

“Can you get both Alex and me in?”

“Sure,” Maria licked her lips. “I’ll tell them you’re my husband, and Alex my security. Not a big deal.” Maria laughed, her eyes sparkling. “Or maybe Alex should be Mr. LadySlipper, and you can be rent-a-muscle.”

“Stop it!” Michael’s mouth pulled in a slight smile. All these years, and she was still the most annoying woman. “Immunity?”

“Uh huh. To get an invite, I need to gamble….real gamble, not this piss and water shit.” Maria’s hands moved up his arms. “That means I break my agreement, per my retirement. I have to gamble, so I want immunity.”

“Okay. Deal.”

“Uh uh. I want it in writing. All legal like. Just like the last time. Signed, sealed, and delivered with a kiss.” Maria’s mouth touched Michael’s barely. “So call the stuff shirt, Max. Tell Mr. U.S. Attorney he will have to authorize.”

“He already did. He gave me an opened ticket.”

“Not good enough. I need it in writing.” Maria looked at her watch, a thin delicate golden strand on her arm. “Two hours. My lawyers will be here. Don’t be late, or don’t come. Now run downtown, like a good public servant.” Her green eyes flashing in amusement.

Michael glared at her, his mouth drawing into a nasty smile. “Hope you haven’t lost your touch! Think you can still win?” His tone implied that he doubted it.

Maria threw her shoe at the closing door. Insulting bastard! Maria threw herself on the sofa in a huff. She stared at the closed door, and reluctantly a smile spread on her face. Oh, this could be fun.

~~~

Michael swore at his cell phone. It was late. More than late. It was early, early morning. Alex was still inputting data. If they could intercept Sean before he made Angel, they might stop it before it started. They pulled an all nighter.

He growled in his phone.

“Testy. That is why you should try keeping decent hours, and sleeping.” Maria’s soft voice sounded in Michael’s ear.

“Lady G. Why you calling me so early?”

“Hmm,” Maria sighed. “No reason, junior G. Just thought I’d tell you that LadySlippers is going to Angel. I’ve got three games before, so you need to get in wardrobe, something sexy and elegant, befitting my husband. Nothing off the rack, and Armani gold label is preferred. I like my men in raw silk, worsted wool, or nothing. Underwear totally optional, but you do know my preference.”

“I know about your men, Maria.” Michael ignored Alex’s look. He tipped back his chair stretching his back. His voice was deep, low and sexy. “What yah wearing?” He could hear the rustling of sheets.

Maria laughed her light giggle, “Nuthin’ honey.” She gently returned the receiver to the cradle.

~~~

Angel Island, a land caught in the cross waters. Residing just beyond territorial waters of U.S. jurisdiction off the coast of Texas and the territorial waters of Mexico, the island was a tribute to the Alamo, and a long passed fight between two nations. Angel Island was held in sole ownership by one family, the Valenti’s of Texas. The current family head, Jim Valenti, opened his island to the world of gamblers to enjoy freedom from backroom casinos in what became the World Series of No Limit Hold ‘Em Poker. Whereas the legal game had a buy-in of ten thousand dollars for the privilege of a seat, this game came with a price. Two hundred and fifty thousand. With a higher buy came higher stakes and profits.

One truth remained. It was an invite only game, the invitations going to the circuit of known gamblers with a name. That opened the door for over seventy-five entries leaving over eighteen million to be split in numerous ways.

With great stakes came great security. Angel Island had its own police force and security guards.

~~~

“No guns.”

Maria frowned and gestured at Alex not to protest. “Sorry, Alex is my security. I’m carrying a large quantity of money. He and my husband are carrying them for good reason.”

The man looked at Maria, and she smiled charmingly. “Sorry, ma’am. No one carries on Angel. They may check in their pieces with us, and we’ll return their property when they leave.”

Maria shrugged. “Sorry boys, you heard the man.” Maria smiled at the man once more. “Do I turn over my money for the buy in with you as well?”

“No ma’am. You need to take it to the main complex. The opening game will hold in bank for buy in chips.”

“Fine. Then I’ll need one of your lovely men to escort me…with a gun. Trusting, I’m not.”

“Always causing a ruckus.” A voice said from the doorway. Maria looked over and smiled with genuine warmth. “Kyle Valenti. As I live and breathe.”

Kyle took Maria’s hand and kissed it, then leaned forward and kissed her on the mouth. The growling sound from Michael drew both of their attention. Kyle looked at him with interest.

“Pardon?”

“Sorry, Kyle. I don’t think you’ve met my husband. Michael, this is Kyle Valenti.”

Kyle’s eyebrow went up. “Married? Is that where you disappeared to over the past three years. I hear that you were only gambling in the legit casinos, but no high stakes.”

“Honeymoon,” Maria said as Kyle shook Michael’s hand. Maria sniffed. “It had to end sooner or later,” she said with a touch of sarcasm. “Who knew three years could last so long, almost an eternity.”

Michael looked at her sharply with a narrowing look, but he remained silent.

Kyle made a whopping laugh. He nodded security away. “Sorry about the regulations. I’d okay your boys keeping their pieces, but regulations were set up for a reason.” Kyle watched both Michael and Alex hand over their guns. “I know they’re actually guarding you and not some small chicken scratch.”

“Always a gentleman, Kyle. Where is that lovely father of yours? I need to thank him for the invite.”

Kyle led them towards the main house; their bags being take care of by the Island workers. “He was excited when he heard you were out and about. His resistance is low. He’s been sulking since Peoria five years back when you took him in the freeze out.”

Maria laughed. “That was a low end game. Buy in was only ten thousand.” Maria tsked, thinking of the massive amount of chips. It had been a good game.

“True, but he held half the chips in the final bout, and you took it all. Before he could ever arrange a rematch, you were off the circuit. Where were you, Maria? Making babies?”

Maria turned pale, and Michael noticed her reaction. Curious. She actually looked sick. “Nope. Would you trust children with me? I’d probably use them as collateral for a blind.”

“High or low?” Kyle asked curiously.

“Definitely high.” Maria sniffed in heavily. “Aw the smell of money is in the air, I can almost hear the crisp clinking of chips.”

“You make plenty.”

Maria snorted rolling her eyes. “Where does my money go?”

Kyle laughed, ignoring the two men. “That is the mystery! Why would we play if we had enough?”

“It’s not the money, you know that young Valenti.” Maria said. Kyle patted her hand. She was right. It was the stakes. The high stakes, the thrill of winning, and the possibility of losing so much money in one turn of the cards. Games of chance had an adrenaline unlike anything else. Mental extreme sports, pitting a mental power to bluff and steel nerves against a competitor. They were all predators.

Kyle nodded to one of the men in the main house. “Please show Ms. Maria her rooms. Their bags are down at check-in.” Kyle bent to kiss Maria again, but caught Michael’s eye and quickly deviated to her cheek. “We put you in the main house. Dad wants to keep an eye on you. We’ll expect you to dine with the family, your husband, too.” Kyle nodded at Michael and excused himself. “Maria. Mr. LadySlippers.”

He was gone before Michael could make a comment. Maria pulled him with her as the servant escorted them to their suite. They were given a full suite with a connecting side room off the main suite for Alex. Maria tossed her bag. They waited for the door to shut before anyone spoke.

“Think that Sean….” Alex started, but Maria interrupted.

“I think it’s a lovely room. Alex, be a dear and check your room. I hate to think you’ll be uncomfortable.” Maria looked around. “This is so much nicer than the main gambling casino Jim built, where the others will be housed. Last time I was there it had lots of bugs. It was a bad year for them.” Maria turned and smiled at the two men. “You don’t think there’ll be bugs this year do you? You know how big every thing is in Texas.”

Alex nodded. He got her meaning. He and Michael began a methodical search of the room. They went over it twice while Maria let the men delivering with their bags into the room.

Alex grabbed his bag and retrieved some electronics from a hidden bottom, that and two guns. He passed Michael one and an extra clip. Both men rearmed themselves. Alex quickly checked out the room.

“It’s clean.” He returned his electronic devise to its case.

Maria yawned. “Jim bugged me last time hoping to hear strategy. He probably refrained this year. He knows I never talk in my sleep.” Maria patted Michael’s stomach. “Guess he could’ve asked you, sugar.”

“Maria how does…” Michael started but Maria distracted him. She started taking off clothing regardless of who was in her room.

“If you want to check on Sean’s arrival, I suggest the main casino. Tell them you are checking layout and security, Alex. That is your job. They will be very forthcoming. Also find out where we bank the buy in. It’ll give you cover.” Maria looked at her watch. She was exhausted. Three games in less than thirty-six hours. She need down time before the evening opener began, but first she would have to survive family dinner with the Valenti’s.

Alex nodded and hit Michael on the arm. Maria turned at the bedroom door. Looking at Michael, an eyebrow went up. “You coming, honey?”

Alex laughed. “Go do your duty. You’re the husband. It would look funny for you wander around without her.”

“True. You coming to dinner?”

Alex shook his head. “No way! I’m the paid muscle. I’ll eat with the other security guys. Get some good gossip that way.” Alex laughed on his way out the room.

Michael looked around the place. Too big. Too showy. He hated places like this. Not Maria. She was raised in hotels and casinos. They were home. The woman’s idea of cooking or cleaning was calling room service or housekeeping. It didn’t help that her father, Jon DeLuca won a casino in a take all poker hand over ten years ago. Getting her from this life was damn near impossible.

“Maria…” Michael entered the bedroom. “What did you mean that Jim Valenti knows you don’t talk in your sleep? Maria?”

She was on the bed, never made it beneath the covers. Sleeping in a slip, she never got her shoes off. Michael removed them, dropping them on the floor, and covering her with a throw blanket. Curled to the side, she was sleeping with a hand under her cheek, her face fresh and young. She looked so much younger when she was asleep. Without that wary spark in her eye, an alarming mature glint that was suspicious and cynical, she suddenly looked barely eighteen.

Michael watched her sleep for a while until he finally let tiredness drag him into the bed next to her. Rubbing his face, he yawned. Rolling over to spoon behind her, he joined his hand over hers where a wedding ring sparkled. What the hell would he have to do to finally get her free of this world? Would he ever find a way? Three years later, and it was apparent, he was failing miserably.

~~~

Michael rolled for the phone. “Yeah?” He listened and quickly thanked the man. Hanging up the phone, he looked down at Maria. She had turned in her sleep, and she was sleeping on his chest. Tired. She didn’t look well. Last three days, she took over four games, fast and furious. She was using them to get her hand back into the game. It had been a while since she played for high stakes. Talent was one thing, but all skills required practice.

“Maria.” Michael bent down to talk in her ear softly. “Hey, wake up, sleeping brat.”

“Pig.” Maria pushed him away and turned over hugging a pillow.

“Call came. Cocktails in half an hour.”

Maria groaned. “Damn! Family dinners suck. Kill me now. The food will be expensive, over cooked, and look like a nightmare. Bet they got a five-star French chef. All my meat will be covered in some damn sauce. What the hell is wrong with a good grilled steak and potato?” Maria rolled over dejectedly. “I need to be suitably late.”

Maria’s eyes ran over Michael, and she smiled. “Half an hour?” He nodded his eyes taking on a bright glint. Her hand ran up his front, popping the button of his shirt. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to sleep in your clothes?”

“My mother told me to stay away from dangerous and fast women.”

“So that’s where you get that fatal attraction. Poor old shoe. Didn’t she know that a boy will do the direct opposite?”

Michael nibbled on her bottom lip. “You really want to talk about my mother?”

A fine shudder went through Maria. “Absolutely not! But I’m going to send her mental vibes about all the things I want to do to you, and that should give her a coronary.”

Michael laughed softly against her as she kissed him. Not so happy with his mother recently, he didn’t find Maria’s reaction to his mom a bad thing. Groaning, his hand found the length of bare skin beneath the hem of her slip. Elegant. She was damn elegant all the time. When he first met her, he hadn’t realized that women, young women could have a sense of timeless style. She did everything almost as if she lived trapped in a bygone era where women wore dresses, coiffed clothing, and dressing down was an unknown concept. She was a woman that should’ve been born a century or more back, one where she would’ve owned a high price casino and whore house.

“I thought you were mad at me.”

Maria bit his lip. “I am. That’s why I’m getting you all bothered and hot. Frustration is good for a man. Gives him a mean look…an edge.”

Maria rolled off the bed eluding Michael’s hand. Looking at her watch she grimaced. They would be late for sure. Her hair was a mess. Her bags weren’t unpacked.

“No time right now, G-man. I’ll let you try to detain me later.” Maria went to the bathroom, her voice flowing behind her in a sugary sweet mimic of something….well, hell, very sick in Michael’s mind. “Honey…..” Michael hacked at the sugary tone. “Could you get my bags? Thanks snookums.”

Michael groaned and lay back on the bed. It reminded him of the six year pursuit of her. Lots of frustration. Lots of cold showers. She was the one thing he wanted. The one thing he couldn’t have. Six years of teasing, chasing and eluding, he was a registered member of the blue ball syndrome. Their frickin’ poster boy.

~~~

Valenti’s. Jim was the main attraction. A man firm in the rule of his family, but lax in one area. His young wife, Isabel.

He married her twelve years ago, when she was nineteen. At sixty-eight, Jim Valenti felt that Isabel was the one thing he couldn’t lose. Michael assessed the woman immediately as he entered the room with Maria on his arm. It was hard not to know what type of woman she was. He could feel her eyes stripping his clothes, but not before noticing the label and cut. The sound of cash registers was loud and apparent. Isabel Valenti was a gold digging opportunist. She had her eye on the main chance, and a love for money and power.

Her hatred of Maria DeLuca was apparent. Maria was a woman that moved in a world that commanded money and respect, and she earned it all completely on her own. That put her up in the eyes of the very men that Isabel had always preyed upon.

“Maria!” Jim Valenti’s warm smile was friendly and genuine. He reached down and kissed her cheek, pausing to firmly shake Michael’s hand. “Kyle told me that you got married! This is a surprise! Jon didn’t say a word.”

“For good reason,” said a voice from the door. Maria groaned. Turning and smiling big, she left Michael.

“Hi, dad. I didn’t know you were coming to Angel.” Kissing her father’s cheek and returning a hug, Maria did something she never did. She gave a tell sign. Nervous. She nibbled on a nail.

“Where else would I be? The big surprise is your presence.” Jon DeLuca looked Michael up and down. His eyebrow raising. “Michael, how are you?”

“Fine, Sir.” Well sonnabitch. Jon DeLuca. That was an unforeseen complication.

Jon snorted and nodded to the other people. His eyes stopped on Isabel, more specifically her cleavage. “Isabel, you’re looking….healthy.”

Jim hit his old friend on the back. “Jon, what’ll you have?”

“Cutters. Straight.”

“I’ll get it,” said Kyle joining them. He stopped to kiss Maria’s hand, ignoring the glare from both Michael and Isabel. “LadySlippers, name your poison.”

“Well, Sir, a nice Tennessee Mash would be lovely, but I think I’ll stick to tomato juice, touch of Tabasco and celery, virgin.”

Kyle’s eyebrow went up. “You on the wagon?”

Maria sniffed. “Someone,” she said with a bite, “suggested that I drink too much.”

“Who is that uncouth bore to defame a lady, thus?” Jesse Ramirez asked as he entered the room with a tall blonde on his arm. Jesse stopped next to Maria. “LadySlippers?” Maria nodded. “Your reputation precedes you. I’ve always wanted to meet you.”

“It would be Jesse, wouldn’t it?” Maria said sweetly. “My husband…um,…” Maria purposely forgetting Michael’s name.

“Michael.” Michael pinched Maria’s side smiling at her small yelp. “Mr. Ramirez. This is an honor.”

“Indeed.” Jesse quickly dismissed Michael and went on to charm Isabel. Maria looked his dinner companion over. She was an overblown blonde in too much makeup, a skimpy dress with her breasts threatening to bounce out. Her cold blue eyes were interesting. They belied her face and attitude. She was more than she appeared.

“I’m sorry, Jesse. I’m afraid I didn’t catch your companion’s name.” Maria said sweetly.

“Courtney.” Jesse said off handedly. “Court, get me a drink.”

Maria thanked Kyle for her drink, and she sipped it while sharing a look over the rim saying to Michael. “Isn’t this fun? Honey, you know how to pick the best parties.”

“Shut up,” said Michael softly. “Did you know about your father and Ramirez?”

“Well…I’m not the person who was supposed to pull Intel, Junior G. My job was to open the door. Done.” Maria moved her hand inside Michael’s jacket along his waist. “Isabel is undressing you again,” she said softly in his ear.

“Yeah, I’ve got bruises on my body.” Michael looked down at her. “Will Jon say anything?”

Maria shrugged. “Hard to say. He likes a good show. He’ll probably sit back and watch it, highly amused.”

“Great.” Michael took her drink and took a sip. “No vodka. What’s up?”

“Now why does something have to be up?” Maria licked her lips. “Sweetie, I swear you’re almost accusing me of manipulating things or something.”

“Maria.” Michael’s eyes narrowed. She laughed and stopped when he quickly kissed her, regardless of the company. He moved away leaving her breathless, taking the stalk of celery from her glass and munching it loudly. “I believe the pot is to you. Check or raise.”

Michael went to pour another drink. Maria fumed a little. She hated when he bested her. She sure as hell wouldn’t fold.

Michael was standing at the mini bar in the corner mixing drinks, sipping his, and watching everyone as discretely as possible. He couldn’t contact Alex to see if he located Sean. Jesse Ramirez was a problem. He couldn’t be trying to shut Sean up himself, so there had to be a loose gun running around. Ramirez wanted a front row seat. Michael’s eyebrow went up when he noticed Kyle handing Isabel a drink, the way they shared a look, and the way Isabel slid her hand off Kyle’s suggestively. Hmm.

“What the hell are you doing here, Michael? For that matter, what is my daughter doing here?” Jon asked. He poured himself another drink. Stiff.

“She wanted to play.”

Jon rolled his eyes. “You effectively destroyed that part of her life three years ago. Don’t give me that.” Jon sipped his drink. “This smells of you using my daughter again. Bad enough you took everything from her, now you use her when it serves your purpose.” Jon’s stomach was souring. He didn’t spend much of his life noticing his daughter, actually, he actively ignored her. She pretty much raised herself, and one day he woke up, and she was gone. Now things were different. He wanted her back. She let him in a little, but not much. “She’s unhappy. I guess I have you to thank for that too.”

Michael sneaked a glance at Maria who was talking to Kyle. “What do you mean?”

Jon sneered at Michael. “You’re her husband!” He said sarcastically, letting it drip in spite. Michael frickin’ Guerin. The man that took his daughter out of the life. The DeLuca legacy. Bastard. “You should know!” He took himself off before he took a poke at Michael.

Maria had been right. It was a dinner from Hell. The food was as she described. French cuisine. Small pieces of lamb medallions covered in a mint sauce, three spears of asparagus, and a small tureen of mushrooms and new potatoes. Michael spooned his watercress soup; letting is pour back into the bowl. He was going to starve to death here, and the look on Maria’s face confirmed that she felt the same.

“Jim, darling. I must say that your chef did you proud,” Maria said. Michael’s eyes narrowed. Oh, she was up to something. Her voice took on a slick southern sound when she was on the mark. “But I was wondering if you could get him to make me a nice steak, medium rare with a large baked potato?”

Isabel’s voice rose in indignation. “What? This isn’t good enough for you?”

“No. It’s just that I’m pregnant, and really need the extra protein. For the baby. Doctor’s orders. I’ve been wasting lately.” Maria said sweetly. Both Michael and Jon DeLuca coughed on their food at the same time.

Maria was happily munching down a huge steak dripping in onions and grilled mushrooms. Her potato was the size of the damn state of Texas, and it was covered in sour cream and melted butter. The rest of the guests stared at her plate in envy. Michael leaned in.

“You’re pregnant!” His voice was accusing.

Maria snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous. Got me my steak didn’t it?”

Michael stared at her in disbelief. That explained her not drinking alcohol. Jim Valenti fawned all over Maria, ordered her a huge hearty meal, and kept trying to push seconds on her. “You lied!”

Maria rolled her eyes. “Yeah, so. You know me.” Damn, after nine years he was just now figuring this out? Not too swift these G-Men types. “Look, G, sweetie, I’ve got a full night of gambling. I need my energy. Steak. Good. Tiny emaciated lamb medallions. Bad.”

“Give me a bite.”

Maria hoarded her plate, moving it away from his hungry eyes. “Mine. Get your own!”

~~~

“Sean Moran.” Maria searched her prey up and down. Here he was. The man responsible for her current state of affairs.

“Maria.” Sean smiled his charming slick grin. “You’re as beautiful as I remembered. Haven’t seen you since Tunica.”

“It’s been a while.” Maria took a seat next to him. “You closed for the night?”

“Yeah wiped out my table. Advancing to the next night. Went down to see those losers booted off.”

“You’re such a sweetie.” Maria motioned for a bottle of water. She was parched. Ten hours of play and she was ready to hit the sheets. “Hear you’re in a bad way. Turning on Ramirez. That takes some major cajones, buddy.”

“He turned on a deal with me. It’s the code. Can’t let him stiff me that way.”

“Ratting comes with its own price. You know that.”

Sean shrugged. Jesse was a bigger rat. Plus, he sort of owed someone. “I got into this situation. There is this bull terrier after me. Real mean so and so. He put the pressure on with all this crap about civil duty, and it was a real downer.” Fucking Michael Guerin. Bastard. Sean tossed back his drink and motioned for another. “I, in a moment of weakness, agreed. My life has been shit since. They locked me away. I almost missed this shindig.”

“Maybe you shoulda. I had dinner with Jesse Ramirez tonight.”

Maria watched as Sean went pale. Well, who knew. He hadn’t known. Unreal. No one passed gossip faster than grafters.

“He’s here?!”

“Um hum. Word is he hired a gun to take you out. Pop holes in your lily white ass.” Maria smiled in her drink. “Though I’m sure you’re use to people taking shots at you. Women?”

Sean practically spit in his drink. “Not the ladies! They love me. Naw, it’s their husbands I have problems with.”

“You sleep with Jesse’s girl?” Maria snickered at that. Frickin’ 70’s song. Now she’d be humming it all night.

Sean looked around, and whispered to Maria. “Naw, his mother!”

“No! Get out of here! She has to be…..like old!”

“Best set of legs outside of yours, I swear. Woman got me drunk and abused me.”

“Yeah, I bet.” Maria rested her arm on the bar and stared at the man. Sean. He had a sweet boyish charm all his own. Curling light brown hair, and wicked hazel eyes. He had a way of smiling that made a person know that he was alive, full of fun, and ready to share. “I bet woman abuse you all the time! Throw you on the bed and have their way.”

“I hate to say no. It might bruise their sensitive ego.”

Maria nodded. Such a lovely boy. “So you slept with Jesse’s mother, and he retaliated by dropping a deal with you?”

“Cost me a bundle. It was hard enough drop that I got picked up by the Feds. They offered me a deal, and I didn’t see any reason not to take it, turn over on Jesse seeing how he snitched me out to the Feds in the first place.”

“Turnabout fair play?”

“Yeah.” Sean smiled at Maria moving in on her. “So you look lonely, sort of sad. You’ve been off the circuit lately. You okay?”

“Been keeping clean. I had this annoying pest situation.” Maria knew Michael was listening. She was sure he would have something to say about that later. “Anyway, this pest was a big…huge infestation. Sucked my life dry. I swear. I had no recourse, so I accepted the inevitable.”

“That sucks. Let me buy you a drink.”

Maria smiled. “You want to buy me a drink?” Oh this should be interesting. “Sure, what do you suggest?”

Sean moved closer, pushing a bowl of peanuts to Maria. “Oh, we could take it to a private party. Tequila shots? I’ll tell you about my game tonight. I was on the mark.”

“Tequila.” Maria felt a pull of a smile. “I don’t know. I heard all about you, Sean. Nothing you like more than gambling, then the ladies.”

“Not true! It’s the ladies! They love me. I’m innocent.”

Maria laughed. Oh, that charm. She would recognize it anywhere. It was lethal, but she had already been bitten, so it was easy to see it for what it was. It didn’t matter. Her pit bull would be there, sooner or later.

Maria felt him before she saw him. So. Okay, sooner.

Sean saw him too. He put his head down on the bar groaning. “Damn! Who let you in the door?” Sean hit the bar with his hand. “This is not fair! Not fair.”

“Buck it up, Sean. You’ve been bad.” Michael said, his face stony and mean.

“Yeah, according to you, story of my life.” Sean looked at the bartender. “Hit me again. Hit me hard, and keep them coming.”

“You’re a liability. You know that?”

Sean shrugged. “I’m not leaving, so don’t even suggest it. I’ll scream a shriek. I’m sure Valenti will take offense having Feds in house.”

Michael rolled his eyes. “You’re not clear here. Ramirez is taking a front seat interest. He rolled power players to whack you.”

Sean grabbed his two drinks. “Good thing you’re here then. Stop them from interfering with my game, and I’ll go like a lamb after day four. Earlier if I get ousted from the table. Deal?”

Maria refused to make eye contact with Michael. His deal. His runner. Not her business. She held her breath. It was the game. The game was everything.

Michael blew the air from his lungs. It was stupid to keep Sean in the open. He was a potential lost. Staring at Maria’s bowed head, Michael bit back his natural instinct to take his charge and go undercover. She wasn’t putting in her two cents, but he could almost feel her holding her breath.

“Okay. We stay.”

Sean smiled. That was unexpected. “I stay, but you need to make sure you keep up with me on the tourney. Lose a day, and you’re gone.” Sean winked at Maria. He took his drinks and went to find a party.

Michael sat next to Maria. Noting her water, he nodded for another bottle and one for him. “Can you hold on as long as him?” He asked quietly.

“Not a problem.” Maria ripped the label off her water. “I can hold, but I go to day four and finals, then it’s for me, and you have to worry about your own concerns.”

“Understood.” Michael took the mutilated bottle from her. “You really think I destroyed your life?” He asked quietly.

“I didn’t say you destroyed it.” Maria said.

“No, no you didn’t. You said I sucked your life dry.” Her father said he ruined her life. Michael’s stomach hurt. He had to be working on a damn ulcer.

“You definitely changed it. It was inevitable.” Maria sighed heavily. “What happened, Michael? Three years ago?” Maria said looking at him. “I walked in, you didn’t take me in. I made the deal with Max. I didn’t have to do that. It was my choice.”

“You did it for me.”

“I did.” Maria took her water back. “Guess you can say that I did the damage to my life, all by myself.”

He never asked her why. He thought he knew. Maybe he needed to hear it from her. “Why? I…” Michael scratched his eyebrow. “Why, Maria?”

Maria stroked his cheek. “Maybe I thought you were worth it.” Maria was tired. She needed to sleep. She looked at him. “You’ve been on desk lately. How do you like it?”

“Hate it.” It was easy to be honest about that. He hated being pulled from the field.

“Then perhaps now you understand how I feel.” Maria left him sitting there.

~~~

Alex looked over when she came through the door. The wire she had on was off in two seconds flat. “That is the last time I wear a wire. It stifles my movement. I can’t concentrate.”

“You were on tonight.”

“Not on enough. I felt stiff.” Maria sat down and took off her shoes. “I’m going to have to do some real soul searching, get my mind in the zone. This is down a day. I might not get to do this again, any time soon. I should enjoy myself.”

Alex nodded. “He was out the door once you started talking to Sean.”

“He’s getting slower in his old age.”

Alex laughed at that. “He’s been upset. Worried about you.”

Maria shrugged. “He knows better. I’m fine. I’m always fine.”

“You disappeared.”

“Yeah, well I don’t remember the deal I made included me signing in and out or keeping the authorities informed of my schedule.”

Alex looked at her. “It didn’t, but you know he spent a lot of years playing ‘catch me if you can’ with you. Old habits are hard to kick.”

“Well I warned him. I gave him the full Jack Nicholson deal.”

Alex frowned. “Jack Nicholson?”

“Yeah, as good as it gets.” Alex laughed at that. “I think I’ll go take a long bath and go to bed.”

Alex watched her, but he couldn’t let it stand at that. “Maria,” Alex waited for her to look back at him. “It was a good thing you did. It saved his career.” Maria nodded. She was too tired to really think about it.

~~~

Michael came out of the bedroom in only his pants, still wiping moisture off his shoulders from the shower. Alex was talking on the phone, and Sean was sleeping on the sofa. It was the end of the third day. So far it had been uneventful. Both Sean and Maria had advanced to day four finals. They were two of the nine final seats.

“How is she?”

Michael stretched. He slept badly; His mother’s assurance for naps was something else to hold against her. He sneered at the sleeping Sean. “Her usual freaky self. She just spent five minutes in the bathroom while I was showering telling me how this side of the house is unlucky. That Jim did it on purpose. Something about my aftershave. She wants me to stop shaving until after the tournament.”

“Sean told me that changing my socks would be bad luck.”

Michael rolled his eyes. “Maria has a list. She won’t touch plastic. Wood only, no laminate. She tossed out clothing that might be synthetic. She woke me up in the middle of the night because she wanted the left side of the bed. Also, she’d like you to go back to the mainland and get her a new lucky rabbit’s foot.”

“Michael! Did you touch the side of the door when you went through? You have to touch the side of the door!”

“Lady G, you’re getting deranged.”

“Easy for you to say. You’re not looking at elimination! I swear if it’s pasta for dinner, I’ll know that Jim is trying to sabotage me.” Maria hit Michael with his shirt. “This has synthetic fibers. Toss it! I’m going to go check the kitchen. I want to make sure that they got the milk fresh this morning. Nothing frozen. Nothing from concentrate.”

Sean laid back on the sofa with a hat over his face to keep out the light. “It’ll get worse. Last night is always worse. I didn’t change my underwear once for sixteen days.”

Michael and Alex both stepped further away from him.

Maria, the maniacal suite genie went around the room reorganizing the furniture. Feng Shuing the world from a possible misalignment at the next convergence.

“In the next few hours it is important that no one look at me, talk to me directly or break my concentration. No music or strong odors. I should avoid men altogether.”

Michael ignored her ranting and went into the bedroom pulling on his shirt. This was a woman that saved the rinds off salami. No one ever accused her of sanity. "Maria, get your ass in here right now!" It was a loud roar and it echoed throughout the room. Maria crossed her eyes at Alex and he decided to discretely leave the room.

"You bellowed G-Man?"

Michael stood next to the bed, arms folded, expression stern, but with a twinkle in his golden brown eyes "What is all this?"

Eyes wide, and shining with innocence, Maria glanced over at the bed. She took in the pile of socks, boxers, and tee shirts that literally covered the king sized bed. "Umm, the underwear elves have visited?"

Michael shook his head.

"Two for one sale at Whitie Tighties? Ugly Undies R Us?"

"Maria! You rifled through my…."

“Unmentionables?” Maria shrugged. “Baby, you don’t need all that extra cover. It just makes it hard to get to skin.”

Michael stood tapping his foot. He was not amused.

"Okay, so your clothing was poorly arranged. I thought you could refold them..." Before she could finish speaking, Michael pounced on her, shoving her down on the bed amidst the pile of tees and silk boxers.

Michael leaned over Maria and nibbled softly on her chin. "That thing about avoiding men?" Maria nodded. “Is that another one of your taboo, superstition things?”

"Oh yeah. Men. Bad for the knees, and they are hard on the concentration."

"Does that include me?"

Maria grinned. "You made me create that rule. But….since you’re my husband…" She ran a hand over Michael's back, pulling him closer. "So we're okay right?"

"Yeah." Michael sucked the side of her neck. “If you tell me why you told me that you were going to Atlantic City for three days, and six days later I find you in Las Vegas.”

“I think best at a gambling table. I followed a few. Las Vegas was where I ended up. That’s all.”

“So you weren’t running away?”

“From you? Nope. You should know by now, I only run away from myself.” Maria kissed his chin. “I had some hard thinking to do, and you know I can’t think clearly unless I’m holding cards down.”

“So why are you mad at me?”

Maria kissed him hard. “It took you six days to find me! You’re getting rusty.”

“No I’m not! I was busy with stupid Sean. I would’ve been there sooner.”

Maria sighed in exasperation. “I knew it! Now that I’m not a felon, you don’t find me sexy anymore. Chasing Sean instead of me.”

Michael snorted. “Are you suggesting that I find Sean sexy?”

“Do you?” Maria laughed at the face he made. Well that answered her question. “Well thank goodness for that!” Maria ran her finger along his throat. “So are you going to help me rearrange the bedroom?”

Michael smirked at that. No he wasn’t. He had started looking for her the day before she was due back. He was busy with Sean, so he took his time, gave her space. “Nope. So we’re good?”

"Yep, and you know what that means."

"What?" Michael let her push him over on his back. She still hadn’t told him what she was thinking about, but she would when she was ready.

"Makeup sex!"

The piles of his clothing were shoved to the floor, and clothing soon followed as they made up for lost time. Michael latched onto the tender spot just under the curve of Maria's jaw, sucking wetly as his hands traveled down her body finding all the curves he knew so well.

Maria groaned under his exploring hands, her own trailing along the curve of his hard muscled back. Her hands squeezed solid muscle, as her one hand went up to the back of his neck, mating her mouth to his.

"Oh god! I hate it when you take off. It's been so long." Fingers stroked his skin, and Michael shifted back slightly giving Maria better access, a groan low in his throat. "Forty eight hours, Maria, is too long." Maria sat up, and moved to straddle his hips. She never talked much. She removed his shirt, and tossed it over the side with the rest of his mangled clothing. Removing his clothing and hers as fast as possible.

"Come on, Maria, now!"

Maria quickly sheathed herself around him, and it was her turn to groan as she straddled him, sliding down onto his rigid member, and encasing it in pulsating heat.

Maria began to rock back and forth, using well honed muscles to squeeze and release the hard shaft filling her. Leaning down, she joined her mouth to his moving her body along his as the sweat between them poured along their skin. Maria reached up and gripped him hard on the shoulders as he pumped in time with the rocking motions.

Groans of pleasure and completion filled the room over and over through out the night, until the exhausted duo slipped into a sated sleep.

~~~

The buzz of the alarm clock was a decidedly unwelcome intrusion for people who had just dropped off to sleep four hours before. Maria reached over and slapped the snooze, snuggling closer to the pocket of warmth that was Michael.

A hard hand slapped her on the ass. "Come on babe, up and at em"

Maria snickered, still half asleep. "Not tonight dear, I have a headache."

"Funny LadySlippers. You really will have a headache if you miss the last day of tournament and Jim Valenti wins by default."

Maria reluctantly got up and pushed his piles of clothing aside, wincing slightly as she hurried to the bathroom. She and Michael had gotten just a little carried away last night.

"Oh crap!" Change that to a lot carried away.

"What's up, honey?" Maria made a face at the endearment. He had a way of saying that made her want to laugh. Half serious, and half mocking.

"Check the mirror, sweetie."

Michael’s shout of "Oh shit." floated back to her. She turned back and fingered the exceedingly large hickey tucked under the curve of her jaw. Several smaller sisters and brothers dotted her neck, breasts and stomach. There was even a small one in the crook of her arm. She distinctly remembered returning the favor several times throughout the night.

Maria finished up and hurried back into the bedroom. Yep, Michael sat staring morosely in the wall mirror, looking at his own hickeys and bites, Maria was glad Michael couldn't see the one on his ass.

Maria held up a hand. "I vote that we not fight again until we have a couple of days to recover." Maria stretched her neck. Damn. He got her good. This was going to take a lot of makeup to cover.

Michael took a quick shower, and lying back on the bed, he watched her obsess, smiling. All those years ago, he chased her. She was the most fascinating woman he ever met. She was funny and exciting. There was a taste of edge to her lifestyle. She never backed down, and she kept him on his toes. Six years they played games, touching, but never touching. Maria DeLuca was forbidden to him.

Dark alleys she would push him against the wall and kiss the crap out of him. Every time they met, it got worse. What started as kisses, soon turned into a full make-out session. They went as far they could without crossing over to full intimacy. Until the last time. He had her. Completely. He only needed to bring her in, and it was over. That was when he finally stopped resisting and slept with her. They made love, and it cost him everything.

He couldn’t take her in. It was a conflict of interest. Sleeping with a suspect almost ended his career. They had to let her go. A part of him didn’t know if she had planned that. Slept with him to make it impossible for him to arrest her. Maria answered his doubts. She walked into custody, gave herself up. She gave up her freedom and life for him. It saved his career. She gave up her life for his, and they had lived with the consequences ever since.

“You ready for today?” Michael asked.

Maria’s nervousness was obvious. “Sure. No. I think….do we have any chocolate? Chocolate will make me feel better.”

Michael sighed. “I wonder if Sean is feeling this nervous.”

“Sean who?” said Maria. It was official. Her brained was fried.

“Maria!” Michael forced her to stare at him. “Go win.” She smiled and waved on her way out the door.

~~~

There were nine finalists.

At one o’clock the players entered, their seats set with the chips from the previous day. Brody Davis took the high card for the button and took seat 1. The other players took their seats all of them signing the felt in front of them with marker pens.

By 1:16 the cards were in the air. Ante was $6,000 with blinds $24, 000 and $48,000.

There was an amazing first hand Jon DeLuca found two Aces and Maria with 9 9 called the all in bet of 1.17 million. The board had a 10 6 2 2 3 and Jon DeLuca doubled up to over 2.4 million.

In the next pot, Jim raised the pre-flop by $126,000. Jon DeLuca re-raised by $450,000, Jim, unwilling to be bested countered with another raise of 450K. Jon DeLuca folded, giving up the 600K he put in.

A small pot went to Billy, as the others slowly folded. Then in the next turn Maria, all in with a King Queen and a Queen on the flop. Jim called with an 8 7, and got a straight drawn on the turn, and pairs the 8, but it wasn’t enough. Maria doubled up her chips.

Just shy an hour in the game Sean raised on the button. Kyle increased the raise by 150K from the small blind, and it proved too rich for Sean. He gave it up as his hand tapped out.

Then, Sean raised next hand from the cut off winning the Antes and blinds. At the top of the hour, Kyle again came over the top of Sean, who raised pre-flop and took a nice pot. Sean countered in the next hand by making it 150K. All fold. Kyle took the next one with 150K hand as all folded again.

There was one hour left at this level. Billy took a small pot, Jim took the antes and blinds, Sean rose to 150k again and took the center pot, and Jesse, with a short stack, rose to 135K, and found no callers. Kyle continued to make small raises and winning the antes and blinds and Jon DeLuca took the center with a small raise.

Hanson made a small raise, and Kyle, sitting under him goes all in covering Hanson if he calls; Hanson quickly called and showed 8 8. Kyle had Ace King . There was a King on the flop and a Queen and 2. A little 3 appeared. The crowd that was hushed erupted when an innocent 7 rivers. Hanson was out of the game. He came in 9th in tournament and took home $225,000.

Jesse went all in for 240K with no callers on the next hand. He took the pot easily. Maria doubled thru Jim with Jack Jack against an Ace King which was no help for the trailing hand. Also it was announced that Kyle now had 4.8 million.

Brody came about and bet 330K all in. Sean called with Queen Queen. Brody had Ace Queen. An Ace on the turn put the all-in ahead, but gave Sean a spade flush draw. A 3 of hearts went top. No flush, so Brody doubled up. Billy raised and won the center.

Maria slowed to play Ace King with a flop of King, 4, and 2, Finally betting 180K on the end, Jon DeLuca called to make a decent pot for Maria. Jon DeLuca had Jack Jack this time versus Maria’s 5 5. No help, but Maria bet out on the end to try to steal. Jon DeLuca won a nice pot

Billy raised Sean in the big blind betting all in, Billy was left thinking as the bell goes for the 15 minute break at the end of this level. No call. Sean took a decent pot.

Players resumed again, with Jesse gone all in, and called by Kyle, Ace 9 for Jesse. Queen 7 for Kyle. There was a 2, 9, King all spades on flop. Kyle needed a spade. Jack of clubs on the river and Jesse doubled up.

Michael paced, stopping to lean next to Alex who was watching the action and Sean closely. “What’s the action?”

Alex seemed fascinated by the entire show. “The current level is at $12,000 ante, $24,000 small blind and $48,000 big blind, so it’s costing $84,000 per round. I am just waiting to hear a current chip count. They’re down to eight players.”

Michael was nervous as hell. Maria hadn’t flinched once or looked his way. She was completely on the game. He might as well not exist.

“There goes the chip counts. Kyle has $4,500,000, Maria is at $3,600,000. Jim $4,500,000. Billy just toppled $2,250,000. Jon DeLuca was shoring at $1,500,000. Sean was a small pot of $1,110,000. Brody still alive at $690,000, and Jesse needing help at $600,000.” Alex wiped his sweaty palms. He never knew poker at high stakes could be so intense. He looked at the players, and all of them were silent, concentrating, and there was a deadly calm to them. He couldn’t have done it. Nerves of steel as they tossed in hundred of thousands like nothing, losing it, watching it double, and risking it all on a chance.

Maybe he was starting to understand what Maria and Sean saw in the game, it was an ancient battle of wits and iron control; the money was nothing. Life perspective narrowed to those tiny chips, and all they represented was whether a person was in or out of the game.

Alex waved off the pacing Michael and went back to the game, his eyes never leaving Sean. Whoever Jesse hired, they seemed to be respecting the game. Maybe they were set to pick him off as he left Angel. There was still a week.

Jesse lost a 5th of his stack as he passed the blinds, and he was just in a hand with Kyle and passed. He let the small blind go as well, so he was now down 108,000.

Jesse went all in for 240,000 on the button. Brody tried to get Jon DeLuca not to call. The game had a strange pause as Billy made a first and had matzo soup delivered to the final table. He was hungry. Jon DeLuca called with Jack 8 off suit and Jesse had 5 5. The flop was King 7 3, a small 6 on the turn and an overkill 5 on the river. This doubled Jesse to 660,000.

Kyle made it 180,000 and Billy had come over the top to make it a total of 600,000. This was the first time that a player has re-raised Kyle. Kyle was taking his time and thinking deeply about it. He asked Billy how many chips he had...Kyle counted down some chips, and looked very calm, sitting in his dark shades and very smart jacket. Kyle decided to let it go and Billy picked up 378,000

Jim opened for 180,000 on the button, Billy re raised from the small blind an extra 420,000 and took the pot. Brody went all in on the small blind and Jon DeLuca didn't defend the big blind. Brody took the 204,000 center. It was after 4pm, Kyle was under the gun, raised to 150,000, the action moved round to Jesse who paused to think for 5 minutes and then goes all in for 210,000 more. Kyle immediately called the raise. Jesse had Ace Jack and Kyle a pair of 10's, the flop comes with a Queen, 8, and 4, the necessary Jack hits on the turn and the relevant 6 completes the board. Jesse doubled up, plus the antes and blind. The crowd broke out in cheering and screaming at the outcome, and Jesse was back in the game. He now had 870,000.

Jon DeLuca in the cut off pushed his 1,200,000 all in and collected the 204,000 in the center. Another pot between Billy and Jim, Billy bet 180,000 and Jim raised 600,000, Billy went all in, and Jim threw in. Billy went up by 600,000 + to the good. The crowd still on the ride, continued to chant Go Jesse, Go Kyle, and the next hand Jesse pushed the lot in again and collected the 204,000 in the center with no callers.

Billy made the same play again from the small blind. Jesse paused, thinking for only 20 seconds and let it go, showing King Queen off suit. Jesse was sitting at the table with a cocktail stick for comfort in the corner of his mouth. The players were finally relaxing slightly and there were smiles and laugher at the table now. They had been at this final table for 4 hours and only one of the original 9 had lost. That was Hanson, who went out about an hour and a half ago.

Jim made it 180,000 and Jon DeLuca went all in over the top. Jim’s raises weren't getting very much respect today and he let it go. He started the day as the big pot, and his chips were slowly being eaten by the smaller stakes.

LadySlippers opened for 180,000 on the button. Jim was in the small blind and raised an extra 270,000. Maria again went all in for an extra 2,250,000. Jim was thinking deeply. This could be the hand, this could be it...

Jim counted his chips and was frowning heavily...

He was checking Maria’s stack and asked for a count of Maria’s stack. Jim smiled and chatted to Maria. This could be it. The showdown he waited years for her to come out of retirement for. Maria started to count her chips. Michael frowned. She was calm and her hands were steady, but he could almost see her blinking as she counted. The pot would be well over 6 million dollars if Jim forced a call. He started the game with a larger pot, and he had about 1,500,000 more than Maria currently. Jim played with his chips as he moved them all to the left and back to the right. He checked Maria for a reaction and Maria remained very calm. Maria smiled and laughed. Michael winced. It was a forced laugh and not a casual laugh. The pressure was on...

Jim sighed heavily, and he stared at Maria. She was staring into space and was not phased at all about Jim's glare. Jim pushed his chips forward.

The bet was called.

The cards. Maria had Jack Jack and Jim had Ace Jack off suit. The flop was 3 3 7 , no help for Jim and the 2 of clubs, and then the case Jack on the river gave Maria an overkill of 3 Jacks.

The pot was estimated at 6.75 million, and Maria took a clear chip lead. Jim’s stack took a major kill, and he was now one of the short stacks at the table. Michael slumped breathing in relief. He caught Maria’s eye, and she winked. Brat. Her nervous laugh had been a blind to pull Jim into the kill.

What an unbelievable call! Calling three million with an Ace Jack off suit. It was showing that the pressure was really on now. The final table kicked it up a notch.

“What is the chip count, Alex?”

“Calm down old man. She’s tight. Kyle has 3,000,000, Jim is down hard to 1,050,000. Billy is still in the game at 3,300,000. Jesse surprising picked up to 1,800,000. The small stacks ate Jim’s larger one. Brody is 720,000, Jon DeLuca at 1,950,000, and Sean is still in the game at about 1,350,000.”

“And Maria?”

“Calm down, poppa bear, your lady is leading the predators. Maria is sitting on 5,700,000, thanks to Jim.”

Jim bet 180,000 and needed to win this pot to gain back not only his chips but also his confidence. Maria called, Queen on the Turn, to go with the 7 9 7 flop, both checked, and repeat 9 came on the river, and Maria bet out 150,000 and Jim let it go, no hands shown.

Jim made a small raise and took the antes and blinds no one challenged his small stack. Maria had Aces trying to trap Billy. He bet into a Jack Jack 9 flop. Billy folded. Sean in the cutoff opened for 825,000 with no callers.

Michael frowned at another pause in play. “What’s the beef this time?” He frowned over at a pale Maria. She was drinking an orange juice talking to Sean, and they both seemed pretty buddy-buddy.

“They’re tossing the $1,000 chips. They have just been raced off and a new chip has been introduced...A $25,000 chip.” Alex was getting way too enthusiastic about the game. Michael frowned. “That means larger stakes, larger bets, and larger pots.”

Michael was ready to collect Maria and Sean and get the hell off Angel. This game was taking too many hours. More than he liked. The action picked up again, so he leaned against the wall and watched.

Jim all in no call. Brody all in no call. They were playing 15K ante 30K small blind and 60 K on the large. Brody went all in with a Queen Jack. Maria called with Ace King. There was no help for anyone on the board. Maria took Brody's last few chips and Brody collected 300,000 real dollars for 8th place.

The overnight chip leader Jim Valenti went all in with 7 7 . Maria found an Ace 10 and called the all in. A flop of King, 8, 2 didn't change the lead, but the Ace on the turn certainly does. No miracle 7 on the end for Jim and he finished 7th for the day and $360,000 for his efforts. Jim stood up and reached over to kiss Maria’s cheek. He’d get her next time.

There was 225K in the center before any bets. Button with Kyle. Maria called from the small blind and bet on the river as Billy folded. Jon DeLuca made it 240K. Billy went all in on the small blind for about 1200 more. Jon DeLuca stopped to pause his options. Billy chatted up Maria on the side, and Jon DeLuca let it go.

Jon DeLuca bluffed out of the big blind with 7 2 betting all-in and getting Jesse to lay it down. Jon DeLuca all in again in the small blind with only Sean left to act in the big blind. He let it go . Queen Queen this time. Sean from the small blind went all in. No one calls. He took the pot.

Sean all in on the button . Blinds fold. Three in a row to Sean. Up to 1.275 million. Jon DeLuca raised 120K, Maria on the button raised 210K. Jon DeLuca called. Flop 8 7 5,checked. Maria went 360K, and Jon DeLuca blinked to lay it down.

Then a huge hand. Billy went all in with a Jack and 6 of diamonds. Jon DeLuca found an Ace Ace and called all in. Jon DeLuca had the shorter stack. Two diamonds and a Jack on the flop. Billy now actually had a favorite in this hand. Queen on the turn. 3 on the river. Jon DeLuca doubled up plus. Now it was over 3 million.

Next hand Billy moved all his 285K in with Ace 8, he found Sean with an Ace King. The flop produced an Ace and a King King on the turn, no case Ace so Billy lost all his chips in two hands. Billy came out 6th collecting 450,000.

Jesse doubled up through Kyle. His Ace 8 holding up against Q 10. Jon DeLuca made it 255K. Kyle raised it to 750K. Jon DeLuca let it go.

Jesse went all in with Ace 2 and Jon DeLuca called it with King 7. When the flop came Jack, 5, 8 followed by 7 and finally another 7, Jon DeLuca took all the chips and Jesse went out in 5th Position with $585,000.

Sean bet $300,000 and Maria went all in and asked for a chip count. Sean threw away, leaving himself $300,000 lighter for that move. Maria seemed quite content to sit back and not make many moves and let the other three players take each other out, meaning that each time another player goes, her prize money jumped up considerably.

“Alex?”

“Maria has 11.1 million, her dad 3.6, Kyle is holding 3 million, and Sean is hanging with 1.5.”

Sean added another $450,000 to his bankroll by winning the last pot. He raised $240,000 and everyone else passed. Maria bet $300 K and Jon DeLuca bet 3 million. Maria passed, so Jon DeLuca picked up $495,000 pot.

Maria moved in for $300K and Kyle called all in. The flop came 7, 3, 2 rainbow and Maria let it go.

After 7pm, Maria had 12 million in chips, and she won the blinds again by betting $300K first to speak. Everyone was being very careful as there was significant difference in the remaining prize money. 1st place was 6 million, 2nd at 3.3 million, 3rd 1,650,000 and 4th at 843,000. Jon DeLuca was the only one that had so far tried to take on the chip leader. Maria called the small blind and Jon DeLuca checked. The flop was 4 4 3 both players check. 2 on the turn, both check. 7 on the river and both check again. Jon DeLuca chose a king to win the pot of $240,000.

Maria on the button made it 210K to go and Sean in the big blind with Ace 9 pushed all his chips in to make it 765,000 to go. Maria called the bet with Queen 10, the same hand she beat Phil Hellmuth with 2 days ago. The flop came Queen Queen 8 and it was all over. No miracle Ace Ace for Sean who finished 4th place taking home $843,000.

There was a short break as Sean left the table. Maria accepted a kiss from him on the cheek.

Jon DeLuca on the button raised 180K. Kyle made it an extra 600K. Maria pondered then went all in for 12,000,000. Jon DeLuca passed on the action. Kyle called. Aces for Maria. Jacks for Kyle. The board comes King, 9, 5, 9, 3. Amazing hand! Straight after the break and Kyle took 3rd with $1,650,000 in real money

It was down to Maria and her father, Jon DeLuca. Two hands flew by with no serious action. Called before the flop by Maria, Board reads King Queen 10 Queen. Jon DeLuca leads it for 90K, then Maria raised it another 300K. No call by Jon DeLuca. Maria’s hand.

Jon DeLuca raised 120K from the button. Flop was King 9 9, checked by Maria. Jon DeLuca bet 120K and Maria folded.

“Can she take him?” Michael asked Alex. He didn’t know. Maria’s teacher was Jon DeLuca. She was good. He was the master. Three years off, Maria was at a disadvantage.

The un-raised pot went to Maria after a 150K bet on the flop, and another to Maria after a pre-flop bet of 120K. Jon DeLuca bet 90K at a King, 4, 3 flop. Maria folded. It was four minutes until the next level.

Maria raised 150K pre-flop on the button. Jon DeLuca called. Flop was King Queen 6 with two of the cards being hearts. Maria bet 150K. Jon DeLuca called. Turn was 4 of spade. Maria bet 150K. Jon DeLuca called. The last card of the turn, the river was 5 of clubs. Check. Check this time. Queen Jack for both players. The split pot.

The room was quiet.

Jon DeLuca raised 90K. Maria called. Flop was Ace 3 2 with two being diamonds. Check. Jon DeLuca pushed 150K. Maria passed.

Last hand this level. Ante 15K and 60K/120K for small blind and big blind. Maria raised 150K. Jon DeLuca folded. Maria raised 150K on the button. Jon DeLuca folded again. Jon DeLuca 120K raised this time, but no interest from Maria.

Maria 120K. Jon DeLuca called, Flop came at King 3 2 with two being diamonds. Check. Maria 240K. Jon DeLuca called, Turn was a 3. Check. Maria 240K. Jon DeLuca raised 450K. Maria called. River card was a Queen. No flush. Jon DeLuca checked. Maria checked. Maria showed Jack Jack and won the pot. Jon DeLuca lost 1.2 million there. Jon DeLuca was down to 3 million only.

Pot to Maria after 120 K raise. Maria again 150K raise. Jon DeLuca called. Queen 4 4 with two being clubs on the flop. Check. Maria 150K. Jon DeLuca all in! For $2,250,000 more. Called.

Jack 8 of clubs for Jon DeLuca.

Queen 10 for Maria, and what else? 10 on the turn. A club hit on the river….But it was the 10 of Clubs! Flush to Jon DeLuca…but a full house to Maria! And she took the tournament! Jon DeLuca stood and gave his daughter a full hug.

“Pregnant, huh?”

“Dad…”

“Did you tell him I offered you a partnership in the casino?”

“Dad…”

“Uh huh. We’ll talk about this later!” Jon kissed his daughter again, and glared at Michael on his way off the felt. Maria didn’t have a chance to react before Michael picked her up in a full hug and spun her around.

~~~

“There’s this floating game just off New Orleans. If we hurry…”

Michael pushed his sunglasses back on his nose. They were going to the mainland, the launch powering back. It was uneventful leaving Angel. Michael took the chance to offer Kyle some sound advice before they parted. It was pretty apparent that Kyle was crushing Isabel’s smokes. Michael suggested that perhaps doing his father’s wife might lead to hard feelings, and was it really worth it? He left a pondering Kyle at the wayside.

“Shut the hell up, Sean. You’re back in custody until the trial. No exceptions.” Michael glared at the nappy headed Sean Moran. A royal pain in his ass. He blamed his mother for his current predicament.

“But….”

Michael lost his cool. Despite winning, Maria was strangely silent. She had been that way a lot lately. “Sean, I swear….I’ll call mom! Tell her how much you lost gambling. How much you could’ve won.”

“You wouldn’t!” Sean’s mouth dropped. Michael was the meanest of brothers. No wonder he used their mother’s maiden name of Moran. He didn’t want anyone to know his brother was a Fed. Humiliating.

“Push me!” Michael had it.

“Sean, trust me. He doesn’t have a poker face. He never bluffs.” Maria said softly. The launch came to the marina, and they disembarked. Sean was still bitching, when Alex noticed a hot blonde heading their way.

Michael absentmindedly turned, and the blonde barely registered. But then she did. Courtney. Jesse Ramirez’s fluffer. He barely got it out before Alex took Sean to the deck. Maria was still in the line of fire as Courtney’s piece came up. Michael tackled Maria to the ground as the shot rang out across the pier. Alex from the ground put three shots full center in Courtney, and she was down in a heap.

Michael rolled. Maria was down. He swore. “Maria! Baby!”

“Well fuck a duck!” Maria looked at her ruined silk blouse, the blood running down her arm from a crease from the bullet. “Ouch!” She looked at Michael hitting him with her good hand. “What’s the deal? Knocking me over? I’d of got out of the way.”

“Shut up!” Michael was pale. “Alex, make sure that bitch is down, and then duct tape Sean to a chair. I’m taking Maria to the hospital.”

“I’m okay. It’s hardly a scratch!” Maria frowned at the big man, not looking so big suddenly. “Michael really. It’s nothing.” She bit back the pain that was radiating across her shoulder. He didn’t look like he could take it.

“You’re always getting into trouble.”

“Hey! Unfair! I was happily sitting at a table in Vegas. You’re the one that pulled me into a hot zone!”

Michael held her head and kissed her hard. “Maria, honey, you’re like a target for random firing. Always have been. Always will be.”

Sean cursed as Alex called for an ambulance and backup. “So I take it they know each other well?” Sean looking at his usually unflappable big brother losing it over the lady gambler.

Alex snorted. “You could say. They’ve been married for three years. Don’t you ever go to family dinners?”

Sean scratched his neck, it turning slightly red. “I…I’m out of town a lot. Heard he married…” It hit him hard. “Well, shit!” Sean laughed hard. “My brother, the Fed, married LadySlippers, has me for a brother, and his father-in-law is Jon DeLuca!” Sean couldn’t stop laughing. And he thought he was embarrassed to admit that his brother was a Fed. Damn, Michael always had to upstage him.

Michael drew his gun and aimed it at his pain in the ass younger brother. “Do I have to tell you to shut up again?”

“God, G. Put down the piece,” Maria said weakly. “My luck, you’ll shoot me!” Michael went back to fawning concern over his wife. Maria peeked up and winked at Sean. He smiled. Finally. Someone on his side.

~~~

Michael came into the cubicle behind the curtain. “The ER doc is signing you out soon. He’s waiting for a cleaner x-ray and your labs.”

“I told you that I was okay.” Maria struggled to sit up, reaching for her destroyed blouse. Dammit, an Arden. What a waste. Michael pushed her back down in the bed taking his seat in the chair next to her bed, holding her hand.

“Just rest.”

“Where are Sean and Alex?”

“Alex has him at the local chapter. He has Sean duct taped to a chair, per my instructions, especially his mouth. The putz has the local boys in a game of stud.”

Maria smiled. Sean Moran. Her brother-in-law. Somehow, she suspected they were going to see a whole lot more of him. She plucked at the hospital gown. It didn’t do a damn thing for her.

Michael kissed her hand. She was still pale. Still upset. He could tell. She was quiet. “So you going to tell me what’s been going on with you?”

“Nuthin’ honey.”

“I thought we had a better relationship than that.”

Maria sighed. Her hand wandering over his face. “We do.” She said softly.

“Then why did I find you sitting at a table in Vegas days after you were suppose to be home?”

“I was thinking. Working out the angles. You know I think better when I’m playing.”

“Uh huh.” Michael searched her face. For nine years, there had never been another person for him. From the moment he first met the nineteen year old lady gambler, when he left the academy as a green FBI agent, at twenty-one. She was his case study. He met her in person, and she became his life’s work. Nothing ever eclipsed her. Not in six years of chasing her across the United States. Not in six years of sexual frustration. And especially not after three years of wedded bliss. She was his touchstone. The one person he couldn’t and wouldn’t live without. It hurt seeing her so unhappy, and so angry with him.

“You going to tell me what you’re thinking about and why you’re mad at me?” Michael didn’t want to say it. He didn’t want to hear it. “Is it because you regret marrying me? Giving up your life to save mine?”

Maria’s eyes softened. Something that only seemed to happen for Michael. “No.” She kissed his mouth softly. “I told you that you were worth it. In three years, I’ve never changed my mind about that. Even when you leave the toilet seat up.”

Michael kissed her fingers, her wedding ring sparkling, the band matching the one on his hand. “Then why are you mad?”

Maria sighed. “Stupid really.” She stroked his cheek. “Remember how it was before you were given the desk job?” Michael nodded. He had been more of a field agent. Working cases. Mostly in the New England area, but often they took him to a farther field. Maria laughed and shook her head. “Then you got the desk, and suddenly, you were home every night. Dinner. We’d go out. Movies. Spending time together. You were in my bed. I liked it. Not that I didn’t like it before, because when you were off on a case, the happy to see you, baby is home roll in the sheets was always good. So worth the wait.”

Michael smiled at that. He always came home with a powerful need for her. She was like an emptiness in his gut when they were apart too long. Six years of denial. He hated every moment of it, so once married, he didn’t deny himself her company. Not for a moment.

“We were getting pretty regular of late….”

“Normal.” Maria said. “That got me thinking. Maybe it was time. You and me. June and Ward Cleaver. Granted, we’d never be the Ozzie and Harriet types, but still, things were looking pretty normal. For us.” Maria shrugged. “I thought maybe it was time to think about a Wally or Beav.”

Michael felt his heart stop. She wanted a baby. For real. They had talked about it when they first married, but wanted a few years alone. Michael cleared his throat. It was…he didn’t know how to respond. Whopping it up. Or concerned that something had happen that made her mad at him. So he went for avoidance of the bigger issues. “You are definitely watching too much Nick at Nite.” Maria smiled slightly. Michael sighed. She was unhappy, and avoiding it wasn’t getting either of them anywhere. “So what happened? What made you mad at me?”

“I wasn’t. Not really.” Maria smoothed his shirt, removing imaginary wrinkles. “It was that….Dammit, G-Man. You hate the desk! I knew…I knew in here,” Maria touched her heart, “That you needed to be out in the field, and if I told you I wanted a baby, you might take the desk permanently. No matter how miserable it made you.”

“You gave up your lifestyle for me. Maybe I would want to return the favor.” Maria snorted, a tear escaped against her will.

“You don’t think I don’t know that? You big lug!” Maria wiped the tear away angrily. “You’d settle and be miserable doing it. God…” She shook her head. “I don’t want that. I don’t need your retribution.” Maria stared at her husband. So big. So smart. And so clueless at times. “I love you. I loved you from the moment I first teased you. You were that one inevitable event that would rock my planned life. I knew that. I accepted that. I love you happy. This desk thing. It doesn’t make you happy.”

Michael leaned his forehead against hers. “I’d do it for you. For our children.”

Maria sniffed. “I know. Why do you think I needed to go somewhere and think it out?”

“Okay.” Michael thought it through. She was ahead of him. So he sat back a little. “Tell me what you came up with. Read me a scenario. Because despite everything, you’re not happy, Maria. You haven’t been. Not in the last three years. Not without being in the game. Don’t deny it.”

“That’s true.”

Michael held her face, staring in her eyes. “I love you happy, too. What can I do to try to give you both worlds? Will a baby be enough of a distraction? A good pay off for all that you gave up?”

Maria shook her head. That was the rub. That was the very problem that moved her from casino to casino from Atlantic City to Vegas. She wasn’t running from him or even them. She was running from what she knew. It wasn’t enough. She missed her life like a toothache. He was worth it, but she felt incomplete. Having a houseful of children would compensate, but the underlying disease would remain.

“No. It wouldn’t be enough.”

Michael sighed. He knew that. For three years, he knew. They played a game of avoidance, but it was still there. “So you are unhappy being home, normal and legit. I am unhappy being tied to a desk, getting to see you every night.” Michael rubbed his face. “All I know is I love you, and I don’t want to lose us. So in all this soul searching and gambling did you gain anything? Any insight?”

Maria shrugged. “I went up a tax bracket.” She laughed softly. “Yeah, I think I found a solution.” Maria took a breath and cleared her throat. “Daddy offered me a partnership in his casino.”

Michael stared at her. “That’s in Vegas, Maria. I work out of New England.” She couldn’t mean for them to be apart. Not that far.

“I know.” Maria stoked his cheek. “I was hoping that you’d transfer to the Las Vegas office. Of course, you might lose your cushy desk job, and be back out in the field….”

“But in the same region as you. Home almost every night.” Maria nodded. Michael hid a smile. “And my wife would own and run a legit casino on the Vegas strip.”

“That’s about the long and short of it.” Maria sniffed. It was a good scenario. Took her six casinos to come up with it.

“What’s in it for me?” Michael asked.

Maria smiled. He was such a player. “Well, since you ask, I take it that means you have something in mind, so I’ll let you tell me what you want.”

“A home. I don’t want to live in a casino suite.” Michael kissed her mouth softly. “I’ll take those kids; raise you a real home in the suburbs, real June and Cleaverish…..a few Wally’s and Beav’s, maybe toss in a few Samantha’s?”

“You run a hard deal, G-Man.”

“It’s on the table, Lady G.” Michael went in for the high stakes. “You’ll have to learn to cook.”

Maria snorted. “There are people who need jobs. I’ve got a nice bankroll right now. I’ll hire a cook.”

“Laundry?”

Maria rolled her eyes. “Sweetie, who would keep the professional laundries in business if not for people like me?”

Michael smiled. “Guess we’ll be needing a nanny too?”

Maria shook her head. “Nope. That I want to do myself.”

Michael was a smart man. He didn’t get where he was today without learning when to hold, when to fold, and when to accept a sweet deal. “Love you. You’ve got a deal.”

Before Maria could answer, the nurse came and handed them her discharge papers. She was free to leave the hospital. Michael helped her get dressed. It was nice to get away from the smell of antiseptic.

“So I wager you double or nothing that our first kid is a boy.” Maria said smugly.

“Those are fifty-fifty odds.”

“I know. I was thinking of keeping track of my temperature!”

Michael laughed. “Brat! I’m not speeding across town because you’re ovulating just to knock you up. Forget it. I want my parentage to have more feeling of spontaneous.”

Maria stopped. “Are you talking premature ejaculation? They have doctors for those kinds of problems, and….”

Michael kissed her hard. Taking her hand, he went to find a taxi stand. Stopping, his eyes narrowed. “About the casino…”

“It’s a legit gambling establishment. Pays taxes and everything!”

“Your dad runs illegal high stake games in the back, I’m certain of it.”

Maria faked. “Don’t be silly.” Sure he did. He was a DeLuca.

“Maria, you’re not going to run those games anymore?”

Maria patted his hand. Silly man. “Michael, how do you feel about four kids?”

“Stop trying to change the subject. Five. Now the illegal gaming….”

Maria stomped her foot. “You don’t have to look so hard or so close! Stop spoiling a perfectly excellent life! Jeez.” Maria threw her hands up and spotted a taxi. Raising her hand to wave it down, she looked back at her husband. “Why did I ever marry you? Still a mystery!”

Michael laughed. “I know why you married me.”

“A brain tumor.”

Michael laughed harder. Her irritated face was amusing. So they were back to playing ‘catch me if you can’. After a three year break, it would be interesting to see what she did while walking around eight months pregnant. He trusted her to walk a very fine line between her two worlds. So, the lady gambler, LadySlippers and her G-Man drove off into the sunset, well, actually it was noon, and they needed to stop for lunch. In the happily ever after…..well, sort of happily ever after with him always trying to shut down her illegal poker games and threatening to arrest her, which he was very serious about, not having a poker face and never bluffing.

“Michael, can I hold your gun?”

“No.” Michael said irritated. All he needed. She’d probably shoot her foot off, or worse. His. “But, I will buy you lunch.”

“I have more money.” Maria said smugly.

“Okay, then you can buy me lunch.”

All in all, it wasn’t such a bad life. Just….interesting.