The $25,000 Bet: A Family's Fight

Mug," smelled of stale beer,

a low throb. A few sad-looking

g neon sign shaped like a play

shark' s smile spread across her

! And who's this?" Her eyes

He was shorter than me, but thickset, with eyes that missed nothing

said, her voice barely a whisper.

p. "Come to hold Lisa's hand? Or ma

rs slumped a little, playing the part of a tired st

rasping sound. "Lady

ed at the table. "Lisa's not feeling too good. Mind if I sit in fo

' s smirk widened. They

A bigger f

the merrier. It's Texas Hold'em. Small table's just getting started. One-d

eliberately awkward. Lisa stood behind me, her

full hundred, Lisa

ealt. I didn't e

I pushed a stack of chips f

yebrow. "Blind

d, trying to look sheepish.

red-looking guys and one woman wi

idn't look at my cards.

ed but cal

. I kept betting, n

wed his hand.

then turned them over.

. "Hey, not bad," I said

s I won, sometimes I lost. Small pots. Sal was getting visibly ann

dred dollars. Lisa' s lost money, a t

inner, huh?" I sai

nuine, predatory