Chapter 2

My wife was too distraught to think straight. All she could do was point at a nearby table.

Only three people sat there: a bald thug with a tattoo on his scalp, a wealthy wife Claire had recently met named Vanessa Reed, and Vanessa’s husband, Eric.

Vanessa spotted my wife and smirked.

“Well, look who’s back. Do you even have enough money to buy in?”

“Haven’t lost enough yet? You actually came back? Ha!”

The bald man beside her grinned.

“What is it, sweetheart? Made up your mind?”

“My offer still stands. I’ll forget everything you owe me if you spend a few days at sea with me. I’ll tear up your IOU. How’s that sound?”

Going to sea didn’t just mean taking a ride on a yacht. He meant international waters, where every kind of depravity and bloodshed could be bought and sold aboard a cruise ship.

If he took her out there, she might come home in a box.

The bald man licked his lips, his expression hungry.

I’d spent years running cons myself. One look told me exactly what was happening.

Vanessa probably wasn’t a wealthy socialite at all. She was the bait, scouting for victims. Eric and the bald man handled the actual con.

Play with fire long enough, and you eventually get burned. After all the traps I’d laid for other people, someone had finally targeted my own family.

My wife wouldn’t lift her head. She only tugged at my clothes.

“Honey, let’s go. I’ll find a way to pay them back.”

“Please, don’t gamble!”

I pretended to lose my temper, shaking off her hand and shouting at her.

“Go? Go where?”

“You mortgaged our house, put up our car, and took out all those loans! Where exactly are we supposed to go?”

The bald man and Vanessa burst out laughing.

“Sure, you want to play? We’re happy to have you. But you need to prove you can afford our game. Got any money left?”

“If you don’t, I can help. Let your wife spend a few months with me, and I’ll lend you a hundred thousand. How about it? Ha!”

I watched their smug faces without a ripple of emotion, though I made sure my own face burned with rage.

They were saying those things deliberately. They wanted me furious and reckless enough to keep gambling.

I had to convince them I’d completely lost control before I could lure them into my trap.

Sometimes you had to risk something precious to catch your prey. I had money, but today, I needed them to take the bait!

I gritted my teeth and set the child in my arms on the gambling table.

This place was notorious for swallowing people whole. Organs, children—anything could be exchanged for cash. Humanity meant nothing here. Only money mattered.

A casino employee approached and moved my son to one side.

“A healthy one-year-old boy. Lucky you. Overseas demand is high right now. We can give you two hundred thousand.”

I turned to my wife.

“How much do you owe them?”

She lowered her head in fear.

“Only fifty thousand in gambling debt now. Most of it is loans.”

I waved the floor manager over.

“Give the bald guy fifty thousand. Turn the rest into chips!”

The bald man looked at me, a cigarette hanging from his mouth.

“Now that’s a stand-up guy! Ha!”

“But don’t expect me to go easy on you. I really do have a thing for your wife!”

I looked as though I was barely holding back my fury. My voice shook with anger.

“Dealer. Deal!”