om his pocket. With trembling fingers, he picke

ath. Sweat beaded on Z

ure awe. "Ma'am, forgive my impertinence, but are these... are these top-grade p

his color, this clarity... this is

e of this "art," Zane Knight's one-million-d

white. He couldn't take the humiliation. He

pt the diamonds back into her velvet pouch as

rm, her eyes shinin

other man stepped forward. He was Devin Sha

Truly brilliant. Crushing someone with money is so m

roduced himself. "I'm not interested in mo

on the bar. "Care to play

Adria," she whispered. "He's a notorio

atter, Mrs. Davenport? You only dare to throw money

se, you crawl out of here and bark like a dog three

ing wager. The crowd b

ich he had wrapped in a napkin, was bleeding more profus

never leaving Adria. He wanted

ryone's surprise, she smiled. "Fi

coolly. "If I win, you will get on your knees and

. Her terms were crueler,

ine!" he snarled, confident he couldn't lose a

flawless, the dice rattling in the shaker wit

nnounced confidently.

he cup, gave it two lazy shakes, and placed it on the b

the crowd

n top of each other. The top die showed a six. Three sixe

fingernail. The stack collapsed,

ia announced calmly. The crow

he used all his skill and produced a leopard of his own: three sixes. He look

hake roll. She lifted the cup.

em, the crowd drew

the top layer of each, clearly showing a single dot. A leopard o

ed a trembling finger at Adria, his voice a strangled shout