nd Hall Three fell int

at my side, his back alrea

cursing, staring at me now a

ained of color. "Who are you calli

Smith for

an orphanage, struggling alone in Las Verdan and wor

e my "innocence"

ded-living in the upscale apartment I ren

e a millionaire through gambling,

become a m

me I wasn't goo

r, the elevator doors slid

k suits escorted a man

air immaculately combed. Despite his age,

ino and the man who controlled more than ha

my father-J

no, Hansen included, lower

t," they

ross the room, softening

ou hurt?" as

ok my

th and Alice, pinned to

his presence seemed to plunge

r, his mouth opening and

ut he surely recognized the face that so often

ce stammered, her voice

't possibly not know th

why Hansen bowed to m

why Smith had kept

Smith, towering over him

d calm, almost unnervingly so. "T

as if struck

at me, eyes bloodshot a

hter?" His voice cracked with desperati

ump me and could keep living off me like a pampered leech? Or tell you that your wins had nothing to do

e floor, all strengt

en, trembling

in the casino-and he

ed his hand d

take ca

Mr.

ignaled the guards t

g strength, breaking free of the gua

I love! It's always been you! Alice was nothing

avoiding his d

snot, a pitiful shadow of the swagger

minutes ago, you were ready to trade

et of ice water, dousing

guards seized him again, dragging

d away like a discarded doll,

d finally ru

ipped off his suit jacket, an

le moonlight,