Maybe they could catch an afternoon show. The Cirque du Soleil is amazing—she can’t miss that!’
Sean Kel y’s idea of a good time was to drain me of al my emotions and mess around with my head.
So this was the plan: to throw me to the Sean-lion while my parents were shepherded off to play in the hotel. I only hoped Victor and Zed were getting al this and would step in before things went too far.
‘Would you like that, darling?’ Sal y asked.
‘That’s fine,’ I replied, not quite able to bring myself to thank Maria.
‘Lovely.’ The lines around Sal y’s eyes crinkled into a relieved smile. ‘Then we’l see you back here this evening for dinner, darling.’
‘I’ve booked my private dining room for us, so you can meet other members of the senior staff.’ Maria smiled, displaying an expensive set of teeth. ‘But Sky might prefer to grab a burger with Sean. He’s waiting for her just outside. I’ve got a few business matters I’d like to discuss with your parents, Sky. I hope you don’t mind.’
‘Fine.’ She was a real cow—sending me off with the creep outside while pretending she was doing me a favour. ‘I’l see you later then.’
‘Let’s play it by ear,’ Simon said happily. ‘Come back when you’ve had enough, love.’
Reluctantly, I got up. The only redeeming part of this plan was the fact that my parents were going to be far away from any danger. I checked my new phone was in my jeans’ pocket. Victor had given it to me that morning, saying he’d programmed in his and other emergency numbers just in case. ‘Keep your phone switched on, Simon—I’l cal when I’m finished seeing the sights.’
‘Don’t rush if you’re enjoying yourself.’ Sal y smiled conspiratorial y at Maria.
That was highly unlikely—not unless it involved seeing our hosts led away in handcuffs.
I’d forgotten just how repulsive Sean was in the flesh.
It wasn’t the fact that he was overweight—that could have made him friendly and jol y—it was the dampness of his palm, the smarminess in his smile, the little moustache that looked like an earwig.
‘Sky Bright? Delighted to meet you.’ He held out a hand which I had to take but I slid free as soon as possible.
‘Hi. You’re Sean, right?’
‘Yes. Maria’s asked me to take care of you.’
I bet she has.
‘What do you want to see first? The tables?’ He led the way to the lifts.
‘Am I al owed to gamble? I thought I was under-age.’
He gave me a wink. ‘Let’s say it’s a special arrangement just for you. I’l get you some chips on the house and you can have a play without losing a dime of your own money. I’m generous—I’l let you keep any winnings.’
‘That’s real y kind of you.’ Not.
He took me to the cashier’s window and drew out chips worth a thousand dol ars. ‘That should get you started.’
‘I don’t know the rules of any of the card games.’
‘Then let’s try roulette—that’s child’s play.’
This whole thing was like a spin of roulette. Black or red? Would we come out a winner or the Kel ys?
‘OK. That sounds fun,’ I said with feigned enthusiasm.
I swiftly lost half the money through bad guesses, then won a quarter of it back with a lucky punt. I could see how the game could become addictive. There was the hope that the next spin would favour you. No skil was involved; only good fortune.
‘Another go?’ Sean raked in my winnings for me.
‘OK.’ I shoved nearly al of my money on an outside bet on the evens square.
I lost.
‘Hey ho,’ I sighed, trying not to be bothered by al this money going back to the hotel. It was only leprechaun gold, like in Harry Potter.
Put everything on the fifteen, Zed whispered.
I hid my smile behind my hand. I knew he’d be unbeatable at gambling. I placed my remaining chips on fifteen. Sean shook his head.
‘Are you sure, Sky? A bet like that is cal ed a straight up—a risky move.’
‘Yeah, I like to live dangerously.’ I gave him a brash smile.
The other participants chuckled indulgently at my rookie’s enthusiasm.
‘Wel now,’ drawled a Stetson-wearing good ol’
boy from Texas, ‘if the pretty lady says black fifteen is lucky, I’l put my money where she’s put hers.
Thirty-five to one—great odds—if you win.’
From the gentle orange glow around the man, I could tel he was only trying to make me feel better about my rashness in the spirit of ‘misery loves company’ when I inevitably lost it al .
‘Trust me,’ I told him seriously. ‘I’m feeling good about this.’
With a laugh, he shoved a sizeable chunk of his money on the fifteen. Catching on to the fun of the moment, several other people risked a chip or two on the same square.
With a confident smile, the croupier spun the big wheel and dropped in the bal .
‘First time, honey?’ asked my Texan, tucking his thumbs into his belt.
‘Yes.’
‘You’ve got a nice accent there.’
‘I’m English.’
‘Pleased to meet you. Now, little lady, don’t go getting upset when you lose your money—treat it as a lesson. Wish I had when I was your age. I’d’ve had myself a nice condo in Florida if I hadn’t wasted it al in places like this.’
I smiled and nodded, turning my attention back to the slowing wheel. Little did he know but he was one step closer to that retirement place.
The bal jumped, clattered, then dropped into its slot. The croupier looked down and swal owed.
‘Black fifteen!’
There was a gasp from al at the table, bar me.
Then …
‘Yee-ha!’ The Texan threw his hat in the air. Next he picked me up and spun me round, giving me a kiss on both cheeks. ‘Luck is a lady and here she is!’
Our joint winnings were impressive. I walked away with nearly five thousand dol ars, the Texan with several hundred thousand, much to Sean’s horror.
‘Promise to spend it on a place in Florida?’ I asked the Texan, who introduced himself as George Mitchel the Third. I could just see him handing it al back to the Kel ys with another rash bet.
‘I promise, honey. And even more, I’l cal it after you. What’s your name?’
‘Sky Bright.’
‘Perfect. Bright Skies here I come.’ With a wave of his hat, he headed for the cashier’s office, hitching his trousers up by the belt.
Gamblers being a superstitious bunch, I found myself besieged by requests for tips for the next spin. Sean pul ed on my arm.
‘I think we’d best be heading out,’ he said smoothly, his lights pulsing an angry red.
‘OK. Whatever you want,’ I replied sweetly.
‘I’l make sure your winnings get to you. A cheque OK?’
‘Um … to my parents, please. I haven’t opened my own bank account in the US yet.’
‘Fine.’ His grip on my arm was just the far side of comfortable, showing that his control was slipping.
He tried to make a joke of it. ‘I should take you out of here before you break the bank. How about you go ruin some of our competitors?’
Did that mean he suspected I had used savant powers to beat the roulette wheel?
‘I think I’ve had enough. Beginner’s luck and al that. Don’t want to push it.’
He mastered himself, getting back on track. ‘OK, let’s go eat then. We’ve got an excel ent restaurant on the top floor, views across to Red Rock Canyon.
I’l just drop your chips in the office.’ He headed for the cashier’s window. I could tel from the aura of satisfaction that surrounded him that he had no intention of me seeing a cent.
I couldn’t resist checking Zed was stil listening even with the risk. Maria Kel y had to be busy, didn’t she? You get that?
Yeah. I’m still laughing about the roulette—well done, baby. I couldn’t help giving you the tip—