Chapter 61 - I did it for you

Claire

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The room was hushed, with only the soft shuffling of cards breaking the silence. We sat opposite each other, our eyes meeting in a playful challenge. The table between us held an assortment of chips and a deck of cards.

The initial cards were dealt, and I glimpsed at my hand—two eights, a decent beginning. Vincenzo, his eyes a mix of confidence and darkness, kept his cards close to his chest.

The first community card unveiled itself, adding a nine to the mix. Vincenzo's nonchalant demeanor didn't give away much, but I sensed a subtle tension.

The second community card, a seven, appeared, and his expression remained unreadable. I weighed the odds and decided to raise the stakes.

As the final card, a six, completed the tableau, his eyes flickered with something akin to satisfaction. We revealed our hands—my pair of eights versus Vincenzo's straight.

I looked at him and he stared back at me with an annoying, smug smile and darkness-riddled eyes, "Strip," he ordered.