Chapter 1The fake heiress blew fifty million at the tables. So what do Mom and Dad do? Throw ME on the "debt wheel."
Seven VIP rooms. Seven creditors. Spin lands on your room? I'm yours tonight.
The fake heiress Harlow Monroe cranked it hard. Big grin on her face.
It stopped on Room One.
Nobody breathed.
That room? It belonged to Silas Vaughn. The guy who actually owned this casino.
Here's his thing: he gives you ONE game. Win? You walk. Lose? Shark food.
But nobody ever beat him.
Harlow tilted her head. All sweet and fake.
"Reese, lucky you. Silas actually gives you a shot!"
"Wait—did that trailer park even HAVE casinos? Try not to choke on the dice."
Guards shoved me through the door.
Silas sat there. Rolling a chipped die in his hand.
MY die.
I looked at the guy they called the Grim Reaper of Vegas.
Laughed.
Beat him? Please.
Ten years ago, kid lost to me ten straight. Cried about it. Begged me to teach him.
I tossed him that die. Taught him everything—how to read dice, how to count cards.
Now he's King of the Casino?
Since when, squirt? Did anybody ask ME?
---
The door slammed shut behind me.
Security let go. I stumbled into the table.
Every big shot in Vegas sat around it. But the second I walked in? Not a word.
The guy in the middle kept spinning this chipped die.
That quiet little click click click? Only sound in the room.
I stared at that die. Something hit my chest.
It was really him.
Ten years ago. That skinny kid in the alley.
He lost ten times straight. Then chased me down the street, crying. Begging me to teach him.
I got so sick of it. Tossed him half a busted die.
"Figure out how to hear all six dice. Then come find me."
Now? That kid owns the biggest casino in Vegas.
And me? My own parents just sold me off to pay his debt.
"Kneel."
Security kicked the back of my knees.
I dropped hard in front of the table.
My mom Linda stepped forward like she wanted to help.
But my dad Greg grabbed her first.
He turned to Silas, tried to smile.
"Mr. Vaughn, the money's in Reese's name. Paperwork's got her signature. Do what you gotta do. We won't say anything."
My head snapped up.
Harlow lost that fifty million.
They tricked me into signing it while I was getting Grandma moved to another hospital.
Harlow hid behind them. Eyes all red. "Reese, don't be scared."
"If you can't do this, I'll beg Silas for you."
Linda grabbed her hand fast. "Stop. This has nothing to do with you."
Silas finally looked up.
Ten years changed him. That kid? Gone. Now his face was ice cold.
He looked at me. Didn't stop. Didn't blink.
Didn't know who I was.
Makes sense.
Back then I had this huge birthmark all over my face. Kept my hair real short.
Then I got in an accident. After they fixed my face, I looked totally different.
Silas closed his fist around the die.
"Five rounds. Win three, you're free."
"Lose three, you stay."
Some guy with a Rolex the size of a hockey puck laughed.
"Silas, nobody you kept here ever got out alive."
Linda's face went white.
Greg whispered at me. "You hear that? Don't fuck this up."
The dealer threw three dice in the cup. Started shaking it.
Harlow came over. Fixed my collar all nice.
"Reese, you been stuck in that trailer park your whole life. Ever see anything like this?"
She smiled. "If you don't know what you're doing, just guess."
Then she went back over. Grabbed Linda's arm like the perfect little angel.
The cup hit the table.
The dealer nodded at me.
"Round one. Big or small."
I didn't answer right away.
Greg whispered at me. "Come on. Don't piss him off."
People started throwing chips down.
"Big."
"Big for me too."
"Girl's so scared she can't even talk. Doesn't matter what she says."
Silas tapped the table. "Answer."
I thought about how those dice hit the bottom.
"One, two, three."
"Six total. Small."
Everyone shut up.
The guy with the Rolex laughed.
"He said big or small. Nobody asked you for the damn numbers."
Silas didn't say anything. Just lifted his chin.
The dealer opened the cup.
One, two, three.
Six total. Small.
Nobody said a word.
Greg froze.
Linda looked like she was gonna cry.
"Reese, you actually know how to do this?"
Before I could say anything, Harlow threw her arms around me.
"Oh my god, you're so lucky!"
She was smiling. But her nails dug into my arm.
Silas stared at me for a second. Then grabbed the cup.
Threw in two more dice.
"Five dice."
His voice stayed flat. "Round two. Forget big or small."
"Call every number."
Chapter 2
Five dice rattling in that cup.
Silas's hand didn't shake.
Fast first. Then slow. Changed it up three times.
But that last die? Still hit the lid when it dropped.
Same as ten years ago.
He practiced forever back then. Never could fix it.
I told him he sucked at it.
He got so pissed he went and sat in the corner with that cup. Wouldn't look at me all night.
Not till I gave him half a candy bar.
Then his face went red.
"Can you show me one more time?"
Bang.
The cup slammed down.
I jumped.
Silas stared at me. "What's the call?"
People stopped looking down on me.
Guy with the Rolex bet first.
"She's gonna fail."
Another guy laughed.
"Five dice. Every single number. She gets that right, I'll eat my fucking watch."
Harlow brought me water. Set it down next to me.
"Don't be nervous, Reese."
Then bent down. Her mouth was right by my ear.
"You got lucky once. Don't go thinking you're special."
I didn't look at her.
"Four, four, five, six, one."
"Twenty total."
Harlow stood back up. Her smile froze.
The dealer reached for the cup. But Silas put his hand on it.
He looked right at me. "Wanna change it?"
Linda's voice went high. "Reese, maybe think about it?"
Greg whispered at me. "Don't push it."
Harlow squeezed Linda's hand. Voice all sweet.
"Mom, Dad, trust her."
"She's doing her best."
Sounded nice.
But the way she stared at that cup? She wanted me to lose so bad.
I shook my head. "Not changing it."
Silas lifted the cup.
Four, four, five, six, one.
Twenty total.
Guy with the Rolex's smile vanished.
Somebody jumped up. "She nailed every single one? How the fuck?"
Greg grabbed me. Shook me hard.
"One more! One more and we're outta here!"
Hurt like hell.
Linda started crying. "I knew it, baby. I knew it."
Harlow stood behind them. Still smiling. But her cup tipped. Water went everywhere.
Silas didn't look at anyone else. Just me.
Something changed in his eyes.
"Who taught you?"
My heart stopped.
Harlow suddenly gasped. Water all down her dress.
She backed up. Bumped right into the dealer.
"I'm so sorry."
Her face went red.
The dealer looked down. "You okay, Miss Monroe?"
Their hands touched. Just for a second.
Silas was still waiting.
I swallowed. "Heard somebody do it once."
"Heard it once and you just learned?"
I didn't say anything.
He stared at me. Then he actually laughed.
"Round three."
The dealer swapped in a new set of dice.
Cup started rattling. Something felt wrong.
One die hit the side. Made this weird heavy sound.
When it dropped, something yanked it sideways.
Silas looked at me. "Call it."
I looked at the dealer.
Black ring on his right hand. Wasn't there before.
Harlow stood next to Linda. Looking all worried. Staring at me like she gave a shit.
"This round's rigged."
Everyone started yelling.
The dealer stopped shaking.
"Miss Monroe, we checked everything right in front of you."
Greg jumped in. "Reese, chill. You won two already. Losing one won't kill you."
Harlow's voice went all soft. "Maybe you're just tired. Did you hear wrong?"
I pointed at the dealer's hand. "Take the ring off."
He made a fist.
Next second, Silas flicked a chip.
Hit the guy right in the wrist.
Cup went flying. Crashed on the table.
That black ring rolled off. Stuck to a chip on the edge.
Magnetic.
Nobody said anything.
Silas looked at the dealer. Voice went cold.
"Who gave it to you?"
The dealer dropped to his knees.
Eyes went to Harlow. Just for a second.
Then he pointed at me.
"Her! Reese Monroe made me do it!"
Chapter 3
Linda stared at me like I was a stranger.
"Reese?"
Greg's smile died.
Dealer stayed down. Talking fast.
"Reese hit me up before this. Told me to fuck with round three."
"Said if she called it out in front of everyone, they'd buy that she could really hear dice."
Guy with the Rolex got it. "That's why she nailed the first two."
"Whole thing's bullshit."
Everyone looked at me different now.
Minute ago? Impressed.
Now? Just disgust.
Harlow froze. Then her eyes went red.
"Reese, you can't do this to Mom and Dad."
"We actually thought you were gonna save us..."
Her voice got quiet. Like she gave a shit about my feelings.
Linda grabbed her hand. "Stop. Not your fault."
I stared at the dealer. "You say I hit you up. Where's proof?"
He pulled out his phone.
Showed a transfer. Two million dollars.
The account name? Mine.
Greg closed his eyes. Looked disappointed.
"Just admit it. Maybe Silas'll give you another shot."
I didn't say anything.
That card was at the Monroe house.
Harlow knew the password.
But if I said that now? They'd think I was bullshitting.
Silas tossed the ring down.
"Search him."
Security pulled another phone out of the dealer's pocket.
Couple messages on it.
[Fuck with round three.]
[When it's done, I'll double it.]
Sender? "Reese Monroe."
Harlow came over. Tried grabbing my hand.
"Reese, just say sorry to Silas."
I pulled away.
She stumbled. Her eyes got all teary.
Linda rushed over to catch her. "Reese, she's trying to help you."
Silas kept staring at me. "Anything else?"
"Nope."
My voice stayed flat.
The dealer's eyes flashed. Looked way too happy.
Then Silas said, "Round three's out."
Everyone froze.
Guy with the Rolex spoke up.
"Mr. Vaughn, she bribed him. Shouldn't the first two rounds be out too?"
Silas looked at him. Didn't blink. "You running this now?"
Guy shut up.
Silas waved over another dealer. "Start over."
"She wins, debt's gone."
Harlow's face went stiff for a second.
Then forced the smile back. "That's great. Reese still has a shot."
They swapped the dice. She grabbed my arm. Like she was helping.
But slipped a phone in my hand.
Screen showed a hospital room. Live feed.
Grandma lying there. Out cold.
Some nurse standing by the IV. Fingers on the drip thing.
Harlow leaned in close. Whispered in my ear.
"Round three. Lose."
"Or Grandma's meds get switched tonight."
She stepped back. Still had tears in her eyes.
"You can do this, Reese."
I squeezed that phone so hard my hand shook.
Round three started over.
Three dice.
Just big or small.
So easy I didn't even need to think.
The cup hit the table.
Two, three, three.
Eight total. Small.
Silas looked at me. "Call it."
Harlow squeezed Linda's arm. Tapped the phone screen once.
The nurse's hand started turning the IV regulator.
I closed my eyes.
"Big."
The cup opened.
Two, three, three.
Small.
Greg sighed.
Linda rushed over. "It's okay. You're still up."
But Silas didn't tell them to clear the dice.
He just kept staring at me.
Round four started.
Still three dice.
One, five, six.
Thirteen total. Big.
Harlow leaned over to drape a jacket on my shoulders.
Her fingers traced two words on my back.
Lose again.
Ice went through me.
Silas asked, "Big or small?"
I stared at Harlow.
She put her head on Linda's shoulder. Gave me this little smile.
"Small."
The cup opened.
One, five, six.
Big.
The score was tied. Two to two.
Last round.
Life or death.
Silas waved the dealer off.
He grabbed six dice himself.
The last one he dropped in? That chipped die.
"Round five."
Silas stared right at me.
"Numbers, spots, order."
"Get one wrong, you're done."
