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fingers. Excuse me for going with the name my mama gave me.
Topeka Slim, a heavyset man in a colorful Hawaiian shirt, snickered. Don t listen
to that shit. He comes from a long line of hustlers.
Ace glanced at me. His last name is Diamond.
Ain t nothin weird about that name, snapped John.
Shades rolled his eyes. Tell us again what your kin calls you?
The other man frowned. Jack.
Kicker put a hand to his ear. And what s your middle initial?
He sighed. O.
You re right, said Slim. Nothin shady about being named Jack O Diamond.
Nothin at all.
John slapped his palm against the table. Listen, you
One Good Year 61
Quick waved a hand at the group, silencing them as he leveled his gaze on me.
You a sharp or shark?
Neither, sir.
Slim cocked his head to the side. But your name s Spade.
I have a deep respect and love for cards. But I don t play for money.
Kicker smirked. You must be pretty fucking bad.
Ace s fist went to his mouth as he tried to stifle his laughter.
Quick looked at Ace. You brought a railbird.
That was a term I hadn t yet heard. Railbird?
Someone who hangs around and watches, said Ace, smiling at me.
Shades knocked on the wooden table s edge. Rail. He pointed to me. Bird.
Man. Kicker leaned back in his chair. Red used to bring pretty girls up here.
Ace, said Quick, his face serious. You remember the rule about bringing birds
to this floor?
Yeah. Ace stretched, linking his fingers together and giving them a crack.
Lemme have it.
My brow furrowed. Was I causing problems for him by coming here?
Quick tapped the cards he held against the table, then slung the deck at Ace.
It should have scattered, but he caught it as easily as if he d been tossed a ball.
Still got it, old man.
Yeah, well, it s all in the wrist.
Ace hit the edge of the deck against his forearm. What do you want?
Waterfall.
He stopped short, obviously not impressed. Kidding me? That s it?
Oh ho, said Slim. Kid wants a challenge.
Shades grinned, straightening his spectacles. Waterfall into a heavenly spring.
62 Rowan McBride
Holding up the deck, Ace sighed. Whatever. The cards spilled downward,
flowing into his left hand. As if controlled by a spring, they shot straight up into the air,
returning to his right. So, he said, sounding bored as he lowered his arms, can he
stay?
The group laughed and waved us in.
That s why you ve been practicing so much, I said, touched. You wanted to
make sure they wouldn t send me away.
Ace groaned. Spade.
The laughter in the room instantly turned teasing.
He s been practicing, has he? asked Shades.
Kicker palmed his chest with both hands. Just to see us?
You always were an eager little brat, said Quick, but there was a certain
fondness in the tone. Grab a chair and sit with us.
As if he d done it a hundred times, Ace retrieved a metal folding chair from a
stack in the corner and set it down next to Quick. Spade, he said softly, pointing to
the far end of the room.
All this so I could watch a parade. I smiled and went to look out the window.
Hey, kid. We gotta make an appointment to see your old man?
Visiting hours are from ten to eight.
I glanced over my shoulder in time to see Ace accept the hand dealt to him. They
thought of Rick as his father. I knew Ace felt the same, and his expression was a
bittersweet combination of pride and sadness as he studied his cards.
You re a good kid, murmured Shades, his gaze on his own hand. Doin right
by your old man like you did.
Ace shrugged.
Yeah, agreed John. When he went off the grid, none of us could find him. We
figured he d up and retired someplace sunny on us.
One Good Year 63
Staying quiet, Ace dropped a few chips into the pot.
Figured nothing, said Kicker. We hoped, is all.
Slim set his cards facedown on the table, signaling his fold. Then you found him.
Put him in that classy place.
Ace discarded a card, and Quick handed him a new one before ruffling his hair. A
faint smile touched the younger man s lips.
That one expression granted me so much joy. It meant that his grief, though
always a part of him, no longer imprisoned him.
My gaze drifted to the window. A band of men playing bagpipes and wearing
kilts marched by. I was glad we d come, but not because of the parade.
Cold familiarity chilled my skin, and I closed my eyes.
No, not now. Not here.
Forcing a grin, I turned. Ace, I d like to watch the events at street level for a few
minutes.
He glanced up, removed the chain from his pocket, and tossed it to me. Sure.
Take my key so you can get back in.
I caught it and strode out the door, down to ground level.
Ancel was waiting for me at the base of the stairs, smiling warmly. Hello, Spade.
Don t do this.
His smile faded. I was going to leave your memories intact, but I see now that
would be far too cruel. He shook his head. You really believe you love him.
I do love him.
For a moment, he almost looked sympathetic. Your master must be concentrating
very hard on his cards. Most of what I ve seen of him has been through your eyes.
Tired of his games, I closed the distance between us. No matter what you say, no
matter what you do, I will. Never. Leave. Ace.
Ancel frowned, his gaze traveling over my body. Something s changed in you.
64 Rowan McBride
My bond has changed. You cannot break it.
Ah, ye of little faith. He ran his fingers down my cheek. This won t hurt, he
crooned. First you, then him. By the end, you won t even know what I ve done.
Stop. I shoved him away from me, sending him crashing against a wall. Stop.
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