Freelancers: Falcon & Phoenix by Anthony Thackston Read Free Book Online Page A

without having to give up her prisoner. She shifts her gaze to Falcon. “Is there anyone who isn’t after you?”
    Falcon wishes he had a good answer. But all he manages is a tired exhale.
    “I’ll tell you what.” The Dealer tosses two cards face down toward the empty chair. He places two more in front of himself. “You play me at this game and see what’s what. If you win, you get whatever car you want and you get to keep your contract. If I win, I get your contract and you go upstairs and let Lacy show you the ropes. Literally. I’ll even give you a crutch.” He points at Falcon. “Seeing as how you two are joined at the chain, he can help you if you need it. Though I gotta say, ‘ol Falcon’s never been much for the games of chance.”
    “You’re telling me.” Phoenix looks at her prisoner. “How do you play?” She sits down in the empty chair.
    “Simple math. Closest to twenty-one wins. You get twenty-one. You win. Face cards and aces are worth eleven. Everything else is its own value. These are pretty high stakes so we’ll play three of five.” The Dealer holds out his hand. “We got a deal?”
    Phoenix looks at the offered hand then down at the cards lying face down in front of her. She takes the Dealer’s hand and they shake on it.

8
    T he Dealer looks under his cards. Phoenix follows along. She sees a total of fifteen. He flips his cards over, revealing thirteen.
    “Seeing as you got the partner, you won’t mind if I go first.” The Dealer takes one card from the top of the deck. It’s a five. “Think I’ll stay.”
    Phoenix flips her cards, revealing a thirteen. She takes a card from the deck. It’s a seven.
    “Yes,” Falcon says.
    “Beginner’s luck.” The Dealer sweeps his cards to the side. Phoenix does the same. Two more are dealt for him and two for her. They both look under their cards before flipping them over.
    The Dealer takes one card. Then another. Twenty.
    “You either match him or get twenty-one,” Falcon says as he stares at the twelve in front of Phoenix. She draws a card from the deck. Three. She draws another. Seven. Bust. The Dealer smiles as he slides his cards to the side.
    “Why don’t you deal this hand?” The Dealer lays his hands flat on the table. Phoenix takes two cards off the top and slides them to her opponent. She takes two and pulls them in front of herself.
    The Dealer looks at his cards and immediately flips them over. “Look at that.” He laughs as the Ace and Queen stare up at the ceiling. “That’s gonna be you and me, later.” He winks at Phoenix.
    A cold shudder goes down her spine.
    “Honor the deal,” Falcon says.
    “That’s easy for you to say,” Phoenix tells him through her clenched jaw.
    “I wanted to steal the car, remember?”
    Phoenix flips her cards over, revealing nineteen. She pulls one more card. It’s a five.
    The Dealer leers at her as he slides two more cards her way. He looks at his and flips them over. Another twenty-one. “Sorry, girly. It just ain’t your…Day.” His speech slows as Phoenix flips her cards over. An ace and a King. Push. “Ok. Ok.” They both slide their cards to the side.
    Phoenix looks at Falcon who has a hopeful smile on his face. “What are you so happy about? Either way you’re going to the Ivory.”
    “Yeah, but at least with you, I won’t be tortured.”
    “Good luck with that.” She watches as the Dealer slides two cards in front of her. “He’s only got to win this one hand.”
    “But if he doesn’t, you play another three out of five. There’s still a chance.”
    Both players flip their cards over. Phoenix shows a total of four while the Dealer sits on seven. Phoenix takes one card. Three. She takes another. Five. She takes one more. Seven.
    “Nineteen,” Falcon says.
    Phoenix starts to reach for another.
    “Wait. You should stay.”
    “What?” Phoenix turns to him.
    “If you get anything but a three, it’s over. It’s too close. Stay. Trust me.”
    Phoenix