Chapter 1
BIRDIE
The casino wasn’t exactly what I’d expected. Somehow, I’d thought it would be dark and quiet, like a secret lair full of well-dressed criminals whispering about all the best places to bury a body. Instead, it was loud, bright, and bursting with the scent of stale perfume and even staler cigars. I almost choked on it. The hum of hundreds of voices mixed with the clinking of chips, making my head spin.
Not that I’d ever admit that. I just took a slow breath, leaned back against the marble pillar by the entrance, and tried to look like I belonged there. It wasn’t my first time sneaking into a place I wasn’t supposed to be, but this was my first time in a casino, and I was determined to make it count.
Dressed in a borrowed dress that hugged me a bit tighter than I would have liked—it was my friend Kelsey’s, and Kelsey was a full two sizes smaller than me—I shifted around until I could finally breathe. To blend in, I gave myself a mental pep talk: Head high, eyes forward. And keep your hands to yourself, Birdie, I reminded myself. You’re here to get in and out… okay, and maybe pick a pocket or two, but that’s all. Nothing serious.
That was all until I caught sight of the emerald.
Now, I know most people wouldn’t have noticed it right off the bat, but I’ve always had a knack for spotting the good stuff. That emerald gleamed even in the dim light of the casino floor, buried beneath some high-roller’s pile of chips at one of the poker tables.
My heart kicked up. It looked…valuable. Very valuable. I barely knew how I was going to pull it off, but I already knew I had to have it.
But first, I had to blend in. Just another girl here for a good time, I thought. With a toss of my hair, I sauntered over to the nearest group of people, who were mostly men laughing too loud and drinking too much. A few looked my way, their eyes lingering just a second longer than was polite, and I gave them my best smile.
“Mind if I join?” I asked, sliding into the empty seat beside a well-dressed guy who looked like he’d been here too long. His eyes were glassy, and he gave me a sloppy grin.
“Be my guest,” he slurred, waving a hand at the empty air. I could smell the whiskey on his breath. I gave him a coy smile, fluttering my eyelashes a little too much on purpose. He laughed, leaning closer. Perfect.
I didn’t know what I was doing, but it didn’t matter—at least I didn’t have to play to win here. All I had to do was keep his attention and make it look like I was here for some fun.
Another guy across the table noticed me. He was tall and had a lazy smirk that I’d usually find annoying, but right now, I gave him a slow smile in return. “Feeling lucky tonight?” he asked, giving me a once-over. His eyes sparkled with the same curiosity I felt—that feeling that maybe, just maybe, you could get away with anything.
“Oh, always,” I said, putting a hand to my chest. “Though luck and I don’t always see eye to eye. I’m hoping tonight changes that.”
He laughed, clearly charmed, and offered me a glass. I took a tiny sip, barely letting the taste hit my tongue. I’d be stupid to risk getting drunk when I had work to do.
After a few minutes of banter, I felt comfortable enough to let my attention drift back to that glimmer of green on the other side of the room. The emerald was resting on top of a high stack of chips now, like a beacon calling my name. I licked my lips, trying to figure out my next move.
I excused myself from the table, promising to come back. The whiskey guy looked disappointed, but I caught a flicker of understanding in the eyes of Mr. Tall-and-Smirk. Like he knew I had somewhere to be.
I wound my way through the crowd, carefully avoiding eye contact as I passed servers with trays of drinks and people shouting at roulette tables. My heart thumped harder with each step, but I kept my expression smooth, like I was just on my way to the ladies' room or something.
When I finally reached the poker table with the emerald, I took a seat on the edge, close enough to see the pile of chips and the glittering green gem nestled on top. The guy in front of me looked rich. Rich and oblivious, based on how he was focused on his cards and barely looked up when I sat down. Perfect.
I adjusted my dress, letting it ride up just a little to make sure he noticed me if he decided to look. Then, I leaned forward, resting my chin in my hand and giving him a sweet, innocent smile. “You seem to be on a winning streak,” I said softly.
He barely glanced at me, though I saw his lips twitch in a smirk. “Maybe I am. You new here?”
“Just visiting,” I replied with a wink. I lowered my voice conspiratorially. “I heard you could win big here if you’re lucky.”
“Luck is for those who don’t know how to play.” His gaze flicked to the emerald on top of his chips, and my heart sank. He wasn’t as oblivious as he looked.
“Is that so?” I asked, batting my lashes again. “Maybe you could teach me a few tricks.”
To my relief, he chuckled, his posture relaxing. “Maybe I could,” he said. His focus shifted back to the game, and I could feel my chance slipping away. The other players were engrossed in their own cards, and the dealer was counting chips, not paying me any attention.
This was it. I took a deep breath and reached for the emerald, making it look like I was just brushing my hand over the chips as if by accident.
Then, like magic, it was in my hand. My fingers closed around it as I tried to hide my thrill behind a mask of nonchalance. I was about to excuse myself when the man’s voice stopped me.
“Leaving so soon?” His tone was too casual, his eyes sharp and knowing.
I forced a smile, trying to act like nothing was wrong. “I, uh, just need some air. All these people—it’s a bit much for me.”
“Of course,” he said, not sounding convinced. His eyes were on me as I got to my feet, and I had to force myself to walk, not run, as I made my way back through the casino floor. My heart was pounding so hard I was sure everyone could hear it.
I wove through the crowd, staying close to the shadows, and glanced over my shoulder every few steps. No one was following me…yet.
But just as I reached the exit, a hand clamped down on my shoulder. I spun around to see Mr. Tall-and-Smirk from earlier, his face half-hidden in shadow, but there was a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Leaving already?” he asked, his voice low and amused. “I thought you came here for fun.”
I felt the emerald pressing into my palm, and I tried to keep my expression blank. “I don’t remember signing up for a babysitter,” I said with a smirk, trying to ignore the panic clawing up my throat.
He laughed, his hand falling away, but his eyes stayed on me, too aware. “Babysitter? Hardly. Just making sure you don’t miss out on the best part of the night.” He looked pointedly at my closed fist. “You’re quite the lucky one, aren’t you?”
I swallowed, wondering if he was going to turn me in. My mind raced, trying to come up with some excuse, but he just shrugged and stepped back.
“Watch yourself, sweetheart,” he said. “A face like yours—well, let’s just say it’s memorable.” He winked, then turned and walked away, leaving me rooted to the spot.
Taking a shaky breath, I slipped the emerald into my small bag and bolted for the exit. The cold night air hit me like a slap to the face, but I didn’t stop until I was halfway down the block, where I could finally breathe again.
I looked around, making sure I was alone, then pulled the emerald out of my bag. It sparkled in the dim streetlight, its green facets catching the glow and throwing tiny beams of light onto my hands. It felt heavy, solid, valuable.
I grinned, feeling a thrill of triumph I hadn’t felt in a long time. Sure, I’d been a little reckless—maybe a lot reckless—but I’d done it. And that was what mattered.
I slipped the emerald back into my bag, looking up at the casino one last time. I could still feel the rush of adrenaline, the heat of those curious, suspicious stares, and the tension of being caught. But I’d made it out.
“Guess luck and I are back on speaking terms after all,” I muttered, feeling lighter than I had in months. As I turned to leave, I didn’t fail to notice the shadow that lingered at the casino entrance, watching me with a knowing smile. I made sure I walked as far away from the casino as I could, looking over my shoulder to make sure they weren’t following.
