Victor's voice cut through the tension. "You play well, but I can tell you're holding back." He pushed a large stack of chips forward. "Let's see what you're really made of."
Jillian glanced at her cards—a strong hand, but not unbeatable. She met Victor's gaze and smirked. "If you insist."
She matched his bet, then raised it. A ripple of interest spread through the room. The stakes had just doubled.
Victor's expression remained unreadable as he called her bet. The dealer flipped the next card. A dangerous move, a gamble—one that could make or break everything.
The room held its breath.
Jillian kept her face neutral, but inside, her heart pounded. This was it—the moment she either won Victor's attention or lost everything.
The tension at the table was suffocating. Stacks of chips towered between Jillian and Victor, the pot now worth more than most people made in a lifetime. The onlookers had grown silent, drawn into the high-stakes battle unfolding before them.
Victor exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping the felt of the table. "You've got guts, I'll give you that." His gaze never wavered as the final card was revealed.
Jillian kept her expression neutral. She had a full house—strong, but not invincible. If Victor had four of a kind, it was over.
Dante, still watching from the crowd, muttered under his breath. "Come on, Jillian…"
Victor leaned forward, studying her. "All in." He shoved his remaining chips forward, the ultimate test.
Jillian's fingers tightened around her cards. If she folded, she'd lose her chance to earn Victor's trust. If she called and lost… she'd be walking out with nothing.
Leo's voice came through the earpiece. "Jill, whatever you do, stall. I'm in the security system, but I need time."
She smirked, feigning confidence. "You're really betting it all on this hand? I expected you to be more careful, Victor."
He chuckled. "Only when the stakes are worth it. Do you have the courage to see it through?"
Jillian pretended to think, stretching the moment. Her instincts screamed that Victor had something—but was it better than hers?
Finally, she met his gaze and pushed her chips forward. "Call."
The dealer's hands were steady as he flipped Victor's cards.
A collective gasp rippled through the room. Jillian's heart nearly stopped—until she realized… she had won.
A full house beat three of a kind.
The dealer confirmed it, and a slow, stunned silence filled the air.
Jillian let out a small breath, masking her relief. She had beaten Victor Holloway.
Victor leaned back, then—to everyone's surprise—he laughed.
"Well, well… Looks like I underestimated you." His eyes gleamed with something new—interest.
Jillian gave a confident smile. "Never underestimate a good player, Victor."
He nodded approvingly. "I think I'd like to get to know you better."
She was in.
Meanwhile, in the security room, Leo whispered, "I found something. But we have a problem."
Leo's voice came through Jillian's earpiece, low and urgent. "Jill, we have a problem."
Jillian kept her expression smooth, even as her pulse quickened. Across the table, Victor Holloway was watching her closely, waiting for her next move. She had just won a dangerous game, but the real battle was just beginning.
She raised her glass to hide her whisper. "What is it?"
Leo hesitated before responding. "Security footage… Someone wiped it clean. Everything from tonight is gone. But that's not the worst part."
Jillian felt a chill run down her spine. "Then what is?"
Leo's voice was sharp. "They left one file behind. And Jill… it's a live feed."
She froze. "A live feed of what?"
Leo cursed under his breath. "You. This poker table. Someone's watching us in real-time."
Jillian felt the weight of Victor's gaze. Had he set her up? Or was someone else pulling the strings?
Victor smirked and leaned in slightly. "Something wrong, darling?"
Jillian forced a smile, swirling the liquid in her glass. "Not at all."
But inside, she knew—someone was one step ahead of them. And they were watching her every move.
Jillian's mind raced. Someone was watching. But who? And why leave only one live feed?
Leo's voice came through again, lower this time. "Jill, I tried tracing it. The source is bouncing through too many locations. But I did catch something—" He paused. "The footage… it's not just the poker table. There are other angles. Someone has been watching you since you walked in."
Jillian took a slow breath, keeping her posture relaxed. She met Victor's gaze, measuring him. If he was behind this, he wouldn't need hidden cameras—he controlled this place. Which meant… someone else was in the game.
"Who benefits from watching me?" she murmured under her breath.
Leo was quiet for a second. Then: "Whoever it is… they know you're looking for them."
Victor chuckled, swirling his whiskey. "You're a fascinating woman, Jillian." He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "But I have to ask… why are you really here?"
Jillian held his gaze. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Before he could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and for the briefest second, his smirk faltered.
That was all Jillian needed. Victor Holloway was being watched, too.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket and stood. "Enjoy your victory, darling. But don't get too comfortable. The game is just beginning."
As he walked away, Jillian finally exhaled. Through the earpiece, Leo's voice was urgent.
"Jill, we need to get out. Now."
Jillian kept her posture relaxed, but her pulse was racing. Leo never sounded this urgent unless things were bad.
"What did you find?" she whispered, keeping her expression neutral as she casually reached for her drink.
Leo's voice was sharp. "It's not just the cameras. Someone locked onto our comms. They know I'm in the system. And Jill… they're tracing me back."
Jillian's stomach tightened. If they found Leo, they'd find the entire operation.
She set her glass down and stood up slowly, keeping up appearances. Across the room, she spotted Dante, who was already alert, his sharp gaze scanning the crowd. He knew something was off.
Leo cursed in her earpiece. "I have to cut the connection. If I don't, they'll have my location in minutes."
Jillian turned toward the exit, but the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Someone was watching her. Not just through the cameras. Right now. In this room.
She took a slow breath. "Leo, get out. Wipe everything."
Leo hesitated. "Jill, once I cut off, I won't be able to help if—"
Static.
The line went dead.
Jillian clenched her jaw. She was on her own.
Dante was by her side in seconds. "We need to move. Now."
She nodded, stepping toward the exit—but before she could take another step, two men blocked the doorway.
They were waiting for her.