“Tell me everything that went on,” Bell says.

I look at Bell strangely. It is a strange request, but there must be a reason for it.

“We had sex,” I say.

“No, not that sort of telling me everything, everything to do with Alex,” she replies.

“Oh, sorry,” I say, my shoulders jiggling as I chuckle.

“I said let’s run, but Alex is in-between a rock and a hard place. He has two more nights of poker to play for a guy called Mikey,” I say.

“And then what, his debt is cleared?” Bell asks.

“Not anywhere near, this card thing is just to give Alex extra time to get the money. He’s already had his hand smashed with a hammer,” I explain.

“That’s a fucking rotten win-win situation for this Mikey,” Bell answers.

“Yeah, it sucks big time. On top of this, he has a plan,” I say.

Bell looks at me. “A plan for what?”

“This game is with some mega-rich Russian mobsters. This Mikey wants to clean them out,” I say. “Alex wants to get a player into the game and win the final hand which will be everything in the pot.”

“Is he crazy? How much money is going to be involved?” Bell asks.

“Upwards of ten million,” I reply.

“Holy fuck, you can die for less than that,” Bell says. I can see she is thinking.

I turn back to Bell. “So far, his mate Brent has managed to get onto the rotation as the final dealer. According to Alex, he is a whizz with a pack of cards,” I explain.

“It sounds very unsafe, to say the least,” Bell says. She frowns and looks at me seriously.

“Alex and Brent have had a few games where they have been able to influence a game, you know. They have cheated.”

“That is absolutely fucking marvelous, but how are they going to walk away from the Russian mob if they get caught?” Bell says plainly.

“That is why they want a player, they don’t want to get caught,” I say.

Bell pulls the car into an ice cream parlor and steps from the car. “Are you coming or what?” she asks.

“You want ice cream?” I ask, unsure of her plans.

“I have just blown a complete stranger, I think the best thing you can do is treat me,” Bell says laughing.

I slap her on the ass as she climbs the wooden steps. “Don’t do that, it will get you into trouble,” she says.

“I have Alex back now, I have no need for your sexy body,” I reply, lifting my head like a snob.

“Be careful, I might just treat the both of you together,” Bell says.

“Don’t get too confident, he is as honest as they come where I’m involved,” I reply.

Bell pulls open the door to the ice cream parlor. The air is cool and the smell of chocolate and strawberries fills the air.

“I will grab a table, just order me anything.” I sit by the window.

Bell walks over with two over-sized glasses full of chocolate, banana and vanilla ice cream. Slices of banana protrude from the scoops that are shoved at the top of the glass.

“This is a hell of an ice cream,” I say.

“It was a long fucking blowjob I had to give that guy, you took ages,” Bell says.

“What do you expect? I mean, we haven’t seen each other for, well, a few days,” I say, scooping a slice of banana.

“So, what were you saying about the money?” Bell asks.

I look at my watch. “Oh fuck, I have forgotten to call Shona. Hang on,” I say.

I grab my phone and scroll through my contact list. My finger stops at ‘S,' and I hit dial on Shona’s name and put the phone on speaker.

“It sounds like they are not going to answer. Come on, please answer…

“Hello.”

“Hello, Shona is that you?” I ask.

“Yes, it is a bit noisy, but I can hear you,” she yells back.

“How did you get on at the bank?” I say.

“We got the money, they just took time to count half a million.”

“Half a million?” I ask.

“Yeah, we didn’t want to take any chances,” Shona says.

“Why is it so noisy? Where are you?”

“Half way,” Shona yells.

“Half way where?” I ask.

“I am half way to Vegas,” Shona yells. The buzzing noise is driving me crazy.

“What, you are coming here?”

“Yes, Beau didn’t want to wire that much, it causes too many problems,” she replies.

“How long before you are here?” I say loudly.

“Just under two hours,” Shona shouts.

“We will meet you at the airport,” I say.

“Go to the private part, not the commercial. I am in a red private jet.”

“You have a private jet?”

“One of Beau's toys.”

“Is Beau with you?”

“No, he has flown back to Jamaica, he wants to make sure everything is ready,” Shona says.

“We will see you in a while,” I say.

Shona cuts the call, and I look up at Bell. “I’m not sure how that will affect Alex’s plan. He was expecting the money to be wired.

“There has to be a way out of it, somehow,” Bell says.

“Only Alex will know, but at least we are aware we have the money,” I add.

Bell looks at me with wide eyes. “That is if he doesn’t lose it.”

“Will everyone stop looking down on things, we all need to think positively,” I say. “Chapter Two… verse one.”

“What is that? Another quote from your Bible?” Bell asks.

“No, it’s from the ‘Good Book of Brooke.’ Stop putting a dampener on things,” I say, laughing a nervous laugh.

“Finish your ice cream, we need to get to the airport,” Bell says.

“What a freakin’ week this is turning out to be,” I say plainly.

We arrive at the airport and go to the private sector. We sit waiting at the gate for a red jet to land.

I look at Bell. “You know, I can still taste banana every time I burp.”

“Stop burping then.”

“Nerves. I burp when I get nervous.”

“You weren’t nervous last night,” she says.

“Whiskey, I’ve never had it before,” I reply.

“It seems there are a lot of things you have never done before,” Bell says. She can smell it a mile away. The truth of things.

“So, I lived a sheltered life, don’t hold it against me,” I say plainly.

I slide from the hood of the car. I see in the distance a plane is coming in, ready to land. My fingers clutch the chain link of the gate as it gets closer.

I jump up and down. “It’s Shona,” I scream.

“How long have you known her? I mean, it sounds like you have known her for years,” Bell says.

“About a week max,” I say.

“So, you’ve only just met Alex as well?” she asks.

“Yeah, a few days before Shona,” I reply.

“And you are head over heels already?” Bell says.

“I think I am,” I say as I turn my head away from the gate.

“Why the fuck doesn’t it happen to me?”

“Don’t worry, you will find someone who deserves you,” I reply.

“It’s a real motherfucker, everyone I meet gets hooked up, and I still stay single,” Bell says.

“Maybe the guys are scared of you.”

The plane lands and stops just past the gate. Shona comes down the steps carrying two bags. I whistle through the gate, and she looks up at me. The security opens the gate, and Shona drops the bags to the floor as she reaches our side of the fence.

I fling my arms around her as I feel tears welling up in my eyes. “We have found Alex,” I say.

“Thank God for that, is he okay?” Shona asks.

“So far, but things are a little more complicated,” I reply.

“Why does that not sound too unfamiliar?” Shona says, giving a huge hug.

“You know… life is always complicated,” I say, truthfully.

Shona walks over to Bell and gives her a big hug. “Everyone says hi, and a big thank you,” Shona says.

“Get off with you, you will have me all emotional,” Bell says.

“They all miss you, you should come and visit, or at least visit the new club once it’s done,” Shona says.

“I might just hold you to that,” Bell says, happily smiling.

“You know you are more than welcome anytime, you are family.”

“Follow me, we have so much to tell you, and Alex is going to be over the moon,” I say.

“Just for the money?” Shona says, sarcastically.

“Of course not, you know he loves you,” I reply.

“Same here, but you know Alex,” she replies.

“A family that fights together stays together.”