Remi watched the man seated across from him at the card table. Sweat had broken out on the guy’s forehead, and he wiped it with his handkerchief once again.

Michelle walked over, swaying her hips, and leaned down to Remi’s ear.

“He’s almost out of chips.”

She straightened but didn’t move away. He slid his hand up and down the outside of her bare thigh, staring at the perspiring man. He was trembling so hard that Remi was surprised he hadn’t dropped his cards.

Remi rapped the table with his knuckles and said, “Are you gonna play or touch the muck and fold?”

“Stop pressuring me! I’m thinking!”

“By all means, then, proceed. All that pondering’s certainly served you well tonight, Craig.”

Remi motioned for Michelle, and she bent down. He kissed her lips and then drew her into his lap to sit crossways.

“Keep me company while I wait, chér.”

“My pleasure.”

“Let me give you a lesson, while our friend here drowns in his own fluids.”

“Okay.”

“You know how many cards are in a deck, right?”

“Mm-hmm, 52.”

“And four houses.”

“Uh-huh. Hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades.”

“Well, did you know that cards speak?”

“What do you mean?”

“Take a gander at what I’m holding.”

Michelle looked down, back at Remi, and then she nodded.

“Oh, I see.”

“Do you, now? And what did they say to you, chér?”

“That he doesn’t have a chance in Hell against you.”

Remi snorted and said, “I warn people that I’m the best motherfucking poker player they’ve ever met, but they never believe me.”

“He will.”

Craig tossed his hand down and slid his chips to the center of the table.

“I fold.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “You’ve taken my entire life savings tonight.”

“C’est la vie.”

“You can’t mean that! You can’t keep it all! That isn’t fair!”

Remi pierced him with eyes of steel.

“You chose to sit at the table. You decided to play. At any time, you could’ve walked away. You should have, instead of betting against me after I won the first hand, or even the third, but you didn’t. You stayed, Craig, and you lost.”

“My wife’s going to divorce me over this!”

Remi chuckled and asked, “Do you know a guy named Brad?”

Michelle snuggled into his chest closer, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Who?”

Waving one hand in dismissal, while setting his other on the table, Remi said, “Doesn’t matter. I’m taking all the chips and cashing them in, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.” Luc and Paulette strolled into the room, and Remi flicked his eyes to his brother and then back to Craig. “You wanna know the worst of it all?” Remi flipped over his cards. “You would’ve won if you’d called my bluff.”

“You, goddamn son of a bitch!”

Remi shrugged and reached for the pot. After gathering it all in front of him, he peered at Michelle.

“Should I be the better man and show him mercy after he insulted me?”

“That would be sweet of you.”

“Hmm. I’ve never been accused of that before.”

Luc said, “Remi, stop toying with him and do whatever it is you’re gonna do.”

“And big brother jumps into the mix.”

Michelle giggled, and Remi tossed a handful of grey plastic at the man.

“There. Take it and stop gambling. Go home. This isn’t the place for you.”

“That isn’t enough! Please!”

“That’s at least forty grand I’ve given back to you out of generosity. I didn’t have to give you anything, Craig. I won. Period. Be grateful that you’re leaving here with anything more than your shattered pride. The rest of the money is mine.” He patted Michelle’s hip, and she stood and swept the winnings into her clutch, as he rose to his feet. “And now, I’m taking my beautiful divorcee to a late supper. Did you know I won her, too? As you can see, I didn’t give her back, either.”

Michelle smiled up at him and said, “You’d better not.”

Sticking his elbow out, he inclined his head towards her.

“I’m keeping you, chér.”

She linked her arm into his, and they started for the door.

“You, asshole!” Craig shouted.

He threw a punch towards Remi, who dodged it, and Craig’s fist bashed Michelle in the face. The impact ripped her grip on Remi, and she dropped to the carpet, bleeding from her nose. Remi went to his knees, holding her and calling her name.

“Michelle!” Paulette cried, running over to them.

Luc flashed behind Craig, grabbing him by his arms, holding him in place.

“You signed a waiver when you arrived to play,” Luc said. “You have no right to argue or bring violence over your loss.”

“I didn’t think it’d be this bad!”

“He’s the best. I told you that, and I’m certain he did, too.”

“I thought it was just marketing... to bring in customers!”

“You didn’t do your research, then. Another mistake you made. You’re banned from my games. Don’t come back.”

“Take care of her,” Remi whispered to Paulette.

She nodded and bit into her wrist, placing it to Michelle’s mouth.

“It’s okay,” she murmured. “He told me to. Drink a few drops, and you’ll be fine.”

Stalking over to where Craig was immobilized, Remi jerked his head towards Luc.

“Let him go.” Luc backed up a step. Bringing his eyes alight to a low flame, Remi growled, “You dared to touch her!”

Craig turned to run to the doors, but Luc was in front of them in a flash, blocking his exit.

He flipped around to face Remi and whined, “I didn’t mean to hurt her! I meant to hit you! What’s wrong with your eyes?”

Dipping his head and taking a deathly tone, Remi said, “Don’t you know? New Orleans is crawling with vampires.”

“Remi,” Luc said, “don’t do it. Michelle will be okay.”

“I haven’t given a damn about anyone in a century, since my wife and unborn child died in the early 1800s. And I didn’t think I really cared about Michelle until I realized the thought of losing her was unbearable. She’s in my heart! I cherish her!”

Michelle gasped, and Remi threw her a look over his shoulder and saw her wide eyes, glistening with tears. She had healed, but red stains around her nostrils remained. Unbridled anger rose in him, and dual flames burst from his eyes in a stream but cooled before they reached their target.

“You raised your hand to her, my woman!” he thundered.

“Remi,” Luc said in a subdued tone, though his underlying warning was understood.

“Don’t worry, brother. I’ll clean up my mess when I’m done.” To Paulette, he said, “Take Michelle out of here.”

“Luc! He can’t do this!” Paulette shouted, as she helped a teary-eyed Michelle walk towards the exit.

“Did he really say what I think he said?” Michelle whimpered. “Did he? About me?”

“Oui,” Paulette replied.

Once the women had left, Remi stepped closer to the guy and set his eyes to influence.

“Not another word, no matter what I do to you.”

Compelled in an instant, Craig nodded his agreement. Then Luc grabbed Remi, slamming him against the wall, holding him in an iron grip.

“I won’t allow you to murder him and possibly bring The Directive down upon our heads! I won’t let this shit happen! Merde!”

“Homicides occur every day and night in this city. His disappearance won’t matter!”

“And what will you do with his body? The evidence?”

“How the fuck do I know? Burn it? Bury it? Take it to the swamp for the gators? I could leave him with his throat slit or empty-veined in the center of Bourbon Street! Nobody cares!”

“I said non, Remi, and you will obey me.”

“And what would you do if someone did to Paulette what he did to Michelle?”

“I would feel the same as you. But I won’t permit you to do this. Not in my home! End of discussion! C’est fini! Over!”

“Bien! Parfait! Then, what do you want me to do, brother? Walk away? Take the high road? I don’t work like that. Not anymore.”

“Then, give him an eye for an eye. Hit him the same way he did Michelle.”

Remi’s nostril and top lip lifted into a snarl, as he stared daggers at his sibling.

“Break his jaw, Remi. Then let it go.”

“D’accord.”

“Hmm?”

“I said, okay.”

Later, Remi pocketed the chips he had returned to Craig and went to get Michelle.