#LUCKY (The Empire Series Book 2) (8 page)

The dealer dealt two cards to both Declan, and Sam. On previous hands Sam was able to peek, but not this time. Her only indications were facial expressions, and neither one was giving anything away. Not a raised brow, bouncing knee or sweaty forehead.

"Here's the flop," the dealer announced.

Again, not a peep from either one. Lying on the table before them was a Ten of Clubs, Jack of Clubs, and a Queen of Clubs. The potential was within reach. She just wished she could see their hands. Maybe that would settle her racing heartbeat.

The tension was mounting as the forth card was laid to rest on the emerald table – a Queen of Spades. The air in the room was dead silent. No one said a thing; she didn't even think anyone was breathing the way the suspense was mounting.

"Seat 1, Ms. Ashley, show your hand," the dealer announced.

With a sly grin on her face, Ashley flipped her two cards through her perfectly manicured fingers - two Queens.

"Seat 1 has four of a kind," the dealer offered.

Sam's heart sank to her toes.
How could Declan possibly beat that?
Visions of her sacrificed body played over, and over in her mind. She had laid it all out on the line, and now she was going to be two women's bitch for the night. Two women she despised.

"Seat 2, Mr. Declan, show your hand," the dealer asked.

With a stone face, Declan flipped his cards. She could visibly see the sigh leave his chest as the cards hit the table - Ace of Clubs and King of Clubs.

"Seat 2 has a royal flush - and winner."

It took every effort for Sam not to jump up from her chair, sticking her tongue out at the women. They had been schooled, and now Declan was free. Free to have a real relationship, not one built on hiding things, or suspicion. Free at a fighting chance at something truly good.

"Well played, Declan. I seemed to have underestimated you. It's too bad. We were really looking forward to a night with your lovely lady. Maybe next time?" Ashley tried to sweet-talk Declan.

"Not a chance in hell, Ashley. I'm done," Declan declared.

"Such a shame. You could have joined," Ashley ran her finger across Declan's cheek.

Snatching her hand away from Declan's face, Sam turned to face Ashley.

"Lay a hand on him again, and I will make you regret ever setting eyes on my man, got me?"

"How adorable. So defensive. Come on, Demi. Time to go," Ashley flicked her wrist at her lap dog. Ashley had her so trained, she wasn’t even cognizant of the trouble she would be in if the feds ever found out about her little gambling escapade. Only time would tell if their actions caught up to them.

"
Y
ou know
, you're quite cute when you sleep," Declan smiled at Sam as they lay side by side in her bed the next morning.

    Rubbing the sleep from her face, "Why do you say that? Are you watching me sleep you weirdo?"

    Laughing together, "You have this little giggle that sneaks through when you're having a good dream. At least I hope they are good dreams. Perhaps dreams of me running naked around your apartment?"

    "I'm sure Ariel and Owen would LOVE that," she chuckled as she stroked his scruffy cheek.

    "Who knows what those two do when we aren't here," he smiled, brushing a strand of blonde hair away from her eye.

    "So what are your plans now that you’re my sugar daddy?"

    "I'd never thought I'd hear that in my lifetime."

    "You won it fair and square. You should be proud," Sam encouraged.

    "I don't know why I'm shocked, I had you there by my side. I'm sorry I had to keep it a secret. I didn't want you to get involved, or hurt for that matter. You honestly saved my ass, babe. I never would have thought of that genius plan."

    "I was planning to go full carpet muncher for you. That must mean something," she giggled.

    "I can't even believe that came out of your mouth too. What were you thinking?" Declan probed.

    "I knew you could do it. I knew you wouldn't let me down. That, and you were sexy as hell stomping all over Cory's ass."

    "That was kind of hot, wasn't it?" he scooted closer to her in bed, and wrapped her in his arms.

    "You have no idea," she began stroking his growing member.

    Just as the two were getting nice and cozy, Sam's cell phone began to ring. Eyeing the screen, Sam nearly chucked the phone out the window. Rolling onto her back she contemplated whether she wanted to answer the phone or not.

    "Who is it, A stór?" Declan questioned.

    "My sister, Maggie," she said as sadness laced her quiet voice.

    "Answer it," Dec proposed.

    "But..."

    "Rip the Band-Aid."

    Before the call went to voicemail, Sam answered the phone to hear a sobbing Maggie. The cries tore her to shreds, and shattered the icy exterior she had been holding strong for so long. Even though her crimes were ghastly, she was still her sister, and her sister was in agony.

    "Hey, Mag-Pie," Sam answered as she rolled onto her back.

    "Sam-Sam, is that you," Maggie sniffed back.

    "Yeah, Mags, it's me."

    "I'm so sorry, Sami..." her crying was out of control.

    "Mags, sweetie, you have to calm down. Breathe."

    "I...I...I can't stand for you to be mad at me," she coughed.

    "Honey, when was the last time you slept? You don't sound good," Sami sat up in bed suddenly troubled.

    "I...I don't know the last time I slept," she confessed.

    "Where are you? I'm coming to get you," Sam climbed out of her warm and comfy bed.

    "Umm...some motel on Beach Street I think. It’s white with a pink roof."

    "What are you doing there? Why aren't you at your apartment?" Sam sounded concerned.

    "I was kicked out of my apartment weeks ago. I've been staying here, and there, with friends, with Cory for a while, and then..."

    "And what?"

    "And...with strangers."

    "Dammit Maggie, you gotta cut this shit out. You could get seriously injured."

    "I...I know, but Bee didn't get it, and you...you hated me," she bawled.

    "I could never truly hate you, Mag-Pie. Yes, you do some pretty stupid shit, but I will always love you," Sam affirmed as the tears began to stream down her face.

    "Sam-Sam, I need help."

    "Hang tight, I'm coming to get you.

    "Okay," Maggie reacted almost inaudible.

    Hanging up the phone, Sam couldn't hold back any longer. She crumpled into Declan's arms, finally letting out the build up defeat, and desolation within. Declan stroked her back as he allowed her to grieve her misfortunes.

    "I know what I want to do with some of the money," Declan offered.

P
ulling
up to the curb of the sleazy hotel, Sam exited Declan's SUV hesitantly. Sitting on the curb was her little Mag-Pie. The tiny blonde had her legs tucked underneath her, but Sam could still tell she was looking frail.

    Contemplating her next move, Maggie looked up at her sister. All Sam could see were the ghostly remains of her once beautiful and lively sister. Her mascara was streaming down her hollowed cheeks, while her eyes seemed sunken from the lack of nutrition.

    It broke Sam's heart to see her sister this way. This wasn't the little girl she once knew. The little girl that followed her around the house like a shadow. The little girl who would sit at her make-up table, mimicking her, and her regimen. This wasn't her Mag-Pie, this was a stranger.

    Sam took a seat on the stoop with her sister, "Hey Mag-Pie."

    "Hey, Sam-Sam," she responded calmly. She was clearly going through alcohol withdraws the way she was shaking. Her teeth chattered as the goose bumps proved her theory of alcohol deprivation.

    "Here, have something to eat and drink," she stated pushing the goods at her. “You don't look like you’ve eaten in a while."

    "Two days. I've gone longer," she mumbled as she guzzled the drink and inhaled the sandwich.

    "You said you needed help," Sam looked her way sympathetically, as Declan exited the car. Standing next Sam, Declan didn't make a sound, but stood there for moral support.

    "I...I was hoping I could borrow, like, a grand until I get things figured out," she rubbed her hands together excessively after finishing her sandwich and drink.

    Even though it broke her heart, "That's not going to happen, Mags."

    "Why not? You said you'd help," Maggie reacted almost violently as she stood from the sidewalk.

    "Honey, I'm not going to give you money so you can go spend it on alcohol and drugs. I can't in good conscious do that. You have to understand that, don't you?"

    The sweet and innocent girl who cowered on the sidewalk was long gone and a volatile woman stood before her.

    "That's bullshit, Sam. Cory told me you made over a hundred fifty grand on poker. You can afford it."

    "First off, that's not MY money. That is Declan's money. And Cory is a piece of shit to allow you to leave last night with some stranger. Clearly you’re not okay, just look at yourself."

    "Well, let me tap into my trust then. Can't I at least do that?"

    "No, Mags. You can't touch that until you're twenty five."

    "So, what? I'm supposed to starve and fend for myself on the streets for two years? That's bullshit, Sami, and you know it!"

    "You won't have to fend for yourself, sweetie," Sam tried to pull Maggie closer toward her.

    "What the fuck are you talking about, Sam?" Maggie looked thoroughly confused.

    "We have a place for you," Sam stated, going in to hold her sister.

    "If you think you're going to make me stay with you and your boy toy, you are out of your Goddamn mind. I'd rather suffer on the streets."

    Circling Maggie, Sam knew her next words would most certainly set Maggie off. Declan had made his way to stand behind Maggie as she began to teeter back and forth.

    "Mag-Pie, we're taking you to rehab. They can take care of you and you can get clean. It's what's best, sweetie," Sam stated as she stroked her sisters weathering arms.

    "The fuck if I'm going to rehab," she started to blink heavily, while the staggering started to grow.

    "Bridge and I are your legal guardians, and we have everything all set up for you," Sam stated as she saw her sisters legs give out. Catching her, Declan picked her up and put her into the back of the car.

    "You drugged me, you bitch! I will never forgive you, or Bee for this, Sam."

    "It's for your own good, now go to sleep."

    Seeing her sister crash on the backseat only broke her heart even more than it already was. She hated to result to this, but she knew Mags would never go willingly. Sam just hoped she hadn't lost her sister forever, regardless of what she said in her drugged haze. Only time would tell.

"I'm doing the right thing, right?" Sam asked Declan.

"I know you and your sister are going through a tough time right now, but this is her best chance at a better life. You may think it's a horrible decision, but at least you can say you did all you could. It's up to her now to want to get better."

"What if she never forgives me?" Sam silently asked.

"That's not up to you, A stór. You can't blame yourself for her path of destruction. She chose to live this way, not you. There is nothing in the handbook that says you need to forgive her as well. The fact that you are forgiving her for every heinous thing she's done over the years, just goes to show the type of person you are. The person I fell in love with."

"I love how you just slipped that right in there. I see you, Mr. Flannery."

"I'm not good with expressing myself so, that's about as good as it gets, babe."

"It's funny. As much as I hated what my sister did, she is also the reason we are together right now. I can't fault her for that. It was the best screw-up she ever made," the two chuckled as they pulled up to the institution.

"I love you for doing this and for being here for me, it really means a lot to me."

"Aye, I see what you did there too, Ms. Reddington."

"Some of us aren't the only ones who have a hard time articulating our feelings," she sneered.

Climbing out of the SUV, Sam was met with a distort Bridge, and her boyfriend Kevin.

"I think we're going to need a wheelchair," Declan proclaimed.

Opening the car door, Maggie was sprawled out on the back seat, sleeping like a baby.

"Jesus, Sam, what the hell did you do to her? Did you drug her?" Bee asked annoyed, and stunned.

"What did you want me to do, Bee? Thump her over the head with a club. If you saw the way she was acting, you would be glad we handled the situation the way we did," Sam stated defensively.

"Ladies, can we discuss this later? We need to get her checked in before she wakes up, or all hell will break lose," Kevin spoke up.

Watching Bridget check Maggie in was unbearable for Sam.
How had they gotten to this place?

"Checking in Margaret Aileen Reddington," Bee offered.

"I don't think I can stand here anymore, Declan," Sam turned away from her sisters.

"Let's get out of here," Declan placed his arm around her shoulder, as they walked through the first set of automated doors. Standing in the freeway, Sam took a minute to look back, watching Maggie slowly wake. Her awareness of where she was frightened her. She began to thrash and yell as attendee's tried to subdue her. Sam couldn't take it any longer, and walked through the second set of automated doors.

Feeling the air hit her tear stained cheeks, she wasn't prepared for the emotions she had experienced over the last couple of hours, and weeks, for that matter. From Cory ditching her for Maggie, to falling for Declan and his gambling situation, not to mention rehab for her sister; it all finally caught up to her. Her head was a whirlwind of ups and downs and yet, she still had an article to write for Vivienne.

"I'm not sure I can write this article, Declan. Maybe I should trust in Quinn to pull it off?"

"I think this is the perfect time to write. You're full of emotions right now, maybe that will only heighten your writing skills?"

"I'm glad you have faith in me. I needed that vote of confidence," she beamed for the first time all day.

"You can write while I sketch, and once we've finished our homework like good little children, I'll show you what I do with my ruler," he leaned in to wrap his arms around her waist. Pulling her in, she gave in to his masculine charm, laying a sweet kiss on his lips.

"Now, which ruler are we talking about," she giggled.

"I guess you'll just have to wait and find out, babe."