[Jake's POV]
The poker game dissolved shortly after the massive all-in hand.
Volkov stood first, stretching his shoulders like he'd been sitting too long. "I'm done bleeding tonight," he said with a rough laugh. He cashed out what was left of his stack and gave me a nod on his way to the private elevator. Leung followed a minute later, quiet, his face unreadable. He didn't look at the pot I'd dragged in.
Thorne lingered. He finished his drink, set the crystal down precisely on a coaster, and looked at me. "That was instructive, Mr. Croft. I don't get to see someone play Evelyn like that very often."
He gave a polite, empty smile. "Until next time."
Then it was just Evelyn and me.
The attendants moved like ghosts. They cleared the table, boxed the remaining chips, wiped down the felt. No one spoke. In under two minutes the room looked like no one had ever played here.
