Plush red velvet mocked you from the walls of the private room. Don Corvus, a man who ruled with a raised eyebrow, stared daggers at his dwindling chips. Across the table, Nicky "Fingers" Ferraro, a greasy grin plastered on his face, held another royal flush.

"Another hand, Don?" Nicky's voice scraped like gravel. You watched, heart sinking, as the Don's knuckles turned white around his silver cufflinks. This wasn't just a bad night for the Don; it was a full-blown rebellion from Lady luck.