The red wig itched at the back of my neck and the dress wasn't mine.
Neither was the name I was about to use. That was the whole point.
Delphine: You're late, tailor.
Delphine: And you look like a whore in that wig. Come in before someone sees you.
Delphine: Your mother's machine. Still on my shelf, still yours when you pay.
Three years. It sat behind glass like she'd won it off me.
Delphine: One hand at my table. Win tonight and you take it home.
Delphine: Lose and I keep the machine, the debt, and your brother's delivery route.
Mira: You bitch.
My hands went cold and my stomach dropped down to my shoes.
Fuck. Fuck. What choice did I have.
The back room smelled like smoke and old money.
I kept my chin up and walked in like I'd been there before.
There was one man at the far end of the table with his jacket off and his sleeves rolled up.
Heavy shoulders. Short black hair. A nose that had been broken and not fixed pretty.
A crest was cut into his ring. I didn't look twice at it then.
He looked like a man who hadn't slept in a week and didn't plan to start.
Delphine: Sit down, tailor.
Mira: Nina. Tonight my name is Nina.
Delphine smiled like she'd already sold something of mine.
My first hand was garbage. I didn't care.
The man across from me hadn't looked up once.
Rafael: You're holding those cards like they owe you money.
His voice was low and slow, like he had all night and I had minutes.
Mira: Everyone owes me money. That's the city.
He got up and came around the table with his glass still in his hand.
Delphine didn't stop him. That should have told me everything.
His fingers found the strap of my dress and slid it down, slow, one inch.
I should have moved. I didn't.
Rafael: Careful with this. It's not yours.
Mira: Neither am I. Not yet.
Rafael: Here's a better bet.
Rafael: Beat me and the machine goes home with you tonight. Lose, and you stay with me until morning.
Something low in me went hot and stupid.
Mira: That's not a bet. That's a price.
Rafael: Everything's a price. Say yes.
Mira: Yes.
It came out of my mouth before I could stop it, and I didn't want to stop it.
He kissed me like he'd been thinking about it since I walked in.
Warm, unhurried, and sure, and I kissed him back with my hand flat on his shirt.
Delphine: Well. Isn't that sweet.
I heard her. I stayed where I was anyway, one more second, one more.
The machine was mine to lose now, and so was everything else.