Page 54 of Mile High Heist

Two more coin tosses. Two more wins for me. I’d think the game was rigged if it wasn’t obvious I was supposed to lose. I was four shots down. The adrenaline prevented me from feeling them, but I had to get the shots out of my system soon.

And then it happened.

The gold streak ended.

The Viper lifted his palm, revealing tails, the wrong call. A smile stretched across his face. Then he lifted his hand as if to signal for another drink.

“Wait,” I rasped, swallowing around the rising bile. “Just wait a fucking second—”

“It’s too late.”

“Call it off!”

He clicked his tongue, shaking his head in mock disappointment.

A minute or so later, glass shattered behind the bar.

The bartender disappeared, collapsed to the ground. There was a single moment of shock. Then all hell broke loose.

“Someone find a doctor!”

I started to rise just as the Viper’s hand slapped down on the table. “No,” he said, his voice dipping dangerously. “We’re not done with our game. We have two more rounds, Noah.”

Beside me, Martha fell silent. She squinted at the Viper, then took another nervous sip.

Survival instincts of a fucking turtle.

I clenched my fists, unable to concentrate with the pandemonium around me. They were trying to resuscitate the man, but it was too late.

He’d be dead in minutes, if not already.

“Heads or tails?”

I couldn’t unhinge my jaw. Anger coursed through my veins like it never had before.

“I will call it, then,” the Viper said, and flipped the coin. “Heads.”

His hand came down.

I was tempted to cover my eyes like a coward. Instead, I stared at his long-fingered hand, picturing every way I could break it.

He lifted it. “Ah,” he said, clicking his tongue. “Another win for you.”

I threw back the next shot and smashed it down with such force, the glass shattered.

Martha made a small, nervous sound. “Perhaps I’ll leave you gentlemen to it.”

“Stay,” the Viper commanded softly. “We’re almost done.”

I risked a quick glance back at the bar. An unfamiliar flight attendant was screaming for help. Others were openly weeping.

Six hours in. Two dead. No leverage.

The odds were not in my favor.

“Last shot,” the Viper said, forcing me to turn back to him. “Heads or tails?”

“Why the fuck are you doing this?” My voice was gravel.