Page 76 of The Forbidden Fling

Tiago tutted, shaking his head. “Oh, miúda. What will I do with all your money?” He met her call and raised again, his oily face shining under the warm overhead bulb.

Irritation flared at his use of little girl. She dug her nail into her hand as the last card was dealt, using every last drop of composure to hold her face still. A five of spades.

She tore her eyes back to Tiago, catching his glance at his skyscraper of chips. This smug arsehole thought he was going to win.

“Last round of bets,” Carla commented. “Play nice.” She tried to keep her voice upbeat and teasing, but even she couldn’t squash the tension filling the room.

All attention fell on Faye, and with all the essence of enigma she could muster, she pushed all her chips into the centre of the table. “All in.”

Romeo inhaled sharply. Carla’s gaze snapped to her. Even Filamena’s stony expression faltered for a moment, something akin to pride raising her thin eyebrows.

But Faye kept her focus on the man across from her, trying to ignore the way her heart thudded. The seconds stretched painfully. Then he pushed all of his chips into the middle, the skyscraper towers crashing down onto the table.

“Brother,” Duarte scolded, slapping him on the shoulder. “What are you doing?”

“What’s it look like? I’m going to win.”

“You never learn, do you? This is my money you’re gambling with.”

He gritted his teeth. “I said I’ll pay you back.”

He cursed in Portuguese, the two of them raising their voices until Filamena cut them off.

“Silêncio.” She shook her head, glaring at them, fierce Portuguese falling from her lips.

Whatever Filamena had said, the men snapped out of it. Tiago crossed his arms, and Duarte’s usual friendly demeanour had vanished.

Carla cleared her throat. “Okay… Let’s see what you got.”

The room grew quiet. Just the buzz of the old microwave in the corner, and the soft slap of the waves against the boat.

Faye held Tiago’s gaze. Even when he waved for her to go first. Even when he raised his eyebrows. She didn’t blink, didn’t waver, and then, with a shit-eating grin, he spread his cards on the table.

A row of spades looked up at her—a flush.

She glanced at her hand, then at the mountain of chips in the centre. It wasn’t a landslide amount by any means, maybe one hundred euros, but it was definitely enough to repay Romeo.

And besides, she really wanted to wipe that smirk off Tiago’s face.

She let her lips drop enough to cause Tiago’s eyes to crinkle. “Ah. I have a straight.”

He pounded his fist on the table, the chips clinking. “Yes! See. I told you—”

She cleared her throat, laying her cards down. “A straight flush that is.”

He glared at the pretty row of spades in disbelief.

“I believe that means miúda wins.” Faye grinned. “And you’re bust.” She turned to Carla, who was stacking her chips in neat piles. “You’re right. I am good at this.” She stood to reach a few flyaway chips that had rolled away, and Tiago burst from his chair.

“Aha! Ela está a fazer batota. She’s cheating!” He pointed at Faye’s abdomen, spit flying from his mouth. “I knew it.”

She glanced down, spying her bag outline underneath her T-shirt. “I’m not cheating.”

But he stood up, undeterred. “Look. She has something under her shirt. Extra cards.”

“Tiago,” Carla warned. “Sit down.”

The aggression from the man might’ve scared her, but instead, she fought the urge to roll her eyes. Being at the table with him all night felt like being trapped in a hungry gorilla enclosure. “I don’t need to cheat to beat you. This is my ostomy bag.”