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“They fall from the ether, and there’s someone else who wants to welcome you home,” he announced, stepping sideways and gesturing across the room.
“Sammy,” she exclaimed, shocked to see him. “What are you doing here?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to see anyone in my life,” he answered evasively as he hurried over to her. “What’s with the short blonde hair? You look like some kind of femme fatale.”
“Nick came up with it so I wouldn’t be recognized. It worked brilliantly.”
“And Nick is…?”
“My white knight in swimming trunks, or at least he was,” she replied, but as she turned to call him over, she saw him speaking quietly with her parents. “Hey, Dad, I take it Sammy’s presence means you know he’s a good guy after all.”
“You could say that,” her father replied, “but there’s a lot about him you don’t know, isn’t that right, Sam?”
Moving her eyes back to Sam’s face, she saw his brow crinkle.
“Sam, what’s he talking about?”
“Don’t be mad, Bianca, but I’m not exactly the poverty stricken gambler you think I am.”
“He sure isn’t,” Lorenzo declared. “He’s one of the best damn poker players in Vegas, and I’m going to set him up with Rupert Colby.”
“Uh, you’re still going to do that?” Sammy asked. “I figured since—”
“Hell, yeah,” Lorenzo answered sharply, cutting him off.
“But, Sammy, if you’re not poverty stricken, why do you live in such a tiny apartment?” Bianca asked. “Why did you borrow money from me, and who is Rupert Colby?”
“I wanted to explain all this in my own time,” Sammy said with a sigh, shooting a look at Lorenzo.
“I’m not mad at you, I’m just confused,” Bianca continued. “Please tell me what this is all about?”
“Well, where do I begin? It’s true I have plenty of money. I stay where I am because it’s crazy cheap and it doesn’t bother me. Believe me, compared to some of the places I lived in growing up, it’s a palace.”
“But the money? Why did you borrow it?”
“Bianca, you’re the only person—ever—who has believed in me. Every time you set me up with a stake, it gave me confidence, and I also knew giving me the cash made you feel like you mattered, that you made a difference, and you did. You still do. It was never about the money. Our back and forth was about our hearts. Then your father showed up at my door asking if I knew anything about your disappearance. We talked and—”
“You can stop there,” Lorenzo said hastily.
“I was going to say,” Sammy continued, “we talked and he realized how much I care about you, and he offered to introduce me to Rupert Colby. Rupert is similar to a sports agent, except he represents poker players.”
“Why would you do that, Dad?”
“We can talk about it another time,” Lorenzo said quickly. “Let’s just enjoy your safe return.”
Taking a breath and wiping her wet face, Bianca looked from her father, to her mother, back to Sam, then across to Nick who had settled on the couch.
“Why do I get the feeling something else is going on here?” she asked warily. “Something all of you know but don’t want to tell me.”
“You know what, she’s right, this is bullshit,” Sammy suddenly proclaimed. “I’m sorry, Mr. Albertini, but there have been too many lies. It’s time to get things out in the open.”
Immediately jumping to his feet, Nick hurried across to Bianca.
“Is that what you want?” he asked quietly. “Are you ready to tell your story?”
“Yeah, I am, but will you stay with me?”
“Of course I will.”
