The older man frowned deeply. "I think we may need security over here."
Janie shook her head. "This is my sister. She's been missing for five years. I don't know what she's trying to prove right now by pretending she doesn't know who I am, but it's not very funny."
"Is this true?" The older man's frown deepened and he stood up from his seat. "What is going on here?"
Angela shook her head, her expression one of confusion. "I don't know. This woman is obviously crazy.
Just sit down and don't make a scene."
The muscles in the man's jaw tensed. "A scene is exactly what Idon't want."
"Are you together?" Janie asked. Although she supposed that was fairly obvious. She just wanted it confirmed.
"We…" the man began and then closed his mouth and sighed before he turned toward the entrance. "I wanted this to be discreet. I wanted something simple. This isn't simple anymore, and it's not just this."
Angela stood and grabbed at his jacket. "Where are you going?"
He wrenched the material out of her grasp, but not before there was an audible ripping sound and a expression of disdain crossed his face. "I had a feeling there was something strange about you. I ignored it these last few months, but this is the final proof I needed that you're a liar. You won't even acknowledge your own sister?"
"Bernard! How can you say that?" Angela looked at Janie and then back at him. "This person walks in here and tells you that I'm not who you think I am and you believe her? Just like that?"
"Angela." Janie's frown deepened. "The necklace. Look at your necklace and then look at mine. They match. We bought them together. Don't you remember?"
Angela glanced down at the were-loom. "Obviously just a coincidence."
The man shook his head. "I expect my wife to lie to me, but not my mistress. I'm leaving."
Angela's cheeks flushed almost as red as her hair. "I haven't lied. And this… this is all it takes? Some stupid woman spouting crap about me? Where's the trust, Bernard? Where?"
He shrugged. "Let's just say it's the straw that broke the camel's back. Besides, I know you've been unfaithful."
"But you'remarried !"
"Except for my wife I've been completely faithful to you."
"You son of a bitch. Fine. Leave."
His lips thinned, and his gaze tracked down the length of Janie. He produced a card. "Perhapsyou should call me sometime. I'm in town through to the end of the week."
Angela threw three red chips at him. They hit his back and fell to the floor.
"There's the money for my new boobs, you bastard. The onesyou wanted me to get. Don't say I don't repay my debts."
Bernard kept walking.
The room had gone completely silent.
"Place your bets," the dealer said after another moment.
Angela's face was almost as red as her hair, and she leaned forward to place a small pile of chips in the middle of the table on seventeen.
"Well," Janie said, slightly stunned. "At least he didn't say that you'll always haveParis ."
Her face was tight. "I don't know who you are, but I think I hate you. No, scratch that. I definitely hate you. Do you have any idea who that was?"
"Should I?"
"Only if you watch the news and are not completely ignorant of politics."
"Then I definitely don't know. Nor do I care. Listen—" She took a step toward her sister.
Angela backed away a step and held up her hand. "Go away or I'm going to call security."
The wheel spun.
"Black seventeen!" the dealer announced. "The lady wins again."
"Whoop-dee-shit." Angela said, decidedly not thrilled by the whole situation as she gathered together her large pile of chips in front of her. "I'm out of here."
Janie stomach churned. "Youseriously don't remember me?"
"Why should I?"
"Oh I don't know. Because I'mJanie . Yoursister . You disappeared five years ago and I've been searching for you. I thought something terrible had happened to you."
"I'm sure if I had a sister and she was you it's not something I'd just forget. Now get the hell away from me.Capiche ?"
Janie's mind was reeling, and she took everything in. It was all making sense. Angela didn't remember her. Of course, that's why she hadn't been in contact for years. Her sister had amnesia!
This piece of news was actually an odd relief, all things considered, but it didn't keep lift the heavy ache of disappointment she felt at how poorly the reunion was going so far.
Janie grabbed her wrist again. "Listen, I know this is strange to you, but you have to come with me.
You're in terrible danger."
"You'rein terrible danger if you don't let go of me."
Janie looked to her left toward the entrance to the VIP room but couldn't spot Barkley or Quinn. Just then, a large man wearing an earpiece and a casino vest entered the room and headed straight toward them.
"Is there a problem here?" he asked.
"I'll say there's a problem," Angela hissed. "This woman is harassing me. I thought the high-stakes rooms here were better supervised."
He shook his head. "I'm sorry, madam, but I wasn't speaking to you." He nodded at the dealer. "Is there a problem?"
The dealer's expression was sour. "I'm not sure. This… this young lady has been at my table for over an hour now and has won every round."