Hope and Vengeance (Saa Thalarr, book 1): Saa Thalarr, book 1 by Connie Suttle Page A

dollars.
    "Anna knows how to pick slot machines," Joey said, pressing the button again. "I don't understand why she isn't the richest person ever, if she can do this."
    "I don't understand it either, except that she does have a serious secret to hide."
    "There's that," Joey agreed. "Kirby Lee got up to visit the restroom, but that's it. Oh, and she got a soda from the cocktail waitress."
    "How is Cheek getting along?"
    "Still winning," Joey said. "I hear some groaning from time to time. That lets me know he's won another hand."
    "I'll go stand by the door for a moment," I said. "I'll be right back." I walked away from Joey, making it almost to the door leading into the poker room as a gambler came out.
    "Tell me what's going on in there," I laid compulsion. The man was middle aged, slightly overweight and looked to be a professional at gambling.
    "That asshole is taking everybody's money. I don't know how, but I think he's cheating," the man said.
    "How much has he won?"
    "He's sitting on half a million right now. I lost fifty grand in there."
    "High-stakes?"
    "It is now."
    "Has he said anything?"
    "Not much. Talked about taking his winnings to another tournament across town. The winner there gets an automatic entry into the big tournament in Las Vegas next week."
    "How long will the casino let him play?"
    "Probably another four hours or so. Figure he'll quit just before that and sleep for a while. Unless he's an idiot."
    "I haven't seen much evidence otherwise," I muttered.
    "What?"
    "Nothing. Thank you for the information. You'll forget you spoke with me."
    "Sure thing." The man walked away.
    "Cheek's up more than half a million," I said, taking the chair next to Joey's slot machine. "Placed compulsion on the gambler who walked out. He says the casino will probably let Cheek play for another four hours before forcing him to stop. He also says he thinks Cheek is cheating, but didn't know how he was doing it."
    "I know you're already thinking this, but this is really weird. Anna isn't telling us everything, either. I really like her, Adam. I don't want to see her get hurt. What do you think the Council is going to do when this is over?"
    "I'm worried about what they might do before this is over."
    "You're not very reassuring, you know that?"
    "You don't know Xavier as I do. Or Wlodek, for that matter."
    "True. What do you think might happen?" Joey sounded worried.
    "I don't want to tell you because frankly, I don't want to even consider what might come of this."
    "I've never seen you this concerned about any human."
    "I've never been this concerned about any human."
    "Daylight in two hours," Joey said as his watched chimed softly.
    "I know. I don't like this. I like it less that Anna won't have enough sleep when she rises to take watch."
    Adam , Joey sent. There's a werewolf over there. Just walked in.
    I see him. He's walking this way. He has our scent.
    I'm ready , Joey responded, pulling his hands away from the slot machine and allowing his claws to slide out about an inch.
    "Hello," the werewolf nodded to both of us. "I'm Daniel Carey. William Winkler, the Dallas Packmaster, asked me to meet with you."

Chapter 5  
     
    "I doubt he's going anywhere, at least for an hour or two," Daniel said after a quick survey of the poker room. "Winkler was contacted by the Grand Master, after he was informed of the attack by rogue members of the Corpus Christi Pack."
    "They killed their Packmaster first," I said. "Should this conversation be more private? Joey can keep watch until daybreak."
    "We can go to my room—if you want," Daniel offered.
    "Joey," I nodded to him. Joey nodded back. I followed Daniel out of the casino.
    Once the door was closed on Daniel's room, I rounded on him. "How the hell did you know where we were?" I snapped.
    "I believe Wlodek offered that information to the Grand Master."
    "Fucking credit cards," I muttered. I wanted to curse Xavier, too, who'd likely traced my charges for the Head of the Council, but I