Chapter 31: Raise the Stakes or Call it off
(just to be clear: first line is Rachel, second is Dick, and the third is Gar unless stated otherwise.)
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June 2nd: four days left...

That beach day was an interesting one at the very least. But yesterday was a complete turn around from the day before. Everyone kind of split up. Some stayed at the house, others went to the resort.

Today they all wanted to stay in the house and play poker this morning. Specifically Texas Hold 'Em. Unfortunately Vic had heard about some materials exclusive to Hawaii and just had to go check them out. Today was the only day he could, so left to play was Rachel, Dick, Gar, and Kori.

Rachel and Dick were pretty good, Gar was ok, and Kori didn't know how to play so she was the dealer.

She dealt the hands and cards were put on the table (with some instruction) and they started the game.

Rachel had an Ace of Hearts and a 6 of Spades.

Dick already had a pair of 2s of Clubs.

Gar had a 10 of Clubs and a 9 of Spades.

They all called $1,000 to start.

Kori put three cards in the middle of the table, and Ace of Hearts, a 5 of Spades, and a 7 of Spades. This was just a practice round, since none of them had actually played in a while.

Rachel was first. "Call 1K."

Dick was second. "Raise 2K."

Gar was third. "Check."

Dick and Rachel slid their chips in while Gar kept them to himself. He didn't have a good hand so he wasn't going to change anything.

Kori put another card in. It was a Ace of Diamonds.

Now Raven has a Three of a Kind, Dick still has a one pair, and Gar wasn't doing to good.

"Raise 2.5K."

"Check."

"Check."

They weren't tying to deceive anyone this time.

The last card in was a King of Diamonds. It didn't effect their hands much, but Gar was out of luck.

"Call 2.5."

"Call."

"Fold."

"Already?" Dick asked. He showed his cards and they didn't ask anymore about it.

"Call."

"Call." They both put their chips into the pot. Rachel showed her cards.

"Three of a kind." She said, a grin pulling at the corner of her mouth.

"Damn." Dick put his cards down. "one pair."

"Perfect! You all remember how to play!" Kori stated lightheartedly.

"Four rounds?" Rachel asked. Dick and Gar nodded. The cards were dealt once again.

Rachel got a 3 of Hearts and a 4 of Clubs.

The starting bet was $1,000 again.

"Check."

"Raise. 2K." Interesting... Thought Raven.

"Check."

The first two cards were a 6 of clubs and an 8 of clubs.

"Call 2K."

"...Check." Dick had hesitated.

"Raise 2.5k."

The next was a 9 of clubs.

"Raise 4k." She was close to a straight.

"Call 4k."

"Call 4k." Neither of them hesitated. Raven watched their faces. The way they looked at one another. Raven sat up straight in her chair. She was content with her hand and she aimed to show it. She breathed out slowly as Kori out another card in.

It was a 7 of Hearts.

"Check."

"Check."

"Check."

Nothing was put into the pot.

The last card was a 10 of diamonds. Raven wanted to look up from her hand, but that would give them a look at her eyes. She'd rather not take the chance.

"Check." She bluffed. She had a straight. Unless one of them had a flush, which was really the only other option here she was golden.

"Fold."

"Call 4K."

Dick was out. He had a jumble of cards. He couldn't even have bluffed his way out. Now it was between Gar and Rachel.

"Check." She knew he was searching her face for any signs, but they were well concealed.

"Call." Gar said calmly.

"Call." She said.

He grinned. "Raise 6K." Gar placed his cards down. "Flush. 5 clubs."

She put hers down slowly.

"Straight." She said dejectedly.

"I'll take that money thank you!" He slid all the chips over to him. All $18,500 worth.

The second round was pathetic. Dick had a two pair while the others were left with squat. And the pot didn't make it over $10,000.

The third round was a better. Rachel got extremely close to a Full House, three kings and two 4s, but Dick ended up getting the better hand, as he had three kings and two 9s.

This round Rachel was out for blood. She hadn't won a single round other than the first one — which didn't count. She wanted to come out of this with some profit. Her plan was to put as much in the pot as possible. Even if she had crappy cards.

By the time all 5 cards were on the table there was over $20,000 in the pot. The bet was now at $5,000.

Rachel had two Queens. One of hearts and one of diamonds.

There were two fives, one of clubs and one of spades, a Jack of spades, a King of Diamonds, and a 2 of diamonds.

All she had from this was a measly Two Pair. It didn't do her much good. Especially in a set like this with 2 high cards.

"Raise 6K." Her outward appearance was mainly monotone.

"Call 6K. You seem awfully flat Rachel." She looked at him. This is the first time anyones spoken anything other than 'Call', 'Raise', 'Check', or 'Fold'. She wants the only one out for blood. He was because she was.

"Call." Gar took his turn.

"What makes you say that? Raise 6.5K."

"Because there's a lot of money in the pot and we have two high cards. Check."

"Call." Gar continued to stay out of the conversation.

"Call. No shit Sherlock."

"Call?" He laughed. "Loosing our pride are we? Raise. 7K."

"Hmm...call..."

"Why'd you hesitate Gar?" Dick asked.

"You don't need to and won't know." He replied quickly.

"I'm going. Call."

"Call."

"Call." Kori was just sitting and watching, but she could practically feel the tension in the air tugging at her like a taut rope.

"You know Rach, you're good at hiding your emotions. I can't read you at all." He grins slyly. She knew what he was doing 100%. He wanted to get her pride up. Hubris wouldn't be her downfall.

"Raise. 8k."

"Check."

"Call."

"Aren't you one to talk." Rachel spoke. "You just keep checking and calling. You've only raised it once this entire round."

"Who says I'm not bluffing?" He replied. They stared for a bit, then kept going.

"Raise 8.5k."

"Raise 9k."

"Check."

"Call." After the chips were dropped into the pile she called it almost immediately.

"Call."

"..." He didn't say anything. He looked at Rachel, then at Dick, then the cards on the table, then back to his own. "Raise. Half pot."

Dick wa taken aback a bit by this, but Rachel didn't falter in her outward mannerisms at all. she was treading dangerous waters now however, as Gar seemed confident.

"Check."

"Check."

"Raise. All in." Even with the shock of everyone else Gar didn't falter. The only thing he changed was his sitting position. He went from hunched over his cards to leaning back on the the two legs of the chair. Still no expression.

"Call."

"Check."

"Call."

"Call." She knew Dick was going downhill fast.

"Check."

"Call."

"Call."

"Screw it. I fold." Dick threw down his cards in frustration. He had a three of a kind. All of fives.

Gar looked at Rachel. Rachel was scanning his eyes. Watching his every movement carefully. Her killing instincts always seemed to kick in when she was playing poker.

"Call." He said finally.

"Call."

"...Fold." He had a Full House. Three Fives and two Jacks.

Rachel laughed a bit. She slowly put down her cards and showed them her crappy two pair.

"What?!"

"No way! I would have won!" Gar shouted.

"The magic of bluffing." She smiled as she took her money.

"You bluffed a lot." Dick glared at her.

"Part of the game, I Grayson. Part of the game."

Raven came out of that game with a healthy 1.5 million. Even though that's a small fraction out of their wallets (and hers truthfully. From all the missions she's done she's not having financial troubles any time soon that's for sure) it was more than Slade was willing to give her. And this was just a game of poker. An intense one but still.

The two men acted like little kids as they grovelled with their excellent hands.

"I'll take a check thank you very much." Then she got up and stretched, then she went to the bathroom. They had been playing for a few hours.

"I'm back ya'll! I got some awesome stuff to– Why do you two look so pissed?"

"Dick, Gar, and Rachel were playing poker and Rachel 'bluffed' to obtain the winnings." Kori explained.

"How much did she win?"

"1.5 mil." Gar said with his head resting on his fist.

"Seriously?! What did she win with?" Dick gestured to the table. Vic looked over and once he saw what she had won with he busted out laughing. "Either the girl is really good at bluffing or you're just suckers for a pretty lady! She bluffed you two so bad! Ha!"

The two men left, frustrated.

On his way to his room he noticed Raven's door was open. He heard mechanical clicking and beeping from inside, accompanied with a faint humming.

He snuck a peak through the crack. Raven was just closed the barrel of a gun. She examined the gun from all angles, then put her hands at her sides. After walking to gaze through the blinds she looked at the gun in her hands. Gar couldn't tell if it was cocked or not.

"I know you're here, Logan." He pushed open the door.

"You didn't go to the bathroom."

"Nope." She turned around and leaned on the wall. "Curious about this are we?" She held up the gun.

"I heard clicks."

"That was me opening my safe. And checking my weaponry." She stalked over to him. "You know, if I were you, I wouldn't be so curious." She got up on her toes, "Especially after what you pulled on Thursday." and whispered in his ear slowly, articulating every word. It sent shivers throughout his body.

"Raven, come on, please can you just–" She silenced him with a wave of her hand.

"You're lucky I'm in a good mood, or I would've done what I'm about to do as soon as I knew you were here." She pushed him out of the room and slammed the door in his face, specifically on his nose. He stood outside the door holding his nose in silence.

"Also, thank you for the money!"