Chapter 8:Pool Shark
''What's the matter?" The husky tune of her voice carried across the crowd. She stuck out her bottom lip and frowned in fake concern. "Scared of a real challenge are we?"
Snickers and disdainful laughter spread across the crowd of onlookers, in enjoyment at her goading.
Alec casually glanced around. Judging by the increased number of casual observers starting to gather around the table, apparently he wasn't the only one who felt that the situation was about to become interesting. Turning back to focus on the three people at the centre of interest he waited with a sense of anticipation.
Both men reddened slightly, embarrassed by her statement. The shorter man experienced a rush of grumpiness because her challenge had hit the nail on the head. It was always easier to "play" somebody out of their money if they weren't expecting the professional level of game he and his partner were capable of playing. The method of operation guaranteed a good return on investment, but the golden rule was to never play against anybody who knew the "playbook". Like a punch line in a joke, it only worked if the "target" didn't see it coming.
This clearly wasn't the case now. Thanks to the argument with their last fools, this woman and almost everyone else in the bar, now knew how they functioned, and therefore rendering any chance of making more cash impossible. Plus she looked like she could handle a pool cue. This was all the more reason to turn her dare down. The slimy conman made his decision…a fake smile spread across his thin face, exposing a number of missing teeth.
"Not at all…I just think this game might a little too rich for the…lady." His chosen tone clearly indicating his belief that she was anything but one.
A dangerous stillness seemed to envelope Vada, and her eyes narrowed slightly at the insult.
The corner of Alec's mouth quirked with amusement, as he noted the flash of anger in her eyes, and the slight stiffness in her features as she fought to control her reaction. He glanced across at the hustler.
Big mistake buddy…big mistake
Vada just stared silently at the two men on the other side of the pool table. She noted the triumphant grin on the smaller one's face as he savored his insult, and the poorly contained glee of his taller companion as he leered at her toothily.
Fixing them in her gray gaze, her right eyebrow arched upwards as if in silent contemplation. A smile began to slowly spread across her full lips. The expression transformed her face into a picture of cheerfulness, but it never extended to her cold eyes…and the grins began to fade from the faces of the two men, as they felt the beginnings of uncertainty.
Her smile widened as she slowly reached up and down the front of her shirt. Every man in the bar gawked, their eyes transfixed by the simple movement, attached by the journey of her hand. Alec could have sworn that he heard a combined gulp echo across the room.
After some investigating between her generous cleavage, she withdrew her hand with the same intentional movement, clasping a large bundle of notes in between her fingers.
She held the curled bundle of money up for everyone to see, and then wriggled it pointedly at the short man in silent challenge, before placing it on the edge of the table, on top of the other money.
"I'd say this Lady has it covered…so are you ready to play with the grown ups?"
A bead of sweat appeared on the man's forehead and ran down the side of his face. The two men exchanged a "stare". His eyes large with exhilaration, the taller guy nodded his head in encouragement. The smaller man again stared at the large collection of money - his hunger obviously warring with his natural sneakiness and instincts. The greed won out in the end.
His eyes slid across to the small leather clad woman and he slowly bobbed his head in agreement.
"Double or nothing…"
Vada smiled at his approval, and then reached out to pick up the nearest pool cue from the table. Testing it for straightness and weight, she ran her fingers up the length of the stick. Staring pointedly at the man she caressed the wood suggestively, and her wide mouth opened in a wild grin. A low wolf whistle came from one of the appreciative onlookers.
"Don't worry, I'll try not to hurt you…too much."
The man felt his mouth go dry, as he experienced the distinct feeling of being in "over his head.
He stared at the table in disbelief. This can't be happening
The only pool balls remaining on the pool table were his. Not only had she managed to clear the table in record speed, he was still reeling at some of the "impossible" shots she'd made with casual ease.
He turned his head to stare in shocked humiliation at his partner – only to find his buddy staring at the table with the same dumbfounded expression on his face.
He felt a horrible pressure in his chest, as a panicked feeling washed over him. For a terrible moment he thought he couldn't breathe and then he gulped in a mouthful of air. He tried to recall how it had come to this.
He and his partner had agreed that he'd be the best opponent against her. Both he and the woman had called for the "break" toss, naturally thanks to his luck he'd won the toss.
With well-practiced ease he'd taken the first three shots, and felt like he was settling into his usual pattern, and that's when it had happened. He'd lost a shot. A single shot…
It gave her an opportunity to begin playing. Which he hadn't primarily been worried about, figuring she'd eventually miss a shot, and he'd get control again. He'd been wrong…so wrong.
She moved around the table. The tapping click of her first ball striking against another, pushing it into the pocket, followed quickly by another, and then another. She held the stick up surveying the table and the balls. She lowered the stick - two more balls flew into the pockets. Finding her next target, she lifted the stick again and moved around the table. Leaning down she lined up the mark in her eye, and then looked up to smile sweetly at the men. Not even bothering to watch as she took the shot.
She pouted her lips and blew a kiss in their direction and with a nonchalant yet professional poise she set about clearing the remaining ball off the table in breathtaking speed, and the two men could only stare in mute disbelief.
Alec laughed to himself as he watched their faces. Their dumbfounded shock was priceless. He felt like applauding her display, although there had been no surprise at the likely outcome. No ordinary human could beat the superior skills of an X5 at pool.
Don't feel so bad guys – you've just been beaten by a genetic freak
She stood on the other side of the table, waiting for the realization to sink in for the two hustlers. Her chin length dark brown hair covered half of her face as she coolly surveyed the table.
Obviously figuring she'd given it enough time she began to move towards the cash. "Well now, it's been a luxury - thanks guys. I think I'll be going now…"
The action seemed to break the stunned daze of her opponent. He lifted his eyes from the table and his face hardened with resolve.
"Actually I don't believe you will be…going, that is. You play a nice game, but my partners and I will be the ones who say how it will play out now."
Taking his cue from his partners' words, the taller guy grinned evilly and nodded in agreement.