Nine Billion Dollar Heist

*Co-authored with the radical Lives in Dreams and TRDancer*

Chapter 14: Calm Before the Storm

"Sure Sir Oinks a Lot" –Emmett

APOV

"Ah, Rosalie! Do come and join us, I'm guessing these must be your friends?" Felix was waving his hands in the air making a big deal over Rose's arrival, but what he did next shocked us all.

When Rosalie sat down – in between Emmett and Felix- his waving arms stopped and one of them rested along her waist, pulling her closer to him.

Emmett looked like he was going to explode; the anger pouring off him – plus his usual intimidation- would send anyone cowering under the nearest rock. But Felix, Felix seemed to know the game we were playing. He sat there –looking calmly- staring into Emmett's red tinted eyes and spoke, in the same smooth, calm voice.

"Is there a problem, eh ... Emmett, right?"

"Yes, and of course ..." I could see Edward kick him under the table. It looked like we were using Rose to get into that VIP room "... not. No problem at all."

"Well, if that's the case, would you all like to..." Felix motioned for us all to lean closer to him, almost as if he was telling us a secret. Of course, we followed his hand like a five year old following candy. "... Be my guests for tonight at the casino's VIP section?"

Bingo.

No need to play our cards right; Rosalie had already done that for us. We all left the table and followed Felix towards the forbidden door. Eyes seemed to be on us as we walked across the casino floor.

When we came to the door the security people were staring us down, mostly glaring at Rosalie and I. But I could swear that Felix shot them a look that I like to call 'the warning glare'. They stepped aside and let us all pass, but this time, they looked away from us all, trying not to make eye contact. There was something up; I knew this, though I just couldn't put two and two together. It was frustrating.

The frustration disappeared as soon as I saw the room we were in.

Everything was fit for royalty, with gold and black tables and expensive art covering the walls. Everything was designer right down to the shot glasses. It was magnificent; someone could get used to this just by stepping through the door.

"La signora del vino?"A voice came from behind me and I spun around. There was a waiter with one mighty fine suit that would look good on Jasper. I would have to remember to get him one. He was holding a tray of wine glasses and I didn't need to use my Italian to know that he was offering me some.

I went to take a glass when someone to my right was clicking their fingers wildly at the waiter.

"Essi non bevono, è contro la loro religione." It was Felix, and I knew enough Italian to know that he just told that guy that none of us drink. This was not going to go down well with anyone.

I walked over to the rest of the gang and they were as surprised as me. Naturally, Emmett was the first to speak.

"Did he really just say that it was against our religion to drink?" His mouth was unlatched and Rosalie was trying to close it.

Edward on the other hand was standing there thinking – he had his concentrating face on. It looked funny.

"They know everything," he said finally. Felix was still yelling at that poor unfortunate waiter. But it gave us a chance to talk and we all huddled in and listened. "They know that we're counting and that we're underage. Somehow we weren't careful enough and they must have done a full-"

"Ah, my young friends! Planning to put those brains of yours to the test? Come now, we must get to the table before they start the next game without us."

I guess he also knew that we knew he knew that we were counters.

We were all sitting down at the table. Everything was luxurious, but with this 5 star service came a problem. There was no one standing or floating about. We couldn't have any of us be the 'pretty girl' or any free floaters. We would have to play this game using only our wit alone.

This should be interesting.

The dealer dealt everyone their cards and I didn't notice any trickery – which was good. The cards were laminated and they felt smooth in my hands. I had a good hand, I felt confident. I knew we would win this time.

Plus 16.

Plus 13.

"Dealer bust, Mr. Felix wins."

Fuck. How the fuck did we lose again?

Well, at least I wasn't the only one that was looking confused. In fact I'm positive that Emmett and Edward looked angry. Each of us was looking at each other dumbly. We had no idea what was going on. No, we did, we knew Felix was a counter, that's how he could have won. But there was no way that he could have done it alone with all of these big players. Unless...

Well, this was just great, the only logical reason I could think of was all of these people were counters. Meaning they would all bet big because they all could count and so the money would be bigger. It wasn't even making sense in my mind. Why would you want all the counters in the one room? It wasn't logical and it made my brain hurt.

"So, young ones, are we ready to learn from our mistakes? How about one more game?"

"Sure Sir Oinks a Lot I'll play you and I'll-, "Emmett started but his temper was getting the better of him. He had his fist against the table which I was sure was making dents.

"No, it's okay. We'd love to but we can't. Gotta get back to the hotel. We don't want to make those employees annoyed again. Don't know what they'll do when you're not in your room," Edward interrupted like the leader he was. Though sometime you'd wish he'd let Emmett sort things out his way. It could be very entertaining. Then again it could be messy.

"Ah, okay, my friends. But before you go please take these gifts!" He double clicked his fingers and a young boy came running out with a black and gold –did everything here have to be black and gold? - Box. He reached in and pulled out six cards. I recognised them as the VIP passes that everyone in this room seemed to have.

"These are this room's VIP passes. They will allow each of you to access this area whenever you want. Please come here instead of those tables in the... eh, normal area."

"Why thank you. We will make sure to use these and come in here during our next visit." Edward finished off and with our respective other half we walked out the room.

Jasper walked over to me and wrapped his arm around my waist and walked with me.

"Very eventful night, wasn't it."

"No, Jasper, it was the quietest night of my life. I swear I was asleep half the night."

"Very funny, sweetheart."

"I know, I'm just the funny type."

Back at the hotel we all went to go to our own rooms, but--of course--Edward wanted to discuss what happened tonight.

Now.

Everyone was sitting down facing Edward. Jasper was on one of the few chairs and I was on his lap. Rosalie and Emmett were on the bed opposite the bed Edward and Bella were on.

"Now what the fuck happened out there tonight?" Shit, he sounded pissed. We had a lot to answer for tonight and it wasn't even our fault.

Dreamer: Sorry for the long wait. We've all been sick and school go in the way and stuff. But... you know what's coming up next... Please review :)

TRD: We were all deathly, deathly sick. Can't write when you're sick, honestly. Just sayin'. Please review. We missed you all.

Lenn: Serious when we say deathly sick. For reals. But, we missed you, we missed NBDH, and we've missed Edward's sporadic angry outbursts. SO we're back. Ish.

R&R