Gamble, Book One

Chapter 3

The '79 red Camaro sped along the backroads as the sun rose ahead. Both women remained quiet during the drive, having only been in the car for a few minutes. But that was enough time for the driver who was eager to share some news with her sister.

"Guess what?" She asked suddenly, glancing at her quiet sister before returning to the road.

"You got laid in the bar?" She replied earning a smack from the driver. Toni hissed at the slap by her very heavy handed sister.

"No smart one! I won fifteen hundred dollars at a game! Well, more like a few games," she said happily.

Toni gaped at her sister. "Holy crap Nicole! How'd you manage that?" She asked. Normally on a good night, Nicole could get a few hundred bucks; every now and then she could get a grand.

"Well, he was a cocky son of a bitch and you know how they get," she said simply expecting Toni to understand. "So, after one game, it turned into three then a round darts so..."

"You hustled another drifter didn't you?" Toni asked. Nicole remained still, eyes firmly set on the road. Nicole could feel her sister's judging eyes on her and she sighed. "C'mon Nicole! I thought you were gonna stop!"

"It's good money Toni! And it's something I'm good at! We all can't use our left brain like you do!" Nicole shouted back. Toni crossed her arms, looking out the window. She hated having this fight constantly repeating with them.

It had been two years since Nicole returned from her journey and they still fought like they were kids. Toni tried really hard to be patient with her sister, especially after they decided to move in together. Their dad was a traveling detective so he wasn't in town much and ever since their mom's death, they didn't have much of a home either.

What they had now was an apartment ten minutes away from the diner where she worked (plus a few shopping centers) and thirty minutes from the interstate that led to the university outside of town. The location was convenient enough for them and within budget. And most of all it was quiet...discreet.

"So, who was that tall glass of water you were speaking with when I pulled up?" Nicole asked, breaking Toni from her thoughts.

Toni smiled, thinking of Sam. "Oh, just another customer..."

"Ha! I call bullshit!" Nicole exclaimed, pulling into a front spot of 'Brookside Hills'. Shutting off the car then exiting, Nicole powerwalked to catch up with her sister who was quick to avoid her.

"He's just a student at the university that came in for a forth meal, that's it!" Toni replied as she unlocked the door to their apartment. An alarm began to go off and she quickly shut it off then reset it once Nicole was settled inside.

"Are you sure he didn't want some of your pie," Nicole winked, plopping down on the couch.

Toni rolled her eyes, "you're disgusting; I'm amazed you weren't born a dude."

"And I feel the same about you, Tony," Nicole teased. Toni sighed as she kicked off her shoes and hung up her jacket, suddenly exhausted. She turned down the hallway, ready to sleep, but paused in the doorway hearing her sister's call.

"What Nicole? I'm beat," Toni whined. Nicole was standing in front of the couch now, pulling something out from underneath.

"You want to train for a bit?" Nicole asked. She had found what she was looking for that was hidden away under the couch: a pair of sharpened machetes spray painted black. "Hmmm?"

Toni rolled her shoulders and cracked her neck. She proceeded to unbutton her waitress uniform, revealing a crop top, and slim fitting shorts. Breathing deeply, Toni threw up her hands, taking a defensive stance.