“Sandrino. You might have heard we had sort of a…relationship. Though it was definitely up and down, and we were both competitive as hell. No matter how I tried, I could never beat him. I was even a little relieved when he disappeared, and everyone knew that I was the best in the world.”

“I heard you were good,” Volkov said sarcastically. “No one told me you were the best. A little bloated ego, Tanner?”

“If you didn’t hear it, it must be because we travel in different circles. These days players beg me for a game, just as they once did Sandrino.” He paused. “Did you beg him to let you join that poker game when you were in Ukraine? Maybe you should have sat that one out. I heard it didn’t go well for you.”

Silence. “You know about Ukraine?”

“Of course. It was my duty to look for Sandrino when he suddenly disappeared. Everyone knew that he’d set himself up as my mentor. I had to at least pretend to show him homage. It surprised me a little that he even bothered with that unimportant game in Ukraine. But when I heard he left there for brighter horizons, I just dropped the search and went back to running my own life and building my portfolio. I thought he was through with you, too.” He paused. “Until I got a text a couple of years later from an old friend of yours, Lenny Walker, asking for money and telling me if I’d come to Las Vegas he’d tell me how you’d lured Sandrino here for a big game. I ignored it. I was having financial problems with a few of my own casinos at the time, and I wasn’t about to pour cash anywhere but into my own bank accounts. Besides, by that time I was very comfortable not having to share space at the top with Sandrino.”

“I never heard of any Lenny Walker,” Volkov said flatly.

“I believe you did. Walker seemed positive. But I never heard from him again and I forgot about him because my stocks were plummeting. It was at that point that I took another look at you, Volkov. A thorough look that involved your very fat bank account in the Caymans—and Lara Balkon, who appeared to be a possible weapon.”

Volkov was swearing. “How did you know about the account in the Caymans?”

“I’m very good with numbers. Ask anyone. And I hire very sharp people to follow up when I’m interested.”

“Prying into my finances could get you killed,” Volkov said coldly.

“But then I’m sure that my taking your Lara has already sent me into dangerous territory. I figured that I might as well go double or nothing.”

“Double or nothing? What the hell are you talking about?”