“I need to recoup my finances. I’ve heard you considered yourself expert enough to go up against Sandrino in Ukraine. Perhaps even here in Las Vegas. Are you willing to take me on?”

“Why should I?” he asked incredulously.

“Because you’re pissed off that I took your toy.” He paused. “And because when I say I need to recoup, it doesn’t mean I’m broke. I’m just stretched a little thin. I’ve been worse off. I can match the amount you have in that Cayman account. Which is how many million? I’ll transfer it to the same account, and the big winner takes the pot. We’ll set it up with the bank president.”

“The deal includes Lara Balkon?”

“That’s the double in double or nothing.” He added, “Private game. You find the casino and set it up. But I’ll have my people check to make certain you don’t have any of your goons hovering anywhere close.”

Volkov was silent. “You’re taking it for granted that I’ll take you up on it.”

“I’m taking for granted that you’re as arrogant and egotistical as I’ve heard and will think you can beat me.” He added, “And that you’re greedy enough to want to line your pockets with my money to punish me for having the nerve to take Lara.”

“I can beat you,” Volkov said harshly. “You’re nothing. You’re just like Sandrino, a crook and a cheat. I had no trouble beating him once I made him stop cheating.”

“Really?” Tanner’s voice was impassive, but his grip tightened on the phone. “I don’t remember Sandrino cheating. But I promise you won’t have that problem with me.” He asked, “Is it a deal? Do you want me to call my banker and order the transfer?”

Volkov was silent, and then he said slowly, “Call him.”

“How soon can you set up the game? Is it going to be a problem?”

“No, I know a place. Tomorrow night.”

But it had to be the right place. “It has to be very private, Volkov.”

“I know what I’m doing, Tanner,” he said, annoyed. “It’s not even in town. I’ll call you and give you directions after I check with the Caymans to make sure about the transfer.”

“You do that.”

“And bring Lara to the game, I want to take her with me the minute I win. Any problem?”

Tanner gazed at Lara across the room. “I’m certain she’ll be eager to see you.” He pressed the disconnect.

“So there we are,” he said as he put his phone on the end table. “Will you be eager to see him, Lara?”

“Yes.” She smiled wryly. “I’ll be glad to see the end of him. I believe it went fairly smoothly, don’t you?”