Elena swore under her breath.
Camila gave a small nod, then picked up the deck with a practiced hand. "Dealer's choice," she said coolly.
She shuffled expertly then she dealt five each, slow and deliberate, like she was setting traps.
Claire barely glanced at hers. She had stopped needing to.
"Ante up," someone muttered.
The game had shifted. No more joking. No more lazy postures or half-smiles. Just tension.
Camila opened. She raised her eyes. "Feeling lucky?"
Claire didn't answer. She tapped the table. Camila laid down her cards. "Three of a kind. Kings," she said, with a tone of challenge.
Claire didn't blink. She slid her hand out, card by card.
Two tens. Two queens.
Then the final card.
Another queen.
Full house.
Silence.
The dealer looked between them, then a faint nod. "Winner."
