"Ha! Count me in—betting on the God of Gamblers. When he wins, that woman's ours."
The vile, degrading words slithered into my ears. My mother's face crumpled—I saw her trying to bite down, trying to end it herself—but the man yanked her back, pinning her arms.
Every drop of color drained from my face.
There was nothing left to say. Begging May was pointless.
"Alright, let the game begin."
"Kerry, don't say I didn't give you a fighting chance—we'll play stud poker, your specialty."
As if I had any other choice. The power was entirely in May's hands. I was bound to the card table, with only one hand freed to hold my cards.
"Gentlemen, once this piece of trash loses, feel free to have your fun with his dear mother. I'll even throw in cash for drinks."
"Hell yeah!"
The room erupted into cheers again, every man leering at my mother like starving wolves circling wounded prey.
Mark sat beside the card shark, watching me with naked provocation in his eyes.
"Kerry, here are the rules: every hand you lose, we strip one piece of clothing off your mother."
"Haha! And if you don't—"
"Can we start?"
I refused to give them the satisfaction of a reaction.