Chapter 384 The Crazy Gamble (3)

The game was heating up, and the fifth card was about to be dealt.

The smokin' hot dealer handed out a card to each player.

Mark: King of Hearts

Ethan: Five of Clubs

Ryan: Seven of Spades

Ryder: Jack of Spades

With the three face-up cards already on the table, the hands looked like this:

Mark: Ten of Hearts, Jack of Hearts, Queen of Hearts, King of Hearts

Ethan: Nine of Hearts, Seven of Diamonds, Four of Diamonds, Five of Clubs

Ryan: Six of Spades, Eight of Clubs, Two of Clubs, Seven of Spades

Ryder: Ten of Spades, Jack of Spades, Queen of Spades, King of Spades

Seeing this, the situation at the table got real clear!

And boy, did it get people talking.

"Holy crap, Mark and Ryder both got 10 J Q K, one in Hearts and one in Spades. What kinda luck is that?"

"According to Texas Hold 'em rules, with equal ranks, Spades beat Hearts. So Ryder's got the upper hand!"

"Yeah, but who knows what the hole cards are? Bet it's junk. Let's see how Ryder handles that."

The crowd's chatter zeroed in on Ryder and Mark, leaving Ryan and Ethan in the dust.

Their hands were pretty much toast.

Mark stayed cool, took a drag from his cigar, leaned back like he owned the place, and said, "Mr. Clark, I just thought of a wild bet. Wanna hear it?"

Ryder shrugged. "Shoot."

Mark squinted, blew out a smoke ring, and said coldly, "How much do you think those hostages in the video are worth? If I put them on the line, wouldn't that spice things up?"

Everyone's faces changed at that.

They'd seen all kinds of bets—money, houses, businesses, even women—but never human lives!

This was still a society with laws. Betting lives, especially in public, was nuts!

But the game just got way more intense, which was exactly what the crowd wanted.

All eyes were on Ryder, waiting for his move.

Ryder grinned and said, "Mark, you always come up with something crazy. You never let me down!"

Mark laughed. "Don't think I'm too old to keep things interesting! So, Mr. Clark, you backing down from this challenge?"

Ryder shook his head. "It's not that I'm scared, but I think your raise needs a little tweaking!"

"What do you mean?" Mark asked.

Ryder smirked, "I ain't got a problem betting lives. Honestly, I wanna save people too. But let's just keep Lily and Charlotte in the mix. The other two? Just thinking about them makes me wanna puke."

The crowd erupted in laughter.

Most folks knew the drama between them but were still shocked at Ryder's open disdain for Karen and Kyle!

They thought, 'Man, Ryder's a real piece of work, no class at all.'

Mark chuckled. "Guess I misread the room. If those two losers bug you that much, I'll leave 'em out! I'll just toss 'em to the gators!"

Hearing this, Karen and Kyle in the video went white as sheets.

They couldn't even make the cut for a high-stakes bet?

Kyle yelled, "Mr. Davis, please, include me! My life's been rough, but I still got some worth! Even if it's working in a coal mine or selling myself, I can make some cash! Don't feed me to the gators!"

Karen sobbed, "Mr. Davis, Ryder, please, show some mercy!"

Mark got fed up and snapped, "Shut up!"

The guys in the video got the hint and started slapping Kyle and Karen around without a word!

After a dozen slaps, their faces were a bloody mess!

Then they were dragged off by their collars, vanishing from the live feed.

That little drama over, the Texas Hold 'em game rolled on.

It was Ethan's turn!

Ethan shook his head and sighed. "I fold!"

No surprise there, given his weak hand.

Next up was Ryan. He glanced around with his beady eyes, scratched his head, and finally grinned like nothing happened. "I fold, too!"

Seeing Ryan's goofy grin, someone in the crowd whispered, "Still acting like a clown. He's lost so much of Ryder's money, even George's Polka Bar and other stuff, and he still has the nerve to smile!"

"These country folks, no shame. But I get it!"

With some buzzing, the crowd's focus quickly shifted back to Ryder.

Money had been bet.

Assets had been bet.

Now with lives on the line, they couldn't wait to see what Ryder would throw in next!

Mark, puffing on his cigar, locked eyes with Ryder, waiting for him to make his move.

"Since you’re bringing something fresh to the table, Mark, it’d be lame if I stuck to the same old tricks!"

Ryder pulled out his phone, scrolled through a few photos, and then flashed them at Mark, his tone getting serious. "What do you think of these?"

Mark, who had been lounging back, puffing on his cigar, saw the photos and his face twisted with rage, veins popping on his forehead!

He was livid!

The photos showed Kenneth getting pinned down and assaulted by three guys in a small forest. The details were too gruesome to even talk about.

In short, it was tragic, pitiful, and utterly humiliating!

These pics were snapped when Josh’s three goons bullied Kenneth in the woods by Wild Lake. After it was over, those three handed the photos to Ryder. He initially refused but asked for them this morning when visiting Josh in the hospital!

And now Ryder was putting them to use!

Overnight Riches
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