Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 161: Truth or dare

Braelyn’s POV

The game was just as I predicted, they must have played a lot of times. A bunch of influential figures cussing each other because of a game

Benji folded early, slapping his cards down with exaggerated misery. . "My luck strikes again. This card is trash," he muttered, tossing it in his ring like a final insult. His cards? A mismatched pair, nothing useful. He reached for his drink. The others laughed.

"As I said, he always has the worst luck," Lucien whispered for just me to hear, but Benji ended up understanding him from over the table.

His eyes twitched. "I’m sure you have enough experience with bad luck, Lucien." Lucien’s jaw clenched but he forced a smile.

"Annoying prick.." I cussed. I was surprised there was someone who actually got under his skin.

Casper followed next. He hesitated longer, eyes narrowing briefly at the table, then folded cleanly without any regrets. I caught a glimpse of his cards, a possible flush. Just one card short. I could see the confusion flicker in Adelina’s eyes. I was certain she had sensed something.

Karis stood at the far end of the table with a tired expression like a mother who was too tired to reprimand her children. She shared their cards and knew what was up.

Xander lingered a bit before he gazed at his wife with an apologetic smile, then glanced once at Mikhail and bowed out. His case was worse. Then he gave a dry smile, laid down a strong two pair. It struck me then that none of them looked disappointed. If anything, they seemed... satisfied.

Lucien dragged his turn out; maybe he enjoyed getting on Mikhail’s nerves. He was an annoying prick to everyone. His smile didn’t falter for a moment.

He leaned forward, studied the table, and pretended to consider his options. I leaned in slightly without realising it, my gaze dropping instinctively to his cards.

And that’s when I saw it as a perfect straight. My fingers tightened around my glass. Lucien could have stayed in the game, but instead, he chose to fold for their twisted plan.

"I guess my luck turned sour today." He dramatically said after folding. My lips twitched because I knew He hadn’t lost but chose not to win. Benji literally rolled his eyes

My chest tightened with the realization.

Lucien glanced sideways at me, just briefly. The corner of his mouth lifted, as if he knew I’d noticed. As if that had been the point.

"Sorry, love," he said lightly, directing it at no one in particular. "Guess I’m not that good tonight."

I didn’t smile. Mikhail was already certain of what was going on. He gave Adel a knowing look hoping she would catch a hint.

Mikhail followed next..He waited, playing longer than anyone else. When he finally folded, his card was the most shocking one. Trip Ace. What the hell! He smirked at Adelina, "Enjoy the game to the end, Mishka." .

Their gaze locked, Adel looked completely lost and I understood her sentiment.

He could’ve stayed in. He could’ve won. "This is interesting." Xander laughed, taking a sip of his drink. A sharp breath escaped me before I could stop it. Why would he fold that?

Adelina looked up then, several unreadable emotions flashing through her eyes for the first time. Now it was down to two. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Adelina and Ivan..The air changed, and Ivan leaned back in his chair, completely at ease, fingers drumming slowly against the table. His gaze lingered on Adelina with open curiosity; it was not predatory, just calculating. Like a man watching someone solve a puzzle he already knew the answer to.

"You’re good," he said conversationally. "Where’d you learn to play like that?"

Adelina met his gaze steadily. "My father. And my brother."

"Now that is unexpected, if not for the fact you don’t look much like him I can swear play exactly like a rascal I once faced," Ivan mentioned, still keeping that calm look that spoke of his mastery

"What was his name?" Adel’s eyes sparkled as her interest piqued. "Just a random old dude, Dante Marino’." Her expression crackled for the first time tonight

. "Do you know how that game ended?" He asked with a smirk, finally gracing those perfect lips with his green eyes sparkling. The table was silent with everyone’s attention solely on them.

Adel shifted uncomfortably, then glanced over to Mikhail for a short moment, trying to get hidden answers from him before she turned back to focus on the game.

Ivan was completely amused.. "Will you tell me if I ask?" She asked honestly, curious.

"You will find out soon." Ivan drawled and the game continued. She placed her bracelet into the pot without hesitation.

I held my breath and the game was about to end. "Let’s see it," Ivan said urging her to reveal her cards

Adelina laid her cards down, it was a good set, one worth of her earlier confidence. A full house.

The room reacted instantly. Karis gasped, Benji swore, even Casper’s brows lifted slightly, and everyone was impressed.

.

For the first time since the game began, Adelina smiled with a satisfied grin. She thought it was over only if she weren’t so naive.

Ivan chuckled softly then he flipped his cards. "That’s one hell of a game you have there. I can see where the confidence comes from but the game ends here for you." Ivan said, and his smile grew. Her face turned pale.

Four Aces.

The silence that followed was suffocating. Adelina stood so fast her chair scraped loudly against the floor. "That’s impossible." but it was right before everyone’s eyes. She lost. Lucien smirked, having expected this end.

Ivan looked almost amused by her disbelief. "Luck’s a funny thing."

Karis broke the tension, asking the others to reveal what they’d folded. "Sorry Adel, it is just a game." Her eyes then darted to everyone else.

"Cards on the table, boys," she said lightly. "Let the lady see."

And one by one, they revealed what they had folded with. Benji’s terrible hand, Casper’s near-flush, Xander’s strong pairs. Lucien’s straight, Mikhail’s Trip Aces.

My pulse thundered. They could have beaten her. Almost all of them but they didn’t. It wasn’t a coincidence, they’d let the game narrow to let Adelina feel the rise, the confidence, the almost-win.

And then they handed the final act to Ivan. I looked at Adelina again. A look of pity crossed my face. She played right into their trap. Mikhail was calm on the surface, but I could say for sure that they had successfully pissed him off on his birthday.

Her composure had cracked as realisation dawned on her. Ivan leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

"Well," he said pleasantly, "since the boring part is over..."

Benji groaned. "Here we go."

Ivan’s eyes gleamed as he straightened. "Looks like it’s my game. As usual."

He glanced around the table, his gaze swept past the men and landed on the women. A slow smile curved his lips.

"So," he said smoothly, fingers tapping the felt once. "Truth... or dare?" he declared

The room went utterly still.