A wind roared through the casino though no doors had opened. The patrons below paused mid-laugh, mid-spin, mid-sip. The air seemed to shimmer. PINK4D
And then—
“PINK4D?”
She turned.
Daniel stood at the edge of the Captain’s Table, confusion written across his familiar face. PINK4D
He looked exactly as he had the day he disappeared. Same crooked grin. PINK4D Same scar on his chin from falling out of a tree.
She waited for the emptiness to come. For her heart to remain still.
Instead, it pounded so fiercely she thought it might break her ribs.
She ran to him.
He caught her in his arms, solid and warm.
“I don’t understand,” he said into her hair. “I was driving home, and then—”
“It doesn’t matter,” she whispered.
Around them, applause broke out. The casino resumed its rhythm as though nothing extraordinary had occurred. PINK4D
Adrian watched from the table, an unreadable expression on his face.
PINK4D pulled back, keeping one hand on her brother’s sleeve as if he might vanish again.
“You said the house never loses,” she called to Adrian.
He inclined his head.
“It doesn’t,” he replied.
She frowned. “Then what did you gain?”
His gaze shifted briefly to Daniel.
“Hope,” he said. PINK4D
