They woke mid-afternoon, having earned the kind of sleep only lovers do. “Sammy, why do we meet like this?” Sofia asked as she sat at the gilt-edged make-up desk, blinking slowly into the mirror as she reapplied mascara. “In Barcelona or in bed? I think we both know the reason we end up in bed […]

Touching down in Bulgaria was always a routine that Sofia enjoyed. For one thing, she was landing in Sofia, the city after which she was named. When she was a child, it was all anyone talked about; her father’s relentless business drive and how he named his daughter after the city he hoped to one […]

For as long as the night was, the morning was that short. The jail cell wasn’t nearly as dark and foreboding when Sam woke from a fitful sleep. The shadowy gloom of early morning had been replaced by brilliant sunlight. As the sun lit the room, Sam’s mood brightened accordingly. He rose, rubbing his head […]

At high stakes, the first few rounds are always the most fun. Everyone is still involved and no one has had to rebuy. If anyone is drinking, they’re at that merry stage between overpolite awkwardness and pure boorishness. It was in the dining room of the Barcelona penthouse where Sam Houston was taking on five […]