6:45 P.M., December 23
Fourteen hours and fifteen minutes to eternity
“Whoa!” Liam threw his hands in the air and jumped off the stool while coins cascaded from a slot machine. The payoff wasn’t a huge amount of money, but it was the principle of the thing. Winning was fun.
“Our table is ready,” Race said and held up a round, flashing disk. “This is genius—a casino with a restaurant. Gambling and feasting!”
“Do you think Saturn would approve?”
“I absolutely do believe Saturn would approve. Isn’t that how Saturnalia was celebrated: feasting, gambling and a time that is the best of times?” Race asked. As Liam fed another slot machine with a few dollars, Race reached out and ran his fingertips along a design combining playing cards and gypsies that decorated the borders of the device. “T
