Nyla sitting beside him as a teenager.

Her father’s hands wrapped around a cue shaft.

Theo placed it on the wall.

“Tomorrow you go home, Daddy,” Nyla whispered.

Reign heard.

He did not correct her.

By seven that evening, Velvet Nine looked like an arena.

Chicago, Trey told the camera, welcome to my house.

The crowd screamed.

He loved every second.

Two hundred thousand people watched at the start.

Then four hundred thousand.

Then more.

The announcer raised his voice.

“Tonight, the king plays the waitress.”

Nyla walked toward the table.

A few people laughed.

Then she opened the cue case.

Commissioner Kovac immediately stepped closer.

She saw the maple leaf.

“Made by hand.”

Nyla nodded.

“W.A.”

Kovac looked at her.

“Walter Ashby?”

“My father.”

The commissioner’s eyes widened.

But before she could ask more, Trey broke.

First rack.

He cleared seven balls.

Missed once.

Then recovered.

1-0.

Second rack.

Nyla never got a clean opportunity.

2-0.

Third.

Trey ran it.

3-0.

The crowd became louder.

His girlfriend Sienna filmed from a private booth.

“Three nothing!”

Trey looked toward Nyla.

“She hasn’t even touched the table.”

Fourth rack.

Nyla finally got a chance.

She made two balls.

Then missed a bank.

Trey finished.

4-0.

He leaned across the table.

“One more rack, Nyla.”

He smiled toward the camera.

“And you’re back to sweeping my floor.”

Nyla looked toward the audience.

Theo stood beside Mr. Reign.

Reign did not look worried.

He simply lifted one finger toward his eyes.

See the pocket.

Nyla nodded.

Trey prepared the rack.

Then something rolled differently.

Nyla noticed immediately.

She looked toward the cue ball.

Picked it up.

“This isn’t a tournament ball.”

Trey laughed.

“Excuses already?”

Nyla turned toward Trevor Dalton.

“Explain this ball.”

Trevor’s face changed.

Kovac approached.

“What’s wrong?”

Nyla placed the ball beside a regulation cue ball from another table.

“This one is heavier.”

Kovac weighed them in her hands.

Her eyes narrowed.

“Mr. Dalton?”

Trevor looked toward Trey.

Then back.

“Mr. Langford told me to switch it.”

The room exploded.

Trey pointed.

“He’s lying.”

Trevor’s face went white.

“Trey—”

“Be quiet.”

Kovac raised one hand.

“Mr. Langford, I could disqualify you right now.”

Trey’s followers were watching live.

He saw the numbers.

1.4 million.

He could not afford to look afraid.

“Then do it.”

Nyla interrupted.

“No.”

Everyone turned.

She picked up the heavy ball.

“Give it to me.”

Kovac frowned.

“Nyla.”

“I’ll play with it.”

Trey laughed.

“She knows she can’t win.”

Nyla placed the heavy ball on the table.

“Then you have nothing to worry about.”

Sienna suddenly shouted from the booth.

“Stop the match!”

The crowd looked up.