S4 Episode Twenty: "The Losing Hand"

The atmosphere in the dimly lit VIP lounge of House 21 was far from celebratory. 

Jack sat at the head of the table, his expression cold, fingers steepled as he listened to Maverick rant. Tesla leaned against the bar, swirling a glass but not drinking. Ace watched in silence, his calculating gaze giving nothing away.

Maverick slammed a fist on the table, causing a few stray poker chips to clatter. 

“We should’ve buried them.” 

His jaw tightened as he paced. 

“That game was ours. And yet somehow—some damn how—those amateurs walked out with our money.”

Jack exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. 

"I told you to have contingencies, Maverick. And yet, somehow, Mr. Sunshine had his own in place before you even made a move."

Maverick's expression twisted. 

"That smug bugger—he played us! House 21 doesn't take losses lightly."

"Neither does he, especially where money is involved…" Tesla muttered, setting her glass down. 

"And that’s the problem."

As if on cue, the doors to the lounge swung open, and the air in the room shifted. A handful of men in crisp suits entered first, their movements precise, professional. And then, stepping in with the air of a man who had already won, came Mr. Sunshine.

"Jack," Mr. Sunshine greeted, stepping in like he owned the room. 

"I was starting to think you'd forgotten your manners.”

Jack didn’t stand. 

"You have some nerve walking in here," he all but spat.

Sunshine’s smile didn’t waver. 

"I do. And I imagine you have some rather strong feelings about our last encounter—though I suspect losing access to The Amber Monarch stings even more."

Maverick took a step forward, fists clenched, but Sunshine’s men immediately tensed. Jack shot Maverick a glare, silently telling him to stand down before turning back to their unwelcome guest. 

"That game was rigged and you know it."

Sunshine chuckled. 

"It was fair. You simply didn’t account for every piece in play."

Tesla crossed her arms. 

"And let me guess—you did?"

Sunshine gave an exaggerated sigh, as if the answer was obvious. 

"I always do.” 

A hostess was just walking in and froze at the door when she saw who else was in the room. Jack exhaled sharply and motioned for her to come in. She held a tray with a mug on it, trying not to spill it as she nervously entered the room. Seeing the beverage, Mr. Sunshine halted her and took the cup from the tray. 

“Thank you, dear,” he said in a deceptively kind tone. 

He inhaled the aroma wafting from the cup before taking a tentative sip. 

“Oh, you get the good stuff here!” he said with a smirk. 

“Is this where your profits are going? Do you have stocks in high-end espresso?” 

Jack stood quickly, but hesitated when one of Sunshine's took a step closer to him. 

“See, Jack, you and I—we’re not so different. We both like control. The difference is, I never gamble when I don’t know the odds."

Jack exhaled through his nose, his fingers drumming against the table—not impatience, but calculation. 

"If this is about our debts, we’re handling it." 

But even as he said it, he knew Sunshine didn’t believe him.

Sunshine’s smile widened, but his eyes stayed sharp. 

"Losing to a bunch of amateurs? That’s what you call ‘handling it’?"

He took another sip of the pilfered coffee. 

“No, I am here for a truce. Or rather, an understanding. House 21 has been playing a dangerous game. Between your… banishment from The Amber Monarch and your outstanding debts, I’d think you’d want to tread more carefully."

Maverick let out a low, humorless chuckle, rolling his shoulders. 

"Ya worried, aren’t ya?" he smirked. 

"Afraid we’ll take your empire?”

Sunshine didn’t even glance his way. 

"Afraid? No. Irritated? Absolutely."

Jack leaned forward. 

"And if we don’t step back?"

Sunshine’s men moved just slightly—not enough to be outright hostile, but enough to make a point. 

"Then we have a problem. And neither of us wants that, do we?"

For a long moment, Jack didn’t answer. The room was thick with tension, every muscle in Maverick’s body coiled, Tesla watching like a hawk, Ace as unreadable as ever.

Finally, Jack exhaled, leaning back in his chair. 

"This isn't over."

Sunshine's grin was all teeth. 

"Of course not. But let’s not turn a business disagreement into something unpleasant."

He turned on his heel, motioning for his men to follow. As he reached the door, he paused just long enough to add. 

"Be careful, Jack. You’re not the only one who knows how to play the long game."

With that, he was gone, leaving House 21 in silence.

Maverick slammed a fist against the bar, his face twisted with fury. 

"This is on you, Jack! You let this happen. You played it safe, and now look at us—outplayed, outgunned, and with Sunshine breathing down our necks. If you had just let me handle it in the first place, we wouldn't be in this mess!"

Jack’s gaze remained fixed on the door, his jaw tightening. 

"We won’t let this slide. But this isn’t a game you win by going all in too soon. And if you think a reckless move would have saved us, Mr. Queen, then you clearly don’t understand who we’re dealing with. If The Amber Monarch won’t have us, we find another way—starting with settling our debt to Andrea’s people before they come collecting."

Ace finally spoke, his voice quiet. 

"Then what’s the move?"

Jack smirked, though there was no humor in it. 

"We find his weaknesses. Everyone has them. Even him."

The tension didn’t ease, but something settled. House 21 wasn’t done. Not by a long shot.