In his short life, Damon had learned a few harsh lessons, and they had served him well.
When you are weak, appear strong. When you are poor, act rich.
But the most important lesson was this: never get into a battle you couldn't win. Damon never gambled unless he had at least an 80% chance of succeeding. This situation was no different.
As he weighed what he stood to gain against what he could lose, the odds seemed to even out.
'With five hundred thousand, I can finally transfer Luna to a better medical facility. I can't lose.'
He clenched his fists under the table, hiding the intensity of his determination. He understood the stakes. Xander's demand for an apology if he lost seemed trivial compared to what Damon stood to gain.
'Nobles and their vain nonsense,' he thought bitterly, nearly sneering at the idea.
