A week had passed since Lucas’s group had made their move, and there had been no follow-up action. Now, Lucas found himself in a dimly lit venue known as “The Bullseye Lounge,” a place with a reputation for high-stakes games and discreet dealings. He was accompanied by One Eye, both dressed simply, blending in as if they were just passing through.
The lounge was bustling with activity, each area occupied by players engrossed in their games. In one corner, a dart area drew particular attention. A well-built man named Romano stood there, his presence commanding respect. Nearby, a businessman named Greg, dressed in a sharp suit, was engaged in a conversation with Romano, the two of them setting up a wager.
“Alright, Romano,” Greg said, his voice smooth and confident. “Let’s make this interesting. How about we put a hundred grand on the line?”
Romano chuckled, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “A hundred grand? Why not make it more thrilling? Let’s say… your beach house in Malibu.”
Greg raised an eyebrow, considering the stakes. “Alright, you’ve got a deal. But only if you agree to put up your vintage car collection.”
Romano nodded, a grin spreading across his face. “Deal. Let me call my player.”
Greg signaled to his own player, a young man with a focused demeanor, who stepped forward confidently. “This is my guy,” Greg announced, patting the player on the back.
Romano, unfazed, gestured to one of his men, a seasoned dart player known for his precision. “And this is mine,” he said, his voice full of assurance.
As the game began, Lucas and One Eye casually walked closer, appearing as ordinary spectators. As the players prepared to start, Romano turned to Greg with a confident smirk. “Let’s make this a best of three rounds,” he suggested, his tone challenging.
Greg nodded, accepting the terms. “Fine by me. Let’s see if your guy can keep up,” he replied, a hint of competitive edge in his voice.
The game was set for a standard 501 darts match, where each player aimed to reduce their score from 501 to zero, with the final dart needing to land in a double.
In the first round, Greg’s player took the first turn, his focus unwavering. He threw his first dart, which landed in the outer bullseye, scoring 25 points. “Not a bad start,” Greg commented, glancing at Romano.
The second dart hit the triple 20, adding 60 points. “Looks like we’re off to a strong lead,” Greg added with a grin.
The final dart landed in the single 18, bringing his total for the round to 103 points.
Romano’s player stepped up, unfazed. His first dart hit the triple 19, scoring 57 points. “Nice try, but watch this,” Romano said confidently.
The second dart landed in the single 20, adding 20 points. His last dart found the double 16, scoring 32 points, for a total of 109 points in the first round. “Looks like we’re ahead,” Romano remarked, his grin widening.
In the second round, Greg’s player, determined to regain the lead, threw his first dart, which landed in the triple 18, scoring 54 points. “We’re catching up,” Greg said, casting a sidelong glance at Romano.
The second dart hit the single 20, adding 20 points. The third dart landed in the double 15, scoring 30 points, for a total of 104 points in the second round.
Romano’s player maintained his composure. His first dart hit the single bullseye, scoring 50 points. “Still in the game,” Romano quipped.
The second dart landed in the triple 17, adding 51 points. His final dart hit the single 19, scoring 19 points, for a total of 120 points in the second round. “Looks like we’re still ahead,” Romano said, his confidence unshaken.
As the third round began, the tension was high. Greg’s player took his final turn, his first dart landing in the triple 20, scoring 60 points. “We’re not done yet,” Greg said, his voice filled with determination.
The second dart hit the single 19, adding 19 points. His last dart landed in the double 18, scoring 36 points, for a total of 115 points in the third round.
Romano’s player knew he had to maintain his lead. His first dart hit the single 20, scoring 20 points. “Let’s finish this,” Romano said, his eyes on the board.
The second dart landed in the triple 16, adding 48 points. With the final dart, he aimed carefully and hit the double 20, scoring 40 points, for a total of 108 points in the third round.
As the scores were tallied, it was clear that Romano’s player had won with a total score of 337 to Greg’s player’s 322.
“Looks like we came out on top,” Romano said, his voice triumphant.
Greg scratched his head, accepting his defeat with a chuckle. “No worries,” he said to his player, who had apologized for the loss. “It’s just a game.”
Lucas glanced at One Eye, giving a subtle nod. It was time to make his move. One Eye stayed put as Lucas walked over to Greg and Romano.
“Quite a match,” Lucas commented, his tone suggesting expertise in darts.
Greg and Romano turned to look at him. Romano laughed, eyeing Lucas’s simple attire. “And what do you know about darts?” he asked, amused.
Lucas nodded casually. “I know a bit. Did some research,” he replied, then proceeded to analyze the last game, pointing out the strategic throws and missed opportunities.
Romano chuckled, dismissing Lucas’s analysis. “You just watched the game and now you’re an expert?” he teased.
Greg, however, was intrigued. He studied Lucas for a moment. “Do you play?” he asked.
Lucas hesitated slightly before answering, “Not much, but I have a technique that might work.”
Greg continued to scrutinize him, a realization dawning. “You look familiar. You remind me of Lucas from the Luca Group.”
Lucas laughed, waving off the comment. “I’ve heard that before. But I’m just a simple guy who enjoys darts. And, coincidentally, my name is Lucas too.”
Greg looked him up and down, sensing there was more to Lucas than met the eye. “So, your name is Lucas?” he asked.
Lucas nodded with a smile. “That’s right.”
Greg then asked, “Do you think you can beat Romano’s player?”
Romano interjected with a scoff. “Hey, Greg, are you seriously considering this stray kid as your player against my pro? You must be joking.”
Ignoring Romano, Lucas assessed Romano’s player, then nodded. “I think I can,” he said humbly.
Greg nodded, intrigued. “I’ll give you any amount of money you want if you win. But if you lose, I want you to cut off your hand.”
Lucas paused, taken aback by the severity of the wager, then shook his head. Romano sneered, “Looks like he’s scared.”
Lucas shook his head again. “I’m not scared,” he replied, “but the stakes are too low.” He then set his own terms. “If I win, I want both of your lives.”