In the high-stakes world of Blackjack and Solitaire, loyalty is a dangerous gamble.

Fredrick was once a rising star in the NFL, but his gambling addiction cost him everything. Now, he's a man with two masters—Ace, the ruthless kingpin of Blackjack, and Solitaire, the organization that owns his debts. As Ace's top enforcer, Fredrick keeps order in the club, but behind the scenes, he trades secrets to his rivals for a chance at clearing his slate.

When Jack—scarred, relentless, and hunted—walks into the club with Burt, a flashy card counter with a penchant for trouble, Fredrick senses an opportunity. His employers want to keep tabs on Jack, but so do their enemies. As the walls close in, Fredrick must make a choice: stay the course and risk exposure, or strike the ultimate deal to secure his freedom.

But in a world where debts are paid in blood, playing both sides might be the most dangerous bet of all.

Episode 9 of The Solitaire Series, The Five of Clubs, takes listeners deeper into the criminal underworld, where power is an illusion and survival is never guaranteed.