#dannyatlas

Sutton sat by the counter, watching fondly as Jack tried to show Lula how to throw a card. She smiled as Lula commented on her “perfect score.” The two bent down to pick up the cards. From what Sutton could tell, they became engaged in a deep conversation.

“Okay, great.” Sutton jumped as she heard Danny respond as he hung up the phone. Danny spun around, clearly surprised to see Sutton sitting so close to him.

“So, was that them?” Sutton asked. Danny sighed as he returned Li’s phone. “Just tell me the truth, Danny.”

Danny puffed out his cheeks. “Yeah,” he huffed, “that was them.”

Sutton sighed. “Do you ever get tired of not trusting people, Danny?”

“Sutton, I’m not doing this to betray the team or Dylan,” Danny explained in a whisper, careful to not let Jack and Lula hear. “I’m doing this so The Eye can fix this and we don’t go to jail, or worse.”

Sutton rolled her eyes. “I know, Danny, but you just need to learn that trusting people doesn't make you vulnerable.” 

Danny looked down, shaking his head. “You’re right. I know you are. It’s hard not being in control.”

Sutton chuckled. “As I recall, that’s what made you hard,” she smirked, patting Danny’s reddening cheek, and turned to head over to Jack. Danny shook his head, bewildered by Sutton’s comment.

Lula had just gotten up, a smirk on her face. Sutton scrunched her eyebrows together as she looked at her. Once Danny regained consciousness, he met Jack and Sutton. “Okay, so there’s a marketplace down the street,” Danny explained as Jack stood, “and I’m meeting a man with a blue hat. I’ll give the stick to the right people and get us home.”

“Go grab, Merritt, okay, Jack?” Sutton said. “Oh, and, uh, don’t forget your belt,” she winked.

“Oh, it’s not- she took it off me-” Jack struggled for an answer. Danny and Sutton raised their hands as if to say “not my problem.” “You know damn well if Sutton took your belt off, Danny, you would-” Sutton glared back at Jack as Danny rubbed the back of his neck. “Yep, you’re right. Totally not the right time for that joke.”

~~

Once the Horsemen finally returned to the Sands to stay for the night, they were escorted to a five bedroom suite, courtesy of the lovely Walter Mabry. The living area looked very much like Walter’s, giving Sutton a creepy vibe as she sat on the couch. She swirled her neck, the joints cracking. She gave herself a bear hug, her shoulders popping.

“Damn, I haven’t heard bones crack like that since I lived with my grandfather,” Lula stated, sitting beside Sutton.

Sutton chuckled. “It’s all from stress, trust me. That’s what caring too much does to you.” She glanced back at Danny who was engaged in a conversation with Merritt and Jack.

Lula cleared her throat, drawing Sutton’s attention to her. “So, um, I have a really dumb question to ask you. Totally won’t be offended if you don’t want to answer.”

Sutton smiled. “Dumb questions get you dumb answers, you know?” Lula smiled lightly. “What’s up?”

Lula huffed. “So, back at the magic shop, Jack told me that every girl he gets close to, he takes their trust.”

“And their wallet?” Sutton said. Lula lifted an eyebrow. Sutton chuckled. “Yeah, he’s told me all of that. Jack is my best friend, Lula.”

“Trust me, that’s very clear,” Lula laughed. “I don’t get it, though. The two of you are extremely close. What makes you different?” Sutton scrunched her eyebrows together. “I don’t mean different in a bad way! God, no. I mean, just, you know, different that he trusts you with so much.”

Sutton sighed. “Back when we first went into hiding, I asked Dylan why he left me the Tower as my tarot card.” Lula stared at her, obviously confused. “Sorry, um, when he recruited us to become the Horsemen, Dylan left us each a card. In some ways, the cards reflected on us.”

“Let me guess, Danny was the Lovers?” Lula stated with a smirk.

Sutton chuckled. “Yes, he was, as irony would have it. Henley was the High Priestess, Merritt the Hermit, and Jack was Death.” Lula sucked in a breath. “Trust me, it freaked him out on more than one occasion. Anyway, I asked Dylan why I was chosen to be the Tower. He said to me that I was chosen to be part of the Horsemen because the others needed me for more than my abilities.” Sutton smiled to herself as she recalled Dylan’s words. “Henley needed me because I’m her family, her blood family. Merritt needed someone who he felt responsible for, someone who made him feel like a family again. Jack needed a best friend, someone to call family, someone to trust.”

 Lula nodded. “So, Jack never really saw you as someone to fall for?” Sutton shook her head. “And you were never interested in him?” Sutton smiled, nodding her confirmation. “Damn, you’re really dumb for such a brilliant woman.

Sutton laughed. “Thanks a lot.”

Lula smiled. “What about Danny? What was Dylan’s reason for bringing you on for Danny?”

Sutton sighed. “Dylan said that he thinks Danny needed me the most. He needed someone to deflate his head and match him intellectually.” Lula laughed as Sutton side smiled. “But, I needed him just as much. Apparently, we both needed love after never truly feeling it, or after believing it never existed at all.”

Lula sighed. “Not needed, Sutton.” Sutton crinkled her eyebrows. “You said you both “needed” love. You still need it, in the present and future tense. You and Danny were meant to fall in love, not out of it.”

“Lula-”

“Just let me finish, okay?” Lula took Sutton’s hands, wrapping her own around them. “I see the way the two of you still look at each other, Sutton. Ever since we got here, all he has done is try to protect you, in his own weird ways.” Sutton snorted a laugh. “I think his real reason for telling Walter we would do this crazy thing is because of you. Walter’s ultimatum was “do it or be killed.” Danny couldn’t risk that. He couldn’t risk losing you in the actual, physical sense. God, he even held your hand when you were scared on multiple occasions. He truly loves you, Sutton.”

Sutton gave Lula a light smile, then let out a sigh. “I miss him, you know?” She looked back at Danny who was now deep in thought as he looked at his phone, trying to figure out his plan. “So, so much. I miss kissing him whenever I want. I miss our stupid arguments about nothing in particular, and then-” Sutton cut herself off, feeling her face heat up.

Lula laughed. “It’s crazy how much two people can miss each other, even when they still see each other every day.” She stood, pulling Sutton up with her. “He misses you like crazy, Sutton. He loves you more than I think even he knows.” Lula pulled Sutton into a hug. “Promise me you’ll be back together before we leave Macau?”

Sutton sighed. “I hope for that more than anything.”

Lula patted her shoulder. “Get some sleep tonight, okay?”

Sutton smiled as Lula turned, walking toward the room Jack just came out of. “Lula, don’t be me,” she joked.

“Hey, like Chase said- what happens in Macau…” Sutton shook her head, laughing.

“Steal something? For this narcissistic little man-boy?” Merritt complained as the Horsemen walked down a busy road in Macau. “I don’t like it, but what I like less is you deciding for us,” he told Danny.

“Yeah? Do you like that we’re the laughing stocks of the magic world and the fugitives of the actual world?” Danny questioned him. Sutton hit his shoulder. “Walter is right. We-we have nowhere to go.”

“Yeah, but we can fix that!” Lula told him.

“We can fix it?” Sutton questioned her. “So you’re officially part of this wacky tribe that I call a family?” Jack and Merritt laughed as Danny gave her a side smirk.

“Look, even if we get this stick, he’ll never let us go,” Danny explained. “We can’t trust Walter, okay? The Eye has a history in Macau. They’re the only ones we can trust. Now, if we can get it to them, they can clear our names and get us the hell out of here. Come on.” He stepped into an old magic shop, followed by the others.

“It’s a bad plan, man,” Lula told him.

As the Horsemen entered the store, Danny, Sutton, Jack, and Lula headed for the counter. Merritt, on the other hand, took a trip around the store.

“Hey,” Danny said, ringing the desk’s bell multiple times. “Hi, how are ya? Um, we-we need some things custom made, actually by tomorrow. We’re kind of in a rush, and, uh, you-you have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?” he questioned as he realized the two people behind the desk were ignoring him.

The woman in the rocking chair threw something at the younger man, getting his attention. They started speaking to one another in Mandarin. The man stood, turning his attention to the four. “Welcome to Iong’s. My name’s Li, not Bruce Lee,” he sang as he let a springy snake fly at Sutton’s and Lula’s heads. Sutton squealed, moving out of the way and bumping into Danny, him grabbing her shoulders to steady her.

“Got you!” Li said. Next thing they knew, he pulled out a small light, having it fly and disappear in all kinds of ways. He seemed to have stuck it in his mouth and blow it back out, putting the light in Danny’s face.

“Oh, and now it’s by my head,” Danny complained. “How fun.”

“Twenty dollars,” Li told them. Lula complained about the price.

“No, thank you. We’re kind of in a rush,” Danny explained, only to be shushed by Li.

“Ten dollars,” Li winked.

“Uh, no way,” Sutton sneered. “You’re nuts.”

“Two for one,” Li said, pulling another one out and sticking them in Danny’s face. “One for you, the other for your girlfriend, eh?” Sutton’s face began to flush at the comment.

“Okay, just give us the thumbs, yeah?” Jack told him, noticing his best friend’s discomfort. He handed Li a ten dollar bill.

“Thanks a lot,” Danny said as he took the thumb lights. “Jack, please take these.” He handed them to Jack, who smiled and gave one to Sutton. She took it, mouthing Thank you.

“So we need a, um, Keplinger holdout, and we also need roughing fluid, a Sanada gimmick, sleeves, tracks. All in plastic, though, if you can,” Danny requested of Li.

Li turned to the older woman and began to explain what Danny said in Mandarin.

“You came up with that list in, what, half an hour?” Sutton asked.

Danny shrugged. “I have done harder things.”

Jack snickered. Danny rolled his eyes. “Same,” Sutton winked, making Lula snort.

The older woman looked at Danny and said something in Mandarin. “What?” Danny asked her as she turned back to Li. “Is there a problem?”

“My grandmother wants to know why plastic. Plastic is cheap,” Li interpreted.

“Sorry, yeah, we need plastic because we’re, um, uh, we’re going through a very sensitive metal detector. Okay?” Danny explained. “So plastic, nothing,” he motioned with his arms. “Metal, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo,” he gestured, “it detects.”

Again, the older woman replied in Mandarin, mimicking Danny’s movements. Li snickered.

“What did she say?” Sutton asked Li.

“She says, just because you are talking slowly and moving your hands, doesn’t mean she can suddenly understand English.”

Lula clicked her tongue. “Oh, yeah. So sorry, he’s racist.” 

Sutton rolled her eyes. “Not helping, Lula.”

“Uh, guys,” Merritt said, “we’ll be right back.”

“Okay, kiddies. The chaperones are watching you,” Chase stated as they left. “Don’t do anything I would enjoy.”

“Okay, have fun you two!” Danny sarcastically responded. He went over to Li, requesting to use his phone. 

Sutton glared at Danny, knowing just who he was calling. She walked over to Lula, who watched on as Jack approached Danny. The two stared as Jack let out a heavy sigh and Danny turned away from the group. Sutton hung her head, tears pricking at her eyes as she remembered what Danny did that day in the tunnel.

Lula noticed the uncomfortable tension floating in the room. “What is wrong with this thing?” she said as she stuck her fingers in a Chinese finger trap. She drew Jack’s attention to her.

“Relax, it’s just a kids toy,” Jack told her as he tried to help.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Ow!”

“Sorry, sorry!” Jack apologized. As the two struggled to remove Lula’s tense fingers, Jack asked Sutton, “Is that why you broke up with him?”

Sutton hummed a response as she looked up at Jack. Jack gestured to Danny with his head. “Danny. Did you break up with him because you knew he was contacting The Eye?” Sutton looked away. Jack nodded. “I wish I could say I’m surprised, Sut, but…”

Sutton sighed. “I know, Jack. You warned me. You all did.”

The Horsemen’s jeep pulled up to an extravagant building. “Just follow the guards,” Chase explained. “They’ll take you to my boss.” The Horsemen unloaded from the jeep. “Been fun playing this cat and mouse with you, broski,” Chase told Merritt. “Meow.” Merritt flipped him off in his own unique way. “Have fun at the Sands!”

The guards ushered the Horsemen into the building. They passed various gambling games as they walked.

“I am so, so, so sorry,” Merrritt profusely apologized.

“Yeah, you should be,” Danny told him, receiving a “Daniel!” from Sutton. “Don’t ever accuse me of betraying us again, okay?”

The Horsemen followed the guards into an elevator, Sutton standing between Jack and Danny. She looked at Danny as he stood with his hand against the wall, looking quite attractive with his jaw clenched. Jack knocked on Sutton’s hand to draw her attention to him instead.

“So are you two…” Jack drug out. Sutton bit her lip, shaking her head in response.

“Do you guys ever think that The Eye is watching this?” Lula asked the group. “You know, maybe this isn’t what they want? At like the exact right moment, they’re gonna just swoop in and we’ll be like, “Yes, thank God you’re here! Thank God! Just in the knick of time, Eye!” And we’ll just celebrate and it was all worth it in the end?” The group responded with silence. “I don’t even really think that either, so it’s cool.”

Just then, the elevator dinged, the wrong set of doors opening and drawing the Horsemen’s attention to music escaping into the elevator. They all turned to see a figure dancing on what appeared to be a balcony.

“Oh!” the figure spoke as he turned around to face the Horsemen. “Tada! So happy to be working with you!”

The Horsemen looked at each other. “Is it just me or does he look extremely familiar?” Sutton questioned the others, receiving glares from the others.

“Please come in! Come in!” the man told them. The guards drug the Horsemen out of the elevator.

“Wait, sorry,” Danny said, “how are you working with us?”

“Well, as much as a magician who pulled a rabbit from a hat,” the man explained as he put his shoes on, “is working with that rabbit, we’ll be working together, yes.” The man started toward them. “Uh, allow me to introduce myself.”

“Yeah, you’re Walter Mabry,” Jack responded. “You died a year ago.” 

Sutton shook her head. “Nope, that’s not right,” she muttered to herself. Danny elbowed her. “I know him from somewhere else! I promise!” Sutton whispered.

“Yes, an idea I got from you, Mr. Wilder,” Walter responded. “As well as you, Ms. Reeves.” He gave Sutton a smile. “You fake your death and the world puts its guard down. I’m able to control quite a few companies, including my old partner, Owen’s, through a consortium of so-called anonymous shareholders.”

“And that violates how many SEC laws?” Lula questioned him.

“I believe it breaks all of them,” Walter happily confirmed for her.

Lula faked a gasp. “All of them.”

“You see, you all want an audience,” Walter explained. “Need one, desperately. It’s quite sad, really. Hence my ability to nab you. I, on the other hand, want the opposite of that. I just want to be, and I am, 100% off the grid. You know why?”

“Yeah, because the grid is for actual human beings,” Danny responded.

Walter chuckled. “No, because in a world of total surveillance, the only true freedom lies in not being seen. You can’t control the grid from within the grid. Follow me.” Walter walked off, but the Horsemen stayed in place. “Follow me.” The guards pushed the Horsemen toward Walter.

“You pulled a hat out of a rabbit,” Walter said to Lula. “That was very colorful.”

“Almost eight and a half years ago,” Lula reminded him. “So no need to bring that up.”

“We can’t all be held accountable for adolescent personas, can we, Magicolio?” Walter asked Danny.

“Magicoli- That-That was fifteen years ago,” Danny said, looking down. Sutton raised an eyebrow as the others took glances at Danny.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love magic,” Walter stated. “Like you and many others who I suppose weren’t getting any sex in high school, I, uh, I dabbled with it. But, huh, unlike you, I was able to transition upward to actual magic.” Walter gestured toward the corner of the room. “Science, you may have heard it called. So, would you like to know, my friends, just how I got you here?”

“Mhm, we know how you did it,” Merritt responded.

“No, you don’t.”

“Yeah, you stole our files for the show, “Jack stated as Walter tried to stop him. 

“Then obviously hypnotized us,” Sutton added.

Merritt continued, “The strobe was a combo of binaural beats as well as-”

“I said stop!” Walter shouted, placing his hands on Merritt’s face. “You may not be having fun, but I am!”

The Horsemen each grimaced at the man. “You have an unusual way of showing it,” Merritt told Walter.

“Wait, what are you saying?” Danny questioned Merritt. “How is this possible?”

An eerie laugh sounded, drawing the Horsemen’s attention to the person. “I believe in your particular parlance, the word is “magic,”” the voice responded as the person spun around in their chair.

The jaws of every Horseman dropped. “That guy looks exactly like you!” Lula told Merritt who stood frozen. “He looks exactly like you. Are you seeing this right now?”

Sutton pulled on Merritt’s sleeve. “Is that your…?”

Merritt responded with a nod. “Chase.”

Chase smiled. “Must confess- it’s like what I heard about meeting the Rolling Stones. They’re a lot shorter in person.”

“Remember I told you about the guy who screwed me out of everything?” Merritt asked the Horsemen. “This is my twin brother, Chase.” Chase faked his flattery.

“Wait, did you do this?” Danny asked, stepping toward Chase. Men from all over the restaurant stood, shouting at Danny. Some grabbed onto the other Horsemen. Sutton pulled on Danny’s hand to stop him from moving any further.

Chase laughed. “As you can see, my boss doesn’t mess around.”

“I do not understand what is going on right now,” Lula stated, “at all.”

“Okay, let me break it down for you,” Chase replied. “You jumped off a rooftop in New York and you landed in Macau, AKA the Vegas of China, and, presto chango- don’t you just love it? The “greatest” magicians in the world are the object of someone else’s magic trick. Isn’t that poetic?” The Horsemen glanced at one another. “No? You know what- I’m not gonna let you guys yuck my yum. Shoo shoo, or moo shu. Whatever.”

The men holding the Horsemen shoved them out of the restaurant. “Oh, and you know what they say- what happens in Macau…” Chase’s voice trailed off.

The Horsemen were thrown into large black jeeps and driven down the streets of Macau.

“Are you okay?” Danny asked Sutton as the two sat beside each other, bumping into one another as the jeep drove on.

Sutton gave him a light smile. “I’m fine, Danny. I can take care of myself.”

Danny huffed. “I know. I’m just-”

“Frustrated?” Sutton smirked. Danny nodded. Sutton looked down. “I’m nervous,” Sutton muttered.

“Hey,” Danny whispered, picking up her chin, “don’t be nervous. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Sutton bit her lip. “I know you won’t.” She stared up at Danny in awe, seeing the man she had fallen in love with again for the first time in a long time.

“How can you two be so adorable at a time like this?” Merritt complained, drawing the attention of Jack and Lula.

“Are you gonna kiss?” Lula cooed.

Jack rolled his eyes. “Don’t be stupid. Danny hasn’t proven himself yet.”

Danny glared at Jack. “How do you even-”

“It’s all about blindspots,” Chase interrupted, Sutton silently thanking the creep. “When you’re staring straight at something and not see it. Why? Blindspots. We learned that together, didn’t we, bro?” Chase questioned Merritt. Merritt rolled his eyes. ”Did he tell you that we were partners once? No, I didn’t think so. The Mini-McKinneys.” Merritt sucked in his lower lip, ready to burst. “Chasey and Mer-Bear, gonna make ya scare-bear. Ma-Ma-Magic McKinneys.”

Merritt huffed, covering his face. “Cool,” Lula responded to Chase’s story.

“And then one day,” Chase continued, “we were twelve, and, uh, Virginia von welsheim had a very nice party down the street. I had a little tum-tum, couldn’t go. Mer-Bear did it on his own and got a taste of the solo thing, and, uh, kicked me to the curb.”

“Oh, God,” Jack sighed.

“Chase, you win!” Merritt yelled. “I concede. Just tell me how you did it.”

“Delivery guy came to your door, hmm, about a month ago,” Chase explained. “A little ‘za.”

“‘Za?’” Danny questioned.

“Pizza,” Sutton responded for Merritt.

“So what he did, my little womb-mate, is he, uh, downloaded all your private information.” Everyone glared at Merritt. “And my employer had all he needed.”

“Thanks,” Danny told him. Sutton hit him. “How did you know how to find him?” Danny asked Chase.

“That’s a very good question, Atlas,” Chase responded, pretending to lock his lips and throw out the key.

“Okay,” Danny responded, giving Merritt another glare.

Merritt sighed, guilt filling him. Sutton patted his leg in comfort. “It’s not your fault,” Sutton reminded Merritt.

“What?” Lula and Jack yelled.

“Sutton, don’t be ridiculous,” Danny told her.

Sutton glared at the others. “Oh, don’t act like you boys have never been hypnotized by me.” Jack and Danny looked at one another. “And should I explain what I made you each do?” They gave her pleading eyes. “Jack, you had to…”

“Don’t say it,” Jack muttered.

“...sing “I’m burnin’ up, burnin’ up, for you, baby” every time someone said, “I’m hot” for an entire week,” Sutton smirked. Jack slapped a palm to his face as Danny and Lula chuckled.

Merritt laughed. “This explains so much.”

“And you,” Sutton turned to Danny, a smile playing on her lips.

“You wouldn’t,” Danny challenged her.

Sutton raised an eyebrow. “You’re right. Better keep it PG.”

The others groaned. “This is so unfair!” Jack whined.

Sutton chuckled. “Maybe one day when we’re not in such a… compromising position.”

“Just give us a hint!” Lula pleaded. “Was it for your benefit? Danny’s?” Her eyes darted between the two. Danny’s blushed deepened even more. Sutton bit her lip. “Sutton, you naughty girl! Taking advantage of young Daniel like that!”

“God, now I need to know!” Merritt begged.

Jack grimaced disgustedly. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

“As the Horsemen like to say,” spoke an eerie voice to the audience, “magic is about controlling perception. You see them as champions of the truth, but are they, or is that just another one of their illusions?”

Sutton ran out from backstage and into the crowd, frantically searching for Jack.

“So since they clearly love secrets, let’s reveal some of theirs.” 

“Danny, everyone, get off the stage,” Dylan’s voice commanded through the earpiece. “Abort! Jack, go with them. I’ll see you at the meeting point.” Sutton’s eyes flew through the crowd. Finally, she saw him.

“Do you recall the deaths of Jack Wilder and Sutton Reeves?” 

Jack grabbed Sutton as they met in the crowd. “We need to get out of here now,” he told her, his eyes wide.

“What if I told you they’re not just alive, but they’re actually right here!”

Sutton and Jack froze, a spotlight blinding them. People in the crowd started yelling for them as photos were snapped. Sutton pulled on Jack, and they began to run.

“And do you know who else is here? The FBI! Let’s let them in, shall we?” the Horsemen heard as they reached the exit of the building, leaving the voice locked inside.

“We gotta get to the chute!” Jack yelled behind Sutton. “Go!”

“Who are those guys?” Lula shouted back.

“Who cares?” Sutton responded as she climbed a ladder behind Danny. “Come on! Keep going!”

“How the hell could this have happened?” Merritt questioned. “I thought Dylan had everything under control.”

“Yeah, apparently he didn’t,” Danny responded as they took out his headset. “You okay?” He asked Sutton.

Sutton smiled weakly. “Besides coming back from the dead in a way I didn’t want to, sure. Just peachy.” Danny gave her a side smile, brushing a few hairs out of her face.

“You know,” Merritt continued, “maybe you’re the leak, Dan. Where have you been sneaking off to?” Sutton’s eyes grew.

“Don’t do that,” Danny yelled back. “Don’t you dare for a second insinuate that I had anything to do with this.”

“I’m not insinuating anything!”

“Let’s get to the truck! Come on!” Jack yelled at the three.

They ran to the pipe they needed to take to the truck, everyone sliding in, Sutton after Jack. As they slid, Sutton heard what sounded like a voice talking to her. Suddenly, she became sleepy, then everything went black.

~~

“Ahhh!” Sutton screamed as she landed with a jolt. She sat up, seeing Jack beside her. “Oh, thank goodness. I’m not dead!” She hugged Jack who gave a light chuckle.

“But I am,” Lula complained as she pushed Danny out of the laundry bin she was sharing with him.

“What the hell is going on?” Jack asked once they all had brushed themselves off.

“Wasn’t there supposed to be a truck?” Lula questioned.

“Where the hell are we?” Danny asked.

The people in the kitchen they were somehow in started yelling in a language none of them understood. One of them grabbed Danny and Jack.

“Hey, hey!” Danny yelled. “Wait, did you misrun the tube?”

“No, I put it in the truck!” Jack confirmed. “I know I did!”

“Yeah? Because we’re really not in the truck right now.”

“Somebody must have moved the tube,” Merritt clarified. “Were we above a Chinese restaurant?” Someone stole his fedora and he grabbed it back.

Suddenly, they were all pushed out some doors, Sutton knocking into Danny who helped her stand up right.

“Okay,” Danny said, “why are we here?” Sutton grabbed Danny’s hand, fear rushing through her. He interlocked their fingers tightly, his actions pulling at Sutton’s heart as she moved to his side.

“Why am I freaking starving?” Lula questioned her stomach.

“Yeah, I’m weirdly starving too,” Jack admitted. 

“This makes no freaking sense,” Merritt stated, rushing out of the restaurant. 

Danny ran a hand over his head, trying to make sense of everything. “None of this adds up,” Sutton told him in an attempt to calm Danny down.

A lady with a sizzling plate pushed past Lula. “Sorry!” Lula apologized. “At least, and I know this isn’t much consultation, but apparently we’re now surrounded by Chinese food. Right?”

“Guys,” Merritt emerged, “I think where we are right now, they don’t refer to it as Chinese food. It’s just called… food.”

Love is Like a Playing Card (J. Daniel Atlas)

Sequel to Love is Only an Illusion

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

Chapter XV

Chapter XVI

Chapter XVII

Chapter XVIII

Chapter XIX

Chapter XX

Chapter XXI

“Are you guys ready yet?” Dylan groaned as he waited for the Horsemen to emerge.

Merritt, Jack, and Lula all emerged within five minutes of Dylan’s complaint. That left Sutton and Danny alone. Everyone held their breath, hoping this was the time they made up. It would be the perfect time- right before a big heist.

“Oh!” Sutton called out as she bumped into Danny. “I-I’m sorry, Danny.” She went to move away, but Danny grabbed her hand. Sutton felt her neck heat up.

Danny pulled Sutton close to him, their faces just inches apart. He brushed a brunette hair out of her face. “Even with this wig covering your red hair, you’re still as beautiful as ever.” He gave her his signature smirk, the one Sutton fell for over and over again.

Sutton bit her lip as she looked up at Danny through her lashes. “You’re pretty handsome yourself.” She handed him the glasses he would need for later. Danny slipped them on to see how they looked. Again, Sutton bit her lip.

“What?” Danny asked with a smile.

Sutton smiled, not meeting the Illusionist’s eyes. “I never thought you could look more attractive. I was completely wrong.”

Danny let out a laugh. Then, he pulled Sutton even closer. He bent his neck, bringing his lips closer to Sutton’s. 

Sutton sighed, pushing herself off Danny’s chest. “We can’t, Danny.”

Danny grimaced. “But I thought we-”

“We were, yeah,” Sutton confirmed for him. “But I’m not ready. I don’t think you are either.”

Danny sighed, nodding. “Yeah, okay.” Sutton went to move away, but Danny kept holding her. “I’m not going to give up, Sutton. I’ll never give up on us.”

Sutton smiled. “I don’t expect you to.” Danny smiled as he pulled Sutton’s hand to his lips, them grazing her knuckles.

“I’m dying out here!” Merritt yelled. “Let’s go!”

~~

Dylan took to the crowd, making sure everything was set in place. Jack took his place outside of the main stage area dressed in his security guard uniform. Lula took her place with the food service staff. Merritt and Sutton took their place together, as usual, the two blending into the crowd of guests. Danny took his place backstage.

“We’re all good,” Jack’s voice came over the earpieces. “I’m heading to the control room.”

“Alright, thanks, Jack,” Dylan returned. “Atlas, go.”

“No, Dylan, I can’t,” Danny responded. 

“Why? What’s the problem?”

“No, there’s too many people, I can’t.”

“Atlas, I got Owen landing now,” Dylan reminded him. “Sutton?”

Sutton sighed, Merritt giving her a look as she adjusted her short wig, the length bothering her. She put her clothed wrist to her lips. “Danny, don’t worry about all the people there. You will be fine. You’re an amazing illusionist.” Merritt raised an eyebrow at her. She spun away from Merritt. “No one is as confident enough as you to do this. I would know.”

There was a pause. Everyone held their breath. Some also held a snicker in. “Thanks, Sutton,” Danny responded. Sutton smiled. She could hear Danny’s smile in this voice. “Okay, I’m going now.”

“Nicely done,” Merritt said, patting her on the shoulder as she returned to his side.

Sutton shrugged. “I did it for the team.”

Merritt gave her a knowing look. “Yeah, the team,” he winked.

Merritt and Sutton stood at one of the tables, staking out the area and waiting for Owen Case to arrive. A few minutes later, Lula was arguing with a chef nearby. Suddenly, blood was squirting from her arm. Sutton resisted the urge to roll her eyes as people screamed.

“Showtime, Sut,” Merritt told her, grabbing her hand and heading toward Owen Case. “Get your flirt on.”

Sutton cleared her throat, stepping in front of Owen Case. “Hi, Mr. Case,” Sutton smiled, trying her best to reach her inner Henley. Owen looked her up and down and smiled. Sutton placed a hand on his chest. “I heard tonight is going to be a huge unveiling for you.” Her hand slid downwards with her words.

“It most certainly will,” Owen smiled, stepping closer to Sutton. He placed his hands on Sutton’s waist, giving Merritt the perfect opportunity to start his hypnosis.

Sutton removed Case’s hands from her waist as Merritt walked him to the storage closet Sutton had set up earlier. Merritt placed an earbud in Case’s ear and stood him in front of the camera.

“Look at the light,” Merritt finished. “Listen to your own voice.”

“Not bad, old man,” Sutton chuckled as the two headed for the backstage.

“Oh, cocky now, aren’t we?” Merritt laughed. “Watch out. You’re starting to sound like At-” He stopped himself.

Sutton rolled her eyes. “You can say his name, Merritt.”

“Right,” Merritt nodded.

“It’s all in the wrist,” Jack told Merritt as they waited outside the Horsemen Hideout for Danny and Sutton. “Let the momentum of the card do the work for you.”

“Mhm,” Merritt agreed, rolling his eyes.

“This last one, I call the stall.” Jack threw the card, it coming to a perfect stop on the rusted car.

Merritt whistled. “Not bad. Now you want to see a thing of beauty?”

“I do indeed.”

“Here you go, and bingo bango bongo!” Merritt exclaimed, the cards he had thrown falling into a lame pile.

Jack nodded. “That’s good. No, no, no, it’s good to be positive despite making zero progress in a year.” Merritt agreed. “Whereas when it comes to hypnotism, the student has almost become the master.”

“I like your confidence,” Merritt told the pickpocket, “but you might say that you have the better teacher.”

Jack played along. “You’re right, you’re right. Your teacher definitely doesn’t know what he’s doing.” Jack flicked cards through the air. “By the way, was this your card yesterday?” he asked after catching the one he was looking for.

“In fact it was,” Merritt marveled.

“I thought so.” Jack sliced the air with a card. A loud clap sounded in the dimly lit alley.

“Not too bad,” Sutton smiled at them as she made her appearance. Jack and Merritt greeted her. “Ace of spades?” Sutton clicked her tongue. “Very predictable, Merritt.”

Merritt shrugged. “Where’s Ass-las?”

Jack rolled his eyes. “You just love calling him that, don’t you?” Merritt smiled widely in confirmation.

Sutton sighed. “Don’t know.”

Merritt and Jack exchanged a glance. “What do you mean?” Merritt questioned.

“Look, guys,” Sutton started, “it’s really not a big deal.”

“Did he cheat on you?” Jack interrupted.

“Why does everyone keep assuming Danny cheated on me?” Sutton asked. She let out a frustrated huff. “No, he didn’t cheat on me. Danny just did something that made me not trust him.”

“Awe, Sut,” Merritt cried, wrapping her in a hug.

“It’s okay, though,” Sutton said, clearing her throat and wiping at her eyes. “We are just taking a break. It’s not forever. I know Danny knows what he did was wrong. I just know, I don’t know how, but I know he will find a way to fix us, make us ‘Sutlas’ again.” Merritt gasped and fangirled at Sutton’s use of his nickname for the couple. She gave him a light smile.

Jack smiled at her. “I never saw this side of you before, Sutton.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Whatever it is that happened, I’m glad you are handling it well. If you have faith in Danny, I do too.” Sutton smiled up at her best friend.

“How’s Ass-las handling it?” Merritt asked, while Jack cursed him for using the lame nickname once more.

Sutton shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“If he has any sense in him, he will be a mess when he gets here,” Merritt told her. Just then, a motorcycle roared. Sutton turned, knowing fully well it was Danny.

“I’m going to go in a while, okay?” Sutton told the two as she watched Danny remove his helmet. She gulped. Danny was attractive as he was, but the motorcycle put him over the top. Shaking her head, Sutton headed inside to wait for the guys.

A minute later, Sutton heard Danny’s voice. “Okay, somebody broke into my apartment, alright? Some amateur who knew everything about me, everything about-”

“Wait, what?” Sutton interrupted, stepping in Danny’s path.

“S-Sutton,” Danny stuttered. He cleared his throat and gave her his signature smile.

In the dim light, Sutton could tell Danny had dark circles under his eyes. He was crying, Sutton figured, after she left. All Sutton wanted to do was wrap her arms around the man she loved, but she knew she couldn’t give in that easily. She needed to teach Danny a hard lesson. Sutton shook herself back to reality. “Who broke into our apartment?”

Danny shook his own head, disappointed that she didn’t want to talk to him about anything except business. “She-she knew everything about us. The Horsemen, that is. Everything about Henley leaving.” The group of four walked up to the railing. “That’s her.”

“Hey!” the woman from the apartment greeted them.