Read C.O.T.V.H. (Book 2): Judgment for Free Online

“A pool hall not far from Grandpa’s house.”
    “Well, I’ll leave you to it then.” She smiled.  “I better get back to the kitchen before John eats all my plantain!  Donnie, take it easy on him.”
    “Yes Grandma,” Donnie said not lifting up from taking his shot on the table.  Sandra walked out of the room leaving Jake alone with them.  He swallowed deep as Amber glanced over at him.
    The balls on the table crashed together with a loud crack as Donnie sunk the six-ball in the corner pocket.  "So you're John Bishop's kid?"  He said, rising up and covering the tip of his cue with blue chalk.
    "That's me," Jake said, sizing up the muscular kid in front of him.
    "How ‘bout a game?"  he asked, tossing his cue to Jake who easily snatched it out of midair. “I’ve never met someone that plays at a cool hall.  Might be interesting to see how you play.”  
    "Sure," Jake replied his face going red.  "Eight ball?  Or nine?"
    "Eight. I don't play any other way.  You want to break?" Donnie grabbed another cue off the rack.
    "Nah.  Your table, your break," Jake said, pulling the triangle hanging under the table and gathering up all the balls.  Chris Morris and Buck Turner came walking in just as Donnie slammed the cue ball into the racked balls. 
    "Looks like we've got a game on!" Buck said, plopping down on the couch next to Amber.  Chris stood back quietly, leaning against the wall, giving Jake the distinct impression he was a bit of a nerdy kid that probably didn't care much for competitive games.
    Donnie landed two balls on the break, both stripes.  "Looks like you got solids," he said, shooting again.
    The game went quickly once Jake’s turn came.  Donnie was good but wasn't anywhere near his level.  "Eight ball, center pocket," Jake said, calling his final shot.  He sunk it flawlessly, winning the game.
    "Not bad, not bad,” Donnie said, laying his stick across the table.  “But I've got twenty says you can't do it again."
    And here comes the hustle . Jake thought to himself. “Nah.  I'm good,” he said laying the cue next to Donnie's on the red felt.
    "Ah now come on.  I'll tell you what, I'll bet fifty against your twenty, against anyone in this room.  Your choice."
    "So fifty bucks and I get to pick anyone to play against?"  This was too good to be true.  Jake was hesitant to accept.  There had to be a catch.  But fifty dollars was fifty dollars, and he had little doubt he could beat anyone here.
    "That's the deal," Donnie replied leaning forward on the table.
    "So . . . I just gave you a pretty good beating.  So why not just choose you?"
    "Oh you could do that.  But, what if I was just holding back?  Trying to earn a few bucks off you?”
    Jake couldn't help but smile.  He'd put on a pretty good game trying to impress Amber.  Why not up the ante a notch.  "Yeah the thought that I was being hustled did cross my mind.  But I’ll tell you what, your table, your choice.  You pick someone for me to play.  Give me your best shot."
    Jake reached into his pocket pulling a twenty out of his wallet and tossing it on the table.  It was the last money he had, but there was little doubt he'd make it back plus an additional fifty.
    "My choice huh?  You’re a cocky little sucker aren’t you?  Okay then.  Chris? You up for a game?"
    Jake laughed.  "This guy?  Why don't you just give me the money?"
    "Yeah I'm game," Chris said walking over to the rack and picking up an 18oz. stick.  He chalked it up thoroughly then laid it on the table before gathering the balls to rack them.
    Donnie picked the twenty off the table, added two twenties of his own and a ten to the stack, then set it on a small side table with several cans of soda on it.  Chris pulled the triangle off the table spinning it in his hands.
    Jake lined up his shot and broke with a thunderous crack.  One ball went in.  It was stripes.  On the next shot he missed by mere inches.  "Damn." Jake said, rising up and