The Banker

They've taken my father. They'll take me next unless I comply with their demands.Taking down the most powerful man in Italy.Cato Marino.The man is accompanied by his security team everywhere he goes. His fortress in Tuscany is impenetrable. He's the most paranoid man in the country.And there's no possibility I'll be able to take him down alone.If I want to save my father, I only have one option.To get into Cato's bed...and stay there. **This story is not about the Barsettis, but it takes place in the same universe. There are guest appearances by Crow Barsetti and Bones Jr.**

The Players: the best poker professionals in the world The Challenger: a wealthy banker from Dallas The Game: the richest poker stakes of all time... In 2001, a rich stranger from Texas descended upon the high-stakes poker room in the opulent Bellagio casino in Las Vegas. A self-made billionaire by the name of Andy Beal, the stranger challenged some of the world's greatest poker players-including Doyle Brunson, Chip Reese, Howard Lederer, and Jennifer Harman-to heads-up matches in the richest poker game ever played This is that story... Beginning the scintillating contest that would shock the world of poker, Andy and each opponent had $1 million, betting $10,000 and $20,000 per round. As the games intensified over the coming months and Andy developed into a great player, he realized how he could take his adversaries out of their comfort zone-he raised the stakes to put everything they had on the line. By the time the battle of wits ended, there was more than $20 million on the table. For the first time ever, here is the detailed, true account of the Big Game that has already achieved legendary status in poker lore. Putting you railside to observe the pulse-pounding action, where you can almost hear the distinct sound of clay chips on felt, Michael Craig takes you inside the iron-nerved mind and pathological psyche of the professional gambler. Filled with vivid characters, sensational tales, and riveting human drama, The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King is a unique, suspenseful journey into the world of people who live on the razor's edge of fortune-where incredible wealth, or utter ruin, turns on the flip of a card.

Sometimes a minor incident can have devastating effects. When a brief altercation between two women at an upscale Vancouver hair salon threatens to expose an international Chinese crime boss, flamboyant local banker Neil Mohle and his wife Vivian find themselves running for their lives and others grappling with the far-reaching fallout—including Neil’s client, Woodstock LNG. Woodstock, along with a shady private investment fund, are strategic local participants in a Chinese consortium’s bid to develop a liquefied natural gas plant in British Columbia. Worth billions, this contract is the cornerstone of the political agenda of B.C.’s ambitious premier to ensure her re-election. Coincidentally, embedded in the premier’s inner circle is Canadian Security Intelligence Service Officer, Hayden Jones. Working undercover as a special advisor on LNG, Jones is actually part of a CSIS federal investigation into Chinese money laundering—an investigation which begins to unravel as a consequence of the Mohles’ sudden disappearance and Jones’s own untimely intimate relationships. With tentacles stretching from North America to Asia and a multifaceted plot involving high finance, crime, political intrigue, and romantic entanglements, The Banker’s Box will appeal to local and international readers alike. Set against the backdrop of the dynamic global finance industry, B.R. Bentley’s latest novel provides a riveting and unique look at the crumbling foundations that frequently support power’s elegant façade. Fans of The Banker’s Box will also enjoy B.R. Bentley’s previous two novels, The Cross and The Bermuda Key. Visit www.brbentley.com for more information.