"The stakes are the same as always, Elias," Thorne rumbled, his voice like gravel. "Everything you own, or everything I own. No middle ground. No mercy."
The air in the basement was thick with cigar smoke and the scent of desperation. Elias looked at his cards—a pair of eights. Not enough to win, but enough to bluff. Across the table sat Thorne, a man who had built an empire by never giving an inch.
Interview: Alex de Campi and Carla Speed McNeil on 'No Mercy'
He pushed his final chips forward. Thorne didn't even hesitate. He flipped his cards: a royal flush. The table went silent.
If you'd like an original piece based on the theme, here is a story of a high-stakes gamble where "no mercy" is the only rule.