Tony Cannatella and Jack Casso are still trying to figure out their lives after returning from World War II. Their weddings to Lily and Grace are on the horizon, but their prospects are limited. Until they decide to open a nightclub with a little illegal gambling in the back. At first things are rolling like hot dice, but luck is not always a lady. A crooked sheriff and the New Orleans mob want a piece of the action. The local KKK and a philandering Bible-thumping preacher want them gone. What began as a sure bet is now a high-stakes game where the winner takes all, and the losers are betting with their lives.

Louis Tridico grew up in Louisiana's bayou and plantation country, listending to stories his father and uncles told about the people and culture of the region. Often funny, sometines scary and always memorable. Separating fact from fiction was usually impossible. After graduating from LSU, he began a career in advertising, PR and political consulting, including a stint as media spokesman for the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office. He and his wife live in Texas. Visit his website at LouisTridico.com