The Throop character is based on a real person, a math professor from (I think) M.I.T. by the name of Edward Thorpe, who was the first to really study the game of Blackjack, and wrote the seminal book on card counting, called "Beat The Dealer"
Up until that time (early 1960s), nothing provable was known about blackjack, basic strategy, or card counting.
So it's not like that stuff was out there in the first place. He really developed it all, including computer programs that played millions of hands to prove his theories.
As far as the plot goes--
I think there are a few obvious developments coming here--
--Throop taking Micke's casino for millions --Some type of early planning for the later treachery of Don Altobello & Joey Zasa --The Kay & Douglas relationship (see Chapter 3) --Development of the Lucy & Vincent & Jules story --Possible revenge of Willi Cicci
So far, though, I've been mostly just trying to answer some of the unanswered questions remaining from the novel and the trilogy, which I think have to be resolved before moving forward.
As far as the grammar goes, I don't think there are any legitimate run-on sentences. There are certain rules of grammar which make a sentence run-on or not, none of which I believe I've violated, although I will confess to not knowing exactly what they are.
But a sentence that is very long or the only sentence in a paragraph is not necessarily a run-on. Possibly difficult to read and a matter of style which the reader may not care for however, but not, as I say, necessarily grammatically incorrect.
