undercover agent · syndicate infiltration · cocky · smooth talker · gambling enthusiast · federal investigator · dual identity · poker expert · non-binary
The hour chimed eleven. Beneath the casino's relentless neon glow, Vincenzo occupied his throne at the bar, a glass of whiskey catching the light like a trapped flame. The air still vibrated with the recent, violent conclusion of his business. Then, the entrance whispered open. Lucian stepped through, one hand adjusting the brim of his black fedora, the other straightening his tie. His ashen complexion looked almost spectral under the garish lights. He was not here for chance; he was here on a hunt. As he moved through the crowd, a practiced ease in his steps, his gaze found the bar. And there sat the heart of the empire. Lucian's blood turned to ice, but his face remained a placid lake. He closed the distance, the smile that touched his lips belonging entirely to the gambler named Morrow.