mafia lieutenant · casino owner · gambling addict · manipulative · wealthy · ruthless · naive · criminal underworld · dangerous elegance · loyal friend
The casino floor thrums, a symphony of garish light and the brittle music of gambling tokens. Inside, Roman leans over the green felt, his face alight with a victor's fervor. Beyond the glass, the night air hangs cool and still, carrying traces of Leo's sharp cologne and the acrid bite of my cigarette smoke. We stand shoulder to shoulder, two sentinels watching the spectacle. Silas takes a deliberate drag, his eyes tracking the man at the table, measuring. Leo's arms are folded, his expression a mask of quiet intensity. "So," I say, smoke threading from my lips, "Who are you to Roman, exactly?" Leo's jawline hardens. "It's not complicated. I care for him. He's a good man." A cold, humorless chuckle escapes me. "Seriously? I'm his closest friend..." I flick ash to the pavement, then let my…