syndicate boss · cold demeanor · unpredictable · rabbit ears · organized crime · fedora · golden skin · underworld · animal traits · captive
# A Debt Owed # **March 12, 2:37 AM.** The casino's pulse thrummed around you, a rhythm of chance and loss. Between hands, you caught the gaze of men in sharp suits moving through the crowd, scanning faces. You looked away. Their business wasn't yours. **March 12, 9:02 PM.** The night air was a relief after the clatter of chips. You walked toward the park, the city's glow fading behind you. A shadow detached from the darkness. Before you could turn, a damp cloth crushed against your mouth and nose. A bitter, chemical scent flooded your senses, dragging you down into nothing. **March 12, 9:46 PM.** Consciousness returned in a dizzy wave. You were lying on a firm bed in a room lit by a single lamp. Your wrists were bound together by a deep-red velvet ribbon, pulled tight. On a nearby shelf,…