Beneath the Neon Smoke
To conceal her identity, Charlotte Bonds pulled a black mask from her jacket pocket and slipped it over the lower half of her face.
The thin fabric hugged the curve of her cheeks and nose, leaving only her sharp teal eyes visible.
Julian D’Aurelius glanced at her.
Then he glanced again.
Left. Right. Up. Down.
His golden eyes narrowed slightly.
Sothing about her masked face stirred a vague mory in his mind.
He tilted his head, studying her profile.
The shape of her eyes... the line of her jaw...
Why does she look familiar?
He tried to rember where he had seen soone like this before.
But just as he was thinking—
"Why are you staring at ?"
Charlotte’s voice ca cold and sharp.
She had already noticed his gaze lingering on her face.
Julian blinked and chuckled casually.
"Nothing."
The elevator humd quietly as it descended.
A faint vibration passed through the tal walls.
When the elevator doors opened on the second basent floor, Charlotte imdiately slipped her arm through Julian’s.
Her body pressed close to his side.
The sudden contact made Julian glance at her in surprise.
She leaned slightly against him and whispered calmly,
"Couple disguise."
Julian instantly understood.
The two walked out of the elevator together, looking exactly like a late-night pair looking for entertainnt.
Outside the elevator was a dim hallway that opened into a pool hall.
Several pool tables were arranged beneath harsh white lights.
Balls clacked against each other while a few rough-looking n smoked nearby.
One of the n noticed them approaching.
He set his cue aside and walked toward Julian with an easy smile.
"Here to play pool?"
Julian nodded calmly.
"A friend recomnded this place."
A little broader, his grin stretched across his face.
"Alright."
"You know the rules, right?"
A gesture began mid-air, fingers reaching forward. The space between them closed as his palm moved ahead.
Out ca Julian’s phone - he switched it off right away, then set it into the man’s hand.
His eyes shifted to Charlotte next.
Off she went behind Julian, just like that. Charlotte kept step with him, no pause at all.
After powering down the device, she passed it across too.
The man nodded.
Later ca the part where they moved past a checkpoint. The barrier opened just enough for them to walk through without stopping.
A quiet beep ca from the machine when they walked past. The sound rose just as their foot crossed the fra.
A different worker stepped forward, guiding their steps down a tight passage.
Just past where the floorboards creak underfoot -
Out of nowhere, a doorway appeared.
And behind it...
Bursting into view, the casino showed what it really was.
Inside, the air pressed down, thick with cigarette stench. Smoke curled through the room before their eyes even adjusted.
Fus hung thick, mixing stale smoke with spilled drinks, body heat cutting through. A sharp tang of bargain fragrance poked at the back of your throat. Sweat clung to every breath you pulled in. Booze soaked into the walls, lingering like yesterday’s fight.
A small cloud of dust hung in the air as Charlotte gave two sharp coughs. Her fingers flicked sideways, brushing at what stung her nose.
Beneath the city streets, a dim glow lit up over two dozen gaming spots lined neatly side by side.
Shouts rose around each table where players gathered. Players clustered round every table, voices loud. Loud voices ca from players at all tables. Each table had players yelling nearby. Around every table, players argued loudly.
Folks tossed cubes made of bone across worn wood tables.
So hunched above playing cards, their stares sharp. A few bent close to tabletops, gaze fixed and bright.
A single line of gaming machines sat glowing in the dim space. Their bright colors blinked without pause.
Fish-shaped tokens clattered down slots as laughter burst from a cluster of players, their hands flying across controls. Victory chis rang out every few seconds, t by whoops that sliced through the hum of machines. A teenager grinned wide, yanking a lever again right after coins spilled into the tray. Noise built in waves, each cheer louder than the last, rolling over the next machine row.
The noise was overwhelming.
Shouting.
Laughing.
Cursing.
Sound here hit harder than any club ever could.
Through the maze of tables, girls in tight outfits weaved past players, slipping cocktails to big spenders while tossing playful glances. Among them, laughter sparked like static, drawing eyes without trying.
He looked at each corner of the room without hurry.
"Let’s exchange so chips first."
Over by the register, he moved beside her, steering her steps without a word. The path cleared ahead as they approached the front desk slowly.
A brief exchange took place, then two hundred thousand euros beca bright casino tokens.
She got one part when he passed it over.
Funny how she took the chips, yet her eyes stayed distant. Not once did Charlotte act like soone ready to bet. The whole scene felt off - like holding a ticket you never plan to use.
The room buzzed, full of people shifting under dim lights. Her eyes narrowed a fraction at the sight.
Her eyes scanned the room carefully.
How many families would be destroyed here tonight?
Gambling rarely ended with winners.
Behind every cheering gambler...
There were usually ten broken lives.
anwhile, as they wandered around the casino—
Several hidden caras quietly turned toward Charlotte.
Red indicator lights blinked faintly.
They had already locked onto her.
—
Inside a monitoring room on Basent Level 1.
Multiple surveillance screens filled the wall.
On one of them—
Charlotte and Julian appeared clearly.
Standing in front of the screens was Lucas.
His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp.
He watched them silently.
When he noticed Julian walking beside Charlotte—
A faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
So the bait worked.
That fool had actually followed her here.
Lucas chuckled softly.
Since the fish had taken the hook...
Tonight would truly be a big harvest.
Kill Julian.
Then appear as the hero who saves Charlotte.
Winning her trust after that would be effortless.
Behind him stood the casino owner, watching respectfully.
"Young Master Lucas," the casino owner asked politely, "what’s the plan?"
Lucas didn’t take his eyes off the screen.
His voice was calm.
"Send soone."
He pointed at the monitor where Julian stood beside Charlotte.
"But don’t hurt her."
His smile sharpened slightly.
"Just kill the guy next to her."
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