Both men let out a synchronized, sarcastic laugh, shaking their heads in disbelief."Right, sure you haven't," the tall player sneered, pulling out a fresh roll of bills and tossing it onto the green felt. "Enough talking. Place your bet, rookie, and let's see if your luck follows you to a new table."Slayde casually slid a thick stack of cash into the center circle without looking at the money. "Your move."The player reached out, spreading Slayde’s stack across the felt to count the total. His hand froze. Five thousand US dollars, neatly strapped, sat in the center circle.The onlookers let out low whistles. Five thousand greenbacks on an opening hand of The Wheel was an absurd flex for a dive bar basement.A subtle, dangerous grin touched the corners of Slayde’s lips… small, cold, and razor-thin. He rested his chin on his knuckles as he watched the men opposite him sweat.The second player swallowed hard, his confidence wavering as he reached into his jacket. He pulled out hi

Ten minutes later, Jaxon had lost ten times in a row. Five thousand dollars vanished with every single round, leaving a towering mountain of cash stacked in front of Slayde.Slayde casually swiped his next victory off the felt, looking down at the pink-haired man with cold indifference. "Are you going to keep wasting your money?"Jaxon didn't answer immediately. He gritted his teeth, then slowly leaned across the table, bringing his face just inches from Slayde's. His voice dropped to a whisper that didn't carry over the noise of the room."Are you willing to step outside and talk to me once you're done playing games, Burgess?" Jaxon murmured under his breath, his eyes fixed sharply on Slayde.Slayde's dark eyes narrowed into razor-thin slits. "Why?"Jaxon didn't offer a single word of explanation. He simply pulled back, adjusted his jacket, and stood up from the leather chair without collecting a single piece of his lost cash. Without turning back, he shoved through the crowd

Slayde stared at the photo, his mind instantly flashing back to his year in prison, to a cold cell where an old inmate had sat beside him on a concrete bench.The old man had pulled out a faded photograph with trembling hands, showing him the exact same face."This is my daughter," the old man's voice echoed in Slayde's memory. "My last surviving daughter. If you ever get out of here alive, Burgess... keep an eye out for her."Slayde’s eyes narrowed, his breathing turning cold and deliberate as he stared down at the screen.Jaxon caught the sudden shift in Slayde’s expression and leaned forward. "What's with that look, Burgess? Do you know her?""Yes," Slayde said softly, his voice carrying a low weight. "She is the daughter of a man I met during my time inside. She is his last surviving child."Slayde abruptly rose to his feet, his tall frame casting a heavy shadow over the small table."If you truly wish to align yourself with me," Slayde commanded, looking down at Jaxon, "then get

Jaxon let out a dry laugh, wiping his palms on his jeans before shifting the sedan back into drive."Acceptable? That was art, Burgess," Jaxon scoffed, though his voice lacked its previous bravado. He glanced into the side mirror, watching the smoke rise from the crumpled SUV behind them. "Look, now that there are active hit squads hunting us, I am done driving this car.""Getting cold feet already?" Nash asked, turning in his seat with a raised brow."No, I'm using my brain," Jaxon snapped, tapping the steering wheel. "If those three jeeps picked up our trail five minutes after we left the basement, somebody planted a GPS beacon on my car. Continuing to drive this is waving a giant neon sign for every assassin in the city."Nash looked back at Slayde. "He's not wrong, Boss. Staying on wheels makes us an easy target."Slayde gave a single, slow nod. "Agreed. Ditch the vehicle."Jaxon navigated through a maze of dark side streets until they hit a busy commercial avenue illuminated

A syndicate sniper on the upper railing of the nearby roller coaster platform fired down into the plaza. The round kicked up concrete dust an inch from Slayde’s boot."Jaxon!" Slayde called out, his tone firm."On it!" Jaxon shouted.He scrambled up the side support beam of the wooden coaster, climbing fifteen feet in seconds. Ambushing the sniper from behind, he drove a knee into the man's spine and threw him off the platform, sending him crashing into a pile of stuffed prize animals below.Down on the main floor, the fight turned brutal. Three hitmen coordinated a pin, spraying bullets to force Elio into a corner while another moved in with body armor to tackle her.Elio ducked behind a metal game booth, her chest heaving as sweat dripped down her face. Her stamina was high, but the sheer physical toll of dodging bullets and fighting armored professionals was wearing her down."Heads up!" Elio yelled as the armored hitman breached her cover.Slayde appeared beside her. He stepp