Leon stood at the roulette table, his knuckles white as they gripped the edge.
The room was filled with laughter, conversation, and the occasional burst of applause, but to him, it all blended into static. The roulette wheel gleamed under the dim casino lights.
He stared at the layout, his chips stacked high in front of him. This was it. One bet to either make it all back or lose everything he had left.
The croupier's calm voice cut through his thoughts. "Place your bets."
Leon inhaled sharply and shoved his entire stack onto black. "All in," he said, his voice rough but firm.
A murmur ran through the small crowd gathered around the table. All eyes turned to him.
The croupier gave a small nod, spinning the wheel with a practiced flick. The clack-clack of the spinning wheel filled the air. Leon's heart thudded in his chest as the tiny white ball was released, bouncing wildly across the wheel's grooves.
He clenched his fists, his lips pressed into a thin line. "Come on," he whispered under his breath, his gaze never leaving the wheel.
The ball ricocheted, slowed, and began to bounce less erratically. His pulse quickened. The wheel's numbers and colors blurred together as the ball found its way onto a black number and—
Bounced one last time.
It landed squarely on the green 0.
Leon's breath caught. For a moment, he stood frozen, staring at the tiny ball that had sealed his fate. The crowd murmured with hushed shock, the energy of the moment deflating like a balloon.
"Zero," the croupier declared with practiced detachment, sweeping his chips away with a long rake.
Leon blinked, his head spinning, unable to process what had just happened. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, his voice hoarse.
But there was no arguing with the table, no turning back the wheel. It was over.
The fluorescent lights above seemed harsher now, glaring down on him as he stumbled back from the table.
Out in the cool night air, the world felt quieter.
He wandered aimlessly down the dimly lit street, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. The hum of the casino faded behind him. What was there to do now?
Then he saw her.
A flash of long dark hair under a streetlight. A familiar figure walking briskly, her head down, shoulders hunched against the cold.
"…Emily?" he whispered, squinting to make sure he wasn't imagining it.
Her head jerked up at his voice, her face pale under the glow of the streetlamp. For a second, her expression softened, recognition lighting her features. But then her brows furrowed, her eyes darting nervously behind her.
Leon followed her gaze. Two men were trailing her. Both bald. Both wore dark, unmarked clothes that screamed trouble. They weren't trying to blend in—they were closing in.
Emily glanced back at him. Her lips moved silently before she spoke, her voice barely audible. "Leon?"
He took a step toward her, his expression hardening. "Are you okay?"
The stocky man stopped, turning slightly toward Leon. His tall companion smirked, reaching into his pocket.
Emily hesitated, her voice trembling as she said, "It's fine. I'm fine."
Leon took a step closer, his hands loose at his sides. "Doesn't look like it to me."
The taller man's grin twisted as he flicked a knife open with a sharp click. The blade gleamed under the pale streetlight. "You really wanna play hero tonight?" he said, his tone dripping with mockery.
Leon's gaze didn't waver. His voice steady, he said, "Put it away. Now."
The man snorted, clearly unimpressed. "Or what?"
Leon glanced at Emily, her wide eyes darting between them. He took another step forward, his focus razor-sharp. "You'll regret finding out."