Three days earlier,
The Mirage Royale, the most lively casino in New York City sparkled like shooting stars in the night, its towering glass walls reflecting the neon lights that painted the city's skyline.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and cigar smoke, shuffling cards, and the rhythmic clinking of glasses adding to the intoxicating buzz of the night.
Lavishly dressed women floated between tables, their gowns glowing under the soft, golden lights, while men in tuxedos, with drinks in hand, watched the games and placed bets.
This wasn't just any casino—it was a secret playground for the elite. Here, top-tier celebrities, infamous mafia dons, and ruthless businessmen rubbed shoulders, each hiding behind veils of wealth and power.
In the center of the casino, a massive crystal chandelier hung above a private poker table, reserved for the night's most dangerous players.
Mafia heirs who were to take over their empires leaned over their hands, their faces unemotional as their eyes flickered with calculations.
The casino was said to be the perfect training ground for a mafia heir, where people revealed the true animals hidden beneath their polished exteriors.
While everyone else seemed absorbed by the thrill of the night, he stood apart, quietly watching.
''This place is so much more lively than our home city, right boss''. The boy standing next to him exclaimed.
''Andrei, the shimmering facade you see here is no more different than a blood-sucker den. Everyone here is leaching off the other''. Leaning casually against a polished marble column, his sharp eyes took in everything.
He noticed how closely he was being watched, eyes and ears were prying on him, to find a way to drag him into the light and tear him into pieces.
''How's the game going down there?'' He asked Andrei.
''I heard some old geezers lost badly from a young lady''. Andrei stated as they walked downstairs.
''A lady?'' He asked.
Before Andrei could respond, he was abruptly yanked and sent crashing to the floor.
"Watch where you're going, boy!" a voice barked. "How dare you block my path?"
Dazed, Andrei struggled to lift his head and caught sight of a middle-aged man clad entirely in black, resembling a grim reaper. A booted foot was aimed at his face before Andrei could make out the man's features.
Just as the kick was about to land, a sudden force struck the man's leg, making him yelp in pain.
"Is this how you deal with your frustrations from losing to me, you old hag?" a woman's voice rang out sharply.
A woman in a striking red gown appeared, her face partially covered by an ornate feather mask that revealed only her lips and her dazzling blue eyes. She had smashed a wine glass against the man's leg, sending shards flying and drawing a crowd's curious gaze.
''You…''
The woman smirked, casting a glance at Andrei who was in a daze, and she turned to leave. But then her gaze locked onto a pair of hazel eyes watching her from the shadows. In that instant, the depth of the ocean met the warm allure of honey and amber.