Fiction

Reader discretion advised. Tshhh-KRASSHH! A beer glass crashed onto the grimy floor, bursting into a spray of jagged shards. The bartender, who had dropped it, barely flinched. Shattered glass and racket were just part of the vibe in this bar. The place was a dive, a squalid hole where the air hung heavy with the reek of stale beer and regret. Neon buzzed overhead, flickering like a dying pulse, bathing the room in a jaundiced glow. Silas sat in the corner booth, cradling a s

Twack… rolllll. The roulette ball pirouetted along the wheel’s edge, teasing each pocket with a flirtatious clatter. Rick leaned in, fingers twitching around his chips, his pulse syncing with the spin. Clack. Black. A smirk tugged at his lips, sharp and restrained. Another win. He slid a single chip onto red, riding the high. Across the table, the croupier’s gaze darted briefly to a man approaching—smooth, unhurried, his tailored suit jacket and slacks radiating comfortable c