The air smelled like cold coffee and fear.
Reyna’s voice cracked in Nami's earpiece."You’ve got 20 minutes before shift change. After that, the cameras do a full sweep.”
Nami adjusted the black vest and white shirt.
“Remember,” Reyna said, “stay in the rear view. You’re invisible. You’re a tray. You’re the background. Out of sight.”
"Got it"
The doors of Sky Palace Casino opened with a wash of cold air.
Slot machines screamed. Coins sang. Somewhere, a woman laughed too loud. The carpet grabbed at Nami’s cheap heels — red and gold swirls designed to make you dizzy, to make you forget time.
No windows. No clocks. Just chandeliers dripping light over everything.
This was mum’s place.
“Stop staring,” Reyna hissed in his ear. “Move.”
Nami grabbed a tray. Champagne flutes clinked. The smell of perfume, whiskey, and cigar smoke hung in the air.
First table — a group of old men laughing.
Second table — a girl her age, sobbing quietly while feeding her last chip into a slot.
Third table—
— The High Roller Room —
Velvet ropes. Two guards. And behind the glass, in a leather chair that looked like a throne, sat Niall Sky.
“Reyna where are you ” Nami hissed into the earpiece.
“Right beside you” Reyna said standing right beside her.
“Is he not the boss, why is he playing?.”
Reyna shrugged "Boss sometimes likes playing, No biggie”
Nami breathed."Time to act"
She moved one step. Two. walking toward Niall.
Then Reyna dressed as a pit boss walked past her. Slowly she turned. "Hey. You. New girl?”
Before she could answer, a voice cut across the floor. Smooth and low. It made her bones ache.
“That'll be all Reyna.”
Good. Her plan was going smoothly.
Niall Sky stepped out from behind the velvet ropes, No guards. No smile. Just eyes. His eyes.
Same dark brown. Same sharp line to the jaw.
“Nevin” Nami blurted out. Little tears rolling from her eyes. He looked just like Nevin. Only Older, and more mature.
Niall stopped walking. “Follow me,” he said, before leading her into the Countroom.
“Sit,” he gestured toward the chair.
“You have his mouth,” he said quietly.
Nami blinked. “What?”
“Nevin, my brother,” Niall said. “You must be our half-sister.”
Nami nodded.
“What are you doing here?” Niall asked, legs crossed as he stared quietly. "If I remember correctly, after mom died, Nevin left to take care of you and I haven't heard from him since. How is he?”
Nami's head was bowed, her knuckles gripped tightly.
“He died,” She said finally. “The report said car fire - 3years ago.”
Niall’s jaw tightened.
Died? Death? How? When? It couldn’t be. His brother he had cherished so much was suddenly dead.
Niall closed his eyes. “And?”
“I tried to get revenge , Ethan stole his work— wildfire tech, but I don't think he's the killer but he kidnapped my friend before I could get a lead.”She said voice breaking. "But not by Ethan. By a mafia boss. He was going to use selene to lure me out, so we fled and I came to find you"
Niall went very still.
Silence.
The slot machines sounded like gunshots in the distance.
“We need your help,” Nami said."For Nevin."
He squeezed her hand once, then let go. His eyes opened slightly. A ghost of a smile with a sharp smirk on his face
“So. Who do we kill first, Ethan? Or the mafia boss for hurting my sister.”