The sound of the machines hit Gabriel the moment he stepped onto the casino floor. The noise was constant, sharp, and hollow, designed to keep people dull and hopeful at the same time. It irritated him immediately.
He did not slow as he crossed the floor. He walked straight toward the private elevator, guarded by two of his men.
"Boss," they said as soon as they saw him.
Gabriel nodded once in reply and adjusted his jacket as the elevator doors closed. The noise vanished, sealed outside, and the lift carried him upward to a level most people never knew existed.
More of his men lined the private corridor when he stepped out. They lowered their heads as he passed, not out of respect but habit. He barely acknowledged them.
Inside the office, the chair behind the desk turned slowly.
Logan leaned back into view, his usual scowl already in place. "I never thought I'd see the day you walked into a casino," he said, his eyes flicking over Gabriel once before settling again.
