Chapter 47: The Real Game Begins

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Ethan left the poker table with more than just chips.

He left with a target on his back.

Kairos Westwood might have extended an invitation, but Ethan knew better. This wasn't an offer of friendship.

It was a challenge.

An initiation into something deeper.

And Ethan?

He was going to walk right in and flip the game on its head.

---

The party was still in full swing, but Ethan had seen enough.

He slipped out onto the balcony, the crisp night air a welcome change from the suffocating wealth inside.

Footsteps approached.

"You're playing a dangerous game."

Ethan smirked without turning around. "Aren't I always?"

Sophia Russo stepped beside him, her arms crossed. The soft glow of the city lights reflected in her eyes.

"You know what that envelope means, don't you?" she asked.

Ethan pulled it from his pocket, flicking the edge between his fingers. "An invitation to something bigger."

Sophia exhaled sharply. "You don't get it, Ethan. This isn't just money we're talking about. The people behind this? They don't play fair. They don't lose."

Ethan turned to her, his expression unreadable. "Then it's a good thing I don't either."

Sophia studied him for a moment. Then she sighed. "I should've known you'd be like this."

He chuckled. "Like what?"

"Reckless."

Ethan smirked. "That's one word for it."

Sophia glanced at the envelope in his hand. "If you go to that meeting, there's no turning back."

Ethan's fingers tightened around it.

"Then I guess I better be ready."

---

Two nights later, Ethan stood outside an unmarked building on the outskirts of the city.

It looked abandoned—weathered brick, boarded-up windows, the kind of place no one would give a second glance.

But Ethan knew better.

He stepped toward the rusted metal door and knocked twice.

A panel slid open, revealing a pair of sharp, scrutinizing eyes.

"Invitation," a voice rasped.

Ethan pulled out the black envelope and held it up.

The panel slid shut.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then—click.

The door unlocked.

Ethan stepped inside.

---

The interior was nothing like the outside.

Dim lighting, polished floors, and a long hallway leading to a staircase. At the bottom?

A casino.

But not just any casino.

This was the real underground.

The kind of place where bets weren't just made with money.

People gambled fortunes, businesses, secrets, and sometimes… their lives.

Ethan took it all in. The air smelled of whiskey, cigars, and anticipation.

A few people glanced his way—assessing, curious.

And then—

"Kairos Westwood sends his regards," a voice called out.

Ethan turned.

A man in a dark suit approached, flanked by two others. Nathan Pierce. Mid-30s, well-dressed, eyes sharp as a knife. The kind of guy who controlled things from the shadows.

Ethan smirked. "I'll be sure to thank him."

Nathan chuckled. "Follow me. The real game's about to start."

Ethan fell into step behind him.

This was it.

The moment where everything shifted.

And Ethan?

He was ready.

---

Nathan led him into a private lounge, where a group of men and women sat around a sleek black table.

Power radiated from them.

These weren't just rich kids.

They were kingmakers. The kind of people who controlled the flow of wealth and influence.

Kairos Westwood sat among them, smirking.

"Glad you could make it, Ethan."

Ethan slid into an empty chair. "Wouldn't miss it."

A woman at the head of the table leaned forward. Her presence demanded attention.

"Do you know why you're here?" she asked.

Ethan met her gaze. "To play."

She smiled. "Not just any game."

The man beside her tapped a metal briefcase on the table. "Tonight's bet is unlike any other."

The briefcase clicked open.

Inside was a single black card.

"This," the woman said, "is an entry to the Syndicate."

The room went silent.

Ethan arched an eyebrow. "Syndicate?"

Kairos smirked. "The most exclusive underground network in the world. Only those who win their way in get a seat at the table."

Ethan exhaled slowly.

Now things were getting interesting.

---

The woman folded her hands. "Here's how this works. You win, the card is yours. You lose?"

She leaned forward.

"You owe us a favor. A big one."

Ethan's heartbeat remained steady. "What kind of favor?"

She smiled. "One you won't like."

Ethan tapped his fingers against the table, considering.

The logical choice was to walk away.

To leave before he got in too deep.

But Ethan?

He wasn't built that way.

He reached for the deck of cards in front of him.

"I hope you guys don't mind losing."

Kairos laughed. "Oh, this is going to be fun."

And with that, the real game began.