Something’s never change

Nova stepped out of the lounge, the lingering scent of alcohol and money clinging to his clothes. The weight of the upcoming war settled in his chest, but rather than dread, he felt anticipation.

But before any blood spilled, he had other plans.

A familiar voice called out as he reached the casino floor.

"Finally done playing business heir?"

Nova turned to see Joel Nardino, arms crossed, leaning lazily against a column near the VIP booths. His dark brown eyes glinted with amusement, and the lopsided grin on his face told Nova he'd been waiting.

Nova smirked. "Yeah, yeah. Long meetings, lots of talking, you know how it is."

He was Nova's childhood friend, a reckless troublemaker with a habit of stirring up chaos wherever he went. Whether it was sneaking into places he shouldn't, picking fights just for the thrill, or dragging Nova into his wild schemes, Joel had a knack for finding trouble.

Yet, despite his antics, he was the one person who knew Nova better than most.

Joel raised an eyebrow. "So? What the hell happened? You vanished for two days, and now there's talk about full-blown war."

Nova exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah… It's been a long week."

Joel smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets. "You need a distraction. Good thing I got something perfect for you."

Nova arched a brow. "Oh? Should I be concerned?"

Joel placed a hand over his heart looking offended. "First of all, rude. Second, it's nothing crazy… just a little betting contest. Some of them rich kids are throwing money around on an event tonight. Thought you might be interested."

Nova tilted his head, intrigued. A contest with rich idiots thinking they have it all figured out?

"Go on," he said, his interest piqued.

Joel leaned in, his voice dropping just slightly. "There's a racing event tonight, it's called Phantom Circuit."

Nova laughed, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Phantom Circuit? What a stupid name."

Joel blinked. "Wha… You think so? I think it's alright."

Nova scoffed. "Anyway, you think I'd bet on some rich brats driving overpriced toys?"

Joel's grin widened. "Nah. I think you'd race."

Nova's smirk twitched. "Why would I do that?"

Joel clapped him on the back. "Because, my friend, you cheat at life."

Nova hummed, tilting his head. "How so?"

Joel gestured vaguely. "I don't know, man. You always read people too well. You see things before they happen. If anyone has a bullshit sixth sense for when to hit the gas and when to brake, it's you."

Nova considered that.

His ability wasn't just reading people. It let him see past doubts, hesitations, and past experiences. It meant he could tell down to the smallest detail who would hesitate at a turn, who would crash, and who would choke under pressure.

And in a high-stakes race like this?

That was everything.

Nova smirked. "You know me well. I'm in but if I win, you're covering my drinks for a month."

Joel barked a laugh. "If you win, I'll get you a damn throne, your highness."

…..

The night air buzzed with anticipation, the underground racetrack alive with flashing lights and roaring engines. The Phantom Circuit, an exclusive, invite-only race organized by the Vesper Organization, was in full swing.

Located in a repurposed stretch of highway outside city limits, with illegal modifications, neon-lit checkpoints, and a massive betting ring behind the scenes. It wasn't just about speed, it was about money, reputation, and control.

The crowd was a mix of high society's rebellious elite and the city's underground, standing shoulder to shoulder, drinks in hand, eyes locked on the massive display screens showing the racers.

Engines roared as two cars pulled into the lot, cutting through the crowd like sharks in open water. A midnight-black Hellion V8 led the way, its engine growling with restrained power, while beside it, a gunmetal-gray Revenant SX purred with smooth precision.

The moment they parked, doors swung open in sync. Joel stepped out first, stretching like he owned the place, while Nova exited with a casual confidence, his gaze relaxedly swept over the crowd.

Behind them, other members of their crew arrived in their own rides. Customized muscle cars, tuned imports, high-end luxury vehicles all polished and ready to flex. They weren't here just to watch the show, they were here to make sure the money was theirs.

Joel clapped Nova on the shoulder, grinning. "Welcome to the Phantom Circuit, my friend. Best bets, fastest rides, and more rich idiots than a charity gala."

Nova smirked. "Still think the name sucks, but not bad."

Joel turned not commenting further, gesturing toward their small entourage. "Alright… you still remember them, right?"

Nova gave a lazy glance at the familiar faces. "Yeah, yeah. Not that easy to forget."

Joel smirked. "Good. Saves me the effort. But for formality's sake." He jabbed a thumb toward Luca, who was already flipping through his betting book. "Luca, still scamming people with numbers?"

Luca scoffed. "It's called winning. Try it sometime."

Joel chuckled, then nodded towards a six feet tall, broad-shouldered guy, Trev, who has his arms crossed, just nodded remaining silent.

Nova smirked. "Glad to see nothing's changed."

Then, Joel pointed at Mari, who was casually leaning against her Lykan HyperSport, spinning her keys around her finger. "And of course, Mari is still our ace behind the wheel. She's driving tonight."

Mari shot Nova a cocky grin. "Don't worry boss, I won't cost you a dime."

Nova raised a brow, a smirk already forming. "I'm sure you will… and since when the hell did you start calling me boss?"

Mari shrugged, spinning her keys. "Since you started wearing fancy suits and disappearing into all that official business."

Luca snorted. "Yeah, man, one day you're out free with us, next thing we know, you're talking numbers with the big boss and scaring the hell out of people in boardrooms."

Joel chuckled. "It's tragic, really. Our dear friend, swallowed by responsibility."

Nova rolled his eyes. "Oh please, I step away for a little while, and suddenly I'm some untouchable mafia overlord?" He sighed dramatically. "I miss the days when you guys just called me an asshole."

Mari grinned. "Oh, don't worry, boss. You're still an asshole."

Trev grunted in agreement.

Nova huffed a laugh, shaking his head. "Glad to know some things never change."