The hours passed slowly, time itself seemed distorted in this realm of gamblers. What unsettled Zeke the most was the fact that he had entered at 8:00 p.m., and now it was 5:00 a.m. Not only had he lost all sense of time, even though he wore a watch, but he also didn’t feel tired. It seemed that the fragrance drifting through the casino’s ventilation system wasn’t just perfume, but a gas that gave the players a burst of energy. Fatigue would eventually catch up, and when it did, more and more mistakes would begin to appear.

Could it be true, what they say? That the house always wins? Well, that was exactly why Zeke was there, to prove that this myth could be broken.

Lara pulled him away from the table and suggested they play a card game. Zeke didn’t seem particularly fascinated, but not everything had to be a bet. He could use a moment of peace. His money had dwindled to the point where it could easily be counted, and that meant the game was nearing its end. Yet there was still that tiny chance, the one that might keep him in the game just a little longer.

This card game turned out to be more than just a game, it was an opportunity for Lara to truly get to know Zeke. Perhaps he hadn’t realized it yet, but the moment he agreed to team up with her, he had made a pact with the devil, and the contract he had signed was the written bond she had offered him.