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A makeshift lounge area is set up with temporary seating, and a few strategically placed tables accommodate the celebration. The air is filled with laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the echoes of shared victories. Dim lighting, a precursor to the final ambiance, casts shadows across the construction site,creating an ambiance that reflects the duality of our existence between the worlds of construction and imminent completion.
I already brought in several bottles, but so did they. I figured we would just drink from the bottles and pass them around, but Dylan thought ahead and brought along fancy glasses, a set of six of them, and when he fills the sixth and lifts it before placing it in the center of our circle, I almost break down.
A toast to Dominic.
I’ve been trying to bury my grief, to work through it, to ignore it, to try to live, but seeing that glass is almost enough to break me.
Alex rubs my back, but none of them mention my brother, which is just as well because I’m not sure I can speak right now because of the lump in my throat. Even as we revel in the achievement of reaching a significant milestone in our grand plan, we still mourn my brother, and that touches me so very deeply.
As my lovers and I toast to the future success of Fortune Oasis, the vast space around us resonates with the potential for opulent gatherings, discreet conversations, and the hum of activity that will soon define this thriving underworld sanctuary. The celebration marks not only the completion of construction but the commencement of a new era, where power, wealth, and influence will converge within the walls of Fortune Oasis.
The open expanse of the casino-to-be lays bare before us, a testament to our collective prowess in navigating the intricate web of alliances and conflicts that has brought us to this moment.
I clear my throat and raise my glass. “To Fortune Oasis, our haven in the shadows, where power and destiny intertwine.”
Jesse grins. “Damn right! This place is gonna be a game-changer.”
“A well-orchestrated move, Vanessa,” Xavier says, calm and strategic as ever. “The construction is complete, and soon, we shall see the fruits of our labor.”
Alex grins as he looks around. “It’s been a journey, but this is just the beginning. A fortress in the making.”
Dylan smirks. “I can almost hear the roulette wheels spinning already. A place where the high and mighty come to play.”
The echo of our laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the murmur of shared victories fill the space, mingling with the scent of fresh construction materials.
I slowly smile, my chest expanding some, and maybe some of my guilt over surviving while my brother sacrificed himself for me expels as I blow out a long breath. “This is more than a casino. It’s a symbol, a statement to the world that we’re not just players. We’re architects of our destiny.”
Jesse lifts his glass toward me. “I like that, Nessa. Architects of our destiny.”
Xavier nods. “The world will see what we’ve built here, and they will know the Penumbra Legion’s influence.”
I laugh because that’s not supposed to be the case. Fortune’s Oasis is for laundering money more than anything.
Alex looks around again. “Still a work in progress, but this place will be a fortress. No one will see what we don’t want them to see.”
Dylan sips his drink. “I’ve seen a lot of places, but this... this is gonna be something else. I have friends who will like it here.”
“Why haven’t you brought them around The Black Lotus?” Alex asks.
“Maybe because he doesn’t want us to rob his friends,” I say, and we all laugh.
As the celebration continues, we share stories, banter, and reflections on the tumultuous journey that has led us here.The anticipation for the grand opening lingers in the air, an unspoken promise that Fortune Oasis will soon stand as a beacon of our dominion in the criminal underworld.
In the midst of laughter and camaraderie, we find solace in this moment, a pause in the relentless pursuit of power and the unfolding of alliances. Fortune Oasis, with its bare walls and unadorned spaces, becomes a canvas upon which our destinies will be written, where the Penumbra Legion will assert its dominance in the clandestine realms of power and influence.
CHAPTER 33
The completion of Fortune Oasis marks a significant triumph, a testament to the resilience and cunning of the Penumbra Legion. The grand opening looms on the horizon, promising not only opulence and entertainment but also solidifying our presence in the underworld. As the leader of this formidable empire, I stand at the helm, navigating the delicate dance of power and alliances with calculated grace.
A week before the opening, I survey the nearly finished casino. “Impressive, isn’t it? Fortune Oasis is just a casino, I know, but it feels more mine than The Black Lotus.”
Alex nudges me. “That’s because it’s solely yours. You built this, and it doesn’t even matter that it was attacked. You fought back.”
Jesse grins recklessly. “Hell yeah. We’ve carved a place for ourselves in this city. No one’s gonna mess with us.”
Xavier slowly nods, glancing around him. “It’s a symbol of our strength and unity. We’ve come a long way, and Fortune Oasis is a statement to the world.”
Alex rubs his hands. “This place will be impenetrable. Security tight, operations smooth. No one’s going to disrupt what we’ve built—literally.”
