He drove back to town. Ethan saw Hood and Leonard standing next to a truck. They were both talking about something, and Hood placed a ball in Leonard's hand. Ethan turned the wheel and stopped next to them.
—Chief Hood, is your friend leaving?— Ethan asked.
Leonard was holding a duffel bag, and his expression looked a little sad. When he saw Ethan arrive, he quickly stuffed a paper bag into his pocket.
—Yeah, Leonard is only passing through,— Hood replied.
Hood reached out, patted Leonard on the shoulder, and urged him forward.
—I spoke to the driver. He's ready to take you to Pittsburgh. Get in the truck quickly.
Leonard nodded, threw his cigarette butt on the ground, and crushed it under his shoe. Then he climbed into the passenger seat of the truck with his duffel bag.
After watching the truck leave, Ethan tapped the door with the back of his hand.
—Sheriff, get in the car. You missed the big scene.
—No, my car is parked nearby. We'll talk about it when we get back,— Hood replied.
That night, after returning home from work and resting for a while, Ethan saw that it was nearly time for Daria's shift to end. He went out, got into his Dodge Challenger, and headed to Miles's restaurant.
After parking in the lot, Daria said goodbye to her colleagues and came outside. Not waiting long, she began searching for him with her eyes. Ethan rolled down the window and honked the horn, startling her.
Daria approached in surprise and didn't immediately get in the car. After looking around it, she leaned her hands on the window.
—When did you change your car?— she asked with a smile.
—I bought it before traveling to San Francisco, just a few days ago,— Ethan replied, patting the seat.—Get in.
Daria opened the door, turned her waist, and sat down.
—My grandfather also had a car like this. He used to take me for drives when I was young,— she said while taking off her coat.
Ethan pulled some flowers from the back seat, which he'd bought at a flower shop on the way over.
—Thanks,— she said, surprised, taking the flowers.—Where are we going now?
—Do you have any good ideas?— Ethan asked. After dining at Miles's, there was no need to look for another place to eat.
—It's still early. How about we go to the Kinaho Moon? I have a surprise for you tonight.
Ethan was intrigued, so he agreed. He hadn't been to the Kinaho Tribe Casino since arriving in Banshee Town, except for the incident with Demian, the fighter they'd arrested.
He turned the key and started the car. As soon as the Challenger hit the interstate, Daria became flirtatious. She looked at Ethan, who was driving intently, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, and leaned closer.
—I also have something for you,— she whispered, sliding her hand down his thigh.
Ethan felt his breathing quicken at her touch.
Daria lowered her hand deliberately, unbuckling his belt with a skill that left no doubt about her intentions. Ethan clenched his jaw, his body tightening as her hand moved purposefully over his lap.
—Hey, at least warn me. We could have an accident, you know,— he murmured.
—I know,— she replied, her tone playful and daring.—That's what makes it even more exciting.
Without waiting for his answer, Daria leaned down, her hair brushing his skin as her lips began to work on him. Pleasure shot through him, and Ethan let out a strained sigh, trying to keep his focus on the road.
The situation was dangerous, charged with adrenaline, and that only made it more intense. Every motion was precise, determined to strip him of control, to push him to the brink as the car sped through the night.
The sounds of the road mixed with Ethan's ragged breaths, caught between the fear of losing control and the urgent need to give in to the moment.
Accompanied by Beatles music, the Dodge Challenger sped through the night wind toward the casino.
In the Kinaho Moon parking lot, Daria took a sip of mineral water, wiped her mouth with a tissue, then hugged Ethan's arm and walked with him toward the entrance.
The doorman still remembered Ethan and quickly stepped forward to greet them. Ethan exchanged $200 for chips, intending to have some fun, maybe try blackjack or roulette. Unexpectedly, Daria pulled out a bundle of hundred-dollar bills and traded them for a large stack of chips, heading straight to the tables.
Players moved back and forth under the bright lights. Some were losing, others were grinning. Ethan looked around curiously and noticed there were no clocks anywhere—a deliberate design so players would lose track of time and keep betting.
The air in the casino felt charged, whether from pumped-in oxygen or the stress of gambling, and everyone seemed in high spirits.
Ethan told Daria he'd look around a bit, released her hand, and wandered off. After trying his luck at a row of slot machines and winning a small prize, he moved on.
Ten minutes later, as he stood up, two elderly women rushed toward his machine as if in a sprint. One, dressed in black, sat down first and gave him a mocking look, then glared at the woman in yellow trying to catch up.
Not wanting to watch two old ladies fight over a slot machine, Ethan went to find Daria again.
He spotted her in a corner playing blackjack. Ethan sat beside her and saw that she was on a lucky streak, quickly doubling her chips.
After watching for a while, bored not to interfere with her strategy, he looked for something else to occupy him. A sudden burst of shouting came from a craps table nearby. Curious, Ethan got up and walked over.
Leonard was standing at the table, looking pleased with himself. He wore a white suit, his shiny hair tied back in a ponytail. A provocatively dressed woman clung to his arm.
Hood will be furious when he finds out his ex-con friend never left town, Ethan thought.
Leonard was flush with chips, clearly enjoying a run of luck.
Ethan found a chair and sat down against the wall. He pulled out his phone to text, then lit a cigarette. Before he finished smoking, Leonard's fortune had turned—his chips dwindled, and he began arguing with his partner.
Footsteps approached, and Hood sat next to him.
—Your friend is quite a character. Is he going to be a problem?— Ethan asked as he crushed out his cigarette.
Hood didn't reply, just stared at Leonard with his arms crossed and a grim look on his face.
Leonard's good mood evaporated. As his stack shrank to nothing, the cheering crowd drifted away. His companion watched him coldly.
He ripped off his tie, blew on his hand nervously, and threw the dice. When they landed, his eyes went dark.
The dealer raked in his last chips. Leonard's partner's face changed—she lost her pretense of sweetness, raised her chin, swung her purse over her shoulder, and turned to leave.
Leonard lunged forward and grabbed her.
—Hey, baby, where the hell do you think you're going?
She didn't answer. She just shoved his hand off and glared at him like he was something she'd scraped off her shoe.
His frustration boiling over, Leonard seized her arm and struck her hard across the face.
She screamed and fell to the floor.
Casino security was already watching—this sort of scene happened daily. They rushed in, trying to restrain Leonard.
He punched a guard to the ground, then shoved the dealer, scooping chips into his arms while yelling:
—Bastards! They're mine. I deserve them! You can't take them from me!
Security piled on him, forced him down, covered his mouth, and dragged him away.
Except for a few nearby tables, no one seemed surprised—life in the casino went on.
Hood uncrossed his legs and looked at Ethan.
—Let him stew a bit before we pull him out,— Hood said flatly.
After ten or fifteen minutes, Hood stood up, face cold, and walked toward the back hallway. Ethan followed.
Two security guards moved to block them, but Hood flashed his badge.
—Could we see Mr. Longshadow? Tell him Sheriff Hood wants a word.
One guard called it in over his radio. Leonard's muffled screams echoed from the hall.
Soon, the guard nodded, and they were led inside.
A Native American man with slightly curly hair stepped from an office, wiping blood from his hands with a towel.
Seeing Hood, he smiled, tossed the towel aside, and shook his hand.
—Chief Hood, welcome to Kinaho Moon. What can I do for you?
—Alex, can we go to your office to talk?— Hood asked calmly.
—Of course. Please, this way.
Alex led them to his office. At the door, Hood signaled Ethan to stop Alex's men.
Alex paused, then smiled and stepped inside with Hood, closing the door behind them.
Soon, Leonard was dragged up, his ponytail undone, his face bruised. He looked relieved to see Ethan.
The door opened again, and Alex stepped out.
Leonard's legs trembled.
—That was a misunderstanding, boss,— he stammered.
Alex grabbed his throat.
—Did you call me boss? Who the hell do you think you are, coming to make trouble in my casino?
—I didn't mean any disrespect. I'm sorry,— Leonard blurted.
—Shut up and listen,— Alex growled.—If you ever set foot in here again, no one will be able to save you—not even the Banshee Police Department. This is Kinaho Tribe land. Got it?
Leonard nodded rapidly.
Alex released him and walked out. Hood followed.
—Okay, get this piece of trash out of here,— Alex said, wiping his hands on Leonard's shirt.
Outside, Leonard stretched and tried to look nonchalant.
—I'm sorry about that, but I had to stand up for myself. You get it? That bitch used me. I spent a thousand bucks on that damn addict. Now I've lost everything,— he muttered, winking at Hood.
Hood didn't care that Ethan was listening. He grabbed Leonard by the collar.
—Didn't I tell you to go to Pittsburgh? Why are you back?
Leonard just smiled.
—Why should I go? Just because you said so?
—Fine,— Hood sighed, releasing him.—Didn't you say you were hungry? I'll buy you something to eat.
—Sure, pick a good place.
Leonard strutted off toward Hood's car.
Hood watched him leave, then turned to Ethan.
—I'm sorry about this. Leonard is always a headache. I'll handle it.
—Don't worry. Do what you have to do,— Ethan said, turning back to the casino.
Daria had left her table and spotted him.
—Where were you? I was looking for you. I thought you'd left,— she said quickly.
—Nothing. Just went to the bathroom.
—Alright, let's get out of here before I lose everything.—
She waved the chips she'd won.
—Where to now?
—Remember the surprise I told you about? It's almost time. Let's head back.
Ethan watched Daria, still flushed from gambling. But his thoughts were elsewhere. Something dark hung in the air—an omen.
As they walked out, he knew the chaos they'd witnessed was only the beginning. Leonard would bring Hood a lot more trouble before it was over.
But that was Hood's problem—not his.
The casino doors closed behind them. The noise faded to a distant echo.
—Come on,— Ethan said in a tense voice, taking Daria's arm.—The surprise can wait.
Si quieres, puedo ayudarte a pulirlo aún más o adaptarlo a otro tono.