Subtle

The young woman's heels clicked as she strolled down the water's edge to the Ponte 16. The white, yellow, and burgundy building cast a shadow of jagged rectangles over her, the shade checkered with pale squares where the sun shone through the windows. As she sauntered between the columns framing the geometric, fluorescent magenta crystal ball, its fiery rays rippled on the silver cherry blossoms embroidered onto her dark blue qipao.

The corners of her pink lips curled up into a friendly smile, illuminating her porcelain face. Her doe-like, hazelnut-brown, almond eyes twinkled as she greeted the croupier. She unbuckled her flowery purse, laying out her money on the felted, emerald turquoise table and settling into a round, cushioned, tanned leather seat. The halo-like chandeliers in the ceiling gleamed on the pearled ornament in her jet black hair, neatly styled into a braided low bun.

"Name?" the croupier requested.

"Mila Tian. Do you have any recommendations for beginners?"

"A cheval."

"Oh, what's that?"

"A split bet."

"Great, I'll do that, then."

Aria Xin, adorned in a low-cut, leopard-print dress, observed the target from afar in a secluded corner of the casino. Her glittering green eyes pierced through the stray blonde locks that had fallen from her updo. She pinched a cigarette between her polished, feline nails, idly tapping the soot into an ashtray on the wooden stand next to her post.

A strapping man prowled through the haze. A bulletproof vest peeked out from under his dark grey trench coat and the loose collar of his shirt. Tally marks ran down his tanned wrists and hands, akin to the wild and bold stripes of a tiger, matching the streaks in his salt-and-pepper hair. His amber irises blazed as he unclipped his rifle from the harness on his back.

"Ms. Xin."

Aria drew a pearly white butterfly knife from a laced garter around her leg, holding the blade against his throat. A split second before the muzzle of his weapon jabbed under her ribs.

"Vincent." The corner of her mouth twitched. "I see you've brought a watermelon knife this time. I'm surprised you actually learned from the last time you set the security off."

"You'd be surprised at how readily they agree to turn a blind eye if you pay them off." He sheathed the watermelon knife into his belt, cloaking it with his coat once more. "On a more important note, I see you're gawking at my target. I'd advise you to step away from her before I set my sights on you next."

"If I recall correctly, sweetheart, Wang sent us both after Mila Tian," Aria took another lazy drag of her cigarette, "but by all means, pull the trigger. Good luck with telling the boss you couldn't find her after she faded into the frenzied crowd." Vincent's nose wrinkled in disgust as the smoke wafted up to his face.

"You can't even take a life, how do you expect to take her hostage?"

"I'll take her to bed, and then it's smooth sailing from there, not that you would know what that’s like."

"You have a butterfly knife strapped to your leg and you're probably not even going to use it? Pathetic."

"The word you're searching for is pragmatic. The knife is a precaution in case I encounter a certain bloodthirsty buffoon around these parts."

"If I'm a buffoon, then what does that make you? After all, you're the one who hasn't noticed her bodyguard."

"You mean the burly goateed man with sunglasses at the bar? I'm afraid I've got all my bases covered."

"I simply can't fathom why Wang would rely on low-rank trash to subdue his number one rival's half-sister," he muttered. "I've been his second-in-command for years. He knows I'll get the job done, but no, he picked some womanizer who'll blow our only opportunity at gaining an advantage over Snakehead and the 11k."

"Funny you should say that as if I'm not the one who got the information on which club is Mila Tian's favorite by sleeping with said bodyguard's loose-lipped fiancee. Unlike someone I could name, Wang is smart enough to understand that some situations require finesse instead of force." She rested the cigarette on his jacket, burning a hole through the fabric. "Now, if it pleases your highness, I'll give you a demonstration."

She lifted the hem of her dress, nudging the gun aside with her foot as she sauntered toward the roulette wheel. She slid a stack of bills to the croupier, sashaying over and deliberately propping up an elbow on Mila's chair.

"I bet on black."

Mila immediately spotted her out of the corner of her eye.

"Oh my gosh, I love your necklace!"

"You flatter me, darling." Aria held a hand out. "I'm Aria Xin, and you?"

"Mila Tian. Your dress is beautiful as well, and the slit over the side of your leg is so elegant!"

"Not as beautiful as yours," Aria purred, slowly letting her gaze travel up and down her figure. "I love how it compliments your curves."

"I'm sure you do," Vincent snorted.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Aria asked sharply.

"I'm betting on red," Vincent said, slapping a few chips on the table and not even sparing her a glance.

"No more bets," the croupier announced.

"Can I help you?" Mila asked. Vincent strode towards them, throwing himself on the chair beside her and propping up his shoes on another.

"You'll have to excuse me, ma'am, but you already looked so lovely from a distance and I just had to get a closer view." He flashed a dashing smile her way. "You can help by starting with your name."

"Mila Tian," she answered, shaking his hand.

"Well, Ms. Tian," he drawled, "consider yourself lucky to have caught my attention. I'm Vincent Wu - the Vincent Wu." Mila stared blankly at him.

"What?"

"Yeah, the music's loud. Must be difficult to hear, huh?" He cupped his hands over his mouth. "I said I'm Vincent Wu. The Vincent Wu." Mila blinked.

"Vincent who?"

"You- but everyone knows who I am," he insisted, pointing to the tally marks on his hands. Mila frowned.

"They do?"

Vincent broke out into a laugh, uneasy at first, then harsher and more strained. His voice trembled slightly.

"You, you seriously don't know who I am?"

Aria rolled her eyes and slid a toned arm around Mila's waist, leading her to the other side of the wheel.

"Leave it, he's just another wolf in sheep's clothing."

"He seems upset, though. Maybe I should apologize - " Aria caught her by the hand before she could double back.

"Oh, darling, don’t fret. How about I buy you a drink and then we go for a stroll down the water's edge?" She winked. "We could even continue our conversation in my hotel room if you'd like."

"I appreciate the offer, but my half-brother said it's not all that safe to go walking in the streets at this time of night." Her brow furrowed deeply. "After all, Hei Laohu is based right here in Macau."

"Hei Laohu is based in Hong Kong, not here," Aria pressed, gently guiding her through the congregation of gamblers and towards the bar. "Come on, let's have a chat, just us girls." Mila pulled her arm out of her grip.

"Wang himself could be lurking around the corner right this instant."

A man stepped between them.

"Ms. Tian isn't wrong," Vincent chimed in. "There could be many other dangers crawling about. You could use a bodyguard." Mila's face lit up.

"Right, that reminds me, I already have a bodyguard!"

"Then why not just bring him along?" Aria suggested, shoving Vincent aside.

"Ah," the target beamed, "so that's why you've been eyeing him the entire time." Aria almost inhaled her cigarette.

"P-pardon me?" she coughed.

"There's no need to be shy. I'd be more than glad to set you up with him."

"That's not necessary - "

"He's in the market for a new girlfriend anyway." She pulled Aria closer and whispered into her ear. "Apparently his fiancée cheated on him with a Hei Laohu spy. Could you imagine?"

"Hang on - " Aria protested.

"I think that's a wonderful idea, Ms. Tian," Vincent said with a grin. Mila raised a hand and waved in a burly goateed man's direction.

"Hey, Luke, come meet my new friend - "

"No!" Aria cried.

Luke choked on his drink. The booming music fizzled out as the DJ turned to gawk at her. The entire club fell silent as the members shot her weird looks. Vincent stifled a laugh.

"No, I, err, I fancy women," Aria added.

"Married women," Vincent corrected, his grin widening.

"Sorry, I have to go to the washroom," Mila interrupted. "If it's not too much trouble, can you take care of my purse for me?"

"No trouble at all," Vincent said, practically snatching it out of her hands.

"Thank you." Mila blushed and scurried into the back. Vincent shot Aria a smug look, dangling the purse in front of her.

"Hmm, I believe she likes me, despite your best efforts."

"Come to think of it, sweetheart, I may finally put my butterfly knife to use tonight," Aria remarked.

"Is that so?"

"I'll gut you like a fish and then we'll see who's pathetic when you're flopping about on the floor."

"Thus causing quite a ruckus, leading to the authorities being called, and then the publishing of several headlines pertaining to your arrest on the grounds of first-degree murder. Not so pragmatic now, are you?"

Mila approached the bar once more.

"What are you two talking about?"

"We chatted about the news for a while, but surprisingly enough, Ms. Xin can fillet her own fish." His eyes narrowed. "She doesn't seem like the type who's willing to get her hands dirty."

"We should get together sometime, then she could show us," Mila gushed. "That is if you're not too busy."

"I'd be more than happy to teach you a lesson," Aria replied pointedly, glaring daggers at Vincent.

The roulette wheel rattled loudly as the croupier tossed the pill ball in.

"The winning number is nineteen!" he announced.

"Oh my gosh, that's me, I won!" Mila squealed. She barrelled through the crowd, leaping over to the roulette table and sweeping all the chips over to her spot. Including Aria's entire stack.

"Wait, wait, that's not fair, they rigged it,” she stammered.

"Sorry, ma'am, beginner's luck," the croupier said firmly.

"No, I saw it land on black, and then it switched direction mid-spin. It's rigged - " she started to yell. Then she stopped and looked to the empty chair on her left.

"Hey, where's Mila?"

Vincent loosened up his tie and rolled up his sleeves. Aria's eyebrows knitted together. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Getting the job done," he sneered. "Unlike someone I could name, Wang will be smart enough to understand that some situations require force instead of finesse." The blood drained from Aria's face as he pulled out his watermelon knife.

"That maniac has a machete!" the croupier screamed at the top of his lungs.

Dropped glasses shattered against the floor. Chips and cards flew off the tables. Money fluttered through the air. Aria ducked behind a pillar so she wouldn't be trampled by the stampede of shrieking guests as they fled the building.

Mila kicked off her heels and sprinted for the exit. Vincent vaulted himself over a table and tackled her. He pinned her to the ground with a knee.

"Who are you?" she cried.

"Who am I?" he seethed. “Who am I?” A vein bulged out of his neck. "I'm Vincent Wu - The Vincent Wu! Second-in-command of the Hei Laohu, Wang's greatest weapon," he held the watermelon knife against her neck, "and you'll be the next tally mark on my arm if you don't do exactly what I tell you!"

"Okay, okay, I'm listening, just don't shoot anyone!"

"There's a good girl." Vincent took a walkie-talkie out of his pocket. "This is Wu, I have the hostage. I'll be back at the den on the sixteenth in a few minutes - "

Luke's fist collided with his jaw. Vincent's knife thudded to the floor as he face-planted into an overturned chair. Aria crept out from behind the pillar. She froze when she came nose-to-nose with the croupier's pistol.

"Not another step."

Mila calmly dusted off her qipao and picked herself up off the floor.

"My God, poor old Wang," she sighed. "His greatest weapon, disposed of in a single punch." She gracefully slipped her heels back on and tilted her head towards Aria.

"Hand over the butterfly knife."

"How did you - "

"If you're hiding it on your thigh, you really shouldn't wear a dress with a slit over the side of your leg."

Aria did as asked. Mila flipped the knife around, admiring how the blade glittered under the chandeliers. Then she tucked it into her purse for herself.

"Wang's den is in Hong Kong on the sixteenth. Notify and prepare that division, then get me on the first plane there. I want to be the queen of the underground in two weeks."

"Sounds good, boss," Luke said, whipping out his phone and dialing a number. Aria's brow furrowed.

"Isn’t your half-brother Snakehead the boss?"

"He doesn't exist."

"Who told you where our headquarters are?"

"Oh, darling," Mila replied, innocently batting her eyelashes. "You did."

"No, I didn't - "

"My half-brother said it's not all that safe to go walking in the streets at this time of night. After all, Hei Laohu is based right here in Macau," Mila repeated. Then her voice smoothed out into Aria's seductive contralto.

"Hei Laohu is based in Hong Kong, not here."

Mila cleared her throat. "Wang himself could be lurking around the corner right this instant." Her words became gruff and low as she mimicked Vincent.

"This is Wu. I have the hostage and I'll be back at the den on the sixteenth in a few minutes."

"How very subtle of you," Aria said begrudgingly.

"Get my money," Mila said to the croupier. Her heels clicked against the floor of the empty casino as she strolled toward the exit. "Be quick, too, I have a flight to catch."

Luke's knuckles cracked against Aria's nose bridge. The corners of her vision dimmed as the burly, goateed man glowered down at her.

"And that's for sleeping with my fiancée."