In the McQueen Empire, they live by a code of conduct that ensures equal treatment for everyone.
The McQueens have been involved in illegal businesses for decades, and Maverick was determined to change that. He aimed to transform illegal money into legal funds and, with his education, he successfully established industries across various sectors.
However, no matter how much he tried to distance himself from his family dark past, it always seemed to catch up with him.
As I was saying, Gandalf continued, one month after my wife was discharged from the hospital, your father had a birthday celebration. He was transitioning into adulthood, and although he typically spent his birthdays at orphanages and hospitals, providing charity to the needy, this particular day was different. Lucas and his friends influenced your father to throw a party.
Your grandfather accepted the change but insisted that the party be held in the ballroom. However, your father refused and wanted to host the party at a casino with his friends. With your grandmother's support, he was granted permission. A day before the party, my boss instructed me to accompany them to the casino to ensure Maverick and Lucas stayed safe since the establishment was owned by a cult group called the White Wages. They were known for lavishly spending money, and no one questioned the source of their wealth.
On that fateful day, I woke up and assisted my wife as she needed. She pleaded with me to stay home with her as she was still in pain, but I had already committed to taking your father and his friends out. I bid her goodbye, pretending I would return on time, though deep down, I knew I was lying to her.
Leaving her at home, I went about my day, unaware that it would be the last time I laid eyes on her.
The day didn't feel unusually long, and it was soon time for the party. I called two bodyguards to join us, and we drove to the casino, just a few kilometers away. After parking in the underground lot, I entered the casino to join your father.
There was a VIP lounge reserved for important guests, especially members of the White Wages. I sat directly across the table from Maverick and Lucas, with my focus primarily on Maverick. I observed as he consumed the alcohol poured into his glass by Lucas.
Boys and girls were scattered throughout the venue, and the electronic music blared loudly in the background, necessitating raised voices to communicate.
A stripper who had just left a nearby table approached Maverick and offered him a lap dance. However, he politely declined, and witnessing his rejection was quite remarkable—she appeared embarrassed.
Lucas leaned in closer to your father's ear and said something, prompting him to grab the stripper by the waist and insist on a lap dance. She wasn't entirely comfortable with stripping, so when she refused, Lucas tried to force her. This incident ruined Maverick's entire birthday celebration.
The White Wages members from the surrounding tables stood up, confronting Lucas. Enraged, he punched their leader in the face. We were outnumbered, and chaos ensued. Bullets flew in every direction, turning the scene into a gun battle akin to a rainstorm of bullets.
It was fortunate that we had two of your grandfather's finest bodyguards with us, both of whom were ex-military men. However, they tragically lost their lives, and I managed to escape the casino with Maverick and Lucas, amidst the intense gunfire from the White Wags. I drove as fast as possible, realizing that returning to the McQueen fortress was not an option. The only choice I had was to take them to my house.
Little did I know that it would turn out to be the biggest mistake of my life. I believed we had evaded the White Wags, but unbeknownst to me, one of their cars followed us to my house. After making a call to your grandfather, he sent a convoy of men to escort Maverick and Lucas back home.
Three hours after arriving at the castle, I received a call from the White Wags. They put my wife on the line, and she was in tears. The details were difficult to hear, but she pleaded with them desperately.
Your grandfather did everything in his power to negotiate with them, begging for my family's safety, but they heartlessly refused. They set my house ablaze, reducing everything and everyone inside to ashes.
Enraged by the tragedy, your grandfather took it upon himself to seek revenge. He executed every member of the White Wags in the state who had any connection to my wife's death, including their families. The casino was also burnt down, and your grandfather purchased the land, eventually constructing a community bank named after my late wife.
Your father, burdened with guilt over the loss of my family, pleaded with your grandmother to allow me to stay in the castle as part of the family. He always addressed me as an uncle, not merely as a driver. Since then, I have resided in the castle, and nothing has been kept hidden from me. The McQueens have treated me as their own, and I have reciprocated that love and loyalty.
"How is it possible that I've never heard any of these stories?" Marvel asked in astonishment.
"That's not all. It seems like we're locked in here for the entire night. I'll tell you everything, and I promise, as long as I'm alive, I won't let any harm come to you," Gandalf approached the iron door, checking for any locks from the inside, but there were none.
He paced back and forth, wondering why help hadn't arrived from outside. He sensed the presence of someone coming to assist, though he couldn't be certain.
"Is there anything we can do, sir?" one of Marvel's hitmen asked, looking bewildered. However, Gandalf didn't respond to him, lost in his thoughts.
As the night wore on, tension filled the air within the locked room. Gandalf's mind raced, contemplating every possible escape route or plan of action. He knew he had to protect Marvel and his companions at all costs.