The Vasquez mansion glittered in shades of gold and boomed with octaves of music in preparation of the 21st birthday celebration of Deanna Vasquez, Damien Vasquez's only daughter. Sprawled across the southern border of Duncastor town, the massive architectural masterpiece in white and gold would have robbed anybody of their senses at a single sight, but not tonight, not ever. The leader of the second largest mafia crew in the town – Damien had not invited anybody to his daughter's birthday party, like always.
Deanna stood on the balcony of her bedroom. It was high above the ground, enough to give her a view of the city lights twinkling happily in the center of the city. She sighed audibly. "You will catch cold, my dear!" Reece enveloped Deanna in a huge cashmere overcoat. Deanna looked down at the oversized coat which was lying on the floor well past her feet and at the long sleeves that went past her short arms.
"Well… isn't it too big for me?" Reece crossed her hands across her massive chest and looked down at Deanna, contemplating. "It is big, Reece! What more is there to think?" Deanna was beginning to wiggle her tiny body out of the jacket, when Reece said, "It's a present from your father, child. I am thinking to alter it to fit you. Your father will be happy if he sees you wearing it tonight." Having heard her old housekeeper's thoughts, Deanna gave her a sinister smile. She shrugged off the jacket and it fell down around her feet in a heavy pile. Sidestepping, she walked across the room and lied on her bed facing the ceiling.
"I can wear anything Reece and tell him it's my birthday present. He won't know. Do you think he planned me a gift himself?" She scoffed, "It must have been one of his hoodlums or some recent secretary." At this she half raised herself on her elbows and looked in the direction of the massive lady housekeeper. "Have you heard of any recent scandalous rendezvous of my father?"
Reece had served Deanna long enough to know that she did not mean any insult to her father actually. It was hurt that was speaking. Being away for studies, that too for quite a good number of years, she was rarely home and hence she never had the chance to celebrate her birthday with the only family she had, her father. But this year that she was back home, her father hadn't turned up since a week. Initially she had called, numerous times a day, but since all went to his voicemail, she thought it better to drop the thing. Only a note had come one day before Deanna's birthday along with a huge package, her birthday present. The note asked to prepare for Deanna's birthday and Reece had obeyed the orders. It was what she did, or rather what she was actually meant to do. But Deanna expected more of her and at that moment she needed family… love.
"He will come in time for the celebration. Trust me!" Cold wind was flooding into the room. Reece turned back towards the balcony and pulling back the curtains, she dragged the sliding glass doors to block the cold. She pulled out a styled black evening gown laced with black sequins and laid it carefully beside Deanne before scurrying quietly out of the room. Left alone to get ready, Deanne drifted off to sleep gradually instead of preparing for the party.
At the center of the Duncastor town, in Airedale towers, the largest mafia gang of the town had gathered. Twenty members of the innermost circle stood on the terrace of the penthouse that had a helipad. Other gangsters waited downstairs for further orders to be carried out in the hours that followed. They had all failed that morning. An important mission had failed. All those who had been given roles in the mission were busy searching for excuses for their failure except one. He stood on the terrace facing south, eyeing the extensive sprawl of golden lights in the distance. In complement to his stiff posture was the death like silence surrounding him. The twenty gangsters around him barely breathed, the cold air numbing their limbs under the fabric of their suits. But no one dared to protest.
Tearing through the dark night's sky, a helicopter gradually descended on the helipad marked on the terrace floor. With one last glance towards the South, Mauricio came to the front of the group, lined in a formation before the helicopter. A man, same in build as Mauricio except for the golden hair across his temple, jumped swiftly out of the helicopter and jogged his way close to Mauricio.
"Don't you dare look up at me that way after causing me such a big loss!" The man grabbed Mauricio by his collar as soon as he was able to reach him. Others sucked in a breath and took few steps back. "You have no idea how to run the operations of my gang. And these idiots…" his bloodshot eyes roamed around, staring angrily at each one's face, "these idiots appointed you as their leader instead of me. I made it. Damn it! For years, to be the largest mafia gang in the town. And look now! It took you only one day to finish it." He spat on Mauricio's face, but he didn't flinch. Both men stood nose to nose, staring at one another, nobody ready to back out.
"Elbert! Back out!" A calm, yet loud voice carried itself to Elbert's ears. He did let go but not before punching Mauricio hard on his face. He stumbled and landed on the concrete with a bruise starting to form on his face.
A short, stout man made his way close to where Mauricio had fallen. He placed his hand on his shoulder, encouraging him to look up. "Guilio…."
"Shh… Listen to me first, child!" Mauricio, who had opened his mouth to say something, stayed silent and looked in Guilio's eyes. His voice was crisp and clear, despite the cold wind blowing fast on the terrace. "Whatever happened we can't change it. But there must be something you should be able to do to achieve what you lost today. Otherwise, son, we are all done, forever."
"Forever?"
"The people who wanted us to get the thing for them are very powerful people of the country, Mauricio. They can crush us under their feet within no time. We have to get it done. Do you know who got there before us? Is there something you can do?" Guilio could see the silent scream in Mauricio's eyes. Yes I can do it!. Guilio was trying his best to flare the fire inside of him that never stopped for anything until its goals were achieved. It was his recklessness that got him through all the odds that came his way. He was the best, best at everything he did.
"If they are so powerful, ask them to do it themselves. An entry into a building, hacking some high-level security systems and cracking some dumb code to open a safe to get their thing should not be so difficult for them."
Guilio wanted to smile at the man's words, but the gravity of their predicament did not allow him the luxury of such amusements. "Is there something you can do or not?"
Mauricio rose to his feet and dusted his knees. He left everyone standing behind him and walked to the edge of the terrace that faced south. The golden lights in the distance were still blinking brightly. He had an idea. His head was rooting for it, but his heart stood against it.
"What is it?" Elbert was growing impatient with each passing second.