It was supposed to be a simple job. A locked vault, a large diamond, and hundreds if not thousands of guards. As simple as stealing something from the Kingdom's treasury could be. The job came directly from the Don, Darius's employer of more than three months. The leader of the largest crime family in Journey, a fact that always struck as humorous due to their basing in Sheildon. The island commonly credited as the most well secured amongst all of Journey's islands.
The Don and Darius had quite the strained relationship. Darius worked for the Don as a freelancer, someone who took jobs but wasn't a member of the "family". As a freelancer Darius managed to retain some of his autonomy and a certain level of distance from the Don and his business. A preferable way to work considering some of the seedier things Darius regularly heard or even saw the Don engage in.
Darius stuck to thievery, if the Don wanted something, he got it for him in exchange for money and necessities, along with the occasional item of special interest.
"I hate this place." Valhalla, the Don's gentleman bar. Darius saw it little more as the sickest and most depraved place he's ever had the displeasure of constant interaction.
Old, disgusting men and women came to feast their eyes and occasional hand on other much younger men and women. A lot of them were Darius's age, not even 20 yet, and others were younger, but the place made a profit, an extremely generous profit.
"Guys, come on, it's me Darius. Do I really have to say it?" A couple of big guys, Ron and Jeremy, blocked the door to the Don's personal VIP room. It's been two weeks since Darius was given the job, and he was as ready as he'd ever be to execute it. He just needed to check in with the Don before he acted.
"Rules are rules, we all abide by them, even if you are a filthy freelancer," said Ron, the shorter bald one.
"Is that right, well if you're such good rule followers, why did Jeremy lose his tongue?" Jeremy eyed Darius violently, but he held his place. That missing feeling in his mouth was a reminder of what happened to people who harmed guest of the Don.
Ron moved a bit closer to Darius and placed a finger on his chest, "Hey, no need to be a prick, freelancer! Just say the damn phrase so we can let you pass."
Darius eyed the two of them beneath his cloak, a safety precaution. As few people who knew what he looked like the better, "Being an prick is kind of my thing, so if you two could just scooch a bit, so I can walk on through."
Ron moved back to his place besides Jeremy. "No one comes through without-"
From behind Darius a familiar voice called out, "Without the Don there is no love, without the Don life has no meaning, without the Don I can't exist."
Darius flinched upon hearing the phrase. He knew just how narcissistic the Don could be, but that code phrase was just too much.
"Is that you Kori?" Darius asked the well-muscled, pale skinned man who walked towards them. His long blonde hair waved silkily behind him as he approached with a calm eye. "To what do I owe the displeasure?"
"Not much, I just need to make a… report to the Don. I'd ask you the same, but you seem a bit preoccupied. You two mind letting him down, so we can talk?" retorted Kori.
Darius sneered at him. For some reason Kori didn't treat him like the rest but with actual respect. Maybe it was because Kori was only three years older than Darius, making him the youngest member of the Don's inner "family," which also made Darius the closest person in age that he regularly got to talk to. Maybe it was even because he appreciated the work Darius did. Considering that Kori was every bit as horrible to him as the rest were up until a couple weeks ago, around the same time the Don hired him for his latest job, it most likely was some directive from the Don.
"Come on, we were just messing with a freelancer. You'd do the same thing in our shoes," countered Ron.
"-lus, he -as -isresecting the Don!" muttered Jeremy.
"Fair, fair, but when was the last time either of you pulled in more than 50lbs of silver in one night, or even 50 pieces of coin? I'm starting to think I should have a talk with the Don about your place in Valhalla. Hear what I'm saying?"
Almost immediately Jeremy dropped Darius, turning and along with Ron bowing their heads to Kori. Ron spoke for the two of them, "No need! Kori, freelan- Darius, please go ahead inside. Jeremy and I need to get back to work anyways, time is money for the Don."
Damien eyed Kori closely, it wasn't that long ago when Kori was ranked little higher than a freelancer. In fact, he'd only been on the fast track to the top since Darius started working mostly exclusively for the Don. Though the respect he'd earn had been real as Kori always gave results with his newfound power, the fact that they were pretty much bowing to a kid nearly two decades their junior was not lost on Ron or Jeremy.
"Fabulous, thanks Ron, Jeremy. Darius we can talk while we walk. Care to join me?" Kori spoke while opening the door, revealing a long corridor, while taking a wide berth to Darius's left. An intriguing gesture that caught Darius's attention.
Darius's job required he had an eye for valuables, a skill that came to use even when he wasn't "working". Ignoring the golden regalia, jewels, and lavish pictures of a fit, young, and well-dressed man that adorned the room, because those belonged to the Don, Kori the was sole focus of that value sense.
He, for instance, continued to move along a wide berth from Darius and never maintained eye contact as they spoke. Instead, Kori kept a close eye on Darius's hand, as if he was afraid that Darius would smack him on the behind.
"Sure, what did you want to talk about? Work? Got a new girl around? Guy? Either way you can quit the whole nice guy act you've been doing lately, it's kind of off putting." Darius couldn't help himself. He had intended to blow Kori off, but Darius's interest was too fully captivated by whatever was in his pocket.
"It's not an act, I'm genuinely sorry for the way me and the rest of the guys have treated you in the past. The others will join me in time, just keep doing what you've been doing for the Don. He doesn't take your good work for granite."
"It's granted, idiot. Not granite. Tell me what you want to talk about."
Darius noticed a vein visibly pop on Kori's forehead as he spoke, "Work. I want you to let me in on your job. I made a… let's say mistake, and I'll need to regain some trust with the Don." Kori looked deeply into the large golden archway ahead of them. Loud music and screams, not always happy, could be heard from inside.
Kori, city guards found our latest shipment. We were able to rescue most of our product, but they still took about 50 – 60lbs of silver worth of product. We also lost a few of our guys, Tommy and Leslie are in prison, but Conny's dead. We'll need some more muscle or money if we want to get those two and the product back. Don Klaus put you in charge here, so you gotta make the report, and make sure the Don gets this letter. – Commander Tony
"Darius, I really messed up, and I need you to… Where did you get that letter?" Kori asked madly scrounging through his pockets. "Where and when did you get that letter?!"
"I can see why you need my help, but is that any way to treat your would-be savior? Wouldn't want to upset Don Klaus, now, would you?"
Darius fully understood the situation Kori was placed in. Even when ranked as a captain, the youngest captain for that matter, he was left pretty helpless when his commander has him bring bad news to the Don. Not a situation anyone hoping to retain all their limbs should find themselves in.
Glowing red with fury, Kori prattled on, "the Don. You're a freelancer, call him the Don. I'm tired of you not showing the proper respect!"
"What about you "Captain" you still call him Don, when Don Klaus would be perfectly fine from you. Though I bet even if he gave you express permission to call him Charles, you wouldn't have the stomach to do it."
The mentioning of the Don's first name pushed Kori past his breaking point, but rather than fly into a rage, he went full circle and entered a state of calm.
"You're right, we're both professionals, I'm sure we can come to some sort of agreement. Whatever the Don sent you to steal, he really wants it, and for some reason trust you enough to get it. All I want is to be a part of the job, you keep all the rewards. In return I'll-"
A husky, deep voice rang from inside the VIP room. "Kori, Darius, stopped playing around and get inside here already. You two are not the only business I have today."
Kori stood at attention and walked inside without any hesitation. Doing exactly as the Don commanded.
"I'd call you a dog, but they're at least lovable and friendly," Darius stated as he followed Kori inside the Don's chambers.