12:29 PM
Boston, Massachusetts
February
(TW:mentions of suicide)
"Noel, what did he tell you?", Leon decided to go outside of the hotel where the public balcony was, full of tables and chairs, but no signs of other people.
"He was asking me about the intel I gave you, wondering where I got it from", Noel replied to him politely, Leon fixated his gaze towards him.
"I wonder about that too. You never told me where you got it from. Do you mind telling me?", Leon asked him since he actually doesn't know either, his suspicions are growing more than before.
"I can't say, Sir Cashmere", Noel responded, Leon gave him a deceitful look. He knew he couldn't keep any confidential information to himself, so why is denying him an answer?
"Are you hiding something from me?", Leon queried sternly as he glared at him intensively.
"That's not the case, Sir Cashmere! If I do say who is it, they would be in danger", Noel denied his allegations.
"Who's the person that would be in danger?", Leon interrogated him, he was actually curious as much as Lucio was.
"With all due respect, Sir Cashmere, I won't say who the person is", his bodyguard shrugged his question off, but Leon wasn't having it.
"Why aren't you telling me? No one will need to know, it's just something that I need to know in order to make sure that you're not planning any tricks under your sleeves", Leon told him as he glared into his eyes.
"Well, if that's the case, I would like for you to keep this person's identity hidden from others", Noel finally gave in, he looked quite worried and concerned about such a thing.
"The person is someone close to me", Leon felt a wave of realization, that was Noel's friend. He should've known by now, but he still wondered why she would be in danger if her name was exposed to the world.
"What's her name?", Leon asked since he didn't even know her name to begin with.
"Denise Villatoro, the reason why I'm telling you to keep her name hidden is because she works for EXCEED, but she gets paid by Mr.Klein and others for intel", Leon finally understood, she was betraying her mafia group as she was gaining even more money from other people.
"That's all I needed to know, but just know I wouldn't like for her to be around me for long since she still works for them", Leon replied to him, Noel sighed from relief before nodding his head in response.
"I understand your concern, Sir Cashmere", Noel replied to him, in a polite manner. He was hoping his boss will keep his word, but maybe he won't.
As the tension dropped down into a halt, they both talked for some time about business, which was interesting for the time being.
°~1:28 PM~°
"Dad! How are you?", Zoey asked through the phone as Leon went back to his bedroom to get some rest after the entire chaotic incident, he loved hearing her daughter's enchanting voice, it made his heart melt to the fullest.
"I'm great, sweetie. How about you, how are you today?", Leon said happily as he placed his heavy backpack down to the floor, he never liked those briefcases where you always had to carry in your hands, a bookbag didn't really make a difference.
"I'm fine! My auntie let me go to the fashion show and it was so awesome! I was this one pretty girl and she looked so beautiful, like an angel. She had really pretty eyes and pretty hair, her name was Lianelle. I told her she looked really pretty and she said that I'm pretty too!", Zoey went on a rant about the fashion runaway show her aunt hosted recently, her daughter was fascinated with the different fashion styles in the modern society.
"That's amazing, honey. I'm so glad that you enjoyed it", Leon laughed softly as he was sitting down, taking his shoes off before laying his entire body on the comfortable bed.
"When are you coming back? I miss you so much", her daughter began to pout, he sighed before responding to her.
"I miss you too but...I have to stay here for a little longer and then when I come back, I will get you anything you want, ok?", Leon replied while turning himself on his side, looking towards the door.
"Okay! Also dad, I have a question...", her daughter told him, her tone changing from a happy voice to a more concerned one.
"Go ahead and tell me your question", Leon responded to her, curiously.
"Dad...did you ever commit uh- suicide?", Zoey asked him, worriedly, she had asked a very serious question, one he never thought in his entire life his child would ask him until now.
"What? What are you talking about, Zoey? Is there anything bad happening over there?", Leon feigned being confused, dodging from her getting an answer.
"Dad, my auntie was calling my uncle Parker during lunch and she said that you tried to commit.. suicide some time ago, and she said it's when someone tries to kill themselves but she told me not to tell you but...did you try to kill yourself, Dad?", Leon's heart dropped to his stomach in absolute horror, he never wanted for his daughter to find out about his mental health struggles he's been having since he was a teenager.
He didn't want for his daughter to get nervous, worried, or let his mental health struggles affect her as well, but it seems he can't hide in the dark anymore.
"She told you that?", Leon continued acting dumb, which his daughter surprisingly took a notice off.
"Wait...you did? Dad, are you okay? Dad? Dad?", Zoey is convinced at this rate, he stood there silent while trying to calm his nerves down. He loved his daughter and wanted her to feel like she should never be worried about what his problems as a mafia leader and him being constantly risking himself towards death and fate almost everyday.
"Zoey, why are you asking me this stuff?That's a serious situation, you know ", Leon told her in a less polite way, she sighed in defeat and probably got her really mad as he suddenly hung up the phone.
"Fuck!", Leon screamed as he slammed his phone on the ground before running his hands over his face in frustration.
He had to explain her everything and he didn't like giving explanations about himself to people as often, especially when it came down to his personal thoughts and emotions.
He decided to just continuing to lay down while overthinking of a way he could've escaped the situation, but he couldn't. Only she found out he was a dangerous person killing people for a living, she'll look at him as a monster.
A monster.
°~4:12 PM~°
"Sir Cashmere!", Leon's bodyguard yelled through the door as he was knocking relentlessly, he had taken a three hour nap that felt really refreshing and he could finally let him relax a little from that surprisingly stressful phone call.
He decided to get up and walk over towards the door where he saw Noel's eyes widened as he saw his boss' messy hair, which it didn't look bad at all.
"You went to sleep, didn't you?", Noel smiled at him frankly while looking him up into his eyes. Leon's eyes met his and Leon's hand reached to touch Noel's hair as his fingers twirled his curls delicately. It was some time since he had stopped playing around with his bodyguard's hair.
"Mr. Mancini wanted to know if you were busy, I was knocking but he told me he'll come by another time. My apologies, Sir Cashmere", Leon glared at him softly before his face moved closer to his, trying to kiss him.
"Wait- Sir Cashmere, no", Noel placed hand in front of him as to stop him, Leon thought it was astounding he would tell him to stop, but no is a no.
"I don't want to do this here, rather nowhere. Don't think just because what I did last time, you'll get to do whatever you want", Noel said to him, Leon got a sting of discomfort from his rejection, why did he feel this way?
"Sir Cashmere, I would like to keep our relationship focused on business, not let it get too personal", Noel explained, Leon has never been rejected a kiss, hug, or anything from anybody...he felt a huge wave of emptiness.
"You're right. My bad", Leon back around before closing the door without another word, Noel thought he might said it too harsh, but while he did find him attractive at times he knew that he shouldn't get too comfortable with him.
He's seen his boss have extreme mood swings, is constantly irritated and tired.
Leon was an unstable, stone cold man in his eyes.
Yet, he's had surprisingly fun moments with him, the time he showed him around his small garden, talk about their music interests, when they had to kill that man a day ago, it seemed as if they were slowly building memories together. While that was becoming a fun experience and began to adjust to the dark world, he was noticing he had started to stand his ground, his mannerisms sometimes would slip away, he started to talk to him differently.
They were getting along as friends, but Noel had to stop. It would be best if he decided to stop himself from being close to him and act like how they used to, as a boss and his bodyguard.
He wasn't going to stick around for that long, he only has 4 months left until he leaves again to being a normal citizen who has a normal life. While he enjoys the ambience of having good friends and companions, he can't be too close to them if that means putting himself at risk.
He really has nothing to live for, but he knows from the angels from above, they wouldn't like to see him meet his fate yet.
He sighed deeply before raising his head up, turning around, as he was guarding Leon's bedroom door.
Meanwhile, Leon sat down looking at his cellphone in silence, going back to thinking about what he had to say to his daughter to not make it seem so saddening for her gentle soul to handle.
Leon felt quite more frustrated as his ideas weren't lighting up in his head, as he blankly commenced to zone out of his reality, he gets a phone call. He snaps back out of his thoughts before reaching out his device and answering the cellphone.
"Mr.Cashmere, I was wondering if you wanted to have some fun tonight", Marcello's sweet voice called out to him, he exhaled frustratedly, as to not blow up on someone.
"What is it, Mr.Mancini?", he asked in a noticeable, irritated tone.
"I see that you sound not in the best mood today but...We are going to destroy the place of W.I.N today. Sounds really exciting, isn't it?", Leon heard him attentively, he didn't want to go just yet but it looks like the Mancini brothers never run out of energy.
"When is this happening?", Leon queried him as he laid back in his bed again, still feeling tired.
"Tonight", Marcello said as he laughed under his breath.
"We have a meeting,hope to see you there", he told him before hanging up the call.
Leon felt more irritated as his body couldn't take so much restlessness any longer, but knowing this meant he had a meeting that would hours long before putting their plans into action.
He wanted to lay down again and go back to sleeping but it looks like his plan has been ruined.
He got off the cozy bed and hot himself ready to what it seemed like a wonderful time to being the "Raven of the Dark".
°~7:37 PM~°
Leon went inside his car alongside Noel, who both of them were quite tired.
"Vamos, muchachos. Time to get into action, verdad?", Alvarez spoke to them in an enthusiastic manner, Leon was still a little fueled with anger so his question should've been saved for a good day.
"Shut your goddamn mouth and drive, Alvarez", Leon replied to him coldly before rubbing his eyes from tiredness.
"My apologies, Sir Cashmere...thought you were in a good mood today", Alvarez said as he turned on the engine frantically, he go out of the parking spot before they went into the road.
It took them around twenty minutes to get to their destination. The grand entrance of the hotel, Pink Diamond, appeared in front of their eyes.
They slowed down before parking in front of the entrance, where a lot of people were staring at them as they got out of the car along with his men as they surrounded him. He got a lot of stares from the public, not that he did care to begin with.
As the door was opened for him to enter inside, they were brought to a large venue where a lot of people were staring over, he walked up to the receptionist's desk as he glared straight into her soul.
"Good Afternoon, how may I help you?", the receptionist asked him in a respectful manner, he gave her a little folded note.
"I need your help", he said while retrieving something from his pocket as she was reading the note, causing her eyes to expand in shock before slowly lifting her head up, she backed away from the desk.
"Security, I need you to call the police department now!", she screamed towards the security guards, Leon pulled his gun and shot dead the receptionist with one bullet, causing an entire mayhem of screaming and running to stir. The security pulled out their weapons, bullets rang out seamlessly everywhere.
"Go!", he ordered his men to go through the elevators and the stairs. They killed the few security guards in the matter of a minute, afterwards Leon unmuted himself from the comms.
"Where is he?", Leon asked him sternly, looking around his surroundings as people continued to run away, his men shooting civilians dead making them fall onto the floor.
"22nd floor", Marcello told him as his men entered through the other entrance.
"Let's go, 22nd floor", he watched as some people were getting out of the elevators, their eyes were stunned to see a place full of bloody floors and dead corpses laying on the ground.
They let out huge screams before Leon's men aimed their guns at them, shooting them down.
Leon went towards the elevator and got inside, they were kind of crowded inside as one of them pushed the button to go to their desired destination.
As the doors opened, Leon immediately got his guns ready to attack, murdering anyone down his path. He continued walking down under he saw the huge double doors leading to where he needed to be. As he finally was getting closer to the grand casino area, a bunch of people with full masks on ran out of the doors, they started shooting towards them, killing some of his men instantly.
"Get back!", Leon commanded as he frantically retreats from his previous position, Noel pulls out a grenade before throwing it towards their enemies, they both run far away along with his men from the grenade.
The weapon detonated in a matter of seconds, blowing a lot of their enemies into pieces, the red fluid was painting a huge part of the floor and stained the well designed walls.
They stepped forward to get closer towards the door, the amount of people that were shooting towards them was a little alarming. Leon's men surrounded him as they slowly walked towards the door, the people with their weapons continued shooting at them. Leon charged straight for the door as he was got near, his bodyguard following him inside along with them.
Leon ran as he was trying to get away from his enemies, he gazed around for an exit while aiming his weapon at various strangers, killing them.
The corpses fell down one by one, blood splattered in every corner they were gazing at.
He shot towards more enemies as they tried shooting him down, he noticed a door burst open wide to see it was actually Andrew, his right hand, stopping before signaling him with his hand to go ahead and get through the other door.
They all sprinted through the door before one of his men slammed it shut and locking it.
"Sir Cashmere, we need to get over to the secret safe right now, follow me", Andrew directed him into another hallway, he pulled out a lockpick from his pocket before rapidly getting over a metal, bulletproof door.
He was lockpicking without issue, he opened the door as it was unlocked, Leon, Noel, and Andrew went inside while the rest of his men were guarding the door from outside.
"Wait...", Leon's eyes widened in pure panic as he saw a huge camera system to see that their enemies were closing in, they had to take action fast.
"Get rid of the evidence", Andrew started to shoot towards the monitors one by one, Leon went inside of the file cabinets nearby to check for anything useful...he found a USB in a bag classified as "secret". He found it strange to see such an item, so he retrieved it along with other USBs, dozens of them. "Where did all of this come from?", Leon thought to himself as he picked up 22 USBs in total.
He went through more drawers rapidly before they had to escape out of where they were, he gazed towards a bunch of files that had different names on them, one of the names seemed familiar towards him, he picked up the file before opening it...Artemio Velaquez.
He froze for a moment before disposing the folder and folding the documents neatly, placing it inside the pocket of his jacket. He gazed towards a large secret safe, he turned his head to see the password on a paper taped on the side of the door, he put the password down before unlocking it to find a briefcase of some sort.
Andrew finished shooting the last camera monitor before turning around towards his boss, Leon slammed shut the cabinet without another word.
"Let us go", Leon said as he gazed both his bodyguard and his right hand man, who seemed both pretty serious about the situation.
"This is Marcello, we are done placing the bombs. I repeat, you need to get out of the building fast", they ran towards the door, opening it without hesitation as they continued running for their lives.
"Fuck- STAY BACK!", one of the men yelled out loudly as they saw a bunch of people with their weapons ready to fight.
More bullets started flying out into the atmosphere, one of the bullets nearly hit Leon but dodged it gracefully as his bodyguard pulled him down to the ground.
"Let's go!", Noel got up before extending his hand as to let his boss get up, he stood up on his feet quickly and ran down the nearby staircase next to them.
They ran their way down to an elevator going down two long hallways, they pushed the button continously in desperation of getting out of the building.
They both stepped outside the elevator to go through the huge storage area where his men were patiently waiting for him. They continued sprinting frantically as they were searching for an exit, they saw a huge doorway where they saw a bunch of cars parked in front of them. He saw his car and sped up his pace along with Noel.
They got inside of the car and they went zooming through the place as they were exiting out of the location. Suddenly, a black car zoomed in front of their eyes, causing Alvarez to swerve in a panic to the other side, almost hitting a light pole.
He turned to the left and drove off fast without another word. "Twenty seconds", Marcello called out through the comms in a concern.
"We're out", Leon replied, he was trying to catch his breath from the running marathon he had, slowly inhaling and exhaling. He placed the briefcase beneath his feet.
"Good work at distracting them, Mr.Cashmere", his companion said defiantly as he later heard a loud boom from far away.
As Leon's body was relaxing, he felt a huge wave of exhaustion rushing into his veins.
He definitely wanted to sleep, his mind was shifting into rest as his head suddenly leaned towards Noel's shoulder. His bodyguard was startled by the sudden gesture he was doing, but realizing his boss was constantly moving here and there, it was pretty obvious that he had been restless until now.
Leon was completely knocked out as he didn't move another muscle in his body, his driver noticed him and started to chuckle softly.
"Se durmio?", he asked him if he was asleep, Noel nodded before his hand reached to lightly touch Leon's bangs covering his face.
Alvarez didn't say a single word to focus on the road, rest, and continue doing his long and chaotic duty for the next day.