"The shadow has its own light..."
Venice, Italy
A large hall full of guests were sitting in their respective seats. Amongst them, was the biggest crime family in Italy. The Massino Family. Frederick Massino and his son, Sonny Massino were sitting in the front near the podium. Frederick looked at his son and said, "Learn something, idiot! After me, you have to take the reigns of the Massino Family." Sonny said grimly, "Yes. I have come with you to this boring party, so isn't it evident that I'm trying to learn?" Frederick said angrily, "Stai zitto, stupido! It is not a party. It's a meeting. Oh, Santa Maria! What an incompetent son I have got! Just keep your fucking eyes and ears open." Sonny frowned. Sonny looked at his phone and saw a message on the screen. He smiled. He wanted to leave the room, but the fiery eyes of his father didn't dare him to even flinch. After a few minutes, the lights of the room got dark and a spotlight showed a tall, lean man wearing a tuxedo standing on the podium. He went towards the microphone and said, "Buonasera, signori e signore. I'm Wilfred Hunch Coppola. The representative of the powerful VPS. Unfortunately, VPS sir couldn't attend the meeting today due to some undisclosed reasons and he has sent his sincere apologies for that matter. But, fear not. We have not wasted your precious time by inviting you here to just send you back. VPS sir has personally recorded a video of him with the important message for today. Coppola inserted a pen drive inside the projector.
VPS appeared on the screen and said, "Welcome, my dear friends. I am extremely sorry for not being able to attend the meeting personally. But, it was very important for me to stay here in my home. Anyway, the details of the world are not oblivious to any of you, so I won't prolong my speech unnecessarily. The main problem today that is happening at an alarming rate is the increasing patrol and investment of law authority in our businesses. I am trying my level best to keep all of us surviving and by the grace of God have succeeded in many seemingly impossible tasks. But, the situation has shifted to a much different point now. There are many small and large numbers of vagabond criminals who are joining hands with the law authorities and are becoming informers for them. Finding every one of them is like finding a needle in a haystack and we don't have time to waste. So, we have to make the vagabond criminals agree to join us voluntarily and ensure them proper income and security within our organization. Rico Martinez is a problem that is already becoming bigger day by day, but you guys don't have to worry about that. He is my headache and I will deal with him. Our chief guest, Mr. Frederick Massino, and his handsome son, Mr. Sonny Massino have blessed us with their divine presence and I would like to greet them with a welcome gift." Mr. Coppola gave them a bouquet and two Rolex watches. Massino smiled and sat. VPS continued, "In Italy, after the Massino Family, there is the Valentina Family, whose head, Mr. Antony Valentina is currently sick and his daughter, Ms. Annabelle Valentina is currently absent from the meeting. I know there has been a rift between the two families, but for the sake of unity and the joint betterment of our organization, I would suggest a bond between the two families. Mr. Sonny Massino is young and so is Ms. Annabelle Valentina. It will be best if they bind in the sacred bond of marriage. I would like to personally like to attend the wedding. The other things are not relevant and we can discuss them further at a later interval of time. The video closed and Mr. Coppola said with a big smile, "Please, enjoy the dinner." He left the stage and walked towards the big hall.
Frederick Massino grunted, "Stupid man! He thinks I will marry my only son to that Valentina Family. What status do they have in Italy? Just the second family and nothing more than that. VPS just wants to win the favour of those spineless roaches. I would rather die under a roller than see a marriage ceremony happening between Massino and Valentina Family. He looked at his son and said, "Come on! Wasting time in this nonsense meeting was already the biggest mistake of my life." He and Sonny walked briskly outside the hall and got inside their limousine.
Mr. Coppola looked around and saw that Mr. Massino and his son are missing. He looked at Calel Fiorentina, the biggest supplier of arms in Italy and asked, "Where is Mr. Massino and his son, Sonny?" Calel laughed, "You must be high on drugs to even consider Mr. Massino stayed here after VPS insisted on a marriage between them and the Valentina Family. That arrogant son of a bitch will not even spit on those immigrant bastards, let alone making their daughter his daughter-in-law." Mr. Coppola sighed, "That thickhead doesn't understand any politics. If he marries his son with the daughter of the Valentine Family, that alliance will hugely help him in gaining dominance all over Italy. But, that man never sees the world without his lens of arrogance." Calel smiled, "I would rather be against this alliance. My business is flourishing rapidly due to the daily scuffles between them." Mr. Coppola said grimly, "No. It is a visionary plan. Your business will even flourish ten times if they join. VPS wants to attack South America and end Rico Martinez for good and you perfectly know how much ammunition will be needed to conduct such a big attack. You will be bathing with money from different countries." Calel smiled, "Visionary is good but my father always told me that it is always better to fetch water from the near well. Why damage something for nothing?" Mr. Coppola smiled, "Tell that in front of VPS, then." Calel smiled, "You and I are both perfectly aware of his temper and what will happen if I tell this in front of him." Mr. Coppola sighed, "Then, why are you opposing it?" Calel said, "I am not opposing anything, I am just not supporting anything." Mr. Coppola said grimly, "That is called cowardice." Calel smiled, "I call it business." Mr. Coppola sighed, "I am saying this seriously, Calel. Either you are with us or against us. There is no neutral ground here." Calel smiled, "I am a businessman, Mr. Coppola. Being neutral is my occupational hazard." Mr. Coppola smiled and walked away.
Berlin, Germany
A man wearing a brown overcoat was walking briskly towards his car. He pressed the button of his key and the car beeped. He was about to enter the car, when a feminine voice came from behind, "Andrich. What's the hurry? We should go and talk about the matter over coffee." Andrich turned and said angrily, "What's there to talk about, Nafisa? I have already told Vikram about the deal and he blatantly refused. There is no need to waste my precious time anymore. I only talked with him because you pleaded." Nafisa said, "Vikram is sceptical right now about everything. Your deal is promising and I believe that you will be a large exporter of drugs soon." Andrich said grimly, "But, Vikram hates drugs. He considers drugs as the most morally evil thing ever made by man. He has already destroyed Rico's three dens and I don't want to get my labs destroyed too. Please, leave me alone. I cannot risk my or my loved one's lives for your greed." Nafisa said angrily, "MY GREED? Who was the one who threw away his college degree for pursuing drugs? Who was the one who left his home country to become the biggest drug baron of Germany? You always ran after your own selfishness and now you are calling me a greedy person?" Andrich said grimly, "Look, Nafisa. I respect you a lot, but Vikram is not going to connect himself with drugs nor will let anyone sell or buy drugs in his name. So, any discussions about this matter are futile." Nafisa said, "I will speak with him. He will not deny me. He respects me a lot. I have done so many dangerous things for him, he at least owes me this much favour." Andrich said, "Do whatever you want. You have two weeks. After that, I will sell my drugs to Rico Martinez." He got inside his car and drove away. Nafisa looked at him going and frowned.
Istanbul, Turkey
Vikram was sitting in his chair and was looking at the blue sky. Giovanni, his right hand man walked towards him with a phone and said, "Sir. Mr. Farooque wants to talk with you." Vikram looked at his sluggish servant and smiled, "Go and rest. The stairs have made you wet." Giovanni smiled and walked downstairs. Vikram took the phone and said, "What happened, Farooque? Why are you disturbing me?" Farooque smiled, "I want to invite you to my third marriage. I am going to marry Sameeran, the daughter of Danavan on the third of October." Vikram smiled, "You are already half a century old. You should be more worried about your son's marriage. Anyway, what happened to your second wife, Iyana. I remember you telling me that she is your true love of your life." Farooque smiled, "Yes. She was. But, she fled away with some cousin of hers. Bitch took three million worth of property from me as alimony." Vikram smiled, "Yes. Wives are difficult. That's why I remained unmarried." Farooque and he laughed. Farooque said grimly, "On a serious note, we have to do something about the UCID. They are already deep inside our business and now they are even trying to enter their shitty asses inside my family matters." Vikram said grimly, "Be patient, Farooque. Don't do anything stupid in haste. UCID is still quite unaware of our biggest plan. I recommend sending Masud to me. The situation is not safe there and any day, someone can kidnap him." Farooque said angrily, "Don't consider me so weak, Vikram. I am still powerful enough to tear the chest of the person who tries to harm my family." Vikram smiled, "I am not doubting your capabilities, brother. But, after what happened with Sultan and his sons, one can easily get scared." Farooque smiled, "Sultan is old news, Vikram. I killed the last living person of his family with my own hands. I am much bigger than that deceased pile of rotting bones." Vikram smiled, "Fine. I will talk with Nafisa and see if she agrees to attend your marriage with me." Farooque said, "Just fuck her and impregnate that bitch. You shouldn't keep such a hot girl alone for such a long time." Vikram smiled, "I see the world in a different way than you." Farooque smiled, "Then, you see it in the wrong way, friend." He disconnected the call. Vikram looked at the sky and sighed, "The degraded mentality of people like Farooque is the reason women are not safe in the world." He closed his eyes and started to sleep.....