The narrow corridors of the Taitanzu compound echoed with heavy footsteps as Casey stormed through them, each step deliberate and filled with purpose. He was in his usual posture—fists clenched and jaw tight—tension exuding from his body like some sort of impenetrable barrier. The hallways parted as he walked past, lower members of Taitanzu instinctively stepping out of his path, heads bowed and eyes to the floor. They all knew better than to stand in his way. It was akin to teasing a raging bull.
As he walked, his mind drifted to their newest arrival—Jazzlyn. He personally never gave a damn what happened to those under his watch. They were all below him, undeserving of his attention. But there was something about that one in particular that intrigued and irritated him. The fear behind every word she said and the way her eyes nervously darted over the tablet, it was overwhelmingly obvious just how unsuited she was for this kind of life. Fragile and in over her head, she was doomed from the start. She didn't have the will, the cunning or the rage to survive within these walls.
Casey had learned that being soft was a pathetic weakness that would get you killed. Life before he ended up in Taitanzu was a testament to that. His life in the slums, from what he could remember, was one of perpetual violence and anger. Fighting for scraps and survival, the only thing that kept him alive was his nigh unstoppable rage. With a reputation forged in the flames of countless street fights, it didn't take long for Boris to approach him and pull him into a life that actually meant something.
Back then only Boris and one other person had seen any value in him—something he couldn't even see in himself. In Taitanzu he had found a way to give his fury a purpose, using his brutal tendencies to actually gain things of value. First an enforcer, and now an executive, his rise to the top was fueled by his personal philosophy: control through fear.
He had fought, clawed and nearly killed his way to where he was now, and now that he was at the top the only way to maintain his position was by ruling over the weak like a tyrant. The best way to instill a sense of loyalty in those beneath him was by spreading terror, and that was one thing he was great at. Using the ferocious temper that earned him his place, it was almost too easy to command the respect of the lower gangsters. He had painted himself as a force of nature that nobody else could match—not in raw, brutal rage.
Well…no one except the other executives. Specifically Boris, LR and Clovis.
The thought made his fists tighten even more as he approached the meeting room. Those three, effectively the three founders of Taitanzu, were the only people who could command his respect in this twisted world, Clovis especially. It wasn't because they were friends—Casey didn't have any friends—but because deep down, he knew that no matter how much he raged or how angry he got, they were the people he couldn't beat.
He had tried it once before, in his early weeks of joining the gang. He couldn't remember what had infuriated him, but he made a move to attack Boris and Clovis had reacted with a blow to his skull that nearly killed him on the spot. The tall, whimsical executive had a quiet power that unnerved Casey in a way that few things could. The way he could kill as easily as he could smile and how he didn't care about either action was frankly terrifying. Casey hated how weak he felt next to Clovis and the other two. He hated it more than anything else in the world.
Casey turned a corner and irritatingly enough, there was Clovis leaning against the wall, looking as casual as ever. He held a cigarette in his hand, not bothering to take a drag but just idly twirling it between his slender fingers.
"Yooooooo…." Clovis greeted slowly as Caasey approached, giving him a half-assed salute.
Casey grunted, not in the mood for any pleasantries. "You're late Clovis"
Clovis raised an eyebrow, amusement clear on his face. "Naaaaah man you're just eaaarly. Time's relative y'know?"
Casey frowned but stayed silent, not in the mood for Clovis's cryptic words. Casey respected the fact that he was still calm despite heading into the tense prison that was the executive meeting room. Personally he hated coming to these things, much preferring the quiet of his own quarters over the threatening aura of that place. He couldn't understand how Clovis and Noah managed to remain so lax during their stressful gatherings, then again, the two of them always seemed to have their heads far up in the clouds. They reminded him of one of those tree frogs—unassuming and placid looking until someone was suddenly dead.
Together, they made their way to the meeting room where the other executives would no doubt be waiting. Casey's ever present ire simmered just below the surface, but he kept it in check. He had to—for now.
The atmosphere of the meeting room was already rigid by the time they had arrived, the entire place felt restless as the executives gathered around the long, dimly lit table. Boris, the mysterious but highly respected leader of Taitanzu sat at the head, his sharp eye scanning the room. The authority he held was unquestionable, the kind that didn't require aggression or ominous threats to be maintained. His mere presence was such that he could effortlessly turn heads and command attention without so much as raising a hand.
Right next to Boris sat LR—The Last Resort of Tallahassee—and Boris's second-in-command. The title carried a weight that one couldn't possibly ignore. LR was a man from the famous "Golden Age of Gangsters" as a member of the once invincible Army of Hades, and had never lost a single fight—except one. "The Battle of Heaven and Hell", as it had come to be called, was a clash that had shaken Florida's entire criminal underworld to its core. When the titanic battle was over, LR had been left with two horrifying scars across each of his eyes, permanent reminders of his defeat.
Despite the loss of his undefeated streak however, LR's reputation was still legendary not just within Tallahassee but across all of Florida and beyond. It was thanks to him that Taitanzu was what it was today, and with him on their side, they were nigh invincible. His very name stopped enemies dead in their tracks, though the man himself rarely showed any emotions other than quiet intensity and confidence. He had gotten his title through blood and bone, and even Casey learned to temper his outbursts in LR's presence. Casey's rage melted like hot butter in the face of LR's potency.
At the far end, directly opposite Boris, sat Triple A—true name unknown. He had joined shortly after Casey and for as long as anyone could remember, nobody was able to find out his actual identity or any substantial background info. It was like he just fell out of the sky and into the world of gangsters one day, immediately making an impression by raiding one of Taitanzu's weapon warehouses by himself and snapping the arms of every guard there. Boris was more impressed than angered by his bravery, and extended the olive branch to him, which led to his position as Head of Security in the organization currently. The man never showed any emotions. Ever. His cold indifference didn't shake no matter the situation. He could talk about torture, murder or a football game, and his tone wouldn't change. Triple A was a machine in the shape of a human, and everyone in the room was keenly aware of the ever present danger that came with his presence.
He sat quietly, combing his pompadour with half-open eyes. There was no discernable emotion in his posture, though that was no surprise. Casey had never seen him so much as flinch, even when bullets were flying.
Next to Triple A was Crystal Valentine, Noah's jittery and hyperactive cousin with an undeniable look of old money. Her brightly colored nails tapped the table, practically vibrating with energy while her eyes darted from place to place, never settling in one place for long. She had joined Taitanzu simply because she was bored of her life as the wealthy daughter of a former politician, and since then had become one of the Taitanzu's main sources of funding. It certainly helped that her father's government connections effectively made them untouchable by the law. But her status didn't make her less lethal either, and when the situation called for it, she was every bit as capable of slaughter as the rest of them. Casey knew better than to mistake her excitable, flighty nature for unintelligence. Her mind was incredibly sharp, and she had a way of making people vanish without a trace. There was a reason Boris put her in charge of Reconnaissance.
Despite her usual cheeriness, she was visibly fidgety in situations like this. She hated being in place for long, and her patience was already wearing thin. Her leg bounced under the table, and she kept adjusting her seat, clearly fed up with sitting still.
Sitting off to the side was Eliza Knox, the Head of Finance, with a cigarette hanging loosely from her lips, the smoke billowing up to the ceiling. She was as cynical and jaded as they came, having been in the game for as long as LR. She'd seen a lot of things in her time, enough to leave her calloused to everything left in the world. The scuffed wooly beanie she always wore and the long, winding scar that went across her face were symbols of her arduous past, and her voice—when she bothered to speak, carried roughness that came from years of horrifying experiences. She was also the only person other than Boris who could wholly understand Clovis's ramblings.
Casey didn't care much for Eliza, but he respected her longevity. She survived the hell of the Golden Age of Gangsters, an era that was notorious for the sheer number of casualties and broken bodies it produced. Her stoicism definitely wasn't an act. On the other hand, that cool indifference also made her something of an unknown variable. She seemingly had no affection towards anyone or anything, and was always up to something in some way or the other that nobody could figure out. Fortunately for them, her loyalties currently lie with Taitanzu, if only because it suited her goals.
Noah was seemingly nowhere to be seen.
Boris began the meeting without preamble, his voice low and measured. "There's been another attack. First it was The Splinter Group in Moe's Bar, and now, El Futuro's forces have been found laid out near the Hard-Rock'n Casino. The reports Crystal's scouts give me are…gruesome."
A murmur spread through the room, the apprehension of everyone rising. Casey could feel it building, that sense that something sinister was coming. The attacks were random, with scouts noting how every group of perpetrators wore different gang uniforms. They were also targeting minor players who barely held any sway over the city's inner workings. Bodies were torn apart, with massive damage done to the surrounding establishments. Whoever was behind it was trying to send a message, but to who and for what? It all felt too uncoordinated.
Boris's good eye narrowed as he looked around the table. "I'm sure you're all wondering how this might concern us. Honestly I myself am skeptical about these recent events having any lasting effect on Taitanzu; but Crystal made known to me something that one of her subordinates said to her, and it opened up a possibility that simply can't be ignored." He nodded at Crystal, giving her the permission to speak.
The girl cleared her throat and straightened up in her seat. "Remember the group that stormed headquarters some time ago? Well, my scouts managed to snag one of their members. She didn't give us any worthwhile information, but after roughing her up and dumping her off where they grabbed her, they…discovered something on the back of her hand…." Crystal stopped speaking, taking a deep breath before she continued. "It was a tattoo…of a flaming bull head."
The murmurs died down instantly, followed by a silence that was almost deafening. Casey felt the tension in the room shift, like a rope being pulled tighter. A tattoo of that mark could mean only one thing.
That girl was a member of the Fort Lauderdale Warriors, the officially recognized strongest gang in Florida's history.
They were a gang that had been around long before the Golden Age of Gangsters, with a history far more terrifying than Taitanzu's and a long lineage of commanders that were nothing short of extraordinary in their ability. Their current leaders however, were the most feared and destructive of them all, living legends in every sense of the word—Amber Alvarez and Joan Wilde.
Even Casey felt a sinking feeling of edginess in his stomach at the thought of facing them. Everyone knew of the stories. Everyone. Amber, the kid responsible for LR's one and only loss, was a living nightmare, often likened to a force of nature in her destruction. Joan was a cunning and ruthless tactician with such unfathomable precision it bordered on psychopathy. Together, they were the Dyad of Calamity, and made the Warriors a threat nobody wished to face.
Casey grit his teeth as he felt a shiver run down his spine. Even after years of being relatively quiet, the mention of their name sent waves of uncertainty and fear through everyone seated. Crystal looked ready to break into a full-blown panic attack, Eliza paused her smoking and even the unflappable Clovis looked dead serious.
LR on the other hand remained calm, a faint grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Amber and Joan…involved in mindless attacks like these?" LR's tone was curious, his face showing no fear, but mild amusement at the thought. "Those two have been quiet for a long time. Not to doubt your scouts Crystal, but that sounds too improbable."
Boris nodded grimly. "I think the same, but Crystal's department has rarely led us astray. Still, why would a Warrior be all the way out here?"
Casey's anger flared at LR's casual dismissal of a potential threat. He knew that he was strong, but that didn't excuse just tossing the possibility aside so nonchalantly. The rage boiling inside him bubbled up, threatening to explode. Before he knew it he had slammed his fist on the table, glaring at the Second-In-Command with unbridled fury. "This is just a bloody game to you right? You old timers from the Golden Age always think you're the shit!"
The room fell silent, every pair of eyes shifting towards the two of them. Eliza sighed and Clovis chuckled darkly, but LR didn't flinch. Instead, he leaned forward, his gaze steady as he looked directly at Casey.
LR's demeanor was calm, but the aura that suddenly enveloped him became overwhelming, his lack of a response silencing the white hot anger that had burned in Casey just moments before.
"I see no purpose in losing my temper over it," LR replied softly, his words quiet but heavy with presence. "Not yet anyway."
Casey lowered his hand to his lap, a sense of defeat washing over him. He had just been painfully reminded of why nobody ever challenged LR. LR wasn't just legendary, he was far beyond anything Casey could dream of reaching with his fists or his anger. It hurt to admit it, but if he was to fight the Last Resort one hundred times in a row, he'd emerge without a single victory to his name. The gap between them simply couldn't be closed.
The tension between them dissipated, and Boris snapped his fingers, regaining control of the room. "Despite LR and I's skepticism, we're still taking the possibility of the Warriors being in Tallahassee seriously. Triple A, increase security around headquarters and all of Clovis's money laundering businesses. Crystal, have your scouts contact our partners in Gainesville and St Augustine. Ask them for every important piece of information they have on the Warrior's recent activity. Casey, our weapons need to be in top shape now more than ever." Boris commanded, his confidence unwavering in the face of such powerful adversity. "We should all prepare for the worst. Amber and Joan leave no survivors. We need to be ready for every possibility."
Crystal shifted in her seat, her voice shaky as she stretched her hands to ask a question. "I'm just spitballing here…but could it have anything to do with Jazzlyn?"
Casey's anger threatened to explode at the mention of Jazzlyn, but before he could say a word, Clovis laughed softly, lazily sprawling himself over the table.
"Doooooubt it," Clovis muttered, eyes trailing up to the bare ceiling. "Tooooo clean, toooo scared, nooooo angle."
"I agree with Clovis. Been keeping an eye on her and that girl's too jittery to be left alone with her own thoughts. She'd have a heart attack at the idea of being involved with the Warriors"
Casey nearly jumped out of his skin hearing Noah's voice come from the corner of the room, where he was lounging in a lawn chair that he somehow hadn't noticed all this time. Where he had come from or when exactly he had come in was anyone's guess, but this was the kind of behavior he always exhibited.
Noah had always been an odd character among the Taitanzu executives—a mischievous, almost childish man with a deeply unsettling capacity for violence. None of the executives were particularly averse to bloodshed, but Noah approached it with unhealthy levels of excitement. To Noah Valentine, chaos wasn't something to be avoided, but a game to be enjoyed.
Casey didn't like nor trust Noah in any capacity. Not only was the slender man perpetually creeping about like a cat, but he was the one responsible for giving him the scar he now had across his lip. Putting his personal dislike however, he did trust the Head of Narcotic's almost supernatural ability to detect deception. If he didn't believe Jazzlyn was involved, then there was no point to questioning it.
With the theory dismissed as quickly as it had been suggested, the room breathed a collective sigh of relief, the tension finally diffusing. Still, the mention of the Fort Lauderdale Warriors had stirred something deep within all of them. Maybe except Triple A. No matter how confident LR and Boris were, it couldn't fully mask the weight of the threat they could potentially face.
Boris gave one more command before the meeting ended. "If it helps you feel better Crystal, I'll have Casey personally keep watch over Jazzlyn to ensure she isn't up to anything foul, starting from tomorrow." He looked straight at Casey, his expression one that gave no room for disobedience. "As for the rest of you, make sure your respective department members are well armed and in top condition but do not let word of this development spread. Fear and uncertainty will only cripple us from within. You're all dismissed."
The meeting adjourned, but that looming sense of danger hung over them like a fog. Casey glanced around at the other executives, each of them unique, dangerous in their own way, and necessary for their survival. They were a volatile bunch, but somehow stayed united by the need to survive at any cost.
Casey had something else to think about right now though, and it was about how he was basically just turned into a babysitter.