It was evening, the golden light of the setting sun seeping through the windows, casting long shadows across the worn-out mats. Luca's father stood off to the side, watching quietly, arms crossed. He was a man of few words, and his silent presence spoke more than any compliment or encouragement ever could.
Luca was mid-session, sparring with an older, more experienced fighter. His opponent, a tall man with quick reflexes, had already landed a few solid punches. One jab connected hard with Luca's face, snapping his head to the side. Pain flared through his cheek, and for a second, Luca felt his control slipping. His heart pounded, rage bubbling beneath the surface.
He blinked, shaking off the sting. His vision focused, and without hesitation, Luca struck back. His punch was sharp, driven by precision and anger. The older guy stumbled, but Luca wasn't finished. Luca was on top of him about to deliver the final blow. His instincts pushed him to keep going, to finish it—until he felt a familiar restraint, a voice in the back of his mind telling him to stop. He clenched his fists tighter but didn't follow through. Control. Always control.
The man raised his hands in defeat, acknowledging Luca's power with a nod, but Luca barely noticed. He could still feel the heat in his veins, the remnants of his fury simmering just below the surface. He took a step back, breathing deeply to calm himself, brushing his gloved hand across his face where the punch had landed.
His father watched from the corner of the gym, giving a subtle nod. It wasn't exactly praise, but for Luca, it was enough. 'Nothing more is left to teach him, now.' His son was prodigy. Great reflexes and hardworking, but he had been noticing him being more worked up now a days. He didn't ask him, of course. He has had his fair share of trouble being a teenager himself. So that's why he left Luca to his own.
Without a word, Luca stepped out of the ring, peeling off his gloves. The gym buzzed around him, but his mind was elsewhere—on his plans, on Vince, and everything he had set into motion. Once outside, the evening air cooled his skin, the quiet contrasting the intensity of the gym. Luca pulled out his phone and dialed Dante.
"Dante," Luca said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline still rushing through him.
"What's up?" Dante's voice crackled over the line.
"Meet me at the park at 8 tonight. We got a job to do" Luca replied. He didn't elaborate. He didn't need to. Dante would understand.
Luca hung up, slipping his phone back into his pocket, his mind already thinking of the what he had to do.
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"Why did you text me to come in a hoodie though?" Dante looking puzzled asked Luca.
"I figured out a way to get an alliance. All people need to create an alliance is a common cause. If I don't have one, I will create one. Just follow me and keep quiet. We are going to hit Enzo's boys."Luca explained to Dante
"Man, you are crazy son of a bitch. I remember when Celine told me keep my distance with you." Dante sighed.
"And? Did you listen to her, you son of a bitch?" Luca smirked.
"Of course not. Let's go then" Dante patted Luca's back and smiled, "I've been to cooped up anyways."
Luca and Dante moved swiftly through the dimly lit streets, their dark hoodies blending them into the shadows. Luca knew where Enzo's boys hung out—an old, half-abandoned building near the outskirts of the school district.
"Stick to the side streets," Luca muttered as they walked. "We don't want them to see us coming."
They reached the building soon enough, and Luca motioned for Dante to stop. He pointed ahead, where a group of high schoolers, Enzo's boys, were gathered near the entrance, laughing and smoking under the flickering streetlight. There were about seven of them.
"Alright, you ready?" Luca whispered, pulling his hoodie lower to shadow his face. Dante gave a quick nod.
Without another word, Luca moved forward, slipping through the dark alley toward them. His presence went unnoticed at first, just another figure in the night. Then, with a deliberate calmness, he made his move.
"Marco sends his regards," Luca said, his voice cold and low.
The boys barely had time to register the words before Luca struck. He delivered a quick, brutal punch to the nearest guy's stomach, sending him to the ground, gasping for air. The others reacted, but Luca was already moving. Dante was right behind him, grabbing one of the boys by the collar and throwing him against the wall.
Chaos erupted.
The second boy swung at him, but Luca ducked, delivering a swift uppercut that left the kid stumbling backward. Another tried to rush Dante, but Dante sidestepped and threw a hard elbow into the guy's side, knocking him off balance.
The fight was quick and brutal. It wasn't meant to be a full brawl, just enough to leave a message. As the last of Enzo's boys hit the ground, groaning in pain, Luca stepped back, breathing heavily but controlled. His hoodie hid his identity well, just like he wanted.
"They'll remember Marco," Luca said quietly, glancing at Dante, who was catching his breath.
Dante wiped his brow, a smirk crossing his face. "Damn, that was clean. Think they'll take the bait?"
"They will. By tomorrow, they'll think Marco's trying to push into their territory." Luca turned, looking down at the boys they had taken out. "And that's when we step in. I'll let Enzo think I'm his ally. It'll be too late by the time he realizes."
Dante nodded, the adrenaline still pumping through him. "You really think this will work?"
Luca smirked, his eyes glinting in the dim light. "It's already working. Now let's get out of here before they wake up."
The two of them slipped back into the night, leaving Enzo's boys behind, beaten and confused, the seed of doubt already planted.
They continued doing this for a couple of days. They smartly hit Enzo's guys and quickly escape. The injury wasn't serious. It was their pride that was more hurt. Finally, Josh arranged a meet with Enzo for Luca.
Finally, Josh arranged a meeting with Enzo for Luca. Luca and Dante walked into the dimly lit pool bar, the smell of stale beer and smoke thick in the air. A few heads turned, but most patrons minded their business.
Enzo leaned back against the bar, sizing them up with cold eyes. He was surrounded by a handful of his guys, lounging but alert—like wolves waiting to pounce. As Luca and Dante approached, Enzo gave a nod to Josh, acknowledging his presence, but kept his gaze sharp on Luca.
"You're the kid stirring things up at school? Speak. " Enzo muttered, flicking the ash off his cigarette.
Luca started immediately. "I came here to warn you about Marco. He is after me as well, since I beat his brother and took over the school. There's a good chance that he will come after me. I heard that you are facing issues with him as well."
Enzo looked sharply and stood up holding down the pool stick on the ground. " If he comes after me then he's done. He's still got his own shit to deal with. He-"
"But he won't , or rather he isn't doing that. He isn't attacking you directly right now. I heard from Josh that your boys are getting jumped by him. He's whittling you down slowly. Once your members are down enough, he will attack you with his full force, like a bunch of hyenas."
Enzo took a puff of his cigarette , slowly blew out the smoke. Deep down, he knew that Luca was right.
"So what you want then kid?"
There was a beat of silence. Enzo's men shifted, sharing glances. Luca could feel the doubt hanging in the air, but he knew how to play it.
"You don't have to take my word for it," Luca added. "Look around. Your boys on the edges—aren't they already getting hit? Small stuff, sure, but it's starting. If you sit back and wait, you'll be next."
Enzo stared him down, weighing the risks. "You expect me to believe all that without proof? Why come here if you're not offering anything?"
Luca gave a small, sharp smile. "I'm offering you a shot. Marco's tied up right now, dealing with his own mess. If we hit him first, we wipe him out before he makes his move. You keep your territory, and I stay out of your way."
Enzo leaned on his cue stick, eyes narrowing. "And why shouldn't I just deal with Marco myself?"
"You could," Luca said with a shrug. "But Marco's a snake. He'll make it costly. You know I'm right." His voice lowered, carrying an edge. "I'm offering you a clean shot. Take it or don't."
Finally, Enzo exhaled, smoke curling from his lips. "If you're lying, you're dead."
Luca smirked, the ghost of a challenge in his eyes. "I don't lie. Not about things that matter."
Enzo stared at him for a beat longer, then gave a slow nod. "Alright. We'll see what you're worth, kid. But if you cross me..."
"You won't get the chance," Luca cut in smoothly.
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Took me a while to keep it as real as I could. Enjoy your day.