Luciano
We walked into the dimly lit, the Italian restaurant buzzes with activity. In typical style, it was full of patrons, speaking on top of their voices ordering food and swearing at the customers and waiters all together. I stood still, inhaling the smell of tomatoes and pasta cooking, smiling as it brought back memories.
I looked at Enzo, smirking as he looked around nervous
You ready for some fun, kid?
He nodded, “Yes boss.”
I didn’t trust him, he was very obviously anxious, looking exactly like I must have some during my first hit. I didn’t like it, I had of cousin shot myself on the foot that day, having to spend a few months in the hospital and a stupid scar to remind me of it every time. I looked at him, “Hey, kid, are you alright?”
He stared around wide eyed, shaking slightly even as he replied, “Yes boss just a bit nervous that’s all-” he readjusted his tie, swallowing heavily.
“Okay, listen.” I said, scraping my stool closer and staring into his eyes, “This is simple, we got intel that Pietro Castellano and some of his goons are going to be having a little party here, we wait for them to leave, isolate them somewhere nice and discrete and send them a few good messages okay? Nothing too complicated.”
He nodded, “Of course boss.”
“Are you sure you got it?”
He looked up at the ceiling, his lips moving silently as he mouthed the plan over again until he looker sure enough he got it, “I do now.”
I raised an eyebrow, “Okay Enzo. What’s the plan?”
He clasped his hands in front of him at the table, “The Castellano mafia family has been causing trouble lately. It’s time to put a stop to it.”
I took a sip of my wine, my eyes gleaming with a mix of excitement and danger.
* * *
We entered the dimly lit warehouse, guns holstered at our sides. They hear a faint drip of water, echoing eerily in the empty space.
I glanced at him, whispering “keep your aim steady, kid. These guys don’t mess around.”
He cocked his gun, making a low clicking sound that sounded to me like the atom bomb had just gone off in the silence.
“A bit more fucking quiet kid,” I snapped.
“Sorry boss.”
“Just relax okay?” He was nervous, I got it, “They might not mess around, but remember, neither do we do we, Enzo. Let’s show them what we’re capable of.”
The light suddenly came on, almost blinding the both of us, I ducked behind a cart, trying to blink out the rays as I heard Enzo drop next to me, but I know it was too late, they had seen us.
“Come out you pieces of shit!” The man yelled. “I saw you, come out you fucking cowards!”
Suddenly, Castellano men started emerging from shadows, guns blazing.
“Fuck!” I swore as Enzo looked at me nervously, only having enough time to point at the door next to the entrance and show me the men rushing in through there, guns firing.
Enzo fired back, ducking behind cover, “Watch out, Luciano! They’re everywhere!” He yelled.
I grinned, feeling the adrenaline pump through my blood as the firefight started.
I had fucking missed this, all of it.
We exchange rapid fire, taking down men left and right.
I watched them drop steadily, Enzo more than holding up on his own. I flipped over a table for cover, shooting from behind it.
Enzo seemed to be enjoying it way more than I did, “I hope they brought extra bullets.” He yelled, “They are gonna need ’em!”
He ducked behind a crate, bullets whizzing past him.
Enzo laughed even as the bullets pinged off the table
“You always know how to light up a room, Luciano!”
I smirked “Just doing what I do best!”
They continue their relentless assault, bullets flying and ricocheting off walls. The warehouse gradually turns into a haze of smoke and chaos.
It wasn’t looking good too, in a few minutes we were running for our lives, the numbers dwindled just enough to let us escape.
We managed to escape the warehouse, panting heavily. Blood stains on our clothes, wounds oozing with pain.
He wiped sweat off his forehead “Man, that was intense! You okay, Luciano?”
I wasn’t, I had felt a bullet graze my shoulder, earlier, but I didn’t want him panicking “Just a flesh wound. I’ll live.”
* * *
I entered the dimly lit apartment, wincing from the pain of his wound. I peeled off my blood-soaked shirt and winced as I inspected the damage.
I shook my head, grimacing “This one’s gonna leave a mark.”
I took a step towards the bathroom, my injuries slowing down my movements.
Any other day and I might have walked it off, made my way home and taken my chances with the cops, but not today apparently, my body wasn’t cooperating. And I couldn’t let Athena see me like this.
Enzo entered the apartment
“Need some help there, Luciano? I brought some ice”
I shook my head waving him off lightly
“I can handle it, Enzo. You know I’m practically invincible.”
He smirked “I thought you called that a flesh wound earlier?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle, the kid was getting confident, maybe even a little cocky. Nothing na good gunfight couldn’t do.
I grinned, “Well, compared to my shooting skills, it is.”
“All that blood says otherwise sir.”
That actually drew a laugh from me, when the kid wasn’t shitting his pants, he was kinda funny, “Get outta here kid, before I kick your ass.”
He chuckled as I stood up disappearing into the bathroom.
* * *
I looked at the mirror, having a little time to appreciate how much of a mess I was, covered in blood and grime and sweat.
I couldn’t let Raven see me like this, she would go nuts.
I gritted my teeth as I cleaned the wound, the sting of water hitting the bullet hole bringing me some semblance of reality.
“You okay there boss?” Enzo called from the living room.
“Yeah!” I called back, “I am just a little banged up that’s all.”
Nothing a little whiskey won’t fix.
i patched the wound as best I could, my hands steady despite the pain. I washed my face, the water refreshing my weary eyes.
I emerges from the bathroom, bandaged up but still sporting a slight limp. Enzo waited for him, holding two glasses filled with whiskey.
“Did you raid my bar kid?”
He shrugged still holding them up.
“To another successful job, Luciano. Cheers.”
I chuckled taking the glass and downing it, I didn’t know we are on first name basis now, but I didn’t mind very much. He had proved himself.
We clink our glasses together, the sound reverberating in the quiet room.