Chapter 2 MISSION CANCELLED

THEME : MISSION CANCELLED

" Gather the crew, we have a job tonight," Stefano barked

" Another job?" Luca said. "When are you going to stop doing his dirty work? The last job..."

" Enough," Stefano said, cutting him off.

A tense silence fell over the room. Luca's eyes met Stefano, and for a moment.

it looked like he might say something else. But in the end, he simply nodded and turned away.

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" I heard there is a mission tonight," Stefano step mother Lucia said to her son Torres.

Torres frowned. " Father didn't tell me anything about that."

Lucia rolled her eyes. "You idiot, why would he tell you? You're too much of a coward to ever do a mission. That's why he gave it to Stefano."

" But mum "

" Don't 'but mom' me," Lucia said, cutting him off. "You need to get out there and enjoy life. Stop moping around and live a little."

" But I don't know how, I'm not like Stefano, I'm not confident or charming. I'm just... me."

" I don't care what you think get up and go. Follow them, and see what they're up to. And stop making excuses."

" But..." Torres started to protest, but his mother cut him off.

" No more 'buts'," she said, her voice firm. "Get up and do it."

Torres hesitated, but finally he nodded. "Okay," he said, his voice shaking. "I'll go."

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The mobsters stood in a semi circle in the dimly lit hall, their faces shadowed by the flickering light of a single candle.

" There's going to be a mission tonight," Jane of the mobster said

"What?" Amy asked. "Stefano didn't tell me anything about that."

"And who are you, exactly?" Jane asked.

Amy shifted uncomfortably "I'm just... I'm one of the girls."

"The girls?" Jane taunted, raising an eyebrow.

"You should give yourself a special name," Maria one of the mobster who was listening to their conversation mocked.. "Something like 'Stefano's' little sex toy.'"

All the other girls burst into laughter, but Amy face turned bright red.

"How dare you!" she said, her voice shaking with anger. "I'm not just some toy for him to use and discard. I'm a real person!"

"Oh please," Jane said, rolling her eyes. "We all know the truth. Don't try to pretend otherwise."

"Enough of this idle chatter," One of the mobster said"The boss is here."

Just then, the door to the hall opened and Stefano stepped inside. "The mission has been postponed," he announced. "We'll discuss it at a later time."

There was a murmur of disappointment and confusion among the group, but they knew better than to question Stefano. He was their leader, and they would follow his orders, no matter what.

"And who are you to overrule Father's instructions?" Torres said As He entered the room, his hands on his hips, his eyes blazing with anger.

"I thought you were merely the enforcer, not the one who calls the shots."

Stefano met Torres gaze, unflinching. "I have been given the authority to make decisions in Father's absence," he said, "Whether you like it or not, that is the way it is."

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Lena stumbled out of the house, her limbs heavy and her body trembling with exhaustion. Blood stained her clothes and matted her hair, and every step was a struggle.

She held her head in her hands, her eyes filled with tears and her voice hoarse from crying. Her breaths came in short, ragged gasps, and her body felt like it was on the verge of collapse.

The memory of the night before the unfortunate event that claimed her family flashed through Lena's mind like a nightmare. She remembered the happy scene that had been unfolding in her family's home: her mother's laughter, her father's warm smile, and her brother's mischievous grin.

But then the door had burst open, and masked men had rushed in, guns drawn. She remembered the fear that had gripped her as she watched her family being murdered before her eyes, powerless to stop it.

The memories of what had happened next came flooding back, and she felt sick to her stomach.

She remembered trying to fight back, but it was no use. And then she remembered the feeling of darkness as they struck her.

Now, as she sat on the ground, she could feel the tears falling from her eyes, but she made no sound. The pain was too great, the memories too haunting.

All she could do was cry silently, as the world around her seemed to fall apart.

A sudden clarity came over Lena as she remembered the face of one of the men who had hurt her.

She saw his cold, hard eyes and the cruel smirk on his lips. She saw the tattoo on his arm, a symbol she would never forget. And she heard his voice in her head, laughing as he said, "You'll never escape us."

As Lena's thoughts turned to vengeance, her voice rose in a hoarse whisper. "I will kill him," she said, her fists clenched in anger. "I will have my revenge."

Her voice echoed, but it was the only sound she could make. She was too weak to scream, too hurt to cry out.

All she could do was sit there, broken and alone, and swear that she would have her vengeance.

"I will find him," she said, her resolve growing stronger. "I will make him pay."

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