Tracking her down

Carlos' standpoint

   I sat alone at the casino, observing the workers and the people so I could report back to Ted. It'd been a week since we last heard from Yolanda, and it was starting to drive him more crazy than he already was. Any little thing vexed him, even his toothbrush got hammered because it scraped his gum and made him bleed. I love the man, but he is a mad man. Earlier, he was screaming at my mirror because it made him look old, and then shot the lifeless thing. Everyone was staying clear of him, the reason I changed my mind about not visiting the casino for the month. I hate casinos but I hate Wednesdays more.

   Fortunately, everything was going well so far, so I didn't need to make an appearance; no one knew it was me sitting there with a hood. I removed my ringing phone from my pocket, it was a message from Ted.

<Get the coke from the Lydians, they are waiting for you at the warehouse. I already sent three men ahead, get there — now. I'm going after the other guy>

   Ted is bossy and arrogant, very, very arrogant. He would rather have his eyes gouged out than apologize or show gratitude. He's hard-headed, stubborn, does anything he wants no matter the opinion of anyone else. It took me years to finally understand and look over his attitude but I did. Yolanda missing was increasing his shit but I knew better than to reply him. I sighed and shove the phone back into the pocket of my denim jean pants. Someone stopped in front of me. I looked up to glare at the person standing in front of me, but my mouth fell open slightly.

   She smiled sweetly and flicked her silver and blue hair. 'Hello, Mr. Carlos, can I sit?' Wow! What a voice! Such lovely voice... The most pleasant light voice I have ever heard, so pleasant. 'Can I sit?' I was still dazed by her voice. How did she know my name?

   'How did you know my name?'

  'It would be an act of stupidity to not,' she smiled as she sat down elegantly, batting her eyes. My eyes trailed to her fresh skin, black beauty. 'I, however, didn't come here for what you are thinking about,' she purred as she folded her legs into the chair, leaning on my shoulder with a seductive smile.

   'And yet, you are here to seduce me,' I chuckled. 'Your voice alone can make you achieve that without even trying,'

   'I know,' she whispered huskily into my ear and planted a quick wet kiss on kissed it. I shut my eyes and groaned, this is a distraction. 'Don't react, there are men watching our every move, waiting for the opportunity to snatch her.'

   'Who?'

She giggled and pushed me back deeper into the chair, straddling me all at once. 'You're a massive man,' she giggled, grinding herself against me. I let out a small moan and grabbed her ass, the soft goodness. She leaned closer and trailed her kiss back to my neck. 'Yolanda, don't react.' My grip around her ass tightened, I brought her face, so she'll look at mine and smiled at her.

   'You have her?'

   'We might need somewhere less public,' she smirked as she crawled off me. It could be a trap but I could handle myself. She took my hand and pulled me up. I was shocked by how easily she pulled me. She was stronger than she looks. 'Follow me, kitty,' she chirped and walked ahead. I looked around and that was when I noticed the men watching us. I didn't think it was necessary to check in the first place because I doubted anyone would dare walk into Ted's territory. Guess I was wrong.

Who's this girl?

   I followed her out of the club, she led me to a deep blue hyper racer. 'Now,' she purred in a singsong, turning around on one heel. 'Where were we?'

   'I believe…' I trailed off as I backed her against the car. 'We were at Y,' she chuckles and snaked her hands around my neck. I brought my head down and kissed her plum over glossed lips. I hummed when I felt something between my teeth, she passed something to me. A loud ear-piercing sound made her push me off. She frantically brought out her phone and stared at me apologetically.

   'Hi, mom…no, I went down the street to look for…er…something… No, I didn't go… now! You are on your way!' She squawked with panic. 'Nothing, just excited,' she said with a nervous laugh. 'Ok, bye, mom.' She hung up and huffed.

   'Trouble, kid?'

   'Yeah, sorry about this, I have to go now.'

   'You can leave,' I muttered, wiping my lips and stylishly removing the chip.

   'Try listening to music to calm yourself down and whatever you do, don't drive a car while listening, some things can explode.' She winked at me and opened the door of the car, she didn't look at me again, got in and drove off.

My car has been bombed.

   I cleaned the chip and walked out of the casino to get a cab. Ted will be impressed with this.

____

   River inserted the chip the lady gave me into a new laptop, just in case. Ted wasn't around and I decided on my own to see the chip, just in case it's a trap. I also planned to do the pickup myself. According to the letter I found in my pocket, which she slipped in at some point, they had their eyes on Ted because they thought he'd be the first she contacts. It was a risky game, but I was going to do it. Ted left the city and his message said he'd be back in two to three days. If the information is accurate, he'd return to meet Yolanda. I was yet to think about the lady Yolanda probably sent.

How did she find that woman?

   The screen went blank, pitch blank. After a minute, it started loading, a disc rotating on the screen. 'What the heck is this?'

   'Be patient,' River said, stroking the keyboard. An image appeared on the screen. 'A giant ice cream, what is this?' I asked. He gave me a stunned look.

   'It's a location, the ice cream billboard in Forte dei Marmi resort, Tuscan coast.' He said, then skipped to the next picture; the picture of a big trash box.

   'I think that's where Yolanda will be dropped. Her dead body?' Lance, one of the most trusted, asked confusedly.

   'I don't think so,' I disagreed. The screen changed again, a picture of a hitting midnight. 'Midnight, tomorrow,' I smiled. 'It's either going to be a trap, or for real.'

   'No, Carlos, tonight.' River corrected, keying in some words. He pressed the enter key, and just like that, words started writing itself.

   <Hi, Carlos, it's me, Yolanda. I expect you to be smart enough to keep this information away from my father. There's a great chance that he'd storm over here and ruin everything, plus, my helper don't want to be identified, so I must respect her decision. You know dad would never listen to that and kill her instead. You don't need to worry about me, she's taking care of me. The location you just saw that's where I will be, and note that the seven names that will follow are the names of the moles. Don't, I repeat, don't, come after me yourself. According to my helper, they are monitoring you as well. Please send over the ones they call Lance and Barrow. I repeat, Lance and Barrow. I'll be waiting for you>

At the same time, I received a text from Ted. <Get River and come find me, I found him.>

   'Lance, get Barrow. Make sure you don't return without the young princess. Is that clear?'

   'Aye.'

Ted's standpoint

   The pleasurable feeling of satisfaction tingled in my body as the men crashed down on the floor with eyes wide with horror as their souls left their bodies. The cold satisfactory expression reflecting on my face gave many shudders and desire to flee for their lives but none of my marked must survive. My hands were tightly clasped around the cold surface of the metallic, silver-colored revolver. I had no sense of humanity, no feeling of compassion, as I watched the way I had killed all the weak pups; it was delightful to watch them die with such horror in their eyes. I chuckled and went to sit as the last man dropped dead in front of the main target. Why won't people fear me?

   Carlos dragged him before me, forcing him down to his knees. He was acting strange, but questioning him was for later. 'So, Ryan, ready to talk?' I asked with a glint of maliciousness in my eyes and mockery in my tone. 'Or do I still need to kill more people for you to get the picture?'

   'You can kill as much as you want, I don't care. I will never betray Lucius, ever!' They always say that.

I scrunched my nose in mockery. 'Ooh, wrong answer,' I snapped my fingers. Sylvester dragged in with a crying and screaming woman in his hands. He threw her on the floor, huffing with annoyance. She was pretty, beautiful, but would be prettier with a bullet in her head. Ryan's eyes widened with horror. 'Still don't care?'

   'No, no,' he cried. 'Please don't hurt her,' love, weakness.

   'Sorry, what? I can't hear you.' I taunted, putting my hand to my ear.

   'Please, Ame, I will talk, just don't hurt her.'

   'Good boy,' I smiled. 'Now, tell me what it is about Lucius I don't know, I'm dying to get the details.'

   'There…there… I can't,'

   'Awwwn,' I inclined my head. Sylvester took the signal. He pulled out a gun from his holster and shot her leg, they both screamed out in pain, ouch. 'Answer wrong again, and she takes a bullet between her pretty breast.'

   'There is no secret, I swear!' He cried. 'There is nothing Lucius is hi—' Sylvester shot her second, directly at her thigh, causing another outcry. I scrunched my face, her scream was irritating.

   'Don't dare me, Ryan, don't.' I growled.

   'Please, Ame—'

   'Let's try this one more time now, shall we, kid?' interjected, giving him a wide smile.

   'Ok,' he inhaled sharply. 'Lucius has a sister, one he loves with his life, but she doesn't live with him. She's left almost three years ago. If you get her, you cut off his claws.'

   'So, the pretty little damsel is the key to his downfall?'

   'Yes,' I looked at River. He nodded, ready to begin the search.

   'Now, where is she? What is her name?'

   'Her name is Marilyn Barley, she's supposed to be—.' He paused, his eyes glazing over thoughtfully. The guy was testing my patience.

   'Yes?' I asked impatiently, 'don't waste my time, young man.'

   'Heh heh, it's funny,' he smiled. 'If I tell you, you will kill me. If I don't, you still kill me, I still die as well as her.'

I growled. 'What is that supposed to mean!'

   'Take your best shot,' he smirked. I let out a painful laugh, smart ass.

   'As bright as you think you are, you are wrong. My original plan is to kill you, treat and wipe her memory, so she'd be back to her normal life. To her, she got shot in a random shootout but she'll be alive, wouldn't she? I'm in a very merciful mode because I'm trying to be positive about my baby's return. So unless you really want me to change my mind, you will start telling me exactly what I need to hear!' I snapped. 'You have ten seconds to decide to die but save her life, or you both die and I still find Lucius' sister. Either way, I win, but you can still win by choosing one. Now, Ryan, choose wisely.' I massaged my temples, sighing and mentally counting the seconds.

   'I'll talk.' I dropped my hands, relaxing with eyes closed.

   'What do you have for me?'

   'Lucius sent her to the only place he knew you would never check,' I shook my head, already knowing the answer. 'She lives in Italy, in Verona to be precise. She goes by the name Ursula Warrens.'

I smirked and chuckled evilly. 'Give me the address.'