Romeo and Julius

Prologue

"You know the drill right [Redacted]?"

"Of course I do Matteo.. this isn't my first time," Al replied, chuckling. "Just making sure. We don't want to let any information of our own slip," Matteo replied. "That's their job to let shit slip," Charlotte jumped into the conversation.

"Alright. Al, you and Charlotte will go inside and gather whatever information you can." "Aye aye boss!" Al fake saluted. "Got it love!" Charlotte replied as she walked inside. Matteo grabbed Al's arm lightly "Keep my wife safe alright?" Al nodded and walked inside.

"Where do we start?" Charlie asked Al. "Hm... What about the counter?" Al said. She hummed in agreement as they both walked to the pubs island. Charlotte ordered two shots of Vodka and slides one to Al. "Arigato" Al says back to Charlie as they took a shot. "Any other places we could get info?" she whispers to Al. "Back tables most likely," Al responds back to Charlie.

They walk to the back tables and as they do, Charlie fake trips bumping into a random man. The man helped Charlie up as Al took a glimpse of his wrist tattoo. "A member oh the Rubies huh, this will be fun" Al thought to himself. "Are you alright? What's your name?" the man asked. "It's Lucia," Charlie said while smiling. "Oh? Well what brings you two here?" the man asked motioning to Charlie and Al. "We wanted to find a new place to drink," she chuckled. Al nodded as the man walked away.

"I got this one ok," Al whispered in her ear while placing their hand of Charlie's shoulder. She hummed in acknowledgement while they walked away.

Al walked up to the guy who's a member of the Ruby Serpents. "Hello dear, how's your day going?" he asked with a sweet smile. "And you are?" he asked while arching an eyebrow. "Al, lovely to meet you, and your name is darling?" Al asked. "I'm Rafael," the man we know as Rafael said as he smirked. "Hm, Rafael, sounds exotic" Al chuckled. "Indeed, so what bring you here?" Rafael asked. Al motioned to Charlie. "My dear friend left me to go talk to some rando," Al said as they pouted seeing Charlie talking to someone who is assumed to be another mafia member. "Ah, I see," Rafael smiled. Al smiled back at him. "Do you mind if I sit next to you?" Al asked. "Don't mind at all," Rafael replied with. "Thanks cutie," Al said as he sat next to Rafael placing a bug under the table. Rafael offered Al a shot and he happily accepted. They both drink their shots. "Did Matteo send you?" Rafael whispered in Al's ear while he chuckled. "Now now dear, I have no clue who this Matteo person is," He said as he smirked. "Can't a person flirt with someone from time to time," Al said. "Tell me a bit about yourself," Rafael said. "Well, I just started studying cosmetology," Al chuckled. "I find body art very interesting if you couldn't already tell," they smiled. "You seem interesting," Rafael said. "Well thank you," Al smiled. "What about you," They asked. "I am in between lifestyles at the moment," Rafael said. "Oh?" Al said. "Guess you could say I'm indecisive," Rafael said. "Awe, why's that?" Al asked. "Well, there's the academic life, athletic life.. or follow in my family's footsteps," he paused. "Mafia life," Rafael said  quietly to Al. Al smiled. "Oh? Family business? I suppose it is always difficult trying to live up to parents expectations," Al said. "In my case, it's my entire family," he said in a sad tone. "Ah, I see," Al said. They looked up to see Charlie signaling that it was time to go. He pretended to check his watch. "Ah! Sorry darling seems I have to leave now," Al said as they got up from the seat. "Already?" Rafael asked looking up to Al. "I'm sorry dear, I have to leave now, I forgot I had plans, I'll make it up to you, I promise," he said, smiling. "Alright, see you around then," Rafael said. Al nodded and headed outside to meet Charlie who was outside waiting for him.

After Al left, Rafael was disappointed that Al had to leave so early, he was about to get up as a man approached him. "You're quite the eye candy aren't ya," the man asked smelling like alcohol. "I guess you could say that," Rafael said as he smiled still thinking of Al who was outside of the pub doors. "Yeah, You know, I see a lot of people like you but you quite stand out," he said as he sat down next to Rafael. Rafael could tell the man was lying, he was just flirting with a chick at the corner. "Is that so?" Rafael asked going along. "Yeah, quite so indeed," the man responded. "Can I buy you a drink?" he asked. "That would be nice," Rafael said. "Good," the man said. He ordered a shot of rum for Rafael. "Do you like rum?" he asked. "Who doesn't?" Rafael replied. The rum arrived and conveniently, the man had to leave leaving Rafael to pay for the shot. "Asshole," Rafael thought to himself. "Goodbye handsome, see you later. Maybe eventually we could-" he said as he was interupted by someone. "Deigo!" someone yelled at the pub doors. "Coming!" this man named Diego yelled back. "Bye handsome," Diego said as he walked away laughing. Rafael eyes went straight to where Al was at by the pub doors. "He must have gotten picked up. Shit, I didn't get his number!" Rafael thought to himself.

While Rafael had that conversation with Deigo, Al was outside with Charlie. "Charlie dear, what was that about," Al asked Charlie disappointed that he didn't get more time to talk to Rafael. "Matt's on his way," Charlie said. "That why," Al thought to themself. "I saw that you were getting comfortable with that man," Charlie said. "He's a member of the Rubies, he seems conflicted," Al said as he paused for a second. "What do you mean comfortable!??" Al asked to Charlie. "I could see yall together," Charlie said as she laughed. "What's that supposed to mean?!?" Al said to Charlie. She shrugged at Al. "Damn you Charlie" Al thought to himself. They were going to question Charlie more but Matteo pulled up in front of the pub doors.