Gangsters in Love: Ash Winters

Prologue

The mailbox hinge squeaks open as I dig inside. Bumping his head against my hip, my dog Seymour gets tangled up in his leash. He's still fired up after his afternoon walk, snuffling around for interesting scents.

Y/N: "Let's see... Bills, bills, junk mail...Oh!" A large postcard stands out among the rest of the usual, addressed to me.

I head inside and lock the door behind me. Tossing everything else aside, I take a closer look at the postcard.

Y/N: "Aw, look, Seymour! It's from mom and dad." I bend down and show my dog. He sniffs it curiously before sneezing.

Y/N: "Dear Y/N, Having loads of fun on our vacation. Hope you stay safe, and remember to always keep your chin up! Hmm?" I check the back of the postcard.

Y/N: "That's it?" Well if I were on vacation, I wouldn't put too much effort into writing either.

Putting the postcard in my pocket, I hum tunelessly to myself and start making dinner. For the past few days I've been house sitting for my parents while they're away.

(No cup ramen while you have a designer stove to work with, kid!)

Y/N: "Any requests, Seymour?" He yawns once and curls up in his favorite spot under the kitchen table.

Y/N: "All right, pasta it is."

It's far too quiet here by myself, so I flick on the TV and set the volume on full blast. One of my favorite talk shows is on. Today it looks like they have a guest from the FBI.

Interviewer: "So Mr. Estrada –"

Mateo: "Please, call me Mateo." He gives the interviewer a winning smile, and she laughs.

(I don't blame her, I wonder if all feds are this handsome?)

Interviewer: "So Mateo, could you tell us more about the situation with gangs in our city?"

Mateo: "Gang activity has been on the rise lately, but the authorities are doing everything they can to keep everyone safe. The best thing for our lovely viewers to remember is to be aware of their surroundings."

Interviewer: "I'm sure our viewers are relieved to know that we have people like you protecting us!"

Mateo: "I'm more than happy to be of service."

(Yikes, gang activity! I can't even imagine how terrifying that might be to get caught up in all that!)

As the interviewer starts to ask more questions, I hear the water begin to boil on the stove. And glass, shattering in the living room! Startled, I turn off the TV and froze in place, listening for anything else. Something heavy drops onto the carpet. Footsteps.

(Oh my god!)

???: "Sweep the house, Leave no stone unturned."

(Am I being robbed?!)

Blind with panic, I turn to try and escape out the back door only to see it wide open, and a masked man standing squarely in the center of the frame.

Y/N: "Ahhh!"

???: "Hey, don't move!" he unholsters a gun, pointing it directly at me.

Henchman: "Boss, we found somebody over here!"

There's a steady drumbeat of footsteps, multiple people filing into the kitchen.

Gangster: "The daughter, looks like. She might know something."

(Know something? About what?)

Struggling to think of something that would get them away from me, I remember the safe Dad keeps in the garage.