Into the Unknown

t e n

"Excuse me, but how exactly are you going to send a message to Morone, if you can't even find him?" Vincent asked, sipping on his drink and staring at a half-naked girl dancing on a pole.

Aileen chuckled. "Don't worry about that, I have it covered."

He gave her a questioning look and she sighed. "Remember that italian guy we caught at the police station? I'll have him deliver the message."

"What makes you so sure he'll actually do it?"

She huffed. "He wouldn't dare not to. I have his daughter."

Vincent's eyes widened and he gave her his what-the-fuck-are-you-doing look.

"Oh don't look at me like that! I won't do anything to her. But he doesn't have to know that" she said, sipping on her own drink.

"Wouldn't it be easier just to have someone follow him, see where he's going, who he meets with?"

"He wouldn't go directly to Morone. He'll go to some guy, who'll go to another guy, blah blah. We can't risk being made, this whole thing would go down."

Vincent nodded. "Yeah, okay, I got it."

"But what about you?" she asked, smirking. "You'll see your beloved 'uncle' for the first time in years. How does that feel like?"

"I just wanna punch him in his stupid face." he said angrily, his hands gripping his drink. She cocked an eyebrow.

"He lied to me, Aileen! They both did, for years! But he's the one who got my dad into the buisness, he's the one who corrupted him. I forgave my father, but I never forgave him. He's cancer in a 1000-dollar suit and someone needs to cut him out. And if that's gonna be you, I want in on it."

"Wow" she said. "That's a lot of built-up anger. But unfortunately, this is gonna be a peaceful negotiation. No punching."

"Really?" he said doubtfully.

She smirked. "What do you think?"

"Whatever. I don't have time for this. Now if you'll excuse me." He gulped down his drink and headed for the dancer.

She finished her own drink, eyeing him carefully. "You really are a mystery, Vincent Russo. And I'm gonna solve you."
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"Good news, Fran! You owe me 20 bucks." Aileen said as she walked into the room triumphantly.

"What do you mean? And stop calling me that, we are not friends." Francesca replied coldly. She tried on another necklace, but she didn't take a liking to that one either, so she cast it away.

"Aww, you just hurt my feelings, Fran! I even rented this beautiful hotel room for you, I don't know why you're complaining." she shrugged.

"Maybe it's because you're keeping me prisoner here!" Francesca yelled, turning to glare at Aileen.

She laughed. "What, you thought I'd take you sightseeing? As you said, we're not friends."

Francesca sighed. "Fine, but I do not owe you any money."

"Wrong again sis. You said there was no way your boyfriend would ever agree to meet me, but oh look! He has!" She waved a paper with an adress in front of her face.

"No, that's not...Dio mio!" she put her face in her hands. "He must know it's a trap, he must..."

"Or maybe his love has blinded him" she replied.

Francesca smiled menacingly. "No, no. He always has a plan. You will fail."

"Would you like to place another bet on that? I say 50 this time." Aileen smiled at Francesca, who looked at her unbelieving, and turned to leave.