ambition // cazzie (REWRITING 7-11)

two

Izzie's POV

The clinking of glasses and the thud of boots against wood echoed throughout the bar, where business was still brisk even as the evening wore on. It was a nice place; the kind of place that was frequented by the urban regulars, a kind of place where people mingled among the law-abiding population.

But, nearing the back of the bar, a door sat alone. A man guarded the entrance with a stern look, keeping quiet whenever anyone asked what was behind that door.

What laid beyond the wooden entryway was something that the public eye should stay blind to. Something in which only a few people, elites, should know about.

It was the gambling market. Or, dubbed as such, the Hub.

The Hub was a place where mafias and people of power would gamble and talk among themselves about things that were happening around the community. Some groups have come up and started selling coordinates for different mafia facilities and bunkers full of supplies.

I found myself sitting near the back and a few of my associates stayed beside me. We'd hangout at the Hub every weekend to see what was being offered. Recently, there was nothing really going on. The most exciting thing that happened was a low-end mafia being executed by mercenaries, but that was weeks ago.

"Anything new?" I uttered in a half-amused, half-deadpan tone as Penelope made her way over to where I was seated. She shoved her hands in her pockets and shrugged, looking between me and the group of people conversing near the front of the room.

"Just some coords to an old bunker. Said it looked slightly ransacked but still has supplies. It's going for $100 right now, but it seems that the price may rise," Penelope quirked a brow and laughed as multiple men raised their hands, "-looks like it's popular."

"Ah, we don't need it. Though the price is cheap, we can probably find it on our own. Even as our consigliere, Quinn is a good scout." I replied, leaning forward in my seat.

"Though," Penelope starts, biting at her bottom lip for a moment before she turns away from me, "-I see something way more exciting than some random coordinates."

I follow her gaze. Nearing the opposite side of the room sat two people; a tall brunette and a blond. They were chatting and laughing, just like normal people.

But if they were allowed in the Hub, there must be something special about them.

"Those two?" I clarify, and Penelope nods in response. "They seem pretty normal to me."

"At a distance they do. But, when I was over at the coordinate auction, I eavesdropped in on their conversation." Penelope stated, and Quinn tilted her head in curiosity.

"What were they talking about?" Quinn asked the girl, and she brushed her hair out of her face.

"They brought up something about a mafia. Something called... ah, what was it? Newton?" Penelope said, scratching at her chin, "I'm not certain, but it seems that we have another competitor on the rise."

I laugh and stand up, walking over to where Penelope stood. I leaned in close and eyed the pair in the corner. "Another mafia? Are you kidding me?"

"I'm not. Seems like the girl is the leader by what I heard, but again, I'm not certain. The escorts wouldn't of let her in if she wasn't known by some degree."

"We've never heard about a mafia named Newton." Quinn joins us and narrows her eyes, lowering her tone to a whisper, "Who the hell names their mafia Newton?"

The three of us stayed silent for a moment and observed the pair. Both of them were oblivious to the fact that we were looking at them, so that posed as some advantage.

"Well, she's not smart for coming here. People know who we are and everyone knows that Clayton practically runs this place." I avert my gaze back to the consigliere and bagman beside me, crossing my arms. "What should we do?"

"We should be asking you that question." Penelope says almost immediately, sizing the two of them up, "Are you just gonna let them take your position? They don't seem so threatening but we've had low-end mafias fight to be on top before. I don't think we want that happening again."

"Come on, Iz. This'll be fun; just another group to mess with. We'll show them." Quinn hyped up the situation, leaving me to roll my eyes.

"Fine," I say, checking to make sure that the small switchblade was still in my pocket just in case I needed to use it, "-but only because I despise losing."

I walked forward with Penelope, though Quinn stayed behind so it didn't seem too suspicious. We walked right up to the table where the blond and brunette were sitting, waiting for them to notice us. It took them a few seconds to realize that we were there, and the brunette raised her brows, "Can I help you?"

"Alright, Newton. We need to talk."

//

I'm so sorry for the cliffhanger but I wanted to leave y'all with one. You guys better be ready for the next chapter because I'm hella excited to start writing it.
Sorry that this one is a little short!