Dance with Dagger

Young Ace crept towards the secret exit, gripping the burner phone like it held the secret of the universe. He didn't know why Guiseppe wanted him waiting there, but he wasn't dumb enough to ask questions. A job was a job.

Inside the pulsing club, the music was deafening. Liquor splashed, drunk guys hooted at grinding babes on stage. Total decadence and debauchery - just the way Guiseppe liked it.

Guiseppe sat at a corner amidst the chaos, scanning the crowds with a predatory gleam in his eyes.

On the elevated stage, Guiseppe's blonde spun and writhed, the siren who swallowed Guiseppe's tastes intimately.

Spotting him, she danced with extra vigor from the poles, eyes locking onto him like a hungry predator. "Couldn't get enough, huh? Come for seconds," she purred, a seductive lure wrapped in erotic rhythms. Guiseppe's kind of welcome.

Nico nursed his drink grimly, eyes searching. Where was Alex? Time's flipped past their meeting. Nico, ever the strategist, felt the unease gnaw at him. Then a swish of gold caught his eye - the dancer, beckoning someone. Following her line of sight, Nico sensed the devil's presence—Guiseppe. A grimace tugged his mouth. "Trouble!"

For Nico, the club held memories of wilder days. Back when he and Alex raised hell in this very club before life pulled them down different paths. With a swiftness born of years on the streets, Nico snatched his jacket and headed for the exits, instincts screaming that Alex was in deep water.

Guiseppe watched his dancer with hooded eyes, greedily drinking in her charms, a scope to make Nico think he hadn't noticed him.

Back at the exit, Ace stood like a sentry, the burner phone a ticking bomb in his hand. He knew he was a pawn in a bigger game. He wiped sweaty palms, unsure if dread or luck awaited him today.

He shifted impatiently by the exit. Hanging around waiting now sucked, but he wanted to fulfil his side of the deal to Guiseppe. His instincts telling him that the man he saw earlier wasn't someone to play around with.

He peered down the sidewalk. Was that Nico approaching in the distance? Ace squeezed the burner phone nervously, ready to play his part.

From the dark, Guissepe's man, one with the binoculars alerted his comrades. "Target acquired. Let him get close before springing time." Guiseppe's men tensed, poised to act on command.

His senses tingling, Nico slowed his stride as he neared the lurid lights. It was almost midnight - time for vengeance. He slipped a hand inside his coat, fingers brushing his trusty pistol.

Rounding the corner, Nico clocked Ace leaning against the wall. Their eyes met for a split second before Ace glanced away casually. The kid was a terrible actor.

"Evening," Nico greeted calmly, pacing closer. His hand gripped the concealed firearm. "You seem to be waiting for someone?"

"You man, hold up!" Ace spoke out awkwardly. "I was told to give you something..." Nico paused, eyes narrowing with suspicion. His trigger finger twitched.

Scanning around, he gently retrieved the cell phone from Ace who had it stretched for long and was beginning to think of dropping down his hands.

His job done, Ace escaped into the shadows ready to go grab a meal.

Opening the cellphone, a video pops, showing a kidnapped Alex now tied to a chair. Then a message pops, "Follow the men, if you want him still alive."

Just then, the alleyway crackled noisily as Guiseppe's thugs swarmed from the shadows. "Drop your weapons Nico. The Brains doesn't want war, he wants to talk", they declared their intentions to Nico.

Bending, as if acknowledging defeat, Nico moved with catlike swift, senses hyper-alert to sudden spraying bullets. He quickly scanned the men surrounding him from his rear view for any sign of weakness in their positioning. Nico wanted nothing more than to pluck out their eyes as a sign that no more messes with him.

Just then, Guiseppe's voice rang out from the shadows - " Easy Nico, leave the gun down, and let's not make this bloody. Besides, didn't your momma teach you it's rude to keep a guy waiting?" Nico whipped around, hand still gripped to the pistol. No will to submission - yet.

"Relax paisano!" Guiseppe laughed. "I just wanna chat with an old buddy." His tone turned icy. "But first, you're gonna drop the gun."

Nico's eyes narrowed. His pistol was his only leverage - Guiseppe must be fooling. "Over my dead body," Nico spat. He and Guiseppe stared each other down, hands twitching near their hidden guns. The night held its breath, bracing for bullets to fly.

Guiseppe's tone iced over as he stepped closer, eyes piercing Nico's. "Then we talk about your secret femme fatale. If I had wanted you gone, I would've started with her to cripple you emotionally."

Nico tensed, the threat against his leverage on Vixen striking a nerve. He had to play this carefully.

Sensing Nico's hesitation, Guiseppe pressed his advantage, voice dripping with false charm. "Come now paisano, let's be reasonable, eh? Put down the gun and we talk like civilized men."

He placed a hand on Nico's shoulder in mock friendliness. Nico shuddered internally at his touch but didn't pull away.

"Lord Vito wishes to parlay with you himself," Guiseppe continued. "He gives you his word that you will come to no harm under our roof."

At the mention of Vito's promise of safe passage, Nico wavered. That vow was sacrosanct in their world. To go against it meant banishment and death.

Seeing Nico consider it, Guiseppe added with a greasy smile, "On my honor and by our clan's creed, you have my guarantee of safe conduct. We shall speak no falsehoods nor draw blood once you cross our threshold."

Nico's eyes narrowed, searching for deception. But the ancient codes of Lord Vito's house ran deep. He had to trust Vito's words even from his enemy's mouth.

Finally Nico nodded. "I accept Vito's parlay under the creed," he said grudgingly. Eyes locked with Guiseppe, he slowly placed his pistol on the ground and kicked it away.

Guiseppe clapped Nico's back like an old friend, signaling his men to stand down. "Wise choice," he said as he led Nico towards a waiting car.