Uncanny alligiance

Aleck slipped into an unknown car. It's past midnight and his boss must be asleep by this time. The car was parked a block away and he a gave jogging as an excuse so the guard on duty won't have to ask him again. He also made sure that he looked the part. Dressed with navy blue track suit and matching pants and sneakers. The unsuspecting eye could only assume that he's out to break the carbs he had for dinner.

It was a cold night and every breath he took was a struggle and every breath that came from his produces a thin cloud of smoke. He cancelled but the man waiting inside the car would not say no for an answer and he had already taken the advance payment which he used to buy a property in Daytona. His dream retirement place---where it's brimmming with college boys and girls during spring break.

"This better be good, it's colder than a witch's tit here."

"Don't be such a wuss. For the amount of money I pay you...I can pull you out of bed anytime I want." The man said sarcastically.

"There's nothing much happening these days ay Gustav's empire." Aleck squirmed."If there's anything, I would let you know immediately. I mean...let's be real, when did I keep anything from you?"

The man nodded, he seemed convinced that Aleck was telling the truth. He had been compiling snippets of information from the right man himself and Gustav doesn't seem to realize that someone from the inside was bought and spilling their guts to them in exchange for more money. His name is Manolo.

He is one of the many men that works for Gustav and they've seen each other Friday night, when he took his pass on Meredith. Manolo handles the Bronx and had been stealing off Gustav's money. His remittances are forged and he's Latino ass was ambitious enough to dream that one day, he'd bypass whatever power Gustav has. Or even the other mob boss who was younger and more fighting it square.

Manolo is like a termite. A pest that will infiltrate the hardwood----unlike the others----from the inside. Aleck had to commend him for having the balls for even trying but Manolo's offer came during the time where he had been sour graping. He is young and he wanted to have his own family and he had no plans of staying with the mob for the rest of his life.

Most of the men he know in the mob have only themselves. Others cut themselve off from their family for protection. Because the mob life isn't for the faint of heart. The people you love will be in danger. And later on in his life, the realization hit him, seeing Gustav Pallino filthy rich but lonely. No family. No kids. Just his empire.

When he dies, the mob will be in a total shamble who gets to inherit the position and what happens to his billions and his properties?

Aleck never wanted to be like Gustav. Not in a lifetime. Manolo gave him the necessary funds to start his life once Manolo gets what he wants and he's left alone to start anew. For Aleck, it's a win-win.

Manolo smacked his lips and fished chapstick on his breast pocket. Applying it shiphazardly on his parched lips. "That's not good enough." He sighed deeply, filling the car with his cigar breath.

"W-what do you want?"

"Meredith Gomez."

"That's impossible! Gustav is so protective of her!"

"Bingo." Manolo grinned mischief dancing in his eyes. "How long have you been working as nanny for the old man?"

"Long enough," he snapped at him. Unimpressed by his choice of words. "And your point is?"

"My point is this...why is the old man so protective of that bitch all of a sudden? Don't youfind it baffling?"

"It is, now that you point it out..." Aleck mumbles.

Manolo pats him on the back, "ah, you are not the sharpest tool in the shed as you claim to be. Now, I am torn if I chose the right man for the job. You know a lot of men under the old man's paycheck would love to take your place."

Aleck pales. Unlike Gustav, Manolo is a man who doesn't stick to his words. The possibility that he'd do what he just said is magnanimous. Given that he is serious about taking the reigns off Gustav. This is the kind of man who will not play by the rules. Though he is a skilled fighter, he would not risk it. He had plans already and he's talking to the girl he had always cherished close to his heart since he was a young boy.

Their relationship has barely begun and he is so set in spending his life with her in peace and comfort forever. He told her that he is working at a security firm and she couldn't be any happier because he has a stable job. They are both from a little town where the rich can be counted in their fingers and right now, she's still stuck in the same town working as a sales woman in her aunt's store and treated as shit. Aleck wanted to change all that and he would definitely stop at nothing to get what he wants.

He cleared his throat,"fine, you want more dirt. I will get it for you."

Manolo smiled, his smile not reaching his eyes. Aleck felt fear grip inside him. Any day now, he'd be a free man. So free that he could almost taste it. The man wagged his stubby pointer finger in his face, so close, that it was enough to drag him back to reality. "Oh, no. Not just any dirt. I want you to focus on that woman. If Gustav is not fucking her any way, I bet my ass she's important to him. Find out how important. That's what I want you to do. Are we clear?"

"Yes."

"Good, now go back there and be a good boy." Manolo ordered him.

In no time, Aleck was on the streets again. Unnerved that he might be mugged or worse, shot by a high kid. He just came from a deal with the devil himself. He actually liked Meredith but if she's her ticket out of this life----so be it.