Pulling up!

After a drive through the city, James brought the car to a stop in front of Arslan's apartment building. With a brief farewell, he left Arslan standing there, clutching the envelope that sealed his agreement to the job at hand.

"I hope this doesn't turn into a mess," Arslan muttered to himself, his gaze shifting back to the paper in his hands. The document revealed the detailed profile of a woman in her mid-twenties, complete with long blonde hair and a meticulously outlined life story.

From her height and weight to her hobbies and preferences, every aspect was meticulously recorded. Arslan's task was to extract her from a heavily guarded home and into the hands of Mr Spark.

She was the wife of a Moyah family captain, adding layers of complexity and risk to the mission that lay ahead as he was one of Spark colleagues.

Knowing the intricate planning required for such a thing after his past experience, Arslan couldn't afford to underestimate the challenge. Reflecting on past mistakes, he realized the need for meticulous preparation this time, unlike how carried that job for Elijah.

"Sigh…, Should've asked for more," he lamented, regretting his earlier misjudgment during the negotiation with Spark. As the weight of the impending mission settled on his shoulders, Arslan braced himself for the high-stakes operation ahead, determined not to repeat past mistakes.

Arslan smoothly stowed away the envelope, his focus shifting to Sparrow, the friendly cat that often frequented the area beneath his apartment building. As the feline approached, Arslan crouched down, extending a hand to stroke her soft fur, a moment of peaceful connection amid the urban chaos.

However, his tranquility was interrupted by the landlord's arrival, his brusque tone cutting through the air. "Hey kid!" the landlord called out, expecting a prompt response from Arslan regarding the overdue rent. Unfazed by the landlord's demeanor, Arslan stood silently, meeting the man's gaze with a steady, unreadable expression.

"This month's rent is due, kid. You better have my money," the landlord asserted, anticipating Arslan's usual plea for an extension, a tactic he had employed in the past to buy more time.

Arslan coolly retrieved a wad of cash from his jacket pocket, catching the landlord off guard as he began counting out the required sum right before him. The landlord's surprise was palpable at the sight of the money in Arslan's possession.

"Where did you get this money, kid?" the landlord inquired, his curiosity piqued by the unexpected turn of events. Without missing a beat, Arslan handed over the rent with a steely gaze, his response cutting through the air. "None of your business. Here's your money. Now leave me be," Arslan retorted before striding purposefully towards his apartment, leaving the landlord behind with a perplexed expression.

After swiftly collecting the incriminating clothes and tools from the job he and Ryder had pulled off, Arslan stuffed them into a trash bag, ready to dispose of the evidence. However, just as he was about to leave, a sudden idea struck him like a bolt of lightning.

Pausing in his tracks, Arslan stared at the bag, a mischievous grin spreading across his features. Without hesitation, he reached for his phone and dialed Ryder, who answered promptly, his concern evident in his voice.

["Where the fuck are you?"] Ryder's urgent question cut through the air, reflecting his worry over Arslan's recent run in with the Moyah Family.

["Home,"] Arslan replied calmly, settling in before continuing the conversation. ["did you get rid of your stuff yet?"] he inquired, setting the stage for his unexpected plan.

["I'm in the middle of it,"] Ryder responded, his confusion growing at Arslan's next directive.

["Don't throw it away, Keep it for now,"] Arslan instructed, leaving Ryder puzzled at the abrupt change in plans. Ryder couldn't help but jest, ["are you planning to get caught with it?"]

Arslan's chuckle held a hint of intrigue as he cryptically replied, ["Nah, but someone will."] His mind is already racing with thoughts of a cunning scheme to eliminate his competition without resorting to bullets or violence.

======================

On the notorious street corner of the neighborhood, Marco and Tony leaned casually against the graffiti-covered wall, their eyes tracking the familiar faces of their regular customers drifting towards a rival turf. Frustration simmered beneath Marco's facade as he voiced their shared disappointment.

"Look at this shit. All that profit walking right past us, and we're just standing here watching," Marco lamented, drawing deeply from his blunt before passing it to Tony. He turned to his partner, a glint of concern in his eyes. "Any word on who's behind this shit?" he inquired, hoping for a shred of insight.

Tony simply shrugged in response, taking a final drag from the dwindling blunt before flicking it away, the smoke lingering in the air like their unanswered questions.

"Nope, everyone's playing it cool, and no one's owning up to it," Tony remarked, pushing himself off the wall and adjusting his jacket with a practiced air. His gaze swept the bustling street, a mix of caution and determination in his eyes.

"Seems like the one who pulled this off ain't looking to make a grand entrance or boast about it. If it was one of our rivals, they'd have made their move by now," Tony analyzed, his instincts honed from years on the streets. With Marco by his side, they were prepared for any confrontation that might arise, silently daring anyone to challenge them and reveal the elusive culprit behind the recent hit.

"Tsk…, fucking cowards," Marco muttered with a scowl, joining Tony by the car, his frustration palpable. "So, what's the plan now? Offer a reward for information, go all 'Fed' on this?" Marco quipped, a hint of dark humor in his tone.

Tony chuckled at the suggestion, acknowledging the irony. "Not a bad idea, but do we have the cash for the info?" he questioned, practicality creeping into the conversation.

Marco let out a sigh, leaning back against the car in contemplation, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. Their thoughts were interrupted by an unexpected voice, drawing their attention to an unkempt figure standing before them, his appearance rough and weathered.

"What if I told you that I saw something that night ?" In that moment, however, he held the promise of answers, prompting Marco and Tony to approach him eagerly, their desperation thinly veiled.

"What did you see, man?" Tony inquired, a sense of urgency in his voice.

Marco's tone turned menacing as he pressed the man for details, his demeanor reflecting the gravity of the situation. The man, sensing the value of his information, set forth his conditions, a shaky hand raised in negotiation.

"I can speak, but I have a few conditions," he began, his voice filled with a mixture of desperation and determination. "I need 5g a day from you, every day, for the rest of my days if my intel is true," he stated, laying out his terms without hesitation.

Marco's smile remained fixed, his resolve unwavering in the face of the man's demand. "Sure, sure," he replied nonchalantly, recognizing the insignificance of the cost in comparison to the losses they had endured. With a gesture of goodwill, Marco passed the man a fresh blunt, a small token in exchange for the valuable information he held.

The man took the blunt without a second thought, though it wasn't his usual fix. He recognized the potential value of the gift, already formulating a plan to sell it for some quick cash and secure whatever necessities he lacked.

"Now, can you please enlighten us? What did you see?" Marco's tone softened slightly, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes as he waited for the man's revelation.

The man deftly stashed the blunt in his pocket, his eyes narrowing with a newfound determination. Drawing closer to Marco and Tony, he revealed his crucial piece of information with a pointed finger towards the corner store where Arslan and Ryder were known to frequent. "It was the kid who hang around the store, he was with someone else"

Marco and Tony exchanged a perplexed glance, their initial disbelief giving way to a dawning realization. "You mean Arslan and Ryder, the guys from the burger joint?" Marco sought clarification, to which the man affirmed with a nod.

"Yeah, that Arslan kid, the one with the tragic backstory. He was there, with no mask and a duffle bag on his back. It was him," the man's words hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow of suspicion over the familiar faces of the two.

"Now that you've got your info, how about that payment?" the man pressed, his request met with a firm response from Marco.

"You'll get it once we confirm what you've told us," Marco declared, a sense of urgency propelling them into action. With a shared understanding, Marco and Tony swiftly retreated into their car, the engine roaring to life as they sped away from the scene, their thoughts consumed by the startling revelation.

"I don't trust this guy. Could those two really be capable of something like this?" Tony voiced his doubts to Marco, his skepticism evident in his furrowed brow.

Marco pondered in silence, weighing the man's words against his own experiences before offering a poignant observation. "You know as well as I do, Tony, that anyone can be pushed to their limits. Just look at yourself bro," Marco reminded his friend, referencing Tony's past as a model student with a promising future and multiple scholarships, derailed by a wrongful conviction by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, that shattered his aspirations and led him down a darker path.

Tony, who had navigated the unforgiving terrain of the criminal world post-incarceration, understood Marco's point all too well. The knowledge of Arslan and Ryder's involvement in underground fighting only added fuel to his growing suspicion, painting a picture of individuals capable of clandestine actions despite their seemingly innocuous facade in their day jobs.

"Are we following him to find their stash or what?" Tony inquired, his tone laced with a mix of anticipation and determination.

Marco's reaction was swift and quick, his instincts taking over as he deftly drew his gun while driving, the ominous click echoing in the tense atmosphere. "Fuck that shit!. We're pulling up on this bitch right now!" Marco declared, a fierce glint in his eye as he locked onto their target.

Tony's grin widened, a surge of adrenaline coursing through him as he mirrored Marco, arming himself in readiness. With a sense of purpose, the car surged forward, hurtling towards Arslan's apartment with a relentless resolve, their pursuit fueled by a mix of vengeance and justice.