Risky Choice

Lorenzo's gaze drifted thoughtfully to the book in Adam's hand. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of curiosity, watching Adam, so engrossed in his reading. As Mike and the others finished preparing the meal, they brought it to the table, the enticing aroma wafting through the air.

Lorenzo reached for the dishes, ready to serve himself, when a soft, loving hand stopped him mid-motion. He looked up into Deborah's beautiful, fair face as she gently admonished him, "I'll be the one putting food on our plates, silly."

Lorenzo chuckled, a warmth spreading through his chest. "Ah, right," he said, sliding a strand of her hair behind her ear. She rewarded him with a radiant smile.

Their table erupted in light-hearted banter as they all tucked into their meals, while at the same table, Adam and his pregnant wife Tifanny, and Max and Patrick with the lovely Peggy, enjoyed their own company. The closeness between them was palpable, even as the other men, who were unattached, couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.

After the meal, as the men chatted among themselves, Lorenzo stood up and addressed them, his voice carrying a newfound gravity. "Gentlemen, I've been thinking about the plan we discussed two days ago. I've decided we're going to put it into motion tomorrow night."

Murmurs of concern rippled through the group, and Adam frowned, looking at his boss intently. "Are you certain about this, boss? Infiltrating a mayor's mansion in Beverly Hills isn't going to be a walk in the park."

Lorenzo nodded, unfazed by the apprehension in the air. He met Adam's gaze, then glanced at Max and the others, silently seeking their support.

Richard, puffing on his cigarette, spoke up, "If we're going to pull this off, boss, we need to plan this operation down to the last detail."

Max, Patrick, Julius, and the rest of the crew nodded in agreement.

"Breaking into a mayor's residence, eh? Sounds like it'll be a real thrill," Patrick chuckled, a glint in his eye.

Julius and several others shared his excitement, their faces alight with anticipation.

Max, on the other hand, wasn't as enthusiastic as them. After all, they were only breaking into the mayor's mansion to steal some incriminating information. If it were a bank job with a hefty sum of cash at stake, that would have been another story.

Lorenzo scanned the table, noting the varying expressions. Patrick, Henry, Julius, and Richard were practically brimming with excitement, while Max, Adam, and a few others seemed less than thrilled.

He also couldn't help but notice Tiffany's worry etched into her features as she squeezed Adam's hand, and Peggy, keeping an eye on her two friends, Max and Patrick.

Lorenzo felt Deborah's hand trembling slightly in his own. He turned to her, leaning in to whisper in her ear, "I'll be alright, Deb. Don't you worry."

Deborah nodded, but he could see the worry in her eyes as she bit her lower lip. "I just hate it when you put yourself in danger like this. Can't we just... be content with what we have? Do we really need to mess with a mayor?"

Lorenzo remained silent, offering her a reassuring smile before leading her upstairs to their room in the apartment complex.

As they walked, he spoke gently, his voice laced with love and determination, "Trust me, Deb. Once we have that mayor's dirty secrets, he'll be in my pocket, he'll be at my beck and call. We'll live a life more luxurious than we ever dreamed of, I promise."

Deborah's expression remained torn between concern and understanding. "I know, but at the same time, I can't help but worry."

Finally, they reached their room, and Lorenzo pulled her into his arms, caressing her back soothingly. "Shh, baby, don't think about it too much. I'll be fine, I promise."

"I can't help it!" Deborah blurted out, her eyes welling with unshed tears. After a moment of silence, she looked at Lorenzo with determination in her eyes. "And... after being with you for so long, I've been thinking... can you teach me how to handle a pistol or revolver? So I can learn to fight by your side and protect myself... and you?"

Lorenzo's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He never expected Deborah to ask for something like this.

He gazed at her with love in his eyes, then leaned in to kiss her deeply, their tongues dancing together in a passionate dance.

Breaking the kiss, he said, "Deb, you don't need to hold a gun to fight or protect yourself. I'll always be there to do that for you as long as I live..."

Deborah smiled, but there was a hint of stubbornness in her eyes. "I know you will... but I also want to be by your side when you're in a dangerous situation. I can't just sit idly by, knowing you're in harm's way."

The determination in her eyes was unmistakable. With a sigh, Lorenzo relented. "Alright, alright... I'll teach you how to handle a gun next week. Jeez, I knew you were strong-willed, but I didn't expect you'd be this strong-willed."

Deborah giggled playfully, "Oh, you have no idea how strong I can be."

Lorenzo's eyebrow arched mischievously. "Is that so? I thought I knew every inch of you, but I guess there's more to discover." He started undressing, his eyes locked on hers. "I wonder if this newfound strength of yours extends to... other areas as well."

Deborah blushed, but her eyes sparkled with desire. "You're insatiable! Always thinking with your... gun!" She squealed, feigning indignation as she darted towards the bed.

Lorenzo chuckled, his own arousal growing with her playfulness. "Ooh, running away, are we? Don't think you can escape me, my little prey."

He gave chase, their laughter and playful banter filling the room as they tumbled onto the bed, their bodies entwined in a passionate embrace.

***

Early in the morning, Lorenzo gathered his men around a table, spreading out a sheet of paper with the mayor's mansion layout.

"This is the blueprint of the mayor's house, courtesy of our friend, Detective Floyd," he announced, tapping the schematic.

Richard frowned, "Are we sure we can trust this information? He's a cop, after all."

Lorenzo nodded, his eyes narrowing as he appraised the paper. With a mental command, his system scanned the document, confirming its authenticity. [Mayor's Mansion Layout] appeared in his mind's eye.

"Floyd probably thinks we're crazy to even attempt this," he chuckled, "so he gave us the real deal."

The others chuckled along, but there was an undercurrent of tension in the air.

Max snorted, "That Floyd fella probably hoping we'll get ourselves killed in the process, so he's off the hook."

Lorenzo chuckled, "Well, that's why I didn't exactly tell him we're moving tonight."

Their conversation shifted back to the plan at hand.

After hours of deliberation, they settled on a strategy: neutralizing the security around the mayor's mansion silently and stealthily.

"This needs to be clean," Lorenzo emphasized, "and if things go south and we attract attention, we split up. Don't come straight here to the base; there might be a tail on us."

Tapping his fingers on the table, Lorenzo looked at his men. "We'll drive to the open woods near Beverly Hills and set up a tent. We'll pose as tourists out hiking in the area."

They all nodded, but Adam spoke up, "Boss, I have faith in you, but after reading 'Red Dead', I don't want us to get too cocky. Things can go south real quick."

Lorenzo chuckled, meeting Adam's gaze. "I agree, and that's why we're planning for the worst-case scenario. And when things don't go as planned."

Adam nodded, visibly relieved.

As Lorenzo continued to list their contingency plans, Adam and Max exchanged glances. They were both glad their boss wasn't as short-sighted and self-centered as Dutch, the character from the book they were reading.

***

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Lorenzo and his men filed out of the apartment complex and climbed into their waiting cars parked along the street.

Lorenzo noticed Mike was visibly nervous. "Easy there, kid. I can see your hands shaking."

Mike wiped the sweat from his brow, his voice shaky. "Um… understood, boss."

Lorenzo chuckled reassuringly, patting the boy's shoulder. "Relax, we've got this. Just focus on the road."

With that, the caravan of cars set off into the night, their headlights cutting through the darkness as they made their way towards Beverly Hills.

Deborah, Tiffany, and Peggy stood side by side, watching the cars disappear into the distance. Tiffany and Peggy, both armed and vigilant, exchanged glances.

Finally, Peggy spoke up, "Lady Gelly, we should head inside."

Deborah nodded, clutching a piece of Lorenzo's clothing to her chest as they made their way back into the apartment.

Tiffany and Peggy couldn't help but feel a tinge of unease around Deborah, they couldn't understand why they felt intimidated by her. They brushed it off, attributing it to the fact that she had spent so much time with the cold and intimidating Lorenzo.

***

The automobiles carrying Lorenzo and his associates cruised through the streets of Los Angeles. After a half-hour journey, they neared their destination: the mayor's residence. The stately mansion came into view, nestled behind a manicured hedge, its windows aglow with warm light.

Lorenzo's keen eyes scanned the area, taking note of the security guards patrolling the grounds, flashlights in hand. He reached into his coat pocket and retrieved a black mask, pulling it over his face to conceal his identity. In a low voice, he turned to Mike. "Kid, don't gawk around. Put on your mask."

"Y-yes, boss," Mike stammered, fumbling with his own mask before finally securing it over his face.

They parked their cars at a discreet distance from the mayor's residence, far enough not to arouse suspicion but close enough to reach their target on foot. Under the cover of darkness, they exited their vehicles and crept towards the mayor's home, their footsteps muffled by the lush grass beneath their feet.