XXXV

The day is finally here.

The day we end Luca, and also the day everyone finds out I'm alive again.

I was abruptly woken at 5am to help take in the shipments of weapons. Machine guns, rifles, shotguns, you name it. We have everything and more, Luca has no chance up against us.

James is in charge of setting up snipers around Luca's location. I offered to go with him but he pulled the 'you're supposed to be dead' card, which I can't exactly argue with as it was my idea in the first place.

Marco has been non stop calling me, trying to figure out the role in which I'll play tonight, but I honestly don't want to talk to him right now. The decline button has been my best friend.

I just hope he doesn't fuck this up. He's too cocky, dominant, bold, and will do absolutely anything to make a point.

I'm just so excited for Luca to be gone. After, we can actually live our lives, party, and do whatever the fuck we want. Our lives will actually feel like ours again.

Whatever Luca is planning, he's doing a shitty job at it. He failed his solitary attempt of killing me, which firstly is embarrassing, and secondly shows me how weak he actually is. Next time I come across one of his men, I'll skin him alive and send him right back to him. It's like a redundant, murderous cycle between us.

But today is different. Today is the day we break the cycle, the day we have all been anticipating for. The day Luca will get what's been coming for him.

And I cannot wait to see his head on a stick.

My mother insisted that I take some time out of the day to look over Martínez's hideouts in New Jersey and New York. I've been sat here for an hour now, sorting out paperwork and making a list of all the hideouts.

I am bored to death but know this will be useful for our attack later.

I quickly flick through the mountain of paperwork to check it is all complete, anxious to get out of this office. The room is almost dead silent, only the sound of my heel tapping up and down keeping me sane.

"Done." I say with a sigh of relief, leaning back in my seat. Mom looks over at me from the other side of the room with a smile on her face. "Good job." She says in appreciation, as she picks up the file from the desk and flicks through it.

"Hm. He has more hideouts than expected. I'll get Harvey on this, he'll be able to pinpoint the most significant ones." Mom says with a slightly concerned face. I nod as she turns on her heel and walks towards the door.

I only get one quick look at the back of her head before the door slams behind her, leaving me sat in total silence.

I can almost feel myself doze off before the door bursts open, revealing my rather energetic sister.

"Here take these." She yells, throwing several sheets of black cloth over to me. I examine them closely as she watches.

"Ahh, bandanas. You really thought of it all." I say through a smile.

She walks over to me, narrowly missing the crack in the floor, and drags me out of my chair. "We have a lot to do, let's go get ready and schedule a meeting for later."

I nod, thinking about the euphoric feeling we will inhabit after tonight, thinking about how we will never have to think of Luca Martínez again.

We walk into the dining room together and are greeted by all of the guards.

I stare ahead at the table, as my family gathers to discuss the upcoming battle. Us women wear tight-fitting body suits, with red sashes slung over our hips. The sashes indicate our ranks, mine being the highest. I am just hoping we can survive long enough to make some progress in our ranks.

The thought crosses my mind as I take in the tense atmosphere of the room, my sister shifts next to me, and I squeeze her hand, hoping she'll do the same.

"Right, okay. We don't have any time to mess about." I begin. "The vans will be here for later to take all of you, and I will sneak in sometime later." I address.

I turn around to a separate table arranged with weapons of all sorts. I pick my favourite gun, loading it into my body bag, knowing this will be the very weapon that kills Luca.

"What do the Cortez's play in this?" My sister asks.

Oh shit. I completely forgot about them. Maybe I shouldn't have dodged all ten of Marco's phone calls...

Luckily, Mom has been keeping in touch with them. "They will attack alongside us, Marco insisted on it." She addresses.

I roll my eyes.

Of course he did.

Mom and Fran continue talking, and as I walk out of the room, I bump into James, Harvey and Enzo. They barely acknowledge me, more interested in the guns they have in their grip.

Whilst they assemble the rest of the Mafia, I am going to get ready and put my bandana on.

*One hour later*

It's time.

Rows and rows of armed soldiers stand against the estates walls, heads held high, and guns poised to the floor. I smile at just the sight. Finally some excitement in my life.

They each wear full black outfits, to mask them in the midnight darkness, giving us an advantage.

The last time I saw Luca he was wearing a lime green fucking t-shirt, if he keeps the bold colours up, he won't be hard to miss.

I laugh to myself.

"Remember the plan and don't fuck it up." I note harshly, scanning each of the soldiers faces. They all stare back at me blankly, looking ready for the mission. My immediate family stands at the opposite side of the room near the door, they will be the first ones to go.

James gives me a reassuring smile, looking prepared. Harvey on the other hand looks more tense, but I can also tell he's ready for the mission.

For a moment, I catch Mom's eye, she stares at me, with a look that I know all too well. She sees my determination.

She then stands up with authority, "Well, we've talked about the plan, and the time is now. We must strike quickly and with caution, as this is a big mission."

"Be careful." I mouth to her.

The loud sound of several vans engines roaring give us the cue to go - well by us, I mean everyone except from me.

They trust me enough to know I wont mess this up. I've never failed a mission in my life.

"Show time, boys." I say to the armed men, before they walk outside and load themselves into the several parked vans.

I wait a little while before making my move, allowing the others time to take out the majority of the soldiers.

Another van eventually pulls up for me.

I sit quietly in the back of the van and pull my hair back into a tight ponytail. I then throw on a pair of black sunglasses to cover my eyes. Even though I am dressed in my mafia uniform, there's something about the tension in the air that feels different. I look out the window at the dark and rain begins to pour.

Fucking fantastic.

The van stops at the end of the street, and I get out, pulling my red bandana over my face as I make our way towards the target's hideout. I move quickly, and get to the gate, looking for a way in. I almost immediately find an opening, and slip my way inside, keeping an eye out for any guards.

I cautiously stick my head around the corner to see hundreds of Mexican's patrolling the sides of the building, all heavily armed. I've been on missions where I have been outnumbered before, but never like this.

"Lana." Fran calls out from behind me.

Perfect fucking timing. Us together can take these assholes out, especially with help from the snipers on the roof.

"Okay. We have to shoot these assholes, keeping cover, and then we can sneak through the front. The guards there have already been taken care of."

She nods, "What about the ones inside?"

"Let's just hope luck is on our side." I say, noticing her smile a little.

I wonder where Marco is?

Whatever. Let's do this.

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