Episode 1

Tyler Morgan

Tuesday is rainy and cold in turbulent and bustling New York City, exactly how I like it, a gray day, for a gray task. The name at the top of the list is Lucas White, a narcissistic traitor who found his own way to steal millions of dollars from the Capo dei capi* of the American mafia, Mr. Charles Harrison.

When night falls, I prepare for the job; killing, for me, is already as common as having afternoon coffee, or brushing my teeth. I put on a black long-sleeved turtleneck shirt, sweatpants of the same color, and dark sneakers.

Inside the car, I thought about everything I would have to do: eliminate the target silently and cleanly, without much blood or any kind of mess, find Lucas White's safe and take it to Mr. Charles. Nothing too complicated and nothing I haven't done before, without leaving traces or clues—that's my biggest trademark in the mafia.

The White mansion is sumptuous, gigantic, and getting past all the security guards unseen was an arduous task. But after managing to get inside the house, I come across a surprising oversight. Lucas White is eating alone and peacefully, sitting at his gigantic wooden table, no company, no servants, no security guards... Standing here silently behind him, I allow myself to analyze him for a few seconds, unconcerned, he doesn't seem to even imagine he's close to death, but unfortunately for him, everyone reaps what they sow one day...

Silencer attached, weapon cocked, I aim directly at the target's head and shoot—cold, cruel, and without any trace of pity, remorse, or anything of the sort. Target down, time to search the house for the notorious safe...

I start with Lucas's room; the house is immense, and I would never find my way around so well in here if I didn't have access to the mansion's blueprints, provided by the very architect who designed it. Every inch of the room is meticulously searched, but I find nothing; I do the same in the living room and again, nothing. Where else could a safe be hidden? The basement!

I walk to the pantry, which is a room past the kitchen; behind one of the iron shelves, I find the trapdoor that leads to the basement. I start going down the stairs and, honestly, I'm surprised by the size of this basement; it's practically another house, only underground.

I search, search a bit more, and when I'm about to give up, I find a door hidden behind a bookshelf—this must be it. The damn door is locked, and breaking it down would certainly make too much noise to remain unnoticed. I manage to find a way using some paper clips I find on one of the tables scattered around the place; I force the lock, and it opens.

The room is dark and the stench is horrible. I grope the wall for a light switch, and when I find it and turn on the light, the scene I'm faced with is deplorable and cruel to levels that even I feel pity.

"Fuck! What is this?"I let out, too loudly for my liking.

"Who are you?"Her voice is low and hoarse, weak as a little bird.

When would I have ever imagined finding something like this? The poor girl is locked in a sort of cage with thick, rusty iron bars, looking like a captive animal, dirty, ragged, stinking, and apparently too thin. What should I do? I decide to call Charles.

"Yes!"Charles answers.

"Boss, I'm at White's house, the target has been taken down, but what I found goes far beyond a simple safe..."

"What are you talking about, Ty?"

"There's a woman in a cage, in a secret room, inside the basement."

"And what do I have to do with that? It must be some sick fantasy of that cretin. Just bring me the safe."

"I haven't found any safe, sir. Nothing..."

"I am the safe."The low, hoarse voice speaks again, this time she stands up and walks to the bars, gripping the iron bars with small, dirty hands. "I am the key..."

"But, what the fuck is..."Charles starts to speak, but I interrupt him.

"She said she's the key to the safe, boss. I don't know what that means exactly, but it makes sense considering she's locked up here."

"Bring her to me, Ty. And this woman better not be lying."

"Right, boss."I hang up the phone.

"Who are you?"I ask, approaching the cage and examining the lock.

"I asked first, sir."She moves away and shrinks into the back.

"I don't think you're in a position to ask anything."I reply, surprised by the caged woman's audacity.

"Are you going to kill me?"She lifts her head slightly, and I can see her green eyes shine.

"Should I?"I force the padlock with the butt of my gun, and it breaks. I open the cage door and enter.

"Please, don't hurt me."She begs and shrinks even more.

Poor girl, so stunned, fearful, and fragile, who can blame her? Who knows how long she's been imprisoned here, under these conditions; I don't even know if she's well-fed, basic hygiene, she certainly doesn't have. I crouch down in front of her; before taking her, I need to make sure of what she said.

"What did you mean by"I am the safe"?"

"Lucas White is my father. Access to all his money is tied to me."She replies, without looking me in the eyes.

"What do you mean, tied?"

"Tied, literally. It's a kind of flash drive."She pulls her long red hair to the side and shows me a scar behind her ear. "He put it under my skin, but all the content erases if I die..."

Lucas White is truly a sadist; he thought of everything. He knew that if someone discovered his dirty little secret, they would kill the girl first and only then remove the flash drive. But why do that to his own daughter?

*Capo dei capi* The leader of all leaders or boss of bosses. The most powerful mafia boss, on whom all others depend.

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