Cuco’s pov

His mexican was flawless… Even though he talked like he had jalapeños in his mouth. Maldini held the mic as he talked and I watched the crowd listen with intent. As I pulled back the catch on my gun and held it beside me. Just waiting for the right time now. His bodyguards still glancing everywhere. With their eyes searching. Almost hunting… for even the slightest thing out of place.

I raised myself up on my legs slightly. I looked in their general direction and didn't turn away. I didn't move my head and I didn't try to not make them see me.

Because I wanted them to—

I wanted them to see me and brush me off as just another joe. Not see me in an attempt to hide and pick me out like a sunflower. I held my gun in my hand with the safety catch still on. I held the cold handle and my fingers rested on the trigger. As I stood patiently…

“...And wiped out the enemies through slow and calculated movements…”

Maldini scratched his nose slightly as he emphasized the last word. His frame of mind present and his looks disconcerting. But just like his guards, he was also watching... And for the same reason.

“They think they lead and they believe they would overcome our strength and authority. But they all fall short. As many of them are underdogs. And many more of them are just dog feed…”

And the crowd nodded at his words in dissonance. His words in Mexican and the English men around nodding with squinting faces. I listened to his words and it irked me. I heard the cockiness in his tone and it took a lot for a bullet to not already be in his head by now.

“...But many have already tried to assassinate me, don't you know?…” he said now.

“They've sent Heaven and earth. The sun and the moon. Even the Calvary of a thousand stars. Yet none have succeeded. They all attempt and they fail. They think they get close, but just as they seek to step out, they are nipped in the bud… they even try when I am asleep, only for them to awake to reality…”

And I hated his confidence…

As he always talked like he always knew everything. His voice and steady reassurance making it seem like he was always one step ahead. And with a man his age, I knew he only walked when he couldn't drive.

“Those who seek my life are simply ambitious men who disagree with their own failure and seek to find success by impeding my own...” he continued. But the people in the crowd now were frowning more than smiling. As they wondered why Maldini had started his speech with the issues of competition?...

They had clapped and cheered believing he was here to celebrate business partners and make toasts. But now they frowned, confused as much as I was. Why he was suddenly talking about the people who had tried to kill him in the past?

And before I could blink I suddenly felt a hand on my wrist?… My eyes widened as I spun around, only to see a man the size of a taxi standing in front of me. His face seemingly carved from stone and his body in a tight fitting suit. His expression angry. As he looked at me from my head down to my shoes and then back again. And I suddenly panicked. I knew I had been caught, and as he held my hand. It felt like my wrist were clamped down and strapped to an electric chair.

I glanced behind me and saw Maldini now looking straight at me. A benign death stare on his face. And I knew I was done for. I saw the crowd follow his gaze until everyone's eyes was on me. The spotlight swung over too and landed on my face. And I heard a loud gasp go around the room as everyone now saw my gun.

But I wasn't going to give up easily…

As I leaned in with my left hand and pulled back my guns safety. Firing in the same motion and sending the muscled man to his knees. I kicked him hard in the neck, sending him rolling over to the ground and then fired a second bullet, this time to his head.

I saw him sprawl over on the ground unmoving as brain matter now splattered out of a hole in his skull. And the crowd gasped even louder as the women now screeched in fright. The men stepping back. Too old to actually say they wanted a fight. But the two guards beside Maldini were now suddenly reaching beside their waists.

And I was suddenly frantic… as I pushed past the people beside me. I pushed and shoved past anyone close to me as I rushed to find room. Before I burst out of the crowd and now leaped out in front. And I raised my gun and fired in sync. Two shots for two meatheaded targets. As the two guards frantically moving now suddenly slumped and fell on their backs. Flat and pale. With the life going out of their eyes and their blood now forming a pool. Maldini himself now defenseless.

And I rushed forward madly to grab him. I was glad I noticed quickly when he pulled out a knife and I swiped it away, before I legsweeped him to the ground. I brought out my piano wire and quickly tied his hands and legs. Wrapped a dark bag over his head. And now lumped him over my shoulders. Holding my gun in my right hand and pointing it at the bamboozled crowd.

“Everyone stay back!”

And they gladly did. Everyone too scared to want to try anything otherwise. And myself too scared to still stand here, as it was only a matter of time before the other guards came…

I got back on comms and now tried to reach Fernando. The reception poor at first, before it cleared and his voice finally came through. He asked if I was done with the job and I couldn't say anything but yell:

“I need an exit, now!”