Cuco’s pov

“Holy fu-” was the first thing I heard before Fernando broke off. Then I heard the sound of a chair sliding and then keys clicking through the radio... As I ran outside the ballroom with one of the most dangerous men in Jos Palamos on my shoulder. I ran with my pistol in hand. My heart beating rapidly. As I took turns and crossed into hallways. Bullets flying behind me and barely missing my head.

“What the hell, Fernando?! They're trying to kill me… where the hell are you?!…”

And I heard the radio screech.

“I'm trying to think, Cuco!” he yelled. “Just take a left down the hall you're on. There's a door that I think leads to a parking lot. Get there. Find a car. And drive as fast as you can…”

And as I heard the words I shoved my gun in its holster and started running. I heard Maldini groaning like an old nanny on my shoulder. But I shrugged it off, as I shrugged off the weight of him on my arm. I could hear people yelling behind me. I could hear guns cocking. And as I bent into another hallway, I felt the wind trail of a bullet fly by my ear. I saw a door right at the end of it. And I guessed it was the one Fernando was talking about, and I pushed forward till I reached it. It was locked. And I reached for my gun in a groan and fired the lock. It didn't budge. And I fired again. Nothing…

I dropped Maldini off my shoulder and now kicked the lock hard with the heel of my shoes. And it snapped. I looked at the piece of metal incredulous?... But I didn't have time to be baffled as the guards were catching up. I slid the door open. And as I did, I saw cars lined up just ahead of me and almost everywhere. As far as the eye could see. I heard bullets still flying behind me. And now I grabbed Maldini by the collar and dragged him through the door. Slamming it shut after I pulled him all the way through.

I glanced around looking for a car to choose. And I didn't know which one?... They were so many and so exotic, it scared me. I looked around and saw Lamborghini's, Ferrari's and Porsches. In another corner there was a cream and pink Rolls Royce. A black and blue Bugatti. And—

A red Mazda?...

I frowned as I saw the truck. It was red and it seemed basic. But I noticed it was a manual? And it was all of sudden unbasic. I rushed towards it. And I lifted and tossed Maldini in the passenger seat. The keys were surprisingly in the ignition and I started the car. I slammed my foot on the pedal and drove out across the lot. Swerving past a Toyota and then recoiling back till the tyres hit the pavement, and I was down on the road. Out on the street and with the moon now high in the sky.

I pushed my foot harder on the pedal and I heard the engine roar. The tyres screech and smoke burn out of them. As I went from zero to sixty in a minute. The Maldini Hotel building now behind me as I drove past the empty streets. Few cars going by. And my heart slowly starting to ease back into calm. I heard Maldini groan and struggle beside me. And I reached for my gun again. And with one hand on the wheel, I reached over and knocked him on the side of the head with the handle.

“Pendejo!”

I kept my feet on the pedal and pushed as hard as I could, dropping the gun and now swerving with both hands into a one way street. A car coming directly at me from the turn. My eyes widened but I bent the wheel again. Taking the truck sideways and spinning backwards, and I watched the driver with his mouth open as I turned the one way street into an open park and still managed to drive past him. My tail lights flashing and my adrenaline pumping.

“Where are you?” Fernando’s voice now came from the radio piece.

“Chingu tu madre!” I yelled. My excitement high. As it felt like a drug. Driving through the streets on the open road. No rival men. No cops. Just the wind and the night, and a completed mission…

“You need to get back here Cuco…”

Fernando could go jump in the ocean for all I cared…

I had escaped and I was getting back to the hideout. The truck seemed fast enough and I was going at 120 already. I would get back in time and no one was chasing me… At least I thought?...

I leaned over now and looked at the rear view mirror but it was all dark... My headlights on and the street lamps beside the roads glowing. But no car behind me, and no cars in front of me. I was home free… And I smiled as I heard the car's engines rev. I smiled as I glanced sideways and saw Maldini in the passenger seat. Slumped over and knocked out. Finding it hard to believe that I had actually gotten him?... And that I had actually kidnapped him?...

The crime boss of the biggest Mafia group in Jos Palamos?...

Maldini Peretti?...

I just couldn't believe it… but it happened... And now I was here?… I was the first of everyone to finally catch him? And so easily?...

It almost felt like a dream. And if it was, I never wanted to wake up from it… As I knew I would climb up the ranks with this... I would climb up the ladder and be at the top of the table in the gang for bringing him in. And Fernando and everyone else would finally respect me. And I would finally be taken seriously!…

I pushed my foot harder on the pedal now as I reached 200mph… And I smiled as I realised the car was a four wheeler…