Julian knocked on his daughter's door, patient and stout. He stroked his beard which had grown streaks of white.
He knocked again.
"I'm not coming, I don't feel like it." A sharp voice could be heard from within.
"You always say that darling, how would I look without you with me, my swan." He replied with a soft voice.
Waiting some more, he knocked again. "If you need me, or anything. Just use line 1 or 2."
Julian's hulking body stroke away with firm footsteps that slowly moved away.
As the door outside closed, Julia peeked out of her room's door. She was petite and had dark hair, her eyes displayed a certain intelligence as she scanned the corridor.
The place was lit up and she double checked if there were anyone around. She winked at the receptionist, Natalia and a very firm bodyguard who stood near the door.
With the coast clear, she closed the door.
The thick walls of the granite Knox mansion looked down on all its surroundings, it was an old castle refurbished by Gangster King who found it appropriate for a king such as himself to have. It was impenetrable, with guards always on patrol, heavily manned on normal days. Now most of the guards were outside in cars waiting for their boss.
"Boss, someday she'll have to take over, she can't keep foregoing her duty." A long haired man whispered to Julian inside of a sleek tinted car.
"She will come around soon enough. Pay attention to your responsibilities, chief advisor Hank." Julian grunted to stifle any rebuttal.
"Julian, you can't keep going personally, we told you we can do it ourselves, it's not safe. Gangs from the outskirts and from other towns are eyeing your every move. Routine is bad, ambushes can be set up, why must you keep insisting on going personally. The Police and the State know not to meddle in our peripheral state, but who knows what they're up to."
"The thing is, Hank, as I have said several times, I have to go there myself, if people do not see the leader, they'll grow detached from my control. I have to show myself strong and resolute, always there to dictate their moves."
"But boss, I worry." Hank whimpered a little.
Julian just motioned the driver to drive and they were in motion.
Outside the Grand Cathedral of Plynorth, Julian and his men arrived to a gathering of people. As he left the car, he drew the attention of everyone, yet not one was brave enough to look at him directly.
Followed by heavily armed men with assault rifles, he went inside the cathedral followed by only a handful of his guards, while the rest secured the space outside. Everyone sighed sighs of relief, whispering "Thank God he didn't throw a tantrum this time."
But their stress did not dissipate, one by one they still had to meet the Boss.
The air outside the Cathedral was stiff and still, people whispered warily, anxious eyes scanned the area, afraid to directly look at the people stationed about.
"Razor Hill, you may enter." One of Julian's henchmen shouted.
The town blacksmith, Razor, with a beard and an apron, his knuckles were covered in specks of soot, and his apron had seen better days.He stood up from his seat and walked towards the entrance, he hung his head down as he stood outside the door.
"May I enter, Boss."
"You may."
Walking towards Julian and his guards, Razor scanned the surroundings, he clenched his teeth and continued until he reached before Julian.
He knelt in front of Julian "Boss, this month's earnings have been little. I could not come up with the monthly fee."
One of Julian's men raised his rifle and held it as if he were to hit Razor with the rifle butt.
Julian stopped him.
"But boss, I got you several trinkets and ornaments, accessories made of valuable ores and gemstones. I hope this suffices."
"Show them to me." Julian said uncaringly.
Razor walked out again and carried with him two wooden cases, filled with what he mentioned.
After looking at it for a second, Julian stroked his beard "This will be enough for two months. You are excused."
Razor bowed his head once and went out of the door.
The guards at the entrance shouted again "Next, Farmer Joe, you…."
Razor still at the entrance suddenly brandished his daggers hidden in his boots, with swift motion he jabbed from below at the guards on either side, their bodies went limp and the last sound they made were gurgling sounds.
Razor then pressed a button on his phone and the crates he carried inside exploded, launching shrapnel everywhere inside.
A sudden hailstorm of muffled bullets flew through the air, hitting the gangsters with accuracy.
Gunfire continued and after a few seconds all the gangsters outside were on the floor, either dead or critically injured.
Smoke plumes rose from the Cathedral, armed men and women wearing ghillie suits and combat gear showed themselves one by one securing the premises. Finishing off the ones still alive.
Razor activated his earpiece, "Operation Jericho is a success. We are yet to clear the inside of the cathedral."
He signaled two to come with him, one of them gave him a handgun and a bulletproof vest.
They breached the door of the cathedral with ease, the place was filled with smoke. Several bodies were lying on the ground, groaning in pain, they were hit with several shrapnel pieces, slowly bleeding out on the floor.
One by one, the team ended their suffering with a double tap to the head.
"Where is Julian that pig!" Razor spoke to the team.
His body was nowhere to be found.
Realizing something, Razor ran to the backdoor, followed by his team.
"Julian's body is yet to be recovered. He has escaped from the back."
Everyone in the area was on alert, searching for Julian.
Following the trail of blood outside the back of the Cathedral, Razor spoke again. "He's found. Wounded and alive. What do you want me to do, leader?" He spoke to the earpiece.
"Just make sure he dies, his body will be put on display at the town square." replied a voice.
Heaving heavily, Julian was wounded, his clothes smeared with blood. "I knew this was happening, I should've been more precise, who are you working for ?" He spoke, losing his breath.
"Nothing someone who is about to die should care about." Razor replied and shot him on the neck.
The Gangster King of Plynorth bled out behind the Cathedral, gurgling blood, holding his neck.
"Should I have made him suffer more?" Razor whispered to himself.
Back in the Knox mansion, Julia woke up to the sound of glass breaking and flashbangs being used inside the castle. She was a petite young lady with black hair, dressed in her pink nightgown.
She hurriedly went to her shelf and pulled out a handgun and waited for the intruders to breach her room.
"Miss Julia. We are under attack, please open the door." Natalia the receptionist shouted from outside.
"What's happening Natalia?" a confused Julia replied
"Your father is dead and we must escape together. They've already breached the front doors. We must escape together."
Julia dropped her guard and opened the door. "Is it true, father is dead?"
"We just got confirmation."
Julia sniffled but steeled herself, they were in an active battleground.
The corridor was smoky from the tear gas and smoke bombs deployed.
She saw Natalia and the guard waiting for her outside.
Once outside, she led the way towards the basement tunnels, she heard a gunshot from behind her and the sound of someone falling to the ground.
The last thing she saw was the pistol whip which knocked her unconscious.