Prologue

Friday, September 20th

Jackson Heights, City of Bayview

11:00 pm

It was a dark night in the city of Bayview. From top of Jackson Heights; the city lights glittered, bringing a display of colors all around. It was one of the best cities when it came to the car scene, on a typical Friday night cars gathered around on an almost deserted street in Coal Harbor. A red Nissan Silvia S15 was parked on the side, a 20 year old female with Japanese and European features emerged from her car wearing black cargo pants and a gray hoodie with her hair straight, it reached down to her lower back with two bangs hanging from both sides of her face.

"Nice of you to show up, Izumi" A man in his mid-20's wearing a pair of blue jeans, a black t-shirt with ashy brown messy hair walked up to Izumi De Souza.

"You know me, Lance. I have nothing better to do but see if I get a shot at that GT-R you just bought" Izumi replied.

Lance Zane just laugh "First time you raced me you were driving that S15 and I had an Acura NSX and you couldn't beat me. But we can try again"

Izumi only smiled "I lost money to you and now I'm getting it back"

"You can dream I suppose" Lance teased.

Izumi's cellphone rang.

"Hello?"

"Izumi, please you gotta come to my place. I need your help!" a female's voice was on the other end.

"Gianna? What's wrong?" Izumi knew something was not right.

"You have to come… please! You… have…." Suddenly the call got cut off.

"Gianna…? Hello….?" Izumi tried to call back but no answer.

"Is something wrong?" Lance asked.

"It's Gianna, something's not right. I'm heading over to her place" Izumi explained as she started to shake in panic, she turned around and started to walk to her car when suddenly Lance grabbed her arm.

"You don't look good, you're shaking. Let's take my car" Lance was Izumi's friend and rival, he knew that Gianna was the closest thing Izumi had for a sister. Izumi nodded at Lance and both ran to his car.

Seven minutes later in Beacon Hill, the Nissan Skyline GT-R stopped at an apartment building on Lombardi St. Izumi and Lance got out of the car and ran inside the building. Once inside the building they saw the door slightly open.

"Somebody was here" Lance said as he slowly opened the door, he and Izumi walked in silently.

"Gianna, are you ok?" Izumi walked thru the living room towards the bedroom. Then she saw her friend, a 5'6 light skinned girl with black hair, wearing a white short dress lying on the floor.

"Oh my God! Gianna!" Izumi knelt down and leaned Gianna's lifeless body on her, tears started to roll down her cheeks as she quietly started to weep.

"I'm so sorry…." Izumi's voice started to crack.

Lance walked into the bedroom and was speechless. He could do nothing but to put his arms around Izumi to console her. There was a knife with a snake engraved on the handle, it was stuck in Gianna's mid-section, Izumi lost the only person that was family to her…..

"I'm sorry, Izumi" Lance wrapped his arms around Izumi and she placed her head on his chest as she felt like the world was crashing down on her.

"Why Lance? Who would do something like this?" Izumi said.

Lance couldn't find the right words, he was friends with Gianna too and found hard to believe she was murdered. Gianna didn't have enemies that would try to attempt on her life. Minutes later, paramedics and cops showed at the scene. The police questioned both Izumi and Lance but at no avail, no one knew a thing.

Three days later…..

Lakewood Memorial Park

It was a sunny day in the city of Bayview, it was a contrast to the sad mood that Gianna Tagalucci's funeral brought. Family members and friends were there to pay their respects, the media was there as well to get a scope. Many reporters called it a sad day in professional racing. Gianna's parents, Enzo and Anita Tagalucci were seating in the front row, they were completely devastated by their daughter's murder. Izumi was seating next to them, she was wearing a black dress and sunglasses.

"I wish I could've done something" Izumi muttered to herself.

Anita heard that and put her arm around Izumi "It's not your fault sweetheart, you went to her aid and to us that is what matters"

"Gianna was like a sister to me, I feel like I failed…." Izumi took off her glasses and wiped the tears off her eyes.

"You didn't fail anyone… If you would've made it sooner, then we'd be mourning you too. You're like a daughter to us" Enzo got up and placed his hand on Izumi's shoulder.

"Remember when you came back from Japan? Gianna was so excited to pick you up from the airport and catch up on old times. Try to remember her the way she lived instead of how she died" Anita said.

"I wish my parents were as loving as you are…. They are so damn shallow and always wanted me to be like them, always looking down on others" Izumi was born into a rich family and even though she had a life of luxury, she always yearned for love.

"We'll always be here for you" Anita hugged Izumi.

"Thank you so much" said Izumi.

Many of Gianna's friends were there, Lance Zane and Rachel Teller were there too. They somehow found out through their street racing connections who ordered the hit.

Lance approached Izumi.

"Do you have a minute?" Lance said, Izumi nodded. They walked to the road nearby where Rachel was waiting.

"Yeah?" Izumi wanted to know what Lance wanted to talk about.

"We have a lead of who could've killed Gianna" Lance said.

Izumi looked surprised "Who did it?"

Rachel looked at Izumi "It was ordered by someone in the Cosa Nostra"

"The Italian Mob, but why?" Izumi felt confused.

"We don't know yet but that's the word on the streets" Rachel explained.

Izumi no longer looked sad, she was enraged.

"Izumi, I know how you feel but don't do anything stupid. That won't bring Gianna back" Lance knew thoughts of revenge were running in Izumi's head.

"Where can I find La Cosa Nostra?" Izumi asked.

"Not here in Bayview…. Different family crime syndicates run things in both Fairhaven and Olympic City" Rachel mentioned.

"I'm….gonna find whoever did this" Izumi put her sunglasses back on.

"Are you crazy? The Italian Mob? You'll be playing Russian Roulette if you go after them" Lance pleaded.

"They will answer for what they did" Izumi vowed to bring the ones responsible to justice, by any means necessary.

The Junkie's notes: Many people asked me about another story with Izumi in it. I guess a lot of people really liked her so due to popular demand I'm writing another story with her in it. For those who haven't read my previous work, please read NFS Undercover Chronicles which takes place three years after this story (this is a prequel) and be on the lookout for upcoming chapters for NFS Project Ghost Shadow. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I do writing it, your support inspires me to keep writing. God bless and One Love.