A seemingly lone car sat in the parking lot of "Beth's Drug Store" on a foggy November morning. Beth Anderson, the owner of the building, was fumbling with her keys while she checked her cell phone. It was 6 AM and she was here to get things ready before she opened at 7. As she unlocked the door and entered the building, she saw her new employee pull up. Much too early as usual, but she was devoted to her work. The old and beat-up red Chevy cobalt finally shut off as a girl with similarly red hair exited the car. She was wearing a black puffer jacket, with some leggings and winter boots. Beth nodded at her as she pulled the door open to allow them both inside. As they entered, they didn't notice a black truck barely peeking out of the fog at the back of the parking lot.

Zoey Carter is a normal 19-year-old girl. She likes to hang out with her friends, spend time online and she had a hobby for thrifting to create affordable and stylish outfits. That was how she got the puffer jacket she was wearing. After high school, Zoey had decided to take a gap year when her mother's condition got worse. Her mother had been diagnosed with an aggressive type of bone cancer that wasn't responding to the treatment. As much as she hated to say it, she knew she only had a short amount of time left with her. To help with bills, Zoey took a job as a cashier at the drug store a few streets down from her house. It was close enough to walk but the chilly morning air was really biting this season. She settled down, ready to start her day when she sees two men in suits walking up to the storefront. She looks up to the clock and notices that it's still 15 till 7. "That's strange", She thought as the pair began to pull the door open.

Earlier

Three men are sitting inside a black truck outside of "Beth's Drug Store" as they watch Beth pull up and begin the process of opening the shop. The first one to speak is the ginger in the driver's seat, "So this is the chick that's not paying?", he asked, clearly irritated. The mohawked man in the passenger seat simply replied, "Yep", as he pulled out a pair of black bandanas and handed one back to the man in the back seat. The man in the back seat seemed out of place with the other two. Sure, he was dressed in a suit like the other two, but he didn't seem as intimidating. He was just as tall as the rest of them while being much lankier compared to the other two with more stocky builds. While he listened to Duncan and Scott ramble on about Beth forgetting her fees for the past few months, he noticed the red Chevy cobalt pull up next to Beth's car. He wasn't that interested until he saw the gorgeous girl that stepped out of the car. "Ay Mike, are you going to put the Mask on or just stand there staring into space?", Duncan asked, with his mask already completely covering the bottom half of his face. Mike snapped out of his trance and put his mask on. Feeling the pistol in his holster one last time, he exited the truck while trailing behind Duncan. The pair of men were about to go in to make up for late dues, but he couldn't take his mind off the redhead.

Duncan pulled open the door and strolled in, while Mike walked close behind. The pair made their way to the checkout, where Zoey was cautiously waiting. "Hello gentlemen, I'm sorry to inform you that we aren't open for business for another 15 menu-", she couldn't finish before Duncan interrupted her. "Hey, let's cut the bullshit Toots, we're with the McLean Syndicate and your boss hasn't been paying her dues.", Duncan said condescendingly. "Oh, um…", she stumbled before Mike said, "Just take us to where Beth is, and you won't have to worry about us anymore". Even though Zoey was scared, something about the tall Latin boy that seemed gentler than the punky guy in front of her. She brought the boys to the back of the building and found the office that belonged to Beth. Nervously peeking into the room, Zoey said, "Mumm, Miss Beth? There are some men here to see you.", she warned before Duncan stormed into the room and began to antagonize the brunette at her desk. Mike tugged at Zoey and told her that she may not want to watch for too long in case she witnessed something disturbing. She waited outside as Duncan shouted at Beth for being late and Beth shouted back asking him to understand her position. As they shouted, Zoey studied the man she was left with. He had a gorgeous tan and dark hair that was styled in a neatly combed crew cut. From his features, she figured that he was Hispanic in some way. He was standing, rigid and attentive, with his arms crossed. Like a soldier waiting for orders. She had been studying him for a few minutes when the sound of a gunshot made her jump. When she jumped, her earring caught Mike's mask and pulled the loosely tied fabric off his face. The pair made frightened eye contact, and Zoey got a good look at the handsome features that Mike was hiding under his mask.

Suddenly, Duncan stormed out of the room while Mike grabbed her arm and pulled her as he followed Duncan back to the entrance while holding his bandana over his face half-heartedly. "DUNCAN, DID YOU…?", he yelled while Duncan interrupted again, "WE GAVE HER A WARNING!". Duncan looked angry and confused as Mike pulled Zoey into the parking lot with them. "When you shot Beth, she got scared and knocked my mask off.", Mike sternly explained. Duncan rolled his eyes and pulled out his pistol again. "NO!", Mike shouted, "I'll keep an eye on her at all times, let's take her back to the compound.", he continued. "Who the fuck do you think you are Mikey? Giving me orders? Remember your place.", Duncan spat at him. "Duncan please, just let me take care of her.", Mike begged. Zoey sat dumbfounded as Duncan face-palmed and impatiently shoved Zoey into the back seat with Mike before hopping to the front seat and shouting at Scott to drive. The black truck screeched as it left the lot, leaving behind the eerily "normal" scene at the drug store. Zoey sat staring at her hands in her lap as she felt the whiplash of the events. She had barely worked at the store for 2 weeks, and now she was being taken with three strange men that worked for the largest crime syndicate in the country? She felt her heart begin to drop when the man who insisted on saving her reached out and gently touched her clasped hands before whispering, "I'm sorry that this happened, I can explain once we get there, Okay?", he asked gently. All Zoey could do was nod and wait for the drive to be over. She was terrified, and yet, she felt like she could at least trust the man beside her. Well, trust him as much as you can trust a Mafia member that's driving you to an undisclosed location.