"The bets just came through."
Hearing those words always sent my heart rate through the roof. It was the start of some real fun.
"The total?" I asked, already hitting the timer on my table.
"Roughly $12,500 GC."
Decent, but the number rarely mattered as much as the action.
"Send up the drones, check for stability issues with the connection. I want us to go live in ten minutes. And someone tell those lunatics to keep it down!"
The others dispersed like mist to make sure we were good to go, leaving me alone with the quiet hum of the high-tech equipment. The night was off to a good start.
I grabbed the phone to make the call. As usual, he picked it up without a word.
"..."
"Ten minutes to liftoff. You feel the tremor in your hands yet?" I asked.
"Always. What's the damage? I need to know what I'm risking my license for."
I allowed myself a confident smile. "$12,500 GC. Not bad for twenty-eight minutes of fun. Assuming you actually win."
"You doubt the mask?"
"Never. The mask is undefeated." I leaned forward, my voice turning serious. "Now, drop the attitude and answer the question: How are you feeling?"
"I told you. Medium. Hungry enough to eat the competition."
"This isn't a joke, A."
He sighed. "Calm yourself, Oliver. I'm good to go. You're cutting into my focus time. Remaining minutes?"
As if he didn't know. "Eight minutes... Listen, I asked because those reports worried me. What did the doctors—"
"Enough of this, Oli. I told you I'm fine. Let's concentrate on tonight. Give me a two-minute warning."
My phone beeped once as he disconnected. I leaned back in my chair, frustrated. He should take better care of himself. A lot of people depended on him.
The sounds of partying were still loud, meaning Leyla was completely incompetent.
(BRR...BRR...)
The vibration of my phone pulled me from my thoughts. The caller ID showed my Aunt Seline.
I took a few calming breaths, walking further away from the noise, and cursed Leyla.
"Good evening, Auntie."
Her worried voice came through. "Oliver dear, is Asin near you? I can't reach him and I wanted to say goodnight."
He was eighteen, yet still treated like a child.
"He's incommunicado, Auntie, which usually means he's singing terribly in the shower. I can try banging on the door if you'd like?"
"No," she quickly responded. "Don't bother the poor boy. Just checking on my boys. I trust you, Oliver dear, you're always so responsible. You know how protective we are."
I felt a sharp twinge of guilt hearing her words—the trust she placed in us.
"Always. Please, don't worry so much, Aunt Seline. We'll be there for that 'mandatory' breakfast tomorrow morning, bright and early."
"Yes, of course. Goodnight to you two."
I quickly disconnected, banking the device on my forehead. All these lies. If they only knew.
I peaked at the timer. Five minutes.
The door swung open, and some of the team arrived without Leyla.
"Everything is ready, Mr. Aster."
"Good. Where is my assistant?"
They exchanged nervous looks before Julie, the one with the most courage, answered.
"Khmm... she is still doing her best to calm the crew, sir," she motioned downstairs.
Sending a lamb to tame lions. I guess that was my bad. But we ran out of time to care for the children.
The timer was at three minutes and counting down.
"Activate the monitors for the crew before they pull this place apart."
The shutters opened, allowing us upstairs a clear view of the G.O.D. crew below. They were a rowdy bunch, but loyal. I quickly spotted Leyla being carried around like a rock star.
"Connect me to Asin."
"Yes, sir."
Someone handed me a tablet and an earpiece, and soon I heard his breathing.
"Two minutes. Do your final checks."
"What do you think I was doing until now? And why do you always ask that?"
I smiled and checked for police activities near the area. "Repetition creates experience. It's the closest thing we have to prayer."
"You make less and less sense as the days go by."
I heard some laughter behind me and saw Julie wearing an earpiece as well. After silently motioning for her to act professional, I turned back to the call.
"One minute, brother." I informed him.
"Make the call, Oli."
"Good luck."
I turned around to face the others in the room. "It's time. Make the call."
Julie took the phone, which we already made untraceable by local means, and dialled. "Hallo? Yes, I'd like to report a highly coordinated traffic infraction, involving several vehicles and millions of dollars in untaxed GC... Also, they're illegally streaming."
As the timer counted down, I gave the signal, and the footage from the drones went online.
As the call concluded behind me, the usual silence filled the air. Even the crew out there kept to that tradition.
"Here we go. God help us."
The police appeared on our screens, privileged to watch as half a dozen incredibly expensive cars flew by them, leaving them confused. But, as professionals, they quickly recovered and followed.
What we did was simple. Criminals of all sorts sent their best drivers to answer our call. A third-party A.I., approved by all, picked the type of race and route. Bets were made available just hours before said race. Today's race was a sprint.
I changed the screens and saw the drones assigned to the police. Hopelessly behind and inept, but that was a good thing for our profitability.
"Live streaming reached seven million," Julie informed me.
I checked with the second unit behind the monitors, who all gave an encouraging thumbs up.
Just as they did, Julie gave more good news. "The Rams arrived. That was fast."
"Open the new betting," I said immediately.
The Rams. A highly specialised unit tasked to tackle illegal street racing. Fast and almost indestructible cars.
The Rams were closing. Oliver watched their blips on the screen, a grin stretching across his face. Their hardware was useless against a crowded field in the city center. They could only follow the one at the back.
"Bets?" I asked.
"One hundred thousand and counting."
Hearing those numbers gave immense satisfaction. I quickly checked in with the racers. Asin led them by a mile, switching lanes, taking over car after car.
(GOD GOD GOD GOD...)
The crew was amped as well.
"The race is approaching seventy-five percent completion, Mr. Aster."
"Shut down the site, please."
We watched in real time as Asin made fun of the other drivers, leaping through the finish line and just keeping on driving. The Rams now had to make a choice. They couldn't follow everyone, so they had to pick, and as always, they chose the bottom of the pack. Convenience is a hell of a thing.
As he got away on screen, I was already calling him.
"..."
"Nicely done, brother. Now go home."
"That's the plan. How'd we do?" He sounded happy over the phone.
I checked the final result after paying out those who bet on us. "One hundred and two thousand GC, plus the bag."
"Ahh... sweet music to my ears. How are the boys doing?"
I put down the tablet and walked over to the window. Seeing our people celebrate never got old. Despite all the danger, it was well worth it.
"Happy as can be. Too bad we can't celebrate with them tonight. Your mother called about tomorrow..."
"Hmm... very well. I see you soon."
"Soon."
I put down the phone and shared some of the joy the crew experienced.
"Nicely done. Recall the drones and pack up our toys. Other than the CCTV team, everyone get on with it... and someone rescue Leyla, please."
I switched screens on my tablet. Asin was driving away as the CCTV team shadowed him through the city cameras.
Another successful day. The lives we lived, the lives we chose. It was chaotic and uncertain, but it was ours, and I couldn't imagine it any other way.
Asin
Driving around at night felt different after a win. It felt euphoric. All the lights shone brighter, the music sounded louder and better, hell, even the people seemed happier as I passed them.
I turned off the radio, not exactly in a hurry since I knew and trusted my team.
I checked my phone and saw a few missed calls. Mother called me twice despite reaching Oli earlier. I should call her back and calm her mind.
As usual, it didn't take more than a single ring.
"Sweetheart... I thought you were asleep."
I sighed. It was only eleven minutes ago.
"No, mother. I'm about to."
"Oh good then... Stop it, Yanam... Sweetheart, your father wants to talk to you."
I smiled as she gave the phone over.
"Son, listen. Your presence is required tomorrow for breakfast."
"Hey, Dad. Yes, Oliver told me. Anything wrong?"
I always held my breath a little in times like these. We did everything to keep our lives separate, but that fear never really went away.
"I don't know... I doubt it. Your grandfather wants you to be there. Probably about you finishing your studies." His voice seemed to fluctuate. Probably hiding something.
"I see. Look, Dad, I got to go. We see you tomorrow then. Good night."
"Good, good... sleep well."
"Love you, sweetheart!" Mother shouted in the background.
"Love you, Mother."
I was pulling up to Oliver's house and parked the car inside his garage. The team will pick it up tomorrow.
What could grandfather want? Something inside told me it wasn't business related.
Oliver
The crew was very disappointed after hearing the reason behind Asin's absence. But such is life.
"Leyla, listen, I'm leaving you guys alone for the night. Do your best to keep the people from burning down the place."
I packed up my laptop and phone as the others went and joined the fun.
"Sir, the Boss arrived at your house. No tails." The head of the CCTV team informed me.
"Well done, people. Shut down the machines and join the festivities."
I turned back to Leyla. "Tell the crew the money will come at the usual time, same rules as always. Make sure they understand."
She was furiously taking notes, nodding along every now and then.
"Get the twins when it's time to disperse the kids. No offence, but I doubt they listen to you, Leyla dear."
She looked up, puffing out her cheeks. "They are uncontrollable, and some look violent, sir."
I raised an eyebrow since she didn't seem to be scared of them as they carried her around like a rock star.
"Do as I say. Then keep your phone close; we can be in business again in mere days."
"Yes, sir. Enjoy your time away." She nodded.
"Thanks. And Leyla?" I looked back.
She turned around, getting her notepad out.
"Good job tonight."
"Thank you, Sir." She beamed.
Asin
"...what does your grandfather want from you?" Oliver asked.
"No idea. We'll know tomorrow." I said and emptied my glass.
After Oli came home, we spent some time winding down, watching all the footage, editing, then uploading them. Then it came to the money, which we split into separate amounts and paid people based on various factors.
"At the end, with Mr. Unknown taking his cut, we bank... $78K GC. What a day."
I closed the laptop and laid down on the couch.
"Lately, he's given us more work, keeps the crew well fed. We're moving up, brother. Food?" Oliver asked.
I yawned, and he understood it was a yes. I got up after some difficulty and followed him to the kitchen.
"We make a lot of money for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he was planning something big," I theorized.
"What makes you think that?" He asked over his shoulder.
"I don't know, but the races are more frequent, and the crew gets more jobs as well. It seems like a snowball effect."
Oliver understood that reference but was cautious as always. "We talk to old Ivan soon enough. We ask what he thinks about the speed we have been growing."
Sound thinking. "Missed the old man. What... what are you making, Oli?" I asked.
"Eggs. Can't you tell?"
"Why are they red?" I pointed at them.
He didn't answer, and I knew I would have to make my own food. Hotsauce maniac.
Thirty minutes later, we were both full and with barely any energy left.
"Will they force you to join the business?" He broke the silence.
I didn't answer him immediately. Forcing is a strong word. Taking me on some guilt trip—that's more accurate.
"It doesn't matter. Won't change anything. Same as with your day job."
I ignored his looks of disbelief. After all, I meant what I said. Just because I'm doing a nine-to-five, maybe twice a week, won't change my nights.
"Look." I sat up, looking into his eyes. "We set up our lives in a way that there is no going back now. I already embraced it. All in, brother."
His smile spread. "All in."
After dispersing his doubts about the path I took, I let tonight's win replay in my head. For some reason, I slept better like this.
Oliver's soft, rhythmic snoring filled the air. Asin picked up the white mask with the black tears, running a thumb over the chipped paint. It wasn't just a disguise; it was a wall, a persona stronger than the family name, stronger than the sickness. It was The God they bet on.
What's the point worrying about families and tomorrow's when the things I really wanted from this life were already mine, he thought, resting the cool, hard plastic against his face.
Family, friends, and a loyal crew... plus the best job anyone ever had.