GTA V : The golden

Neon lights flickered on the wet sidewalks, while muffled music spilled out from a crowded spot. Solid steps made their way through the entrance, and when the guy walked past the threshold, he paused for a sec, like he was checking something or maybe just trying to take it all in.

Inside, the vibe was swinging between loud and a quiet kind of tension. The smell of drinks mixed with the light scent of cigarettes, and the sound of laughs scattered here and there. He didn't care about any of that. His eyes were searching for something... or maybe someone.

In one corner, where the light was just dim enough to give the guy sitting there some privacy, there was a man in his twenties, dressed sharp but not flashy. His blonde hair was neatly combed, eyes sharp behind a fake calm, and his fingers toyed with the edge of his glass like he was lost in thought. He wore orange-tinted glasses, almost black.

Ethan walked up to the table, glanced at him for a moment, then pulled out a chair and sat without being invited. The guy had noticed him as soon as he walked in, but didn't look up until Ethan was sitting across from him.

Ethan leaned in, eyeing him: "Haven't seen you in a minute."

The guy, lifting his head with a grin: "I was wonderin' how long it'd take you to notice me."

Ethan studied him for a moment, reading his face, then leaned in just a little, voice turning serious: "What do you want, Miguel?"

There was a short pause, not exactly silent, but filled with things unsaid. Miguel gave a half-smile, barely noticeable, and slowly moved his glass.

"I just wanted to see you, man. Been too long. How 'bout some old friend talk?"

Ethan didn't reply right away. He let his gaze wander for a sec, like he was weighing his words before deciding if they were worth responding to. Then, his eyes went back to Miguel, tone cool but sharp: "You haven't hit me up in years, and now you wanna talk?"

Miguel shrugged like it was no big deal, took a sip of his drink, then set the glass down.

"Life pulls us in different directions. Doesn't mean we can't catch up again."

Ethan smirked lightly, a smile that said more than his lips let on: "Different directions? Funny you say that now."

Miguel met his gaze, leaning in just a little, like he was about to say more than just small talk: "Ethan, I know you don't trust me easy, but I didn't bring you here just to reminisce."

Ethan stayed quiet for a sec, before leaning back in his chair, eyes still locked on him.

Ethan: "So?"

Miguel's grin widened, like he was waiting for that one word.

He looked Ethan in the eyes, something deeper behind his gaze: "I want to be more than just a shadow of my father."

"Your father? Martin Madrazo?" Ethan didn't seem too moved, but his eyes stayed on Miguel, like he was trying to figure out what he was really saying. He twirled the glass in his fingers for a moment, then spoke with no sugar-coating:

Ethan: "So, what made you step out of your dad's shadow now?"

Miguel gave a little laugh, short and not very genuine.

"Cause I'm tired, simple as that. Tired of being seen as just 'Martin Madrazo's kid.' Tired of bein' treated like a weaker version of him. I want to do somethin' for myself, be someone people actually respect... don't you want that too, Ethan?"

Ethan just stared at him in silence, letting him talk without interrupting. He knew that kind of ambition well, sometimes even saw it in his own reflection. But he also knew that ambition alone wouldn't get you far.

Ethan: "And what do you want from me?"

Miguel leaned forward, dropped his voice a bit, but it stayed steady, like what he was about to say carried weight:

Miguel: "We've got a mutual problem."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, a slight sign of interest, but he didn't interrupt.

Miguel: "I know you're a thinker, and that's exactly what I need."

Ethan tilted his head a little, not fully buying into it yet.

Ethan: "And why do you think I'd care?"

Miguel picked up his glass, stirred the drink inside, then met Ethan's gaze again.

Miguel: "Trust me, Ethan. It's a problem that could decide the fate of both our families."

Ethan stayed quiet for a moment, then smirked faintly, but it didn't reach his eyes. He took a sip from his drink, then slowly set the glass down, eyes still on Miguel.

Ethan: "Go on…"

Miguel pulled out his phone and quickly showed a picture of a blonde man to Ethan.

"This is Juan Strickler, aka 'El Rubio,' the blonde Colombian. He's one of my dad's main suppliers, but he's been gettin' real close to our moves. Like he's watchin' us 24/7."

Ethan studied the photo, then looked back at Miguel, waiting for more.

Miguel continued: "El Rubio owns a private island called 'Cayo Perico.' On it, he keeps sensitive documents—stuff about my dad's dealings, secrets that could ruin us if they get out."

Ethan, still calm: "And what does this have to do with me?"

Miguel looked at him like it should be obvious.

"You know our dads go way back, right? You think your pops, Jonathan James, the AI mogul, never dealt with my father?"

Ethan's eyes widened in realization before his expression grew serious, locking onto Miguel's: "Go on…"

Miguel, reading Ethan's sharp look, continued: "El Rubio's known for his fancy parties. We can sneak in as part of the entertainment crew or just as guests. Once we're in, we need to scope out the island—security systems, guard locations, that kinda thing."

Miguel kept talking, not noticing Ethan's deep stare: "We'll need silenced weapons, lock-picking tools, and a way out. Maybe a small sub or a fast boat."

Ethan snapped out of his thoughts and said: "Do you have all this stuff?"

Miguel: "Not yet, but I can round it up with some connections here and there."

Ethan, eyes sharp: "That's a big risk. If we fail, the fallout could be huge."

Miguel: "I know, but if we pull it off, we protect our families and show we're not just our dads' shadows."

Ethan: "And how do you plan to get in? You said as guests or entertainment, but that alone doesn't guarantee anything. You'll need a backup plan, an escape route, and—"

Miguel cuts him off, his tone now firm, like he wasn't leaving room for negotiation. He puts the phone down, looks directly at Ethan.

Miguel, decisive: "There's no debate, Ethan. Are you in or not?"

Ethan stayed silent, eyes locked on Miguel. He knew this wasn't just a favor—this was a shared problem. He leaned back, breathed slowly, then glanced at his glass for a moment before lifting his gaze back up.

Ethan didn't respond right away, just twirled the glass in his fingers, his eyes steady on Miguel, like he was running the options in his head, weighing every part of this complicated equation. Finally, he looked up and spoke in a calm tone, but it held a lot more than it seemed.

Ethan: "Alright... I'm in."

There was a brief pause, not completely silent, but full of unspoken things. Miguel didn't smile, but gave a small nod like he expected that answer. Then, like he needed to clarify things more, he spoke quietly but clearly.

Miguel: "I'll get people to gather the intel and secure the gear. You... I need you to get in quietly, grab the docs, and get out before anyone notices."

Ethan raised an eyebrow like he was testing how serious Miguel was, then his lips curled up in a faint smirk, closer to sarcasm than agreement.

Ethan: "You think I can pull that off?"

Miguel sighed, looked away for a sec like he was choosing his words carefully, then met Ethan's eyes again.

Miguel: "One of us has to take the documents... and you're the only one I trust."

Ethan didn't say anything at first, but the weight of those words hit him. It wasn't just about the job—it was about his family's future. He fiddled with his fingers on the table, thought about what Miguel said, then met his eyes again.

Ethan: "Alright... let's say I do this. What's your next move?"

Miguel: "Give me some time. I'll find the right people and secure the gear... but when it's go-time, I need you ready."

Ethan didn't answer immediately, just stared at Miguel for a long moment before giving a small nod.

Ethan: "Alright... but don't expect me to be comfortable with this."

Miguel barely smiled, raised his glass like he was sealing a silent agreement, then said in a calm but firm voice: "For the family."

Ethan sighed, raised his glass: "For the family."

Ethan drank it down in one gulp, then looked around. The club was empty now, no one left. The lights and music were still there, but all the partygoers had split.

Miguel noticed his gaze and said: "Don't worry, I cleared the place out as soon as we started talkin'."

Ethan stood slowly, leaving the glass on the table, taking a deep breath. The silence filled the space now that the music and laughter were gone. He looked at Miguel one last time, like the moment of decision had come, but deep down, he felt the weight of the options ahead.

Miguel, now relaxed in his seat, noticed it was time to leave. He nodded, speaking low: "Be careful, Ethan."

Ethan smirked lightly, but didn't say a word. He just turned away from the spot, his footsteps echoing in the empty room, like each step was bringing him closer to a future he wasn't fully ready for.

But as he walked out, something heavy weighed on his heart, something he wouldn't admit, even to himself. His family. Everything was on the line now. Can't just let it go.

When he reached the door, he stopped for a second, looking back at the place. The music that once surrounded him, the flickering lights, all of it started to fade away.

With steady steps, Ethan left the club behind, leaving promises unfulfilled and friends that might stay in the shadows. And as his feet hit the wet sidewalk, he felt something inside him shift.

He looked up at the dark sky, like he was searching for an answer. "For the family," he whispered to himself, almost liking the sound of it, as he walked through the streets.