Most people had enough common sense not to go ambling down a vacant alley in the middle of the night, where danger lurked around every corner and the only witnesses were the shadows themselves— but Jessup Markus had no fear of the night. That was probably because, as the leader of one of the two largest crime gangs in the city, he practically owned the night. Or at least half of it.
For Jess, whether or not it was safe to wander down an eerie alley in the middle of the night wasn't really a question of common sense. He grew up on the streets; he'd already seen the darker side of things. Before officially becoming the leader of the gang known as the Elect, Jess had to scrounge to survive. There wasn't much down these dark streets that he hadn't already faced— now that he was such a prominent figure in the underworld, a lot of people respected and feared him.
On the other hand, a lot of people wanted him dead. A lot of people wanted him alive, too, and it was those people that really freaked him out. But he was armed with a bullet proof vest, a gun at his side, his hand-to-hand combat skills, and his good charm, so he wasn't too worried. Plus the bodyguards just down the block that could be called at the press of a button probably helped a lot.
He stopped on the corner, leaning against a brick wall covered in graffiti. The night was nearly silent, aside from the distant roar of an occasional car engine. Jess pulled a cigarette and a lighter from his pocket, placing the former loosely between his lips and lighting it. He wasn't sure how long he'd have to wait here for what his sources had informed him would be… oh, what did they say exactly? Ah, yes. "… A deal of a lifetime."
Jess wasn't quite sure what that entailed; his gang was known for a variety of things, but specifically the mercenary work and dealing of illegal drugs and weaponry. His men were stealthy and intelligent, many possessing incredible hand-to-hand combat skills, mechanical skills, or computer skills. The Elect had some of the best hackers in the country working for them. Not to mention assassins/hitmen, kidnappers, drug-dealers (and drug-makers), inventors, and more. Considering how much his group was constantly buying and selling, Jess always had his eye open for a new source of income.
He ran his fingers through his thick, chocolate-brown hair and blew a puff of smoke, watching it dissipate into the night air.
(lol I know this is horrible but I'm really tired so I apologize)