Dante
Last night went how I hoped it would. My plan went off without a hitch. I gained some valuable information on the Kings of Chaos, which will help me in the long run. I was hoping to find some specific information on Zane, Ryker, and Axel, but those three are smart. Or at least smarter than I gave them credit for.
Though the warehouse was crawling with MC members, nothing that I learnt could be tied back to those three. Even the new drugs they were handing out like candy last night. No one knew where it came, only that they were supposed to get as much as possible out last night. I pressed my informant for any information, but there was none. No one knows what it is or what it does to the body. It’s a complete mystery.
What they do in their hovel of a town is their business. As long as none of that shit reaches Richmond, or Serena, I couldn’t care less about it.
I have spent five years trying to find something, anything, on those three so I can get my revenge. But the fuckers are as slippery as an eel. I want them dead for what they did to me and my family. They took everything from me, and that is exactly what I plan on doing to them.
The thought of going after their sons is still an active one, but from what I have learned, I highly doubt they would care if they were killed. They seem to send them on suicide missions often enough. So for now, killing them isn’t high on my list. But it is still there.
They helped their fathers destroy everything to me. Whether they knew it or not, they are the reason that all this happened. If it wasn’t for them, my world wouldn’t have been turned upside down when I was only fifteen. I wouldn’t have had to take over this enterprise. I should have been able to be a normal teenager as I wanted, but that was stolen from me.
The Kings of Chaos are an infection that must be dealt with.
I couldn’t put my finger on it last night, but something was off. Or more off than it should have been. I knew if I was spotted there last night, I would have been shot on sight, but I expected that. There was something else last night that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight up.
All day, my mind wouldn’t stop rushing back to Serena. The way her lips tasted against mine. Her body pressed to mine. How sweet her moans sounded. The girl is a drug. One, I don’t plan on giving up, and willing to do anything to keep my high.
I have wanted to text her or call her throughout the day, but life got in the way. Way too many meetings. Deals that needed to be made. Or shit that had to be handled.
I zoned out most of the day. Nothing could compare to what I had planned for tonight. I needed to make a serious move with Serena. To once and for all get her away from those leeches. To minimize the damage that would be done to her if she stayed with them.
I know I am a sadistic bastard that is too focused on my vengeance, but if I could spare her even the smallest amount from that, I would. She is innocent, and I don’t want her to get caught in the middle of this. Though if she chooses to stay, then I know I could use her.
I stare down at the twenty-four-karat gold Rolex watch that adorns my wrist. It was one of my Papa’s watches. He wore it the most out of his collection. Every time I look at it, it reminds me of the good time I shared with him.
Time seems to be at a snail's pace today. Each meeting feels longer and slower than the last. Thankfully, this is the last meeting of the day. Every week, I have a meeting with Michael and a few others higher up in my organization. To keep on top of things and to make sure Richmond is running smoothly.
When I took over control, more than one member of my organization questioned my rule. And even a few distant family members in the same line of business never thought I could succeed. Because of their arrogance and ignorance, I had to prove them wrong. I like to think that I have.
Though we still use the name The Shadow Brotherhood, it doesn’t represent what it once did. My great-grandfather started this as a way to move away from his mafia background, but eventually he returned to it. He kept the name to keep the feds and other law enforcement agencies off his back.
Now, the name doesn’t mean much. Sure, it is still used by some, but we are the Lupo family, and I am the Don.
The meeting tonight is being held at home. This isn’t the usual setting for it, I like to keep my space private. But I couldn’t be bothered with spending another minute in the main office building. After an entire day there, I needed some home comfort, and this meeting couldn’t wait.
We spent the last hour discussing business. As much as I wish I were more interested in this meeting, my mind is somewhere else.
“We have had another problem with the Russians. We found a few of Dimitri’s men skulking around lately, trying to push into our territory.” Gino reports.
Dimitri is the current Pakhan (leader) of the Russian mafia. Normally, I don’t mess with the Russians. They leave me to my business, and I leave them to theirs, but their business shouldn’t be in my city.
He and I have had a few problems over the year, being rival leaders will create that tension, but he is usually generous enough to stay out of my city. He knows Richmond is under my control, and the last thing I ever plan on doing is letting go of that control. This city has been under my family’s reign for far too long.
“Keep some of our men tailing him. I want to know the second he steps into my territory again.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Another three girls disappeared last night.” Michael starts saying.
That instantly gets my attention. Fuck. In the last six months, more than twenty girls have disappeared from my city. They all just vanished without a trace. I have taken every single one personally.
The fact that someone has been ballsy enough to come to my turf and take what doesn’t belong to them, is a personal offense that I plan to give proper justice to. It’s one of my top priorities to figure this out.
“One of the girls was Tony’s daughter.” Michael finishes.
Tony is one of my enforcers, and one of the scariest men I have ever met. No one messes with him or his family, it’s a death sentence if you do. He has been a part of this organization since before I was born. He is like an honorary uncle to me. He helped raise me when I was younger, and he helped me when I first took over. His wife became like a second mom to me after my parents were killed. She took me in like it was nothing and gave me the guidance and wisdom I needed.
I watched his daughter, Sarah, grow up into an intelligent young lady who will go far in life. Sarah has always been at the top of her class and loves to play the piano and violin.
“Fuck,” I growl out. Anger seeps into every bone in my body. It’s one thing when girls disappear that I don’t know, but the thought of poor, sweet Sarah being taken is killing me. “She was only fifteen.”
“Fourteen.” Michael corrects me.
“What happened?” I demand answers right now. I need as much information as possible, so I can track down the bastard that did this and kill him with my bare hands.
“Tony dropped Sarah and her two friends off at the movies. He left to get a couple of errands done before coming back to pick her up. When she didn’t come out almost half an hour after the movie ended, he went in to find her. Only there was no sign of her. He demanded security tapes of the building, and all it showed was her and her friends going into the movie, then the feed cut out across the entire theatre. It didn’t come back until the movie she went to see was over. No one knows what happened.” Michael states.
So, there is no evidence of what happened. Fuck. These guys are good. It’s their usual MO. They have been taking young girls from across the city. The girls ranged from fourteen to twenty-two. They seem to pick at random. None of the girls has any sort of connection that we can see.
I have my suspicions about what is going on, but with no proof, I can’t do anything. Yet. When I have the proof I need, I won’t hesitate to put a bullet between their eyes.
We discuss the disappearances at length. The sun is setting in the distance, and I know I need to end this quickly so I can do what I want to do.
It takes another hour before we finally wrap up, and I wait until everyone leaves before getting up and making my way to the garage. I hop into the closest car, a black Mercedes G-Wagon, and pull out of the driveway. I hit Nico’s name, waiting for him to answer.
“Cugino.” Nico’s bright voice fills the car.
I can’t help but smile when I hear him. Nico and I have always been close, even if we live on opposite sides of the country. We may be cousins, but we have always been as close as brothers.
Nico is next in line to take over his syndicate. We grew up joking about the day we would be in charge, and I just never imagined mine would happen sooner than planned. We had big dreams of what we would do. I still haven’t done anything that I wanted to do. Too consumed with vengeance for my father.
“I need your help.” My voice is tight, filled with emotion.
I hate feeling like I am failing my people. I am the leader, and it’s my responsibility to keep everyone safe. I have spent six months trying to figure out who is behind this, but every time I feel like I have a solid lead, I hit a dead end.
Now knowing the Russians are trying to make a move on my territory adds another layer to this mystery. I’m beginning to believe they are connected, but I can’t stop thinking the MC is in on it. I need to reach out to my contact with the MC and see if he can give me some further information. Someone there has to know something, but knowing Zane and his crew, this is something they are keeping to themselves.
“Anything. Qualunque cosa tu abbia bisogno, sarò al tuo fianco. I will be there by the morning.” Nico’s voice is harsh, determined. He hung up the phone shortly after replying, but I could hear him yelling at Marco and Bastian. Telling them to start planning to fly out.
Marco and Bastian are Nico’s family. His chosen family. They have been thick as thieves since they were all young. I once considered them my close friends too, but I had others at the time that I considered family.
I have never been the person to ask for help, even when I desperately need it. When my parents were killed, I pushed everyone away. I was young and suddenly thrust into a position of power. I wanted to be like my father, strong and unwavering. I wanted to make him proud.
Something broke in me that day. I was no longer the boy I once was, turning into a hardened man in a matter of seconds. Nico and his family flew out as soon as they heard and tried to dote on me, but I refused. My heart turned to stone, and I decided I never wanted to have someone close enough to me again. I didn’t want to go through the pain of losing a loved one a second time.
I park my car at the valet and toss my keys to the young man working. He bows his head in respect before rushing to my car. I straighten my jacket and push my hair out of my face before walking into Midnight, one of the various clubs I own.
The music is loud as I walk through the front doors. The doorman nods his head to me before opening the door. I have one destination in mind for tonight, and it’s not the dance floor. I walk through the raging crowd until I reach a guarded door at the back. No one says anything as the door is opened, and I stroll through to the other side and down a flight of stairs.
It’s loud down here too, but for a different reason. Men are screaming, money waved in the air as bets are made. The sound of fists hitting skin is like music to my ears right now. It’s not often I come down here, but when I do, I always get in the ring. That’s what I need right now. A way to get this pent-up aggression out.
I watched the fight in front of me. I don’t recognize either of the men on stage, but it’s obvious who the winner will be. I pay close attention to the bigger man as he ducks and sways his way around the ring, waiting until his opponent is too tired before finally striking. One swift punch to the other man’s face, and he goes down. The crowd screams out, most happy with their winnings.
Leo, a new member to the organization, is standing next to the ring, waiting until the guy’s bloody body is pulled out. His bright green hair is shorter on the sides and longer on top. He may still be young, only nineteen years old, but the man is jacked. I swear, when he is not working here, he is in the gym. I walk over to him, and he gives me a smirk, knowing exactly what I am here for. I watch the winner walk around the ring with a smug smile on his face.
“He’s undefeated tonight,” Leo says to me.
“Not for long,” I reply.
Leo shakes his head with a smirk on his lips. He walks into the ring and starts announcing the winner. I start stripping off my jacket and shirt, then hand them to a waitress. Her eyes take in my naked chest. Usually, I would be down to play with her once I am done, but not tonight. Not since Serena came into my life. There is no one else I want but her.
I kick my dress shoes off and take my socks off. Fighting in my dress pants isn’t ideal, but it will do for tonight. I don’t expect this fight to last long anyway.
Leo loudly announces my name as the next competitor. The crowd falls into dead silence as I walk into the ring. My eyes focus on the man in front of me. He appears to be in his thirties. He is shorter than I am but easily has twenty pounds of muscle on me. The overhead lights glare against his sweaty bald head. His lip is busted open, and dried blood is caked onto his skin. He maliciously smiles at me, thinking he will win.
I bounce on my feet, preparing myself for the release I need. Leo walks out of the ring, and I wait for the bell. The loud ding signals the start, and the man charges towards me. I move out of the way and turn around, my fist flying into his side. He grunts in pain before turning to me. He takes a swing that I easily avoid. He growls in anger before repeatedly trying to hit me. I dodge and block when I can, but he gets a few good punches in. My lip is busted open, and I can taste the copper on my lips.
I jabbed out, hitting him in the cheek before kicking his ribs. He stumbles but doesn’t fall. He comes at me again. We exchange blow after blow until I decide I am done with this. I hit him with a quick combination of jabs, kicks, and a final uppercut that sent the bastard to the mat. He is knocked out, and my name is announced as the winner. Cheers for the crowd erupt. I swipe the blood off my lip before making my way out of the ring.
I walk over to Leo, and he pats me on the back. The waitress is still standing where I left her. I grabbed my shirt and jacket from her before picking my shoes up and walking away. I walk down the hall until I reach the office that I have back here. I unlock the door and close it behind me. The room isn’t as lavish as my other offices, but it has a shower in the back.
I turn the light on in the small washroom and take in my appearance. A small bruise is forming on my cheek, and my lip is busted up. I shuck off my pants and turn the water on before stepping into the shower. I quickly wash the sweat and blood off and get out. I dry myself off and redress in clothes I keep here, just in case, before sitting down in the chair behind my desk. I should probably get some work done while here, but I can’t focus enough for that right now.
The fight helped reduce the growing tension and anxiety in me, but I can’t stop the thoughts. Wondering what is happening and who is behind it, but the thing that consumes most of my thoughts is my darling. Serena.
I pulled my phone out and sent her a quick text.
Me: I haven’t stopped thinking
about that kiss.
Which is true, I haven’t, but I can’t believe I just admitted that to her. Showing women emotion past sex has never been something I have done. None have meant more than that to me, but for whatever reason, Serena seems to make me feel more than I thought possible.
I stared at my phone, waiting for a reply, but none came through. I look at the time, noticing it’s almost two in the morning. I shut the screen off and toss it on my desk.
It ironically lands on the file that Michael got for me about Serena. Every piece of information about her that could be found, and some that I shouldn’t have been able to find out. I have read that file more times than I care to admit to. The need to study it again is rushing through me, but I know that I won’t be able to figure anything else out from the information.
Most was what I had expected. Information on where she was born. Her family, though there were some inconsistencies with that. Her mom, Emma Gold, is a ghost in her own right. No information could be found about her before the age of nineteen. Which proves to me she changed her name. Now the question is why? Her dad is just as much of an anomaly. He wasn’t listed on her birth certificate, but based on the information about her grandparents, we were able to find a name. Thomas Moore. Died at the age of thirty-five. But there is no death certificate or police report about it.
So many questions left unanswered.
I grab the file and shove it into the top drawer of my desk and slam it shut. I need to have Michael do some more digging into her past, but that will have to wait until I figure everything out here.
Hopefully tomorrow, Nico and I will be able to get some answers.