The Mafia Family

The wristwatch on Lucien's wrist struck 4:30 PM and began to beep.

Lucien stared at his watch and then fixated his gaze on the door that led to James's office.

“Three,” He muttered under his breath, “... two, one!”

Then the door immediately opened and James came out from his office. Lucien smiled.

“I'll see you tomorrow,” James announced, without so much as a glance. “Bye.”

Then he was off.

Lucien sighed. It has been over two weeks that he's been working as James's secretary and he's noticed strange things about him.

Every day, from Monday to Friday, as soon as the clock 4:30 PM, James calls it a day. He usually left work before anyone else. It was weird as fuck!

But what was more weird was that no one cared to talk about him, as if they were scared of him or something. Even when he initiates a topic about him to his coworkers, they usually tell him dismissively. “We don't talk about that Mr Hayes.”

As if there was something they knew that he didn't. He was dying of curiosity.

Why was everyone so terrified of this man?

More so, why does he always leave work at exactly 4:30? It was weird considering he's a CEO of a company this legendary. Normally, CEOs are always workaholics, always staying back even when everyone left. Even if they're not workaholics, why is it a norm for him to leave at exactly 4:30?

Why do all his business partners look as though they're also terrified of this man? They're always careful with him!

No one knows about his parents or any of his family members as though they weren't even in existence. He has been doing some digging online but still found absolutely nothing!

It was as if everyone in the company belonged to some kind of secret society or something.

Lucien felt like he was caught in a web of dark mysteries, and he was intrigued about opening this can of worms.

He stood up and went into his office. Everything looked perfect.

Maybe if he searched, he'd find something. Who was he kidding? He has searched this office more than a thousand times but still found nothing.

There's no harm in trying again.

He must find something!

After another round of search, he gave up. There was nothing. Maybe he was just imagining it or maybe he needs to just mind his own fucking business.

He went back to his office and sat on his desk, resuming his work by replying to emails, answering phone calls and whatnot.

Office hours were finally over and Lucien was finally glad to go home. Things were still the way they were with Allison.

It was like they were forced into this marriage by their parents. No interaction with one another at all, just good mornings and hellos.

The elevator dinged as it reached the ground floor and swished open. Lucien exited the building and stood still to call a cab.

All of a sudden, a white bus pulled up in front of him. Before he could process what the hell was going on, two men burst out from the vehicle and dragged him in.

“What the hell…”

Before he could complete his statement, a heavy blow landed on the back of his head and he slumped, falling into the abyss of unconsciousness.

***

A cold water over Lucien's face instantly woke him up, he jolted straight, groaning and wincing in pain.

His hand moved to the back of his head, where he had been blown. Goddamn it, it hurt like crazy!

He cursed, still caressing the back of his head.

Wait… where the hell am I? He thought and quickly threw his gaze to the womanly figure in front of him.

“Aahhh!” He screamed in shock, jolting backward and tumbling over the couch, falling on his shoulders.

He quickly sprang to his feet, his hands clenched into fists, ready to fight if necessary.

“Who the hell are you?” He yelled at the woman, his eyes trailing behind her as he noticed another manly figure in the room.

The woman in front of him was tall, willowy and gracefully slender with her long dark hair hanging loose on her lovely shoulders. Her bold lips were painted red, and her slender arms crossed across her bosom. She had on a tight dress that highlighted her pretty curves.

Lucien placed her to be at least in her fifties, but still, she looked young and pretty.

“Calm down Mr Hayes.” The woman spoke, unfazed by Lucien's fighting stance. “We don't want trouble.”

“Oh yeah? You don't want trouble?” Lucien snarled, still holding his fighting stance. “Then why the hell did you abduct me?”

“We just want to talk.”

“How about I punch that prettiness out of you?” Lucien snarled again, “Then we can talk.”

His head still hurts like crazy and he wanted to get back for what was done to him.

“Calm down, young man.” The man seated in the armchair spoke for the first time, getting to his feet.

The man was imposingly tall, a lot taller than Lucien, he had the build of those bouncers you'd normally see standing guard in front of a club. His beard and hair were all grey mixed with some streaks of black, but he still didn't look old.

He looked immaculate and imposing in the dark suit he wore.

But Lucien still wasn't rattled by the man's size, he felt he could still take him.

But who the hell were these people? Lucien wondered inwardly. They look utterly dangerous, like those Mafia people you read about in web novels.

Wait, are they Mafia?

Beads of perspiration were now forming on Lucien's forehead. If these people are really the Mafia, then he's done for! But what the hell does the Mafia people want from him?

“Who the hell are you guys?” He snarled again, but this time, his voice wasn't as hard and as menacing as it was a few seconds ago.

Okay, it's official, Lucien was scared shitless!

The palpitation of his heart and the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach was enough evidence.

What if these people hurt him? He's still thirty-two for fuck's sake! And he has a child! And a wife! He still has a long fucking way to go!

“What the hell do you want from me?” He gritted.

“My name is Alberto Diaz.” The man replied, “This is my wife, Lucille Diaz. And you guessed right, we're from the Mafia.”

Wait, does this guy read minds? Lucien wondered in horror. But what horrified him more was that he was right. They are from the Mafia!

“And you work for our son, Mateo Diaz, otherwise known as James Gilmore.”

Lucien's mouth instantly flew open in shock.

He was right again! There was something off about James… so he's from the Mafia?

Dear Lord!