4.

REIGN

“Who the fuck are you?!” She screamed and I smiled, she does have a potty mouth but it sounded sexy coming from her. “How did you get in?” She asked, quickly sitting up and covering her legs with the blanket.

“Devinity Avila, daughter of Theo but goes by the name Devinity Mateo.” I watched as she froze, watching me suspiciously.

“Who are you?” She spat and I clutched my chest in fake hurt.

“I’m hurt you don’t know me Cíelo. I’m Reign Garcia.”

“Mar Muerto.” She whispered, at least she knew the gang name.

“Correct. I should give you a prize.” I saw her hand move under the blanket and I felt my insides bubble in excitement but I didn’t let it show. I wanted to see how far she could go.

“What are you doing here?” She asked, her hands stopped moving and I smiled. In a flash, she took out a revolver and pointed it straight at my head. I burst out in laughter and she tightened her grip. “I swear I’ll shoot.” Levi, who had been out of sight ever since, slowly walked behind her and pressed his gun at her back.

“And I will too.” He said with zero expression on his face.

I watched as she rolled her eyes in anger and slowly brought down her gun. 

“Now shall we talk?” I said, making myself comfortable in the single seater. Levi gently pushed her shoulder down so she could sit and she violently shrugged him off before taking a seat. “Seeing your surprise, that means I’m the first one to find you.” I gave Levi a thumbs up and he just nodded. 

“What does that mean?” She asked.

“There’s a rumor going round that your father wrote a book or a journal, whatever that is, and was going to release it to the press but he died before that.” I saw her flinch at the mention of death, “That was when your identity came to light; the missing Avila daughter.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” 

“That’s the thing. If the journal has been missing and you are alive, what do you think will be the next possible conclusion?” I leaned forward with my arms crossed. 

“Go and find whatever journal you’re looking for and leave my house.” She snarled. She was so stubborn and it turned me on. I adjusted my posture before standing up.

“I’m not sure the next person will let you live. Consider my proposal; you work with me willingly or die in the hands of the next person that finds you.”  

Levi and I walked out of her house, closing the door behind us. I lit a cigarette and had a stick to Levi who shook his head. 

“How long do we have till your source sells this information?” I ask as I unlock my car. I entered the driver’s side and Levi got on the other side. He might be my right hand man but nobody was driving my car, any of them.

“His wife is in labour so I’ll say 24 hours.” Levi replied and I nodded.

“We’re going to play good cop, bad cop before another gang gets here.” I said, “Have Manny and his boys get their asses here tomorrow. They will act like another gang then that other baby faced boy.. What's his name?”

“Jamal?”

“Have him come with a couple of men. They will be the righteous Mar Muerto. She’ll come crawling back to us.”

***

“Manny just left with his men.” Levi informed me and I nodded. It was already the next day and I couldn’t help but anticipate my plan. It wasn’t fair but it was either that or I made her do it unwillingly. 

“They should be careful. That girl will actually shoot.” I warned.

“The way she held it showed it wasn’t her first time.” Levi commented and I nodded in agreement. 

What was she hiding?

My phone rang and it was my father. Ever since he handed over the gang to me, he has called me more times than he has done in my entire life and that was just two years ago. Levi walked out and I answered the call.

“Father.” I simply said.

“What am I hearing about a book?” He spat. That’s how it has always been. Always one issue or the other. I briefly explained what I knew about the book to him. “You sound a bit too relaxed.”

“We are already the most feared gang in Chicago. What are we even using a book for? Blackmail?” I asked.

I heard him sigh, “I knew I shouldn’t have handed over so soon. Your grandfather has done a lot in the past and I did a number of things during my time for the gang. Do you honestly think Avila won’t have our names somewhere in his stupid diary? Are you dumb?” He screamed. I gripped my phone angrily. I heard my mother’s voice in the background telling him to calm down and she had her own share of the anger handed to her.

“I’ll get the book by all means possible.” I said stiffly.

“You better.” The call ended abruptly.

“Levi!” I called and the door opened immediately. He knew what could have happened, of course he knew. “We’re getting the girl whether she likes it or not.” I said, grabbing my keys.

“Give it a few minutes. Manny just got in.” Levi said. I groaned and threw the decorative vase across the room. I paced back and forth waiting for a reply. Almost twenty minutes later,I was about to ditch the whole plan and my phone rang.

“Jamal.”

“Sir, she would like to meet with you.” He said and I felt relief wash over me. I really didn’t want to resort to abducting her.

“Bring her.”

“The thing is.. the thing is she wants you to come.”

Fuck my life.

“I’ll be there.” 

A few minutes later, I stormed into her house. Jamal and his men gave me a small bow before walking out. The house looked properly trashed and I reminded myself to give the boys a bonus. On the couch was my Cíelo and the douchebag from the night before was beside her, with his arms around her neck. I began to imagine a hundred ways to dislodge his arm from his body.

“You didn’t have to send people to protect me.” Devinity said. The man beside her glared at me and I almost planted a hole in his head. 

“So why did you summon me here?” 

“I might know a number of vacation houses that nobody else knows about and some private locations. I’ll take you there and if we find the book, you can have it. In exchange..”

“I’ll protect you.” That was the most obvious reply. A lot of gangs would be on her neck in less than 24 hours so she would need my protection.

“What? No.” She cringed like it was the most disgusting thing she has heard. “I can handle myself.” She said and I nodded sarcastically. 

“So what do you want?” I finally asked.

“Help me find the people that killed my family.” I weighed the options. Whoever killed her family might be with the normal we were looking for so it was like killing two birds with a stone.

“Done.” I shrugged.

“One more thing,” she quickly added before glancing at the man beside her. “Vincent will come with us.” 

Hell no.

I was about to voice my opinion when she looked at me with obvious defiance. She wasn’t going without this douchebag. “Deal?” She said and I shrugged. He was going to be close for me to get rid of so what’s the worst that could happen.

“Deal. Pack your bags.”