chapter -5

𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄

-

"Sir, here is the file you wanted." The file is probably about the girl from that night. When I asked my men to gather information about her I thought I can make things a little interesting in my life. But now I'm not sure.

"Drop the file here, and Ace tonight you are going with me," I told him to monitor a shipment at the docks tonight. But back then I didn't have this thing with the Giovannis' coming.

"About the shipment?"

"Tell Lucas to do it or something. I want you to be there to keep an eye on all of Giovanni's men. You find anything strange you inform me."

Ace place the file on my desk, "Will we need extra safety, sir?"

" Givonnais' are a sorry excuse for men Ace. I need you because if things get dirty I want to have the upper hand. "

"Get it, boss."

Someone knocks on the door just then Uncle Roman came in. "My Nephew, looking handsome as always," he praised. I gave him a boring book and checked the watch on my wrist.

"I think it's time. We should leave."

"Just leave you didn't get yourself a date for tonight?"

"That's my choice Uncle." All the big families, politicians, some big officers everyone is going to be there. I can't let my hate for that family get the worst of me. A lot of our clients are going to be there, good for business. I don't want a girl on my side while I discuss business.

Uncle and I both get into our cars ready to attend the party which I know is going to be like a party in hell.

.....

" Nicolas Alphano, " the Giovanni head, or as I can now say the Giovanni old men welcomed me.

"Duran," I state somewhat coldly. Acting nice in this business is foolish. You need to make them fear you only then they will think twice before stepping in your way.

"We heard about your son," Uncle said with an apologetic tone almost like he feels bad for them.

"My son is dead now Roman, it's better if we just concentrate on the matter in hands. Like my nephew becoming the new capó," Duran said looking away from us.

Is his son really dead?

"Ladies and gentlemen," someone announced on the stage making everyone know that the ceremony has started.

Dante Giovanni appeared on the stage first time tonight, ready to take something he can never handle. The ceremony for nostra is not too complicated. All our basic rules are explained to him making him vow to obey every single one of them.

Then there is this skull right at the center of the room. Dante is asked to slice his hand with a knife and then soak the skull with his blood.

This brings me back to the day I was getting my title. I was a kid back then who didn't know what I was signing for, one thing I was certain about was that I was born to do this.

I still believe it. Men like me aren't the ones, you find in a coffee shop on a Monday morning sipping coffee. We are men you wish you didn't crash with when you pass a dark alley at night.

Dante soaked the skull with his blood and the members announced him as a leader as one of us.

Dante looked around chuckling to himself. This fucker is happy. "And now gentleman let's get back to the celebration."

I looked at my side to find it empty. Uncle was just right here. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I took It out to find it is him.

I picked up the call and asked him, "Where are you?"

"You need to come to the 3rd Vip room on the left." This was all he said before he hung up the phone.

The fuck? I looked around the room to see what Ace has to know about this? His stare met mine and he shook his head signaling me he doesn't know what is happening.

I signaled him to stay here, I believe uncle enough to go see the hell he is doing. I made my way toward the room, one of the Giovanni guards opened the gate for me.

The room is filled with smoke. With all kinds of shiny red lights, there is no stripper inside the party but here, every girl here is half-naked. Typical.

"Nicolas," a voice came from beside me I turned to find it belonged to that fucker. Dante. He is sitting on his seat leg crossed and hands joined together observing me. Probably thinking twice before making a deal with the devil.

"Common take a seat, Nicolas." Uncle Roman is sitting with him and two more of his men. One looks like Dante maybe it's his brother and the other is looks a lot younger. 16 perhaps.

I need to remember that I am here to be his friend. "Congratulations on the lead Dante." I moved forward to take the seat beside uncle.

"Thank you, Nicholas. But you see there is something else I want to discuss with you." This is the first time I have seen him with this much confidence. The last we met was in New York where he almost became an international criminal.

Power is confidence heh?

"What would that be?" I asked him ignoring anyone else in the room. He needs to know who the fuck he is taking too just because I am not killing him right here right now doesn't mean I can't.

"You know about tha cabin in Dock at the east. Where our families store the shipment data."

"Used to store," I corrected him. Which made him stop talking.

Uncle cleared his throat, "What about that place? Dante if I remember we closed that place around half a decade ago."

"We had but a drive is missing from there."

"The hell do you mean a drive is missing. You do know it has data that can harm a lot of people," I spat. If this is a joke this man is already dead.

His face turned red by my words he pressed his hands on the table, "Of course I know what is in it. That thing can damage both our reputations. But the thing is Nicolas someone stole it."

"Calm down you two. It is nothing we can't solve with drinks. Hey, you boy get us all a drink," Uncle Roman asked the boy.

"What do you mean someone stole it," I asked him again. "A guy named Mateo stole it. He isn't one of any of our men. My best guess someone sent him to steal it from us."

"Where is the drive now?" Uncle Roman asked.

"Don't know but we have Mateo now. My men just found him. I wanted to enlighten you about this because I can see that you people don't even know what happens in your cartel."

He wants to see me angry. I get it this is what he wants, Dante is Madman but not exactly stupid. "I can take care of that."

"Uncle call Gio and tell him to check if the drive is there or not."

"On it."

"You don't believe me now Nicholas. I thought we are friends," Dante taunted. Nothing good is going to come out of becoming friends with him. I know this now.

"Nicholas, the drive is missing," Uncle whispered.

"Then it makes no sense staying here." I looked at Dante, "Let's go show me where you have this guy. I will destroy that drive tonight."

We all stood up to make our way out. "The drinks?" asked the teenage boy handling a whole tray of drinks for all of us. I huffed and waited for Dante to tell him to get out. This isn't a place for kids.

"Stupid useless boy, no need for your drinks now," he barked at him and gave him a disgusted look. Who is this boy?

Dante took us to their warehouses. If I think mine are the dirty ones this wins the price. The whole warehouse reeks of foul smell. At the center of the room is a chained man with blood spread all around him.

Dante yanked him up and gripped his neck with full force making the man choke in his own saliva. "Tell me where it is." I don't why Dante is doing this in his suit. There is no way in hell I'm going near the blood with my suit.

The guy started struggling around him but didn't even whisper a word from his mouth. Dante let his neck go before he can pass out. He dripped him to the ground again kicking him hard in the stomach.

"TELL. ME. WHERE. IT. IS," he yelled loud enough for everyone to hear. Dante has a sadistic smirk on his face making everyone know that he is enjoying this. Enjoying torturing this guy.

I don't have time for his sadistic games right now. " Dante if you will let me talk to him for a second. " Dante raised his brow at me but moved to the side. Leaving him in my clear vision.

"Mateo is it?" I asked.

He coughed blood on the floor and looked up at me but didn't answer.

"You see Mateo, I don't time to play who tortures best here. So do us both a favor and tell me where it is and who send you."

"I work for no one," he finally confessed.

"Yeah? As much as I would like to hear your story. Tell me where the drive is."

He didn't answer me this time. Just started down on the floor.

"Mateo, Dante here has a reputation. Everyone knows he is a sadist and I'm sure he would love to torture you to hell. Is that what you want for yourself, Mateo? If you think death will come soon then you are dreaming. " I almost chuckled at the end. I can see his eyes watering, he is afraid right where I want him.

"The choice is yours," I warned him one final time.

"I gave it to Ste- Stephano Salvatore," he said with a crumbling voice.

"And who is his?"

"The drive. I couldn't- can't get it open. I gave it to him to decode." I am aware of who is he talking about. I signaled Dante to finish him and get it over with.

"I will have our men on it," Uncle mumbled already starting to make calls.

Dante told him, men, to take care of Mateo and told me that he will also have his men searching for him. We will get to him by tomorrow max. If he didn't already know what is coming.

"I'm going back, uncle," I announced and left the warehouse.

What type of problem is this? I was supposed to make a fake friend tonight not to look for a fucking drive.



"Ayushi I wanted to talk to you about something." Marissa's voice brought me out of my thoughts.

Yesterday when I went home all my thoughts were about those dangerous men boss warned me about. I'm still not sure I am going to leave this country but I have a feeling that I had to.

"Yes?" I replied.

"Do you know nobody knows where Mr. Salvation went yesterday? He is not picking up anybody's calls."

"Why do you I know about this?" I half yelled at her. What does his running away has anything to do with me?

"Oh, I just thought I will ask you. His last meeting was with you. But that's alright leave it. I wanted to ask you something."

"Yeah, you are asking me things already. Just ask me whatever it is." I know I am being very rude but I don't have time to talk about who perfect her life is right now.

"I-I wanted to ask if you will be my maid of honor?"

What?

My eyes jumped out of their sockets I swear. I barely know her and she wants me to be her maid of honor. That's like once in a lifetime type of opportunity.

"Hmm?" Nothing seriously nothing came out of my mouth.

"See, I know you aren't exactly my sister. But I don't have a sister just a brother I don't even have any friends. You are the closest thing I have to a sister. Please Ayushi."

I stood up from the chair my hands on my chest my eyes ready to start shedding tears. "Honey, you don't have to say please. It will be my honor."

"Thank you," she burst to clap her hands.

"Thank you," I am on the verge of tears. How can someone think this highly of someone, someone like me?

"I hope you sort out whatever it is the is bothering you Ayushi. Also because we are going shopping tomorrow."

"Mar-" before I can protest she left my office with a big smile on her face.

Realization drowned in me. I just agreed to attend Marissa's wedding when I don't even know if I am staying here that long. Shit.

Damn you fate.

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