A Tragic Death.

Mancini's POV

I looked around the hallway observing the men that stood around us, I had decided to visit Roberto today and begin my plan but there was a beautiful woman, standing by his side, holding onto his arm.

Something in me didn't like that, I wanted that for myself, I wanted her, I thought fondly, well if the situation ever arose where I could then I would, without hesitation.

Turning my attention back to the man she held, "Roberto, it's been too long, I've missed you" I said in a charming voice, Roberto nodded at me as we both shook hands.

"Good evening," I heard the beautiful woman beside me say. I turned my attention to her, giving her the warmest smile I could muster as I took her hands in mine and kissed them.

"I didn't know you had such a beauty, Roberto," I said looking directly into her eyes, for some reason, she looked away from me, her complexion seemingly a shade of pink.

"Aahh, yes, she was in school and now she's done," Roberto said, his voice sounding a bit stiff and cautious, I caught a hint of disapproval and smiled with contentment.

"Will she be around more often then?" I asked taking my eyes off hers and looking directly at her father's, before he could answer she did.

"Yes, I'm here to stay and take care of the family," she said.

"Well isn't that lovely, Robert you've raised a good woman, I hope it remains that way," I said to him, without waiting for a response I straightened my body and asked.

"So where do we have our meeting? Surely not here for all to see" I said with a smile, gesturing outwardly, Roberto cleared his throat a little.

Then men around us quickly moved and opened a door on the right side of the hall, Roberto then said to his daughter.

"Give Daddy a few moments, I'll be back shortly" he pleaded.

"But, aren't I supposed to be there in meetings such as this that are about the family?" She said back.

"Well you are, but just not this one okay my love?" He held her face slightly up as he spoke, she looked a bit saddened but nodded her head in agreement.

I strode from them into the room thinking of ways I could use this to my advantage, so she wants to be the next family head, then this changes everything.

The more I thought, the wider I smiled, Leo must have seen my expression because he asked what the matter was, and I simply told him I thought of a sudden idea.

Inside the room, there were just two chairs and a table, the room seemed round with no windows or openings, it seemed like a place to have private discussions, especially the kind I held in my hands.

A few moments later Roberto walked into the room, locking it shut, he walked like he had swollen feet, or maybe arthritis, not that I cared enough to bother.

"Sorry I've kept you waiting, family first they say," he said smiling at me, I returned the smile.

"Of course, the family first" I replied.

"So what brings you to my house on such early notice? Has something bad happened?" He was genuinely curious, I hadn't told him the details of why I wanted to see him.

It's best to catch prey unguarded and confused.

"Yes indeed, nothing so much as bad, good news I've come to share with you," I said reaching for the documents on the table, I picked them up and gave them to Leo.

He passed it to Roberto and maintained his position behind me, standing, unmoving, and watchful.

Roberto picked up the document looking confused then began going through the documents, it was times like this that I wish I enjoyed the taste of tea, sipping and watching the slow realization creep onto the face of Roberto.

Unfortunately, there was no tea, but that didn't make it any better.

The more Roberto flipped through these pages, unable to grasp what he saw, the more pleasure it seemed to give me, it was quite interesting that when a man understands he is in trouble, he searches even harder to ascertain how much trouble he's in.

He finally looked up from the document looking at me, his forehead drenched in beads of sweat, and his hands shook a little as he dropped them back to the table, Leo moved at my command and retrieved the document.

"So, shall we begin talking?" I said to him. I knew I had the advantage, and I would take advantage of it.

"This was between me and your parents, Mancini" he replied, his voice seeming strained and a little overwhelmed.

"That doesn't make the contract null" I continued, "A promise was made, a contract to seal the deal between two prestigious families".

"After the passing of my parents, you never once brought the matter up with me, hoping we would forget the debt?" I asked.

"No, it's not like that" he licked his lips before continuing, "It was a confidential deal between your parents and me, we weren't supposed to bring our children into this" he explained.

"It was confidential so long as both parties were alive, that doesn't seem to be the case as we speak" I countered.

He looked at me for a moment before speaking, "How much do we owe you?" He asked, the words hung heavy in the air.

"Twelve million, ten was the debt but an extra two for incurred interests over the past ten years," I said calmly, Roberto in his attempt to stand up, fell from his chair to the ground.

"Help him up, Leo" I commanded.

Leo did as I told him and helped him back to his seat, Roberto looked at me in shock "Tw.. twelve million dollars?" He shouted, his voice resounding across the room.

I shrugged at him, "Your debt, not mine".

"But that was ten years ago, surely you have considered the inflation of our currency," he said.

"By the law, that doesn't affect the contract," I said, "Let me make this easy for you".

He nodded in anticipation.

"You'll give me collateral, when you're done paying you can take back what's yours," I said, he looked thoughtful for a bit.

"I can't think of anything in my possession worth that amount" he responded.

"You have a lovely daughter, Roberto," I said, a devious smile etched on my face.

Roberto's face stilled instantly, his face was impassive for two heartbeats, without warning Roberto held his cane close to his body, suddenly he drew a knife from the hilt of his walking stick and jumped at me.

I hadn't expected the attack and was a bit shocked, but before I could say a word, Dante shot at Roberts's leg sending the old man tumbling to the floor, his blood flowed on the carpet, staining it deep red.

"Fuck, Dante!" I screamed, I walked over to him and slapped him across the face, "What have you done?" I held a chunk of his hair, my rage setting so deeply that I wanted to use the knife in Roberts's hands to slice his throat open.

"Do you know how much you've cost me? Bastard!" I shouted as I threw him away from me, I heard the steps rushing forward from outside the room, there was no way to explain to them and they wouldn't understand.

"Find a way to get me out of here alive" I pointed at Dante, "This is all your fault damnit, kill the first person that crosses that door" I shouted in rage. I pulled out my gun and pointed it towards Roberto.

It was already too late, I saw Dante bringing out his phone, calling for reinforcements, that was the only way we were going to escape here alive.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Open up now!" A voice showed from behind the door, more voices came up behind chanting for the door to be opened, my hand stayed pointed at Roberto, the safety was already removed.

"Kill the first person, Dante, let them know we mean Business," I said once again as they began smashing against the door, trying to break it down, time was going and I could feel my adrenaline pumping.

"You'll never make it out of here alive," Roberto said with a wide smile on his face, I looked at him with disgust and shit at his second leg making the old man scream even more with pain.

The door broke down and the first person to run through the door was a female, the same female that I had seen downstairs, the exact same female that I had used to threaten Roberto. It was Marie, before I could say a single word, I heard gunshots from outside, my men had arrived, turning my attention back.

Dante shot three consecutive shots a

t the first person that had crossed into the room, just like I had told him to, the fool shot Roberto's daughter.