The night was dark.

It seemed the moon was absent tonight. Meanwhile, the stars were barely visible in the sky.

The air was eerily calm as if a storm was brewing.

"It will probably rain later." He silently spoke as his eyes studied the dark clouds forming on the horizon. But rain or shine, he knew the show must go on.

As much as he wanted to stay in the hospital and be with his wife and son, he could not. As the head of the largest Cartel in the city, he also had other responsibilities.

"What’s taking them so long?" His companion murmured as his fingers drummed on the steering wheel.

Grrr!

Suddenly, a loud rumbling echoed inside the small confines of the car, immediately followed by a pungent, gassy sound that filled the air with a terrible stench.

"Damnit, Jacob!" He irritatedly shouted while covering his nose and mouth. "What have you been eating?" The smell was awful. Far worse than a stink bomb.

Quickly, he opened all the windows before he suffocated, fanning his hand to get rid of the foul odor.

"I’m sorry." Jacob profusely apologized while grabbing his growling stomach. "It was those bloody double-cheese pizzas that Sophia brought earlier."

Shaking his head, he smirked at his friend. "Who asked you to eat half of the box?"

After the odor disappeared, he looked out the window, checking if there were any movements outside. So far, nothing.

Behind them, two black SUVs, full of his men, awaited his orders.

"So, what do you think Don Enrico Falconi wants now?" Jacob said as he picked up the binoculars to check the far side of the empty, spacious open parking lot, just at the outskirts of the city.

"Who knows?" He answered, checking his phone for any messages, afraid that he would miss a text or an important call. But thankfully, his phone appeared to be quiet.

Don Enrico Falconi, an old ally of his father, was the leader of the Italian Cartel. The oldest mafia organization in the city.

For decades, the Italian Cartel and the American Cartel, also known as the Iron Hand Cartel, had worked together to control most of the underground activities in the city.

It had been a peaceful and lucrative partnership that benefited both parties. Lately, due to the growing threats in the organization, peace between the different families might finally come to an end.

"Do you think he had anything to do with the attacks?" Jacob again asked as he twisted uncomfortably in his seat while they waited. "Could this be a trap?"

Actually, he had no assurance that this could be a lure. That his enemies had been using his word and honor to take advantage of him.

"I hope not." As much as possible, he wanted to maintain the good relationship between the two mafia families.

Don Enrico had been like another mentor to him when he took over his father’s position as the new Mafia Don. He would hate it if they ended their long-time friendship on a sour note. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Besides, he would rather focus his attention on those who are truly a real threat, and not make new enemies if he could help it.

A few minutes later, bright lights appeared by the parking entrance. "Sir, they’re here." His lookout informed him through this two-way headset.

Watching beyond the darkness, he spotted three cars as they drove slowly toward him.

"Get ready." He inspected his sidearm before he put it back under his jacket. Then, he patiently waited inside his car until the other vehicle’s headlights had turned off. Immediately, they did the same.

As a sign of respect to their visitors, he got out of the car and waited for the Don to follow him. Not a minute had passed, and the other car finally opened.

"Don Oliver, I’m glad that you have accepted my request to meet with me." The man who was already in his seventies got out of the car and strode toward him, mildly limping. It was visible that the older man already had some difficulty walking without using a cane.

"Although we don’t share the same blood, you know you are family." He cordially extended his welcome as he made a few steps forward. "But it is late. I’m sure that you already heard that my son is in the hospital."

There was no use in hiding that fact.

"So, if you don’t mind, maybe we could cut to the chase and go straight to business." He had no time to chit-chat when all he wanted was to see his son.

The man nodded his head, as the smile on his lips suddenly disappeared, turning into a frown. Then, his eyes darkened as if deeply contemplating.

"It’s sad that your son had to suffer at such a young age. But I’m glad that he had a successful surgery." The man commented, confirming his suspicion that everybody was already aware of his son’s condition even if he had tried hard to keep his son’s life out of the media.

"Anyway, you’re right." Don Enrico agreed with him. "I shouldn’t be bothering you in a time like this. So, I will get to the point."

Without saying another word, the old man raised his hand and snapped his finger.

For a split second, he debated whether the older man was signaling for an attack, an ambush, or simply asking his men for something.

Nonetheless, he kept his cool. he didn’t allow his fear and doubt to control his decision. Instead of panicking, he waited, betting that this man was still worth trusting.

"I brought you a gift." Don Enrico finally said as two of his men opened the trunk of his car and pulled a man from inside.

The man was badly beaten. Bruises and cuts covered most of his face. Truthfully, he was almost unrecognizable.

"I already bandaged him up." Pointing at the dirty, stripped of clothes, covering the wound, stopping the blood from gushing out of his wounds. "And try to keep him alive as long as I can."

For a minute, he just stared at the man who was barely moving. His hands and feet were tightly tied as if he could still escape in his condition.

With a curious glance, he turned to Don Enrico. "Who’s he?" He stepped closer, hoping he could take a better look at his face.

"He is one of the moles in your company." Don Enrico simply said as his man finally pushed and kicked the man until he landed on his feet.

"Don Oliver, here are the files that he was trying to sell to us." Don Enrico’s assistant walked toward him and handed him a folder.

Quickly, he inspected the report and was completely stunned. It was some of the new designs of the Morton Group for their new set of guns this year. Several pieces of information about his company and the Iron Hand Cartel are also inside the file.

"Why are you doing this?" There was no question that the file was authentic. Therefore, whoever that man was, he was one of the traitors in his organization.

Still, it didn’t answer why Don Enrico was helping him.

Or the more important question was. What did he want in return?

Believe it or not, despite the physical disability, he knew Don Enrico’s mind was still as sharp as a katana sword. It still possessed its double-edged blade that could cut in any direction. And torn into shreds anything that would stand in its path.

"As you said, we are family." The words might sound as if a compliment, but to him, they sounded more like a threat.

"So, I will tell you the truth, plain and simple." He pulled out a handkerchief from his breast pocket and wiped the few drops of blood that had stuck on the other end of his cane.

"I have a son." He pointed to the young, handsome man who was standing on his left side. "And I believe you have a sister."

"My son will be inheriting my position soon. He would soon be handling the business just like you did." He explained, but he already knew where this conversation was going.

"I think..."

"I truly appreciate your gift, but you need to give me time to think about it." He interrupted the older man before he could say more.

He already knew what the man was asking of him, but that was not something he could simply give.

"Okay, I’m fine with that." Don Enrico nodded in agreement. "But I hope you’ll not think too long." Tapping on the clock on his wrist. "I’m a patient man, but I still have my limits." The subtle threats were evident in his tone.

"I won’t." He said, wondering if he could offer the older man something else.

A share in the company.

A few million dollars.

A project.

Anything, except the one that the older man wanted.

There must be something else that the old man wanted except for his sister.

After the meeting, he immediately returned to the hospital, wanting to be near his family.

As he rode the elevator to his son’s floor, his mind still kept returning to his meeting earlier, wondering if he had any other solution.

Of course, he knew that Don Enrico would go to his enemy for a marriage alliance if he refused. But he could not, in good conscience, offer his sister as a bargaining chip for a business deal.

But as he stepped outside the elevator and marched down the hallway toward his son’s private ward, he stopped.

Outside his son’s room, two people stood with their bodies entwined in a tight embrace.

Like a bull who had seen a red flag, his ears and nose flared and burned in anger. As rage consumed him, he charged without thinking, allowing his emotions to get the better of him.

Then, fists went flying.