Pretending to Be an Untouchable Crime Boss-Chapter 256: Ring Of Power.

"Heroes always come late, Mike, you know it." Arine laughed as he shook hands with Mike. "What’s happening though?" He asked because what he saw was full-on preparation.

"A trip to Maraci."

He froze as Mike said it, like what the fuck was he saying... out of all countries, Maraci?

"That Maraci?"

"Yeah, where James’s family went. We’re going after them for 3 weeks." He said, and Arine just froze even more, a full blown 3 week stay in the most dangerous country for them... well, truly an adventure.

"Then count me in too." He said with hesitation. "I’m fully healed, not even a scratch." A lie, of course it was.

"With cracked ribs?" Mike asked back as he smiled, and he knew he couldn’t really say no to him, because he was just going to cry even more.

"One or two cracked ribs is nothing." He said as he smiled at him and tapped his shoulder. "And we need to die sometime, so why not in Maraci? I heard it’s one of the richest countries, maybe I’ll die in some baddie’s arms." He said as he went to help the others as well as Mike shook his head and went to do his job, starting by calling up trusted men.

And then he made a small mistake... to be true, it wasn’t really a mistake, he just didn’t calculate that calling up Dani would cause a chain reaction.

He asked for cash, 50 million and when he said why he needed it, Dani immediately called up Hector, who then, within ten minutes, showed up at the house, running in like a wild boar, thinking about the worst things that could’ve happened while he wasn’t home. But to his surprise, he was just sitting in the living room, watching a child show in the biggest calm.

"James?"

"Ohh, what are you doing here, Hector?" He asked calmly as he lowered the volume on the tv, which was just more surreal to him.

"You’re going to Maraci?" He asked straight away.

"Yeah, I’m going to take some time and meet my family."

In that moment, for the first time, Hector truly didn’t know what the fuck was happening. He couldn’t even predict this, that James, in the most crucial time, would leave the country behind to go on a fucking trip.

"You can’t go, James. We are in the middle of building up the production line and what about what we talked about?" He asked as he eyed him, though his voice was hesitant, because it was clear the question frustrated James, and he didn’t really look welcoming to the idea of talking against him this time.

"Finn will do it with Sophia, and you too will remain here. Only I go, with Mike and some bodyguards." he said, and Hector’s expression just changed to more disbelief. "I’ll spend three weeks there and come back."

"Three weeks?!" He raised his voice without even noticing it. "James, that’s a lot of time, and—"

"Hector." The change was sudden in his voice, it wasn’t cold but threatening. "I already spoke with Benjamin about it, and they said they need time too. Until then, we prepare, build, and act when they are ready. It’s no longer a competition, but a monopoly and we are the ones controlling it."

"I get it, but still, we need you here, you’re the—"

"You are an underboss, Hector. So act like one, for three weeks." Again, the way he said it Hector immediately knew there wasn’t even a small chance of stopping him from going to Maraci... that fucking country that could cause their whole downfall.

He stayed silent for a bit before looking up once again at James with ideation and worries written all over his face.

"What if... you die there?" He asked with no hesitation or fear in him. "What will the family do? What will happen with all of this? This is the dumbest thing you can do right now, James, and I am against it with all my will." He looked straight into his eyes. "Your family is safe there, and they can come back in a month. Just think about it. The cartel hasn’t done anything since then, and now the whole government is on our side. Your family will be safe if they’re back... don’t do this. Don’t push us toward a total collapse with this."

Nothing but the truth and even James knew it too, that the moment someone recognized him, he would be fucked... though one simple thought was in his mind.

At least he has loved ones to die for.

So he did what was unexpected for him and was just more shocking to Hector. He looked down, and he pulled the signet ring off his finger, holding it out for him.

"Take it."

"I can’t—"

"It’s not about can or can’t, you need to, Hector." He said as he stepped closer to him. "If I die or anything happens, let it be here, let it be in Maraci or anywhere else, this ring will fall in your hand as well as the family. You will be the one that will continue walking on my path, and when Charlotte is old enough, she will take over if she wants to. But until then, it is you." He said as he grabbed his hand and put the ring on it, and then suddenly pulled Hector into a hug. "But I don’t plan on dying, my friend." He whispered. "So don’t act like a crybaby and do what you can, the best you can." He said as petted his shoulder and walked toward the doors, leaving Hector in silence but not for too long.

"Huh, and what would that be?" He asked as turned around.

"Be yourself... and kill whoever wants to take what’s ours. Be a Bellini, my friend." James said and with that he left the house, leaving behind Hector with his thoughts as he stared down at the ring.

It was heavy... too heavy, like the ring itself was rejecting him, as if he wasn’t the one who deserved to wear it... how strange that was for a simple ring.

"Be a Bellini... but I can’t be you, James." Hector whispered as he pulled it off his finger and slipped it into his pocket. "I could never be you."