Chapter 9

The building was located in a conspicuous environment. It blended well with almost all the buildings and no one would ever guess that that house was used for planning and strategies.

The two leaders stood at its entrance with one man slightly taller than the other. The two were definitely handsome but one of them had a deadly look while the other had a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Lucas Dante and Silas Castilo. The Mafia Drug Lords who ruled. Their territory was the largest in the whole of New York and none could compare to their man power.

To the public they were seen as friends but they have an unbreakable bond of brotherhood.

Immediately they stepped into the house, the men who had been laughing and chatting amongst them got up in respect.

Lucas cleared his throat. "I want to thank you all for making out time for this meeting."

"You have left your soft beds, your girlfriends, your wives and some of you might even be thankful…." Silas chipped in earning a glare from Lucas and a snicker from all the men.

Lucas waved for all to sit and wasted no time in getting to business. He was missing Laurel already.

"Luis, your report."

The lanky young man came forward with a book and pen in his hands. His face was etched in worry and Lucas knew something was wrong. He still kept his cool because if he panicked, his men would panic.

"The director of Bounce club is acting suspiciously. He wants to see Laurel and there was a break in at the warehouse this morning." He finished.

The crew all had worried looks on their faces yet none of them said a word. Until their boss said something, they weren't going to say anything.

Lucas huffed in irritation. "Tell Mr. Malik he can't access Laurel for now. Look for an excuse or something."

Luis looked guilty as he refused to meet the eyes of his boss.

"What is it?" Lucas snapped. He was losing at his patience fast.

"I may have told him that Laurel was kidnapped."

Lucas turned his gray eyes on him. "What?"

Silas chuckled. "You mean Lucas is the kidnapper?"

No one dared to laugh. They all swallowed it and watched as Luis opened his mouth and closed it like a fish.

"I understand." Lucas nodded. He truly did. He could only imagine the guilt eating Luis away. How he became the third in command baffled Lucas. Silas picked him and Lucas couldn't say no to his best friend choices. It was best he trusted them and not question them.

Silas asked "So, you are going to let him go this one time?"

Lucas rubbed his forehead in thought. He has let Luis off the hook a thousand times. He needed to be punished but Lucas decided against it. It was better to let him endure the guilt of his friend never knowing his true identity.

Luis was careless and reckless but listened to instructions when needed. He wouldn't punish him because of this.

"Yes." Lucas replied, eyeing the shaking boy. Then he jerked his head, signaling to tell him to continue with his report. "Did you find who broke into the warehouse?"

Luis stared at his notebook again. He had to be very careful. A little mistake can cause a whole shipment to be miscalculated. No one wanted to be the scapegoat for Silas' experiment.

Luis could remember the last time Silas used him as an experiment. He would never forget that day. He had silently hoped that someone would interrupt and fortunately for him, Silas fiancée did.

Silas was a playful guy but once he got angry, it was worse than Lucas. Luis would choose a cold Boss Lucas over a playful Silas any time.

"We have gotten no lead on that but Marcelo said he will get back to me."

Marcelo was the spy they got on the third shipment.

"How many goods were stolen and destroyed?"

Lucas subtly held his breath as Luis proceeded to count from his book.

"Don't count like a child, boy!" Silas growled from where he perched on the high table. Luis nervously looked up and everyone dreaded what he was about to say.

"5000kg of the first shipment and second shipment." He replied.

All the men gasped in shock while some whispered in anger. That was a very big loss even to the richest Mafia Lord and Lucas Dante was the richest!

Lucas balled his fists as he took deep breaths subtly. He knew Silas was watching his every move. They were all watching and waiting for him to panic. If he did, they all will.

"Alright. Silas, can you please divide the men into groups of 5? We need more security at the warehouse and at the docks." Lucas was suddenly tired.

Silas was quick to read that his friend was in no mood to joke around. He clapped his hands to bring the men's attention and proceeded in sharing them into smaller groups of 5 men each.

As he shared the men, gave instructions and mobilized them, Lucas' mind drifted to the only person who would have done this much damage to him. It was the same person who was willing to buy the drugs from the traitor.

But Lucas had double crossed him and sent his Silas instead.

The traitor hadn't expected to see one of Lucas' men at the agreed location. He was seized, beaten and killed by Lucas himself.

There was only one person bold enough to test his patience and even do business in his territory. It was no person other than Dante de la Cruz.

"Yes Sir!" The men shouted and dispersed to their various duties.

Silas watched as his friend soaked himself in worry. He wasn't expecting the calm demeanor he had displayed in front of the crew. It was commendable yet stupid on his own side because Lucas was like a ticking bomb.