Kieren
"Arnold, spread the word. Meeting in the meeting room in five. Make sure everyone's there." I ordered my Buttler.
Hastily donning a shirt, I rolled up the sleeves and headed downstairs.
The boardroom in the mansion exuded luxury and sophistication. Bathed in soft light from crystal chandeliers, its mahogany panelled walls and marble floors spoke of opulence. A long oak table, surrounded by high-backed leather chairs, dominated the space. A roaring fireplace and fine art added to the ambiance, creating an atmosphere fit for the elite.
The seats were already occupied by my men.
They all stood up as I entered the enormous room and took their seats after I sat down.
Ronan and Luca, the underboss and consigliere, took their seats to my right, while Rowan, the Caporegime, and Jayson, the techie, settled on my left, joined by two FBI agents Jack and Mario.
"Gentlemen," I began, my voice a low, commanding rumble that brooked no dissent, "we face an issue that demands our immediate attention."
The weight of my words hung heavy in the air, each syllable laden with the promise of swift and merciless retribution.
"Our territory has been violated," I continued. "A rival crew has dared to encroach upon our domain."
The subtle shift in the room betrayed the simmering anger beneath the surface, a silent acknowledgment of the danger that loomed on the horizon.
The danger of my wrath.
"They'll regret crossing us," Rowan muttered, his words dripping with venomous resolve.
I nodded in agreement, my mind already racing with plans for retaliation. "Indeed, they will," I replied, my voice devoid of emotion, my gaze now fixed on the glowing screen of my laptop.
"Capo, is there a possibility that the new crew might have tampered with our shipments too? Could they be the ones pulling the strings." Ronan inquired with skepticism.
"There is a good possibility of that, and we have to find out as soon as possible." I paused for a moment.
My men are accustomed to these impromptu gatherings and my customary wrath, so they remained silent and motionless as I vented my frustrations.
"Gentlemen, We. Are. The fucking ruling Mafia of five countries and yet we find ourselves unable to track down the individual who dared to interfere with our shipments. And now they dare to encroach upon our territory. Soon, they'll dare to set foot in our fucking house. And what will we do?" My voice rose with a shimmering fury. Their silence and anxious looks on my men's faces, only served to stoke the flames of my anger.
"I. Need. A fucking. Answer." My icy gaze bore into them.
Jayson rose from his seat.
Finally, a movement.
"Capo, I have been looking into it, I'll dig deeper, give me some time." His tense voice matched his body language.
"Three days." I edicted with sternness.
"Sí Capo."
The expressions on my men's faces seemed to relax, perhaps thinking that the end of the meeting was finally in sight.
"But" I gained back their attention . "Our troubles do not end there." The atmosphere shifted to fear and shock again.
"Our allies in Chicago grow greedy, demanding more than their fair share."
A flash of cold fury ignited within me. Greed had no place in our world, and those who dared to defy me would face the full extent of my wrath.
Luca stood up.
"I'll handle the negotiations, Capo.
We need to smooth things over and keep the peace for now. But I'll make sure they pay for their rapacity."
"As you should."
I turned my attention to the two special guests at the meeting today. The FBI agents.
"Your people have been poking around us, looking for trouble. Do I not pay you enough to look into such matters before they get into my notice?"
"Si-sir, we are extremely sorry. We promise not to repeat it. We'll ke-keep a close eye." Mario replied.
They were clearly inexperienced with these meetings, evident from their shaken demeanor and stuttering speech.
"You better. Because you will not be called to my mansion and discussed with, the next time. Get what I mean?" My voice was a warning, a reminder of the consequences of repeating the same.
"Ye-yes sir."
"And handle it yourself because if I do it, I am going to attract a lot of attention." I commanded, my eyes flashing with a dangerous edge.
"We'll ha-handle it."
In the silence that followed, I knew that my men understood the gravity of the situation. Cross us, and there would be no mercy. For in the unforgiving world of the mafia, only the strong survived. And I intended to emerge victorious, no matter the cost.
"That will be all. Remember, gentlemen, we are not to be trifled with. Cross us, and you will pay the price."
"Sí Capo." All my men responded in unison.
I exited the room.
I obtained all the intel last night from a select few close associates, akin to spies, who specialize in gathering information and delivering it to me, which, now, resulted in a two hours of an infuriating meeting.
What a great Saturday morning.
I went to box with Gabriel, my personal bodyguard and boxing buddy.
"You seem very pissed, boss." He wheezed, his voice strained but defiant.
"Do you want me to stop Gabriel?" I gave him an underestimating look.
"I would like that very much. My wife wouldn't be happy to see my face swollen anymore." He said breathlessly.
I gave him a slight nod and undid my gloves.
"I am surrounded by too many married men."
"Is that an inconvenience?" Gabriel took a sip from his water bottle.
I poured mine all over my face and chest.
"So far, no. But I am afraid it might be in future." I said, hinting at potential future danger.
He chuckled.
"Don't worry boss, we are all married to our jobs as much as we are to our wives."
I replied with a smile.
"Have you considered marriage? It is good for us to have a queen alongside the king." He said earnestly.
I sighed and patted his shoulder.
"The queen is busy sipping her herbal tea."
I left a confused Gabriel on the ring and walked away, with a smile.
These damn smiles.
I stepped into the shower, allowing the cold water to cascade over me, washing away the remnants of the disturbing day. Yet, as thoughts of her flooded my mind, my worries seemed to dissolve instantly.
What is she?A spell? A remedy? A potent drug?
Or perhaps something more than just a mere emotion? Something, I am not ready to acknowledge yet.