Chapter 8
Brandon's POV:
"Good morning, Boss! The report of what you asked us to look into is out. Here it is." Charles informed me, dropping a brown envelope on the table and settling down on the seat opposite mine.
Overall, Charles was a man that I could truth. My second in command. Very smart and one who got whatever that I wanted to be done, done. Charles has been with me since even before I became the Don. Not even for once has he given me a reason to doubt his loyalty. He was a tall and slender guy. He had long, dark hair that flowed freely over his shoulders, delicate facial features, and very fine lips.
People always mistake him for a supermodel. He has a deceptive face and personality. Beneath all that gorgeousness was a deadly assassin, badass sniper, and the second-highest in my mafia organisation. Charles was twenty-six and his interest was in men. It made working with him easier. I could bet on my life that he was focused. One of the more reasons why I couldn't trade him for anything.
"Boss, what do you want me to do with Sylvester?"
"Eliminate him," I said without remorse.
Betray me once, and you would never enjoy the privilege of life. Sylvester did not only betray me. He stole from me and double-crossed me. The only people who got the affectionate part of me were my parents, and no one else.
My father appreciated me so much because I made the family proud. I made sure to maintain the integrity of the Marshall family. For my mother, she doesn't give a fuck about what we were up to. All she knew was, let her only child and husband be available for her. The way she was in love with my dad, warmed my heart, despite knowing about his past. My dad met mum when they were just young and free. On one occasion that mum snuck out of the house, being a rebellious child, she got into trouble with a gang that wanted to take advantage of her. Not knowing who my father was, the gang tried to fight him, but, in one swift moment, my father with his hidden security dealt mercilessly with the gang. Indebted to my father, my mum became inseparable from him. One thing leasing to the other, they got married, had me and has been lovebirds since then.
If the story of my parents could be mine, maybe that would have helped put their minds at ease.
I wasn't interested in women. I always saw them as less and a toy thing. You could blame the mafia princess who broke my heart years back. From that rejection, my hatred for women and innocent people pulled up. You know that they are only pretending to be innocent. At the end of the whole day, they are wolves with sheep's clothing.
I took the folder and began reading through it. My company had scouted and found a remote area that will be good for business. The idea was to buy the entire place, build a park, shopping mall and laundry house, something that would take the eyes of authorities from my main business. While those legal businesses are running, I would create a unit for selling arms and training my soldiers there. Maybe I would also include a unit for building a standard hospital with doctors where my injured men could get ample treatment.
"There is a lot of low-class living in the area. Let us move them to our relief apartment," he suggested.
"I don't run a charity organisation," I snapped. "If I buy that property, it is every man to himself. I don't give a shit if they have to move to the moon. All I want is for my space to be empty so that construction will start. Fail to do so, I tear your house down with you in it." I said through gritted teeth, my focus still on the pages I was reading. "There might be exceptions," I said, rethinking my earlier decision. "Unless they have an ass worthy stuff that I need, let us say, manpower or another relevant contribution, then maybe, I will consider such people. Providing them with accommodation while they work for me. But if that is not the case, they can kiss my ass. I don't care."
"Yes, boss."
I kept scanning through the details of everyone who lived in the slum. A necessary protocol that I always follow in case I needed to single-handedly pinpoint a potential threat.
It was easier to deal with such at this initial stage than when it ate deep. I had to make sure that we wouldn't stumble on any problem during the construction and after the construction. Nobody will bring the attention of the media or police. Those two were the last set of people that we needed to be involved in that matter.
As if I have been touched by poison and I could no longer breathe, I froze in place when my eyes landed on the blonde's picture. Taking out her file, I closed the rest of the folders. "Deal with the remaining," I ordered Charles, tossing it in front of him.
Carefully, I began studying her details. Hailey Oscar. Seventeen to turn eighteenth. Finishing college in less than a week. The only relative she had, was her grandmother. Nothing else.
Hmm, no one would even look for her if I decided to terminate her. That fact should be a nightmare to her, making her reconsider whenever she wants to cross people's paths. Yet, she was just a foolish girl who doesn't know any better. What was I going to do with her? Sale her to one of my allies? Turn her to a maid who would work overtime? Or, …ideas upon ideas flooded my head, but I didn't like any of them. Suddenly, it came. The most brilliant idea that even made me giggle within. Buy her.
"Charles, I want you to buy this one." I showed him Hailey's picture.
"Uhmm, boss, that would be a challenge. We need to be careful at a time like this. If words get out on the street that-"
"That one common, insignificant, slut is missing, what would happen?" I finished for him.
"Nothing, boss," he mumbled.
"Good. Nothing. Let us keep it at nothing," I growled.
I knew very well that Charles was just coming up with all the talks because he has never been one to support human trafficking. Even though he had done some terrible thing, I would still testify that his heart was pure. He never hunts unless he was being hunted. 'Kill those that step on your foot,' was his motto. Charles has never gone against anyone who didn't deserve it. It was so annoying of him to think that I was going against Hailey without her deserving it. She has more than wronged me.
I was just a man more intimidating than Lucifer himself. So, I got whatever I wanted, even if it was impossible. I had men who could make it possible. 'Hailey, I am not just going to buy you, I will make sure it is done in the most degrading and painful way.' I thought in my head. This is what happens when you mess with a mentally unstable man.
"Do you have a plan in mind?" Charles asked.
Of course, I do. I always have a plan. "I can see she has a grandmother. I don't want anyone complaining to the police or looking for her. Pay the woman off."
"What makes you think that a grandmother will sell her only grandchild?"
"I know greed when I see one. Just do what I asked you to. Make sure there are no loose ends. No questions and definitely no contact. Just use the name Marshall. Don't give out too many details but make sure that your offer is irresistible."
"And if the old woman decides to see who is buying her grandchild?"
"Make sure that doesn't happen. Use whatever means necessary. Don't leave a mess that would need a cleanup." I warned.
"Never, boss. When do you want it done?"
"Now. That means you have to be on your way. Keep it as quiet as possible. I trust you can take care of that."
"Of course, boss." Standing, "what made you to chose her?"
My face reddened, swollen with blood and anger. "No questions, Charles. Just do what you are told."
He gave a small curtly nod and left.
I got angry because his question was one I didn't have an answer to. Why was I doing this? Was it out of revenge or mere childishness? I had no idea. But, I just wanted to do it so badly. Teach her a lesson that she would never forget in a hurry.
******
"Do you know what this means, Brandon?"
I turned my head toward the window, looking at the cloudless sky, and then fixed Sean with a stare.
"You have to take care of the Lopez family before the spread. The preparing to go to war with you."
I stood up, and my men slowly followed suit, taking their places behind me. The meeting had been helpful enough, but it was getting annoyingly too long. I shook hands with Sean.
"You have proven to be so useful. I will take care of the situation." I knew exactly what I was going to do. I didn't need the chirping and constant reminder. It will only set me off. I lifted my hand, all fingers outstretched, "your payment has been made. Keep me posted."
"Yes, boss." Sean started smiling uncontrollably as soon as heard about his money. "Until next time, boss."
Oh, there will be no next time. Eliminating the snitch, and his information, was my method. If he could go against his clansmen, how much more me? It would only take him seconds to feed whatever information he can lift off my circle to my enemies.
I took my jacket off and undid another button of my black shirt. I was sitting in the back seat of the car, enjoying the silence and the coolness of the natural air.
"Home," I growled at the driver, scrolling through the contact on my mobile. When I got to Charles, I punched in a text and sent it. 'Cancel the extraction. We have a major problem to deal with.'
I had ordered them to bring back Hailey with them today no matter what. But, handling the Lopez's was a more critical issue and priority. I couldn't forgo such a threatening situation all because of my childish interest. And, I couldn't have a nuisance like Hailey on the loose while I was occupied. The best thing, for now, was to let her be until I was fully able to play with my toy.
I sat back comfortably, observing the world outside the window as it whizzed by. I closed my eyes, anticipating what was to come.
Ps : I will be so excited if I can get my first gift 🥹 Every bit helps and will always be appreciated and who knows I might be motivated to update more times daily 🎀