Deception's Game (The Misses Book 2)

28

2 years later

“Sir. Master Felix is here to check in.” The secretary said to the tall lean man as he stared out of the window overlooking Lagos.

“See him in. Make sure he checks his clothes in, on the twelfth floor and a body scan is completed as usual. Do not skip any steps.”

“Yes Sir.” 

He only trusted a handful of people in Lagos and Felix was at the bottom. He was a useful man. His loyalty could never be doubted, but what could be doubted was how easily he could split his loyalty pool. Just because he was loyal to you did not mean that he wasn’t more loyal to someone else. That’s how he stayed convincing in the mafia and with the general insurgent thugs in Lagos.

As the door opened, the green-eyed thug entered in a fluffy white robe with his chest puffed out. Levi found himself trying to hold in a chuckle. The moment never ceased to amuse him.

“Go ahead and laugh. Get it all out.” Felix grumbled and looked away.

Levi let out a loud hearty laugh. Felix was in his element in the robe. Sometimes he only came to see him so he could be himself for a moment. Levi was okay with that. They had been friends long before he took on the job of hiding his ‘gayness’ from his family but he was still a thug. If Felix knew his nephew was dating his daughter he would definitely try and take advantage of the situation. So the setup was also a good way to gauge whether Grayson was holding up his part of the deal. He wasnt sure why he still doubted him. He was a great young man who showed his daughter nothing but love. It had been two years and his crazy daughter was still happily in love. It was hard to believe Grayson was related to Felix.

“What brings you here, you old goat? This isn’t a normal meeting day.”

“Don’t call me a goat…I need to ask a favor of you.” He said, then sat on the couch and crossed his legs. 

“Let me guess it has to do with that transwoman?” He then raised a brow at Felix.

“Damn it Levi!”

“You don’t become a genius AI developer without knowing how people will move in theory and in life. I can tell you really love her. What do you need? “

Felix leaned forward, placing his face in his hand. “I’ve never regretted anything more than putting my loyalties above my heart. {takes deep breath} I know you know the story but the amount of regret that I feel weighs so heavy on me. Why can’t I just be gay without losing my mafia connections? My family and some of my friends? All of this just makes me a coward. I would have rather seen her with someone than leave my world of violence and chaos.” 

“Your persona is built on loyalty to your boss, the cause, and your family. Any breach in that understanding destroys that persona. Honestly, it's probably pointless to try and change your current path. She’s most likely moved on. So, what do you want from me? I'm busy Felix.”

Felix quietly laughed, “You are right. I want to see if you could hire her when there's an opening in your company.”

Levi walked over to the couch across from Felix and sat down, “You know all of our processes are AI-based.  BUT I can enter her name as a suggestion. She will basically be floating coding that fills gaps in unanswered questions. What’s her name?”

“Beck Vanderstein.”

“Vanderstein? Are you serious? The woman you betrayed all those years ago is a Vanderstein? {Sigh} You really have no clue uh?”

Felix looked at Levi, puzzled by his response. “No clue. Clue me in.”

“The Vanderstein’s are one of the most prestigious families in Lagos. Most do not know this because they are very humble. They are crystal designers. I have dishes and decorative trays in my home with their name engraved on the bottom. Items that have been in my family for centuries. I didn’t even know they had a child. They probably disowned this Beck at a young age.{sigh} I digress. Yes, I will take care of her.”

“Thank you so much, Levi.” Felix grabbed Levi’s hand and shook it profusely. In his heart he couldn't believe he had treated such a treasure like trash. There was really no way to redeem this atrocity, other than letting her go. This would be the last time he interfered in her life.

“I know we are friends but your purpose has not changed. I need to know when your boss brings drugs into Lagos. He can not be allowed to destroy my home.” Levi’s blue eyes sparkled within the intensity of his glare.

Levi was stronger, faster, and richer than his mafia boss, Visali, ever was. Even though he did have a personal protective shield that he created, he also knew several forms of martial arts. His right hook, along with the rest of his actions, were not to be taken lightly.

Felix nodded his head. He knew and accepted his place with Levi. He reached in his pocket and took out a small plastic baggy. “That is the second thing we need to discuss. There are these miniature pills being distributed by the Don. They call them ‘Superman’. Supposedly, taking one causes a temporary boost in strength. Not just a regular steroid boost, a superhuman boost. Since they take 6 hours to metabolize, he gives them to the person doing the job and then puts them in the right place at the right time. 

The taker violently murders or dismembers anyone in their sight. Because of this bloodthirst one exhibits when coming down from their high, it makes for a great deterrent to turf wars. If you know what I mean?”

“What!” Levi stood up and slapped the table, smashing the pill in the package Felix brought it in.

“Levi!” Felix quickly turned his hand over and checked for particles, then checked his pupils for a reaction.

“How many are on the streets?”  Levi continued, disregarding the fact that he possibly got some of the residue on his hand. Felix was trembling. He had never been more terrified. [Did I just kill the richest man on the planet?]

“No more than 15, I believe. The Don keeps them at his side. Now they don’t have to worry about the blood being directly on their hands.”

“Oh I see. The police are probably declaring it mental health instability or drug addiction,since it happens in impoverished areas. {tch}  Are they addictive?” Levi hadn’t shown any signs but Felix was hoping he’d call in a doctor soon.

“No, but they cause crippling depression and anxiety. If the user doesn’t commit suicide after waking up from blindly dismembering their family or friends, they stop eating and have vivid hallucinations and nightmares.” Felix said with his eyebrow raised.

“Ahh s**t. We may have to let this play out. I will run some tests on this one. But 15 isn’t going to have the cops breaking down Visali’s door. On top of that, we can’t take the chance of the police force touching the substance then terrorizing those they are supposed to protect. Then we lose the respect of the people, giving more power to Visali. “ Levi got quieter and somber.

 “Also…I can’t speak up without ratting you out. You are probably one of a few that Visali confided in. Right? Your head will be on his menu and the cops. ” Levi got up from the sofa and walked back over to the window. He could feel an intense sensation in his hand. His nanites were working to destroy the particles that had broken free of the smashed bag.

Felix scanned over Levi’s body while looking for signs of change, then Levi’s hand jumped involuntarily. “I’m going to stay for a little longer. I know you have a system that will call for help, but if we are trying to keep it under wraps, that’s the  last thing we need.”

“Fine.”

Felix laid back on the sofa. He heard Levi’s desk reeling backwards. He couldn’t lie even though Levi was a great boss. In another life, he’d wished they could’ve been best friends. He liked their relationship a lot, but if he knew that his son was the creator of ‘Superman’, he was sure their relationship would change.

He was so proud of Luke. At first. Then he saw Vince lose his s**t. After all was said and done, he stomped the guy until he was mush. His pants and shoes were soaked in the guy's blood. For someone that has seen brains blown out over a wall, what Vince did was the stuff horror movies were made of.