When Empires Fall

Too Close

Chapter Four: Too Close

Zane’s POV

“Zane, Zane, Zane,” I heard my name as my thoughts faded away.

“Are you okay?” Liam asked.

“Yes, yes,” I replied.

“Okay, we need to head back to work right now. I just got a text saying one of Roman’s restaurants.”

“Wait, what, are you serious?” I asked.

“Yes unfortunately, I don’t know exactly what we are doing wrong,” Liam said.

“I really think Roman should check if he has any old enemy he had an unfinished score with,” I said.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Liam said.

When we got to the office, Roman was waiting for us and Liam told me to tell Roman what I told him earlier.

“I am really sorry to hear what happened,” Liam said.

“I don’t exactly know what it is we are not getting right. We have able soldiers on standby every single moment, so what could possibly be the problem?” Roman said in disappointment.

“Well… I think maybe you should look into your old enemies to see if you have anything unsettled with them." I pitched in

He gave me a look I couldn’t read.

“That makes sense, but I am pretty sure I settled everything I had with anyone then. Although I suspect that too.”

“So we have to draw a board then,” Liam said.

“Yes. We need to start working immediately,” Roman replied.

I got a call right after from Adrian saying one of my soldiers was severely injured after the attack. I did not exactly feel obliged to do anything because I had more than enough soldiers, but I told Adrian to sort the bill, and I'd be at the hospital shortly.

“We have an important work to look into and finish,” Liam said as he saw me leaving.

“Well, as you can see, I am stepping out,” I said.

“To where?” Liam asked.

“That’s none of your business,” I replied quickly.

“Well, I heard it over the phone,” Liam said.

“Then why did you ask me?”

“I never knew the arrogant Zane still had some compassion in his heart. That’s good to hear,” he said.

“Well, he is my soldier, as you heard.”

“You could have left him to die, you know,” Liam said as he walked to his office.

When I got to the hospital, Adrian told me he was badly injured and in a really critical condition. We stayed till he was stable, then we went to see him.

“How do you feel?” I asked

He could barely talk and Adrian gave me a signal to leave, but I felt he might know something since he was in close contact with the attacker.

“Did you see the attacker?” I asked.

“No,” he said in a really low tone.

“Did you see anything?”

He couldn’t answer. I decided to leave it for another day because I wouldn’t be able to get anything from him.

“Adrian, drive me home,” I said as I didn’t want to go back to work because, for some reason, I wanted to cool off. On the ride home I couldn’t stop thinking about Liam for some reason, but I was able to distract myself.

The next morning

I got to the office to finish up some work with Liam, but I couldn’t find him in the office.

“Roman, have you seen Liam? We have some work to do”.

“I haven’t, but he mailed me that he wouldn’t be coming today,” Roman said.

Why didn’t Liam tell me about this? We had to work on all the evidence that we were able to gather, and now he chose not to come today. But one part of me wanted him to be around. I was suddenly not interested in many things and soon enough I got a call from Uncle Matt insisting on us meeting. I went back to the empire to see him.

“What’s that expression on your face uncle?”

“I need to warn you about someone,” he said.

Uncle Matt is my father’s younger brother, and he is like the brains behind the empire. He is one of the reasons why my empire is where we are today. He is the one that runs the deals with the politicians, and he acts as our eyes because he knows everything.

“Who’s that?” I replied

“His name is Liam Romano,” he said.

And immediately my face brightens up.

“What about him?” I said

“He is not to be trusted, as I got my sources to look into this Roman’s case, and we have a direct lead connecting him”

“That can’t be true.”

“Well, it might not, but I am just here to warn you,” Uncle Matt said.

“I’ll look into it” I said

What exactly does Uncle Matt mean? I just couldn’t understand why Liam would be involved in this. What exactly will he gain? It did not make sense to me and I contacted Adrian to look into it and get back to me immediately. The next day, I got to the office and I didn’t see Liam again, and I didn’t know if to be suspicious or not and Adrian got back to me as promised.

“What were you able to find?” I asked.

“Nothing sir,” he said.

“Nothing????” I asked

“There wasn’t really much on him, but we were able to find out he has an underboss,” he said.

“So why didn’t he involve him in the operation??”

“According to the information I gathered, his name is Marcus, and he willingly wanted to opt out,” he said.

“I have heard the name before, but it’s quite strange though,” I said.

While Adrian was gone, I was still evidently wanting Liam to appear out of nowhere, but he still wasn’t around.

“Why do you care so much if Liam is not around?” Roman asked.

“Nothing,” I said.

“Hm, nothing indeed.”