Entangled With The Mafia Boss

Chapter 8

Williams

"So, are you going to pay for this monumental slip?" I turned to the warden.

"A lot of people are backing me. A lot of powerful people. The slightest knowledge that Bruce is gone is going to cause a chain reaction that will need someone to take the fall." I stepped closer to the warden. Somehow, his scent was long forgotten in my mind. "Are you going to take the fall? Do you think you have what it takes? Or am I just wasting my f*****g time with you?"

The warden, in all senses, looked as scared as a mouse in the face of a cat. His brown eyes widened with fear.

"I put you here. I gave you the position. I expect you to at least act like you deserve it, not behave like a rambling officer who has no idea what he wants to do. Do I need to put another person in your place before you know I'm serious about this? Don't try my patience, Jonas.”

“This escape was an oversight." He whispered.

I was now completely in his face. "An oversight that is not easily forgiven." I held up my hand to his face, my index finger and thumb about an inch apart. "I'm this close to throwing you off the f*****g building, so get your head in the game and find me that man." I pointed my finger toward the direction of the computer screen.

"I'll find him," the warden stammered. The perspiration on his face had become overly apparent, mixed with the fear I didn’t mind seeing for a moment.

I walked to the door, quickly leaving my office. "Clara!" I barked out loud.

"Yes, sir," she stumbled into my office a few moments later with a needlessly pleasant look on her face.

"Clear my schedule for the day. I'm going home."

***

After a good night's sleep, well-preceded by chugging an entire bottle of whiskey, I found myself bright and fresh heading into the headquarters of Rex Corporation. I climbed up the obsidian-colored tiles that covered the front stairs and maneuvered my way through the line of people waiting to enter the building.

"Hey," I heard one imbecile in particular say as he placed his hand on my shoulder, momentarily stopping me. I shrugged off the arm and continued, choosing not to turn around and ruin my mood any further.

"We found a few things, but most of them are gone," the warden had said. "But I'm 110% sure that it was Bruce. I've heard a few things about one of the guys on his team. The guy can't be tracked. He blends in and out. The guy that he knocked out doesn't even remember what he looks like." I scowled as I remembered the warden's phone call last night just before I went to bed. It was all excuses upon excuses, excuses that I would have to explain once I faced him. I couldn't even begin to comprehend how much I would dread the conversation.

I stepped into the elevator and began tapping on my phone with my index finger, counting the seconds until I reached the penthouse office. Once there, the silver elevator doors slid open, revealing the expanse of space that, frankly, in my deepest heart, I wanted nothing more than to have.

Ambrose was simply a hard man to please. In my honest opinion, he should perhaps loosen up a little. But I, along with the underworld and the business world combined, knew that was next to impossible, right next to the sky opening up and raining aliens. I steeled my face and stepped out of the elevator onto the obsidian-tiled floors of the penthouse office, which screamed as much luxury as humanly possible.

"Is he here?" I probed his receptionist, who raised her eyes from the computer screen in front of her and flashed me a pleasant smile.

"He's been expecting you for some time now." She stood up and gestured toward the door. "He'll see you now."

I stepped toward the completely black doors of Ambrose's office and simply stood in front of them, waiting. I knew it was not a motion-sensor-activated door, but I still couldn't help the nervousness that bubbled up inside. The powerful man could literally change my fate and had proven to be the kind of person to do so.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Williams?" she asked.

"No," I growled out to the pleasant receptionist and pushed my way through the door.

Ambrose was not in his chair once I entered the office. The man was standing at the other end of the large expanse of space, nearly as big as my living room and kitchen combined. He had his back turned towards me, his face looking out over the city below.

"There are a number of things that I don't like repeating," he said slowly, still not turning around. His back, broad and powerful inside his suit, was wider than most men's. As rather well-fitted as Ambrose was, he genuinely amounted to the fear and respect he commanded.

"Don’t you feel, Willy, that sometimes, it looks like I have to do the work myself."

He turned his head slightly to the side, giving me a view of his profile. "Do I have to repeat myself with you? Do I have to tell you and remind you of what's at stake?"

I shook my head slowly. "Nothing like that. I can assure you, I will find him. I already have some of my top scouts looking into it. I'll bring the good news soon enough."

Somehow, my head lowered itself into a bow, leaving me quite baffled by the effect.

"How long? How long are you going to give them to me? The therapist—was she able to find out anything yet?"

I shook my head. "Unfortunately not. We weren't able to get any information out of him before the escape. But I was able to find out who orchestrated the escape. It was his people. I can assure you, sir, Mr. Ambrose, you don't have to worry about finding him. I have my best people on the job."

Ambrose slowly turned around and faced me, his expression a mask of nothingness, as usual. The man was simply a master at hiding his emotions until, after all, he needed them to be seen.

"Good. You don't have long. Spend any moment longer, and I'm pulling my funding from you and your operations. I don't need to remind you what's at stake again. You have to do the needful, Henry." He c****d his head to one side, his nearly obsidian, soulless eyes holding a promise of my ruin.