Mafia Queen

The Plot Thickens

Teela's POV

The following morning, I prepared for the emergency meeting. I arrived well before the rest and set up the tablets for those who would be videoing into the meeting. Until Aria fully understands what these meetings mean, I want her on site for the meetings. I will also help me gauge how she is adjusting and if there is any deception from her. I watch as the members start to come in, either in person or on the screens of the tablets. Arai arrives last and sits in her seat.

"Welcome ladies, we will now start this emergency meeting," I began.

They all murmur their approval and hellos. I turned to Rose, "We will start with a full account of what it is you did to your cousin."

Rose cleared her throat and stood, "I didn't mean to go that far, I swear. Miguel was getting too comfortable, too confident in his mind, thinking I wasn't capable of leading. He thought he could get away with challenging my authority. So I taught him a lesson in respect. Maybe if I had gone to torture sessions I would have known how to cause pain without killing him."

"Honestly, you know how a few of us love a good torture session. You could have given a play by play, and we would have been hanging on every word. Please tell me you used some of the techniques we used," I said encouragingly.

Rose simply nodded and sat down. I smiled at her and then addressed the assembly. "That is all I want from each member of this court. For you all to be strong and to trust each other and me. If my tone is harsh it is only because I know what you are capable of."

Everyone nodded and replied in the affirmative. "Now onto what we learned yesterday," I started out. "Was anyone able to find anything on what that puke said?"

Jewel was on site and Jade on the tablet next to her. I watched them exchange a glance. Jewel nodded and Jade spoke. "There has been increased activity throughout the city. New gangs are popping up, and it is causing the already established gangs to seek help from rivals or their own allies."

"I have received an inquiry about obtaining weapons for a coming gang war," Donna's voice came from Jewel's other side and the tablet sitting there, "I told them that I would discuss it with the court, as a war would be happening across many of our territories. I figured we would want a say if we sent our own people to help with just the weapons."

I nod, "Is there any other information we need to discuss?" I reply.

"I have my little brother at the torture warehouse," Donna says, a little too much light in her voice. "We can always get more information."

A wicked smile spreads across my face. "I would like that very much," I say. "But first we also need to look into the other names we got yesterday. Jade, Jewel, I want more information to take and use against Vicor. Please find everything you can, and as always, dig deeper. Donna, play with him, please don't cause too much damage. It will take away from our fun when we do finally talk to him."

"Understood," she said, a small pout on her face.

I close the meeting and everyone begins cleaning up the room. Aria steps to my side, "Majesty, may I have a word?"

"Speak freely," I say to her.

"I wanted to thank you," she began. "It means a lot that you have so much faith in me."

"Think nothing of it. Remember I once had no one to support me. The rest of the court was the same way. We all just need to remember that we are in this together," I say to her, soothingly.

"Thank you again," she said and left.

I placed the tablets into the lock box and then left myself.

Over the next month we built a thick file. I never knew there were this many people upset of who knew anything about the court. I looked around at the members of the court and called the meeting to order. "Where are we with the promises made to the president?"

"Right on schedule," Sophia replied. "The tariff bill was passed and it has been signed. Already, thirteen companies have set up to move their facilities back to the United States. When those factories open, they will create over a million new jobs. We also have made sure to offset any tariffs that will affect our partners overseas as well as given them the means to open facilities here as well."

"Perfect, and the Southside gang?" I ask.

"Taken care of," Aria replied. "The remaining members have been absorbed into other gangs."

"Excellent," I say, lacing my hands together. "If there is nothing else, that takes us to Victor."

Donna smiles, "Alive and healthy. Only a few brousis on him. Nothing broken and no cuts. He'll be ready to talk fast though. Not seeing light will do that to you."

I nod, and we all stand, packing up our belongings. "I would like all of us to come to this interrogation," I say. "We should have a first time for us all to be there. Now is as good a time as any."

We carpool to the warehouse and get out. A table stands with black clothing, we all change our clothes. Victor is chained and hanging from a hook, very good. This will be fun and easy.

"You won't get anything out of me," he spat. "I've done nothing wrong."

I look him up and down. He is at least legal. If we weren't about to almost kill him, maybe even kill him, I would take him as a replacement for Miguel. I smiled and walked over to him, "Bold, brave words for someone who has no power here. I've broken people with only the blade from my bra."

Sliding the blade out of my bra, I keep my eyes locked on Victor. Running the flat side across his collarbone, more for pleasure than pain. "I'm being very generous right now. Talk, or I will start cutting."

"You think I'm afraid of you? You're just a spoiled brat playing queen. You don't have what it takes to truly hurt me. You'll get nothing out of me," he sneered.

I turn the blade and start to carve a Q in his chest through his shirt. The front of the shirt turns crimson, then I cut it away. "You're playing with fire," I purr.

He hisses in pain. His eyes dart around at each other members of the court. Looking for any signs of mercy. Finding none there, he turns his anger-filled eyes back towards me. "Damn you, fine, I'll talk."

"Not just yet," I say, and indicate that all the girls step forward. They each come to him and carve their mark into his chest. By the time he is marked by all of us, he is breathing hard and he looks pale. "Now talk," I said with my blade at his throat.

He glares at me, still definite, good. "I've been working with someone who wants to take down your empire. They're planning something big, something that will shake you all to your core," he winces from the pain but still glares at me. "Happy now?"

"Details," I snarl, pushing the blade into his neck, drawing blood.

"He calls himself the Shadow King. He's been gathering supporters, buying off your enemies, and stockpiling weapons. They are planning a coup. I don't know where or when."

I place my blade against his arm and drag it across, a bead of blood pools and runs down his arm. "I think you know a lot more than that," I snarl.

"No, please, I don't know anything else," Victor pleaded.

I stabbed the blade into his thigh, "The pain stops when you tell us everything."

His loud scream fills the warehouse. "Okay, okay! They are meeting at an abandoned warehouse on the east side. Tonight, midnight. That is where they store the weapons. The Shadow King, he will be there."

I looked at the ladies and my gaze landed on Donna last, "He's your brother. Is he holding anything back?"

"He isn't lying," Donna confirmed.

"See I told you. Now let me go," he orders.

Donna walks over and stabs her blade into his other thigh. "I said you weren't lying. I didn't say you told us everything."

He howls and his body jerks violently against his restraints. "No, I swear, I told you everything," he pleads.

Donna and I look at each other and smile. Together we turn the knives, "We will believe you when you tell us everything," I reply.

"The Shadow King has an insider on the court," Victor says quickly.

"NAME!" I demand.

"Please no, I can't say it. They will kill me and my family," he begged.

"If I were you, I would be more worried about the people who have you right now. NAME!" I shout again.

"Aria," he blurts out.