Chapter 08
1438 Words
Lorenzo's pov
The commission meeting was being held at my underground den tonight. Every Don in the city was expected to attend.
Since my little red doll wants to come out of this property, according to what she said, I'll show her that the outside world is not safe but dangerous.
When we arrived at the den, all chattering and laughter died down. I didn't beg for attention, but people worship the ground I walk on. Women, men, boys, girls, and even babies tremble at the sound of my name.
I walked straight and directly and sat down at the head of the table, my little red doll following behind.
A bottle of whiskey and a glass was placed in front of me, and cigarettes were handed over to me. Then I dropped the cigarette and poured myself a drink, and everyone else clinked their wine glasses together in merriment.
Then Giovanni Russo raised his glass and yelled.
"To Viktor. The only man I know who can lose money and still call it an investment."
Then everyone erupted in laughter.
"Remember when Viktor promised us that shipping deals would make everyone rich?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah."
Another person said, and the room again erupted in laughter. Giovanni Russo was known for his greed and his habit of pushing people's patience until they snapped.
The two men, Giovanni and Viktor, had disliked each other for years. Each got on each other's nerves, but Giovanni was known for his sharp tongue and had always won against Viktor.
"Who's this Bella?" Dante said, puffing his cigar, sticking out his tongue and licking his lips lustfully at my red doll.
Then everyone turned their gaze to my red doll. And I knew what was going to happen next. They were going to start staking out prices on her, and the highest takes her on here for everyone to watch.
My eyes snapped, darkening, and I felt something cut through me. I tightened my jaw, clenching my fist, and hit the desk with my hand. Immediately, I saw those angry-looking souls staring lavishly at my red doll.
"She's my little red doll," I said as I held her waist from behind, cutting through the dark room as everyone stared at me.
"I'm sorry, Don. I didn't know. Please forgive my outburst," Dante said, apologizing and sweating profusely.
When Antonio saw heat was beginning to grow in silence, he quickly hit his wine glass with a fork.
"Before we begin, I want to congratulate Don Lorenzo on the success of the Naples shipment," Dante said.
Everyone clapped and started chattering, clinking glasses and playing poker cards once again.
I sat on my chair and pulled my little red doll onto my lap, holding her tight because I knew for sure if I loosened my grip on her, those hungry-looking wolves would pounce on her.
"The alliance needs structure," Antonio continued, setting his glass down.
"Someone needs to oversee operations because without leadership, it will fail," he added.
And I saw several of them nod their heads in agreement as they drank from their glasses.
"Who amongst you is willing to oversee this operation?" Antonio asked.
Each one of them exchanged looks, their hands tightening around their glasses, some of them grinning from ear to ear.
The place became noisy again, small arguments and side talks, and then Giovanni stepped forward.
"I'll oversee the operations," he said, flashing a crooked smile, exposing teeth that had turned yellow and begun to rot from years of heavy smoking.
And then again, arguments began heating up among them. I watched and waited for the final outcome of this commission meeting, sipping my whiskey gently.
"Giovanni, you're not capable of overseeing this operation," someone attacked from the back.
Then Giovanni turned his head and faced the person who dared challenge him.
"And what makes you think I'm not fit to oversee this operation?" he snapped back.
"Because you do not have the influence and resources for this operation."
Then Giovanni laughed in a mocking tone, clapping his hands together and tilting his head forward and backward.
"I think I'm better off in this position than you," Viktor snapped, scraping his chair loudly against the floor as he stood up to meet Giovanni.
Then again, arguments between them started getting hot, and it was getting interesting.
Nobody wanted to be caught in the middle of these two.
"Viktor, the only reason your business survived the last decade was because everyone else was too busy making money to put you out of it," Giovanni snapped.
Then Viktor chuckled.
"If not for me, you wouldn't even be sitting at this table," Giovanni said furiously.
"You're sitting on the throne built by your father's sweat and victory, yet you pretend it is proof of your greatness," Viktor snapped back.
The words sparked the dragon sleeping inside him, awakening the fury he had been struggling to keep buried.
Then Giovanni shoved Viktor very hard, and he fell on his back against the wall. As their bodyguards were about to retaliate, Dante stepped forward.
"I think Don should oversee this operation, since you are fighting against yourselves."
Everyone nodded their heads again in agreement. Even Viktor on the floor agreed, and Giovanni scoffed in a rude manner.
I knew all along that Giovanni would never agree to let go of this operation, and I knew he would fight back.
"I'm the oldest here, and I have more experience than any of you. Definitely, I'm the one who's supposed to oversee this operation," Giovanni said.
I saw some of them nodding their heads in support of what Giovanni said. I wasn't going to interfere until it was the right time.
"But Don has the largest network and better network at home and abroad," Antonio said.
"Are you all not ashamed of yourselves?" he asked, looking everyone in the eyes.
"You all hide and find shelter under the roof of Lorenzo," Giovanni added.
Then I stood up, carefully holding my red doll with my left hand and adjusting my suit with my right hand before speaking.
"Sit down, Giovanni."
The room immediately turned silent. Giovanni turned and looked at me, shooting daggers with his eyes.
He walked up to me, and I quickly hid my little red doll behind my back with my hands.
"Stay behind me. Do not leave my sight," I said, turning to her.
Before I could face Giovanni, a heavy blow landed on my chin, and I could see my red doll flinch.
Gasps erupted in the room.
Before he could land another blow, I caught his wrist, and he struggled to pull away.
I pushed him away as he crashed onto the table. I turned, facing my red doll.
"Are you alright?" I asked, inspecting her.
"You sit there acting like you're above everyone," he spat blood, standing up from the table and coming back at me.
"You walk into this world half my age and expect me to bow my head?" he added.
"Stay behind that wall," I said to her, pointing behind.
As soon as I saw she was safe, I faced Giovanni and grabbed him by his collar, and we stared at each other.
"Old man, know your place," I said and pushed him off.
He came again, slamming my chest hard. As I staggered backward, I was about to retaliate when I heard a feminine soft scream, and I saw two wolves in human form holding the wrist of my red doll, taking her somewhere, while the other one touched her body.
"Let her go," my voice calm but sharp enough to cut through the commotion and noise of the room.
They stopped moving and turned their eyes, staring at me, but they didn't let her go.
I felt a sharp surge of anger burn within me as I tightened my jaw and walked slowly toward them, my eyes not leaving her for a second.
I made a fist and punched the eye of the one holding her hair, and he held his face and winced in pain.
The other one pushed her toward me and fled. As she was about to miss her footsteps, I held her waist, preventing her from falling.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
I held her wrist and started heading toward the door. As I was about to take the next step, she pushed me, and someone hit her wrist with a broken chair.
Before I could process what was going on, she grabbed a bottle from the table close to her and hit his head, before grabbing my hand and running toward the car.
- Writer
