HIDDEN

Chapter Three

The meeting room, the Cillvery family’s secondary mansion

Jonn walked into the room and saw that others had arrived. Excluding Jonn, there were ten people in the room.

“You all certainly know how to keep to time, especially you, Alexis. I am surprised to see you here.” Jonn said as he cast a glance at a man whose hair was as orange as fire and had eyes had white as snow.

“Jonn, behave yourself. This is a serious meeting.” Xavier, Jonn’s elder brother warned. He looked exactly like Jon but he had blue hair and blue eyes.

“It’s alright, Xavier. We all know Jonn can’t keep his mouth.” Alexis said with a cold smile.

“That’s enough. We have more pressing issues such as the deployment of Ammkok Tuderis to Palermo, the fall of the Chinese mafia and the exposure of the American mafia.” Triffani said.

“What do you mean ‘the deployment of Ammkok Tuderis to Palermo’? I thought you already dealt with that, Raleigh.” Xianga, a blonde-haired woman said.

“It can not be dealt with. She wanted to be transferred here to Palermo because she believes her father’s killer is alive and here.” Raleigh, a brown-haired man, said. “There was nothing I could do.”

“Nothing you could do? You said you could prevent her transfer here to Palermo, then why couldn’t you?!” Edemis, an orange-haired just like Alexis shouted.

“No need to shout. The milk has already been split, Edemis.” Malik, a pale orange-haired man said.

“We need to devise tactics on how to avoid her exposing us.” Highe, a brown-white-haired man said.

“Let us devise a plan as soon as possible.” Triffani added.

“What plan? I say we simply end her life.” Jonn suggested, “I mean, killing her looks like the only option we have.”

“Unfortunately, I agree with Jonn. Why can’t we end her?” Alexis asked as he crossed his legs.

“We unfortunately can’t as much as we want to.” Nathan, another brown-haired man said, “Tuderis is a beloved woman. If she was to be killed, then all fingers will be pointed to us.”

“That is very true.” Xavier added.

Suddenly, the doors busted open and a white-haired boy was holding Reena was by the hair and she looked badly beaten.

“Well, well, well, look who eventually came.” Jonn said as he clapped slowly.

“I found her outside spying on us. Highe, I know this is one of your many hoes. I thought we agreed never to bring them to the family house.” Belial, the man who was holding Reena by her hair said.

“Is she really Highe’s hoe? From what I am seeing, she looks awful a lot like madam Macmerri, doesn’t she?” Jonn asked as he start to clap slowly.

“Jonn, it is not our position to talk about other family issues, most especially the Cillvery family.” Xavier said.

“But Jonn is making a point. The woman indeed looks like Madam Macmerri and her white hair seems natural.” Alexis spoke as he walked to Belial.

“Who is she really? She isn’t Highe’s hoe, is she?” Jonn asked, “Is she, Triffani?”

Triffani glanced at Highe and Highe smiled.

“What are you talking about? This woman here is mine and mine alone.” Highe said, pointing at Reena, “Jonn, if you don’t know what you are talking about, the you keep your mouth shut.”

Reena, upon hearing that, became furious and bit Belial on the leg and freed herself from his hold.

“I am nobody’s own. I am my own person.” Reena said as she stood up.

“And what on earth is going on here?” Macmerri asked as she walked into the room, past Reena, “I tell you to begin the meeting and you deviate. Mind you we have more pressing issues.”

“Mother, do not worry I am taking care of the deviation.” Triffani said, as she massaged her temples.

Macmerri saw Reena and how badly she was beaten up.

“I am guessing you tried to kill your elder sister again and roped your brothers into it again.” Macmerri said with a cold expression. “You and Reena are the future of this family, so work together.”

Everyone in the room looked at Reena with a disapproving look except for Jonn.

“And for her first task, she will decide what to do about Tuderis since Triffani can not provide any reasonable solutions.” Macmerri spoke with anger seethed in her voice.

“But moth-”

“Do not mother me.” Macmerri said as she left and the room fell silent.

“So, Reena, what should we do about Tuderis?” Jonn asked as he walked towards her.

“I don’t know. I know Tuderis is renowned police officer that is being transferred to Palermo and has never for once let criminals go scot free, no matter their offence. How does she affect you all?” Reena answered, confused.

“Listen, Reena, every single person in this room apart from you, is a Capo dei Capi, that is a-”

“A mafia overlord.” Reena completed with shock on her face, “And if Tuderis comes to Palermo, all of you are in a high risk of being found and sent to prison all your life.”

“Wow! She catches on pretty fast.” Alexis said.

“But does she have a solution our problem?” Xavier asked, “That is what we should be talking about.”

“Forget it. She doesn’t have any solution at all.” Triffani said, “Or do you, Reena?”

“I do have a solution as a matter of fact.” Reena said, surprising everyone in the room.

“Please, do tell.” Jonn said in all eagerness.

“Tuderis is human and every human has done a bad deed in their life. We can just find one bad deed and sue to court for. Or we can befriend her and be giving her one or two hints on some criminals in Palermo before we finally end and no one will suspect a thing.” Reena suggested.

“Never! We can’t be ratting our own soldiers!” Highe shouted. “That is against the code!”

“Listen, you don’t know her as I do. Tuderis wants to eradicate the world of evil or minimizes evil to near zero and she will stop at nothing to achieve that.” Reena said.

“You know Tuderis?” Raleigh asked the question on everyone’s mind.

“We grew in the same neighborhood and attended the same primary, secondary and tertiary school. Her whole family were murdered and she believes that the killer is a Capo dei Capi.” Reena said. “That’s why she wanted to transferred to Palermo.”

“You seems to know a lot about her. Don’t you know any of her secrets?” Triffani asked.

“Unfortunately, no. She likes to keep her thoughts to herself.” Reena said.

“Then, we will have to go with Reena’s plan but Reena will be the one to do the befriending.” Xianga said.

“You are genius.” Jonn praised. “So, you are Triffani’s elder sister, which explains her terrible behavior to you.”

“I am not sure whether I am her sister. Madam Macmerri may be her mother but she is not mine.” Reena said.

“But you don’t look at the fact that you look like Madam Macmerri.” Xavier said.

“If you don’t need me, then I will be leaving to avoid to answering stupid questions from Capo dei Capi.” Reena said as she left the room.

“What about the Chinese mafia? What are we going to do?” Xianga asked.

“We need to take one issue at a time.” Malik said.

Reena who was outside the room and whispering to herself, stopped when a servant bumped into her. The servant had red hair and white and blue eyes.

“I am so sorry, Reena. I will be careful next time as so you will be.” The servant said.

“I understand that it was a mistake. I hope both you and I don’t make mistakes at all.” Reena said.

“Who are you talking to?” Jonn asked as he came out of the room.

“I was just talking to a servant who bumped into me. I wonder where he went to.” Reena said as she looked around but didn’t see the servant anywhere. “He also had red hair and white eyes like that guy I saw inside.”

“Are you going crazy? There is no one here.” Jonn spoke as he put his hands into his pockets.

“Is the meeting done? Already?” Reena questioned.

“Yes, it is.” Alexis said as he came out.

“Jonn, the servant I was talking about looked like him.” Reena said as she pointed at Alexis. “He looked older than him though.”

“My name is Alexis and I am the first child of my father.” Alexis said.

“Then, who did I see?” Reena questioned herself.

A scream could be heard across the whole building. Alexis, Jonn and Reena ran in the direction of the sound and saw a servant in a room, cowering in fear before something. When they looked at what she was cowering for, they saw it was Madam Macmerri whose body was sawd in half. Her eyes were gouged and her arms were cut off.

“Mother! I didn’t even know you and now, you are gone.” Reena said as she fell on the ground, crying.

“This is so surprising. Who would want to kill Madam Macmerri?” Jonn said with an indifferent expression.

“And when the true eldest daughter comes home?” Alexis looked at Reena who was crying profusely.