He was restless, he paced. Grandpa was being operated on by the best doctors money could afford, and although he was in good health, he had the weight of age on his back, he was 86 years old.
I remember that after Grandpa screamed, nothing else mattered to me but his life, and I went to his rescue.
The light entering the room came from the large glass windows and the emergency lanterns, but even so, Jullius managed to catch all of Vitto's henchmen and allies, as he was strategically positioned at the door to the office. However, my uncle managed to escape.
But as Vitto was known to all of Vennidit, no one would dare challenge the Commission by working for him; and as a guarantee I promised a reward of 20 million euros for the one who captured him alive, and 10 million euros for the case of handing him over dead.
Without money and without being able to trust anyone, Vitto would disappear for a while, but I wouldn't let my guard down because it was time to clean the house.
Without the traitor nearby and knowing his face the families could breathe a sigh of relief. As a precaution, all those who aimed their weapons at me and Grandpa were neutralized and punished as an example; but my uncle was still missing and I would have to be patient. For the time being, no one could reach the families or threaten the Titolari secrets; everyone was well protected.
I was in the hospital with grandpa for a few days. The old man was hard in the fall, and tormented the doctors, so he could be discharged even though he was not yet out of danger.
During those days, both Vincent and Irina remained missing, I believe they are together; but there is a reward of 4 million euros for those who find them, it was 2 million per head.
After a long period in Vennidit, I needed to return to Brazil because I still had accounts to settle; and with grandpa's recovery and increased security, I could return peacefully.
I would take care of the family business there for a while, because the only way to get Vitto out of his den is to make him believe that I am unprotected. And I'll get it, I made that promise at my parents grave.
Genna decided to go to Brazil with me, said that nobody feeds me properly, but she is mistaken, because I am well-fed in every way. Jullius was overjoyed with the possibility of having his wife living with us, for many years the two lived apart because of their roles in the family.
***
It has been almost four years and although I was exposed as much as possible travelling frequently to Vennidit nothing happened, and Vitto was still missing
As I was in a good mood, I decided it was time to resolve some pending issues. I preferred to wait awhile because at the time the boy was just a child who had been dragged by his uncle to the dark side of life. Little did I know that the worst thing about playing with darkness is that it consumes you before you see the way out.
I was in a cosy little town that reminded me of Venni, but unlike this one that didn't let progress arrive so as not to spoil it, the place I was in didn't have that choice because development didn't even come here; but despite that people didn't care about the presence of two dark and luxurious cars like mine.
It didn't take long, and we found who I was looking for. I waited in the car while my security guards removed the boy's uncle, drunk, in the middle of a fight; they brought him to my car, and the man was suddenly healed, I don't know if it was because of my presence or the demonstrations of "affection" of my people.
— André Oliveira, that's your name, right?
— Are you from the police? I'm clean, man; I have nothing. — he said, feeling his clothes, showing that he was unarmed. — The head, I was just drinking with my friends, I wasn't doing anything wrong.
I laughed and my head fell back to make room for my laughter, my men even tried to contain their laughter, but failed miserably.
— Am sorry. But this is not your lucky day, I am not the police.
— So who are you? He growled bravely. — I'm not "close" to these things, bro. I like women! I don't eat a male, not even paying, you know?
— You are very witty, boy. I like that. — I said giving in to the new waves of laughter. But just as I could laugh, I could also be serious, and changing my features I went to the one that mattered. — Tell me a story?
— What are you talking about? I have nothing to tell, bro!
— Then let me tell you one. About three or four years ago I was coming home from a party when my car was intercepted by a four—door white goal and GLX1329 plaque. From that car, four kids came out, well armed, with some semi-automatic ones that I'm sure they never saw in their lives, because they didn't know how to hold them properly. From my experience I know that someone more knowledgeable and powerful has put these toys in their hands; but even so they were no match for us, and although two managed to escape even though shot, one was not so lucky. The boy we got gave us all the information about who hired them, and also told us who the fugitives were.
— Wait, bro! I didn't know anything, nor did I know who was in the car. The guy got me in trouble and the cops were going to kill me, then he said he would free my face if I ran a few; the order was to give you a scare, put you in the boot and leave you a few kilometres later. I swear, bro! If I knew you were a tycoon, I wouldn't go after you, the guy hinted that you were an old man and that you had a chaotic driver who didn't listen well. The story was strange, but if I didn't do what he said I would be arrested, you know?
— How old were the boys.
—Head, don't be fooled by those three; Juninho had more than six deaths on his back before turning 15; Biju was addicted to crack, and if he could sell to his mother; and the other one I didn't know, the Biju that brought him, I know he was shot in assault.
— And your nephew, how old was he?
��� Leave him out of it. The boy was supposed to have stayed in the car, but he got out and didn't even have time to stop it; I was shot twice that day, and if I didn't pull the kid, he would be dead by now.
— And he'll be dead soon and it's your fault. — I signalled to one of the men. — Takes. I'll settle with him later. Now I want the boy!
The idiot tried to protest, but Jullius silenced him with the butt of his neck, and ordered the others to take him to a small house in a rural area, isolated enough in case I wanted to put an end to both of them. But after this conversation, I didn't want to kill him, and if this guy's story matched his nephew's, I would let them go with a little reminder.
After we ran the neighbourhood we found the boy. He was leaning against a wall watching someone, he still looked like a boy, he must have been 17 or a little older.
Curious, I kept looking at what he was going to do; but when a girl, who looked to be about 23 or 24 years old, crossed the street absent-mindedly the boy moved. The men got out of the car and dominated the boy by pinning him to the floor, a security guard pointed the gun at him, and my godfather pressed his foot to his chest.
Upon seeing the scene the girl jumped on Jullius' back and started hitting him on the head with her fists. He was screaming for us to leave his nephew alone. I started to laugh as my godfather tried to get away from the girl, who was restrained by Josephus — one of my men.
— Please don't hurt her. Let the girl go, man. — boy begged. — She did nothing!
— Not! I'm not going anywhere without you, Alex. Who are these men? And what did you do, shit?
— Nothing, aunt, I swear I didn't do anything. I left work and came to wait for you. I don't know who they are, I swear!
I had heard and seen enough, so I called Jullius on the radio and asked him to give the kid a bigger fright, and he nodded with his hand over his ear, indicating that he understood the message.
Although he was not young, my godfather was very strong, so he lifted the boy up against the wall, put the gun to his head and cocked it. — Nothing personal, boy; I'm just following orders!
****