He had his head in his hands, and his tie looked like it had been put on by an enemy, and was strangling him.
The snake tattoo clearly visible on the right bicep of the man on the screen did not go unnoticed by Albert. He had been going through all the CCTV footage to make sure nothing was out of the ordinary.
"This..." The more he looked the more his eyes narrowed.
"Isn't that the tattoo all the members of the Serpent have on them?" Mark spoke from behind giving words to Albert's thoughts.
"Mm," he replied locking eyes with the screen again.
Albert closely observed every move of the uninvited guest. The door was being violently banged and Annabelle rested against it, jarred when the flash of a grey knife crossed inches before her eyes, followed by a muted thunk as the weapon buried itself in the door.
Scared, she backed away from the door and stumbled backwards. As Annabelle tried to rise to her knees she was grabbed from behind and once again, the man who had barged in pointed a knife at her throat.
Though the knife clearly was pointed at a vital point, no matter how Albert looked at the situation, he knew the guy meant no harm. His task was to get the girl out of the house. It almost looked like he was ordered not to harm her as he tried taking the scared girl along.
"What's so special about a girl like her?" Mark questioned more to himself, "She's not even a member of a gang or anything. Unless she is someone who has secrets hidden from the underworld which is highly impossible." He concluded his thoughts out loud only for Albert to let out a bitter laugh.
"Don't you have to go for training today?" Albert's question distracted Mark from his questions. He immediately got up and headed towards the training court.
"I can't keep it to myself for long"... Albert whispered to himself as the past flashed his memories.
*2 YEARS AGO*
"The Demonic Cosa Nostra is honoured" a man in his early thirties spoke. His heavy, deep voice projected a calm. reassuring virility. One could definitely say he was a man of elegance. His aura was strong and dominating.
The luxuriant, Maltese grey hair he groomed so carefully sat perfectly exposing his forehead, a sign of his rude health. His bristly eyebrows sometimes knitted in frustration looking at the number of members present for the meeting.
His aquiline nose complemented his prominent cheekbones perfectly. Handsome in an understated way, his basalt jaw and broad shoulders bespoke strength.
Many people complimented that his best feature was his mesmerizing hazel eyes. Shaped like almonds, they could shine as brightly as the evening sky. At other times they looked like two pools of flashing golden fire filled with rage.
With his extravagant character, the room was always filled with his sonorous, booming voice. His elegant attire left many spellbound.
"We hope things don't turn out to be hectic for you Mr Xavier" This time a man spoke from the left corner of the room directing his question to the one who had spoken before.
Though his voice was not as deep as Xavier's the crispiness left others in whispers. His crescent-of-moon eyebrows were thin and narrow. He carried an imperious nose well and his angular cheekbones carved down towards a flinty jaw.
"Hahah! That has never happened before, Arthur!" Mr Xavier spoke with a hint of warning in his voice.
Clear as it was, everybody in the room present was aware that Xavier Hemsworth was not just anybody. He was ruthless and the most terrifying Mafia Boss of the underworld. His sense of justice had now given him the title of the head of the Mafia. Giving him absolute authority to punish even the family heads when at fault.
"Of course!" Arthur Felix smiled and relaxed back in his chair. The sly smirk never left his face.
"Shall we raise a toast to the newly appointed Lord?" Deceitful as he was, Regis said in a mocking tone that didn't go unnoticed by the crowd.
"To the new Mafia King, we hope you fulfil your duty as the head with the justice that resides in you!" Everyone raised their toast and with that, the evening feast began.
"Mr Xavier, shall we head downstairs now?" A man in his early forties approached the gentlemen.
Bowing in respect towards the new Mafia boss, the chairman of Havior smiled.
"Oh! Mr Conair, please lead the way!" Xavier started walking towards the stairs along with his men.
"Ah! Even the chairman is ready to rub his nose under him!" Regis snarled.
The evening went by smoothly. A sweet melody drifted through the busy atmosphere, coming from the ballroom. Everybody swayed along to the soft music. With glasses of champagne in both his hand, Arthur stood beside Xavier offering him a drink.
"You know I am going to kill you someday for those sarcastic remarks" Xavier spoke in a calm tone taking a sip from his drink.
"I am well aware, but if not for me how would you have gained such popularity?" Arthur snorted yet again.
"You haven't changed one bit!"
"I don't need to, we've faced enough, this is just the beginning." The two spoke with all the memories of their young times still fresh in their minds.
"It sure has been long" Xavier smiled at his friend and tilted his glass.
"Cheers to us! Cheers to victory" Arthur clinked his glass with the other making him let out a breathy laugh.
"For once, act your age!" the two continued talking about the past and present.
Totally forget about the worries for some time he enjoyed while the time lasted. Xavier knew he had a friend he could trust for life. Smiling at his best friend of 12 years, he was at ease.
The Regis and Hemsworth had always been close, their families knew each other well and the support they had for each other could never be mentioned.
Though Arthur had his ways to get on people's nerves, Xavier understood the latter and befriended him. In spite of being warned by the members of the guild Xavier found his trust in Arthur.
"We need to find that chip as soon as possible" Knowing his personality well, Xavier was sure that he would mention the chip.
"Don't worry I have my men looking for it already..." Xavier replied as he gulped down the remains of his champagne.
"I know you will take care of it" Arthur said patting the elder's shoulder lightly.
What he could not see were the clenched fists of the Mafia King and his knitted eyebrows which were a sign of his frustration. I need that chip before it gets to them...