I sat back on the couch.
His eyes were on my neck, making me wonder, what the hell is he looking at."You have a wound on your neck. What happened to you there?"I smirked,
Hmm...
my eyes skimmed over the flower vase that stood in a corner. Memories of that night in the hotel room with Jake subdued my consciousness.
I chuckled, stroking my lips with my thumb delicately.
"How would I bloody know? After you drugged me..."
I glanced at him to see he was staring at me, intently. I sighed,"... why are you here, Reece? You didn't come to interrogate me, you are here for something else, right?"Before I could think of anything to say, he grabbed my arm, yanking me up from the couch.
I shuddered from the suddenness, staring into his hardened eyes.
"I can see you are nothing but a lowlife.
Thankfully, it was a great thing that your father called off the engagement.
I'm returning you to your father."I jolted in response to his words."My father?!!"
"Yeah.
Old man Collins asked to bring you home..."
he shoved me towards the men behind him,"... it's funny how you were at the casino and left with that cop few minutes after the money was stolen."
"What money?", I asked, feigning surprise.He chuckled,"You don't know, hm?. Believable. You were with a man who happened to have gunned one of my lackeys down..."
I gritted my teeth.
"That's because you sent them to kidnap me, didn't you?! If you didn't, no one would have died!!"
"Really? And do you have the slightest idea that Ryan is alive?"I flinched,
"What?!"
He approached me,"Who is the man you were with in that car?".
I held his gaze."A friend of mine I met that day and he offered me a ride."
"A friend of yours, hm?... Pfft... a friend of yours who aims a gun correctly and kills one of my subordinates! Not only that, he gave out two god forsaken words!!..." he yelled.
I was startled by his expression and wondering why he seems to be worked up.
"... What is his name?!" He snapped.
"I dunno what his name is. Like I said, i met him that particular moment and he offered me a ride."
His anger snapped, and in a split second, he grabbed me by the neck, pulling me close to his face.
"You lie so well, is that what Ryan been teaching you all these while?!"
What?!!
"Ryan?! You mean unc...""Ryan MACHESTER!!! Yes! The motherfuckin' scum bag of an ingrate!! Tell me! Where is he?!!" He snapped, shaking me violently.
I can't...I mean, I...Hold on a second...Jake?! Jake is Ryan?!!My eyes opened wide in bewilderment.My body grew cold from my realization.My eyes slowly watered.
Uncle Ryan...Uncle Ryan, you... you are Jake De Walter all these while.
You were subjecting me to all that ill treatment, pretending to be someone else.You hurt me and never felt bad about it.
"... where is he?!!" Reece yelled, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"I-I have no idea, I..." I blinked several times staring at his chest. I was still in shock,
"... I don't know who he is. He... he offered me a ride home."
I am meant to be truthful, but something in me tells me not to.
Why?!Why should I keep it away from Reece?!!
Ja— no! Ryan... he hurt me.
He hurt me so bad and yet, why am I not being truthful about my dealings with him?!!!I burst into tears, placing my forehead on Reece's chest.
This is unbelievable.Uncle Ryan...Reece sighed, stroking my hair gently."You have to return to your father.
It's not safe in here. Manhattan will be the best place for you."
I sniffled, burying my face in his chest."C'mon, stop crying.
I understand your hurt. The bastard is out there trying to play games on us, we have to move smartly."
"Take me back to Manhattan... please." I said.
Oh Ryan.
Even though I loved you as a kid, I despise you as an adult now. You played games on me, on my family!You stole from us and then, you used me.
I get it now... I am the bait.The bait you needed to put down the name of my family.Dear Ryan...I straightened up, staring into Reece's eyes....I'm going to end you. I'm going to make you pay for everything you did to me... everything.
"It's not debatable. Shall we?" He asked.I smiled, turning around to leave."Inform papa that I am returning without delay, and your phone..." I turned around to glanced at him,
"... dispose of it. I feel it is not needed. You are giving away too much information."
••••♠️RYAN♠️
Ryan's mansion|:
The gang stood behind me, watching everything that took place in Rachel's apartment on my desktop.
I sat in front, listening to their conversations while smoking a big cigar.I smiled.Never knew she was capable of keeping a straight face while lying.
And, she was claiming she hadn't met me before.
"... Ryan MACHESTER!!! Yes! The motherfuckin' scumbag of an ingrate!! Tell me!! Where is he?!!!" The son of a bïtch yells.
The look in Rachel's eyes made my heart melt. They had hurt, confusion and uncertainty in them.
It made me see the pains she felt upon her realization. I sighed.
I never wanted her to find out this way.
Wanted to tell her when the time was right.She began crying, I looked away.
"Boss?
Is anything the matter?" Anna asked."Nah..." I got up from the chair, then I took slow strides towards the window.
"... I'm fine."I overheard him consoling her and then..."Take me back to Manhattan... please." She said.I smiled, staring down at the vast expanse of land from the window. The fleets of expensive cars at the other end.
"Boss?
I ain't understandin' shits at all. She's lettin' him take her back to Manhattan, and you ain't sayin' a damn thing!!"
Black Ace said, his voice was pitched.
"Watchu want me to do, Blake? Stop her?."
"No boss. This is a game you initiated, you cannot allow them take her. We're trying to get to Collins. With Rachi, it's a big shot and..."
"I never expected you to be this dumb, Blake..." I said, slowly turning around to look at him,
"... you may be some kinda smart ass, but you are very dumb..."Jay buster and Anna covered their mouths as they chuckled.
I frowned at them,"... it's not a funny issue. If you wanna laugh, perhaps I could help you by cutting off your tongue!" I snapped.
"We're sorry Boss." They said in unison.
I shifted my gaze back to Black Ace."The rule of the game didn't necessarily stated that we own Rachel.
Rachel belongs to Collins and we cannot be selfish towards what ain't ours..." I leaned against the window post,"... I knew Rachel wouldn't spill.
She wouldn't dare, and I ain't scared. I am a very patient fella. You see, she's going to lead Collins here, in Bronx city and we will wait."
"How is she going to do that? Collins rarely leaves Manhattan." Billy asked.My lips cornered into a devious smirk.
"Pretty soon, I intend coming out to the public as Jake De Walter. No one knows who uses the pseudonym Seamus.
The sculpture will be finished in a few weeks time, giving me the opportunity to let the public know who Seamus really is.
I will send out invitation and trust me, I have prepared a list already." I said.
"Oh,and Bennile called." Anna said."Any updates?" I asked."Not much, we have a new client. Reece Norman." She replied.
•••••♠️REECE♠️
Evening|:
A new dealer who some buyers claimed sold the met-amphetamine(Crystal Meth) and Coke(cocaine wanted to trade with me.
Being an expert in this sort of thing and as a middleman, I have to take every business opportunity that there is.
Unlike Collins with the greed, working with this new salesmen, could bring more yield.I arrived at the bay, where I ought to meet with them.
I took quick steps into the place, thankfully, it wasn't dark in here.I saw a man with blonde short hair, leaning on a barrel.
"Isn't it the famous Reece Norman? Deputy general manager of the Three Knights Casino?" He asked.
"Yes..."
I approached him,"... and you must be Bennile, am I right?"He smiled, taking out a cigarette stick from his pocket and then lighting it with a lighter.
"Of course. Since we are now business partners, we have to know each other better."
I looked behind him to see a really tall guy leaning against a pile of crates a distance from us, staring at his phone.
Never have I seen a man this tall and he looked well built, the black Wooly turtleneck long sleeved shirt he was wearing, hugged his body perfectly well, accentuating his big, strong arms and amazingly tautly built torso.
He wore black plain trousers, a belt around his waistline, while he held his trench coat in another hand that was tucked in his pocket. His pair of Oxfords shoe looked expensive and his black glistening hair was combed backwards with few strands falling in front.
Something familiar about this guy, I studied him carefully as he was engrossed in whatever he was looking at on his phone. When he stopped, looking up at me, our eyes locked gazes.
He smiled, placing his phone back into his pocket. I flinched at the sight of his piercing blue eyes."I am sorry, Bennile.
But, who is that guy behind you?." I asked.Bennile turned around to look at him as he approached us. The aura around this guy was strangely familiar.
"I thought you would have figured out by now. Or, do you want a proper introduction?" The guy asked.
I frowned, that voice. Exactly like the police officer's from the casino.
"His name is Jake, Jake De Walter." Bennile said and he seemed to be all smiles.
"Jake De Walter..." I cocked a brow at him,"... you must be the police officer that came into my casino that night. It's not like I don't know you are a gangster.
I am also a gangster too."Jake stood in front of me. His terrifying height and mean gaze made me quiver, yet, I can't let him see it."You seem to be mixing up personalities, Reece. Failing to understand that I don't deal in such exorbitant acts."
"Then, who was the lady you dragged away?"
I asked, smirking as I hoped that he falls for the trick."Having me confused with someone else is entirely not business friendly. You are renowned for being a total asshole when dealing with clients. Is that why you couldn't deal with Collins? Because he wouldn't spare a single dollar?"
How did he know about that?.I faked a smile.
"We make transactions and retain a healthy relationship with our customers. If we suspect a funny business, we will kill you."Jake said.
I gritted my teeth."You dare threaten me, it's not like you don't know what am capable of."
Jake shrugged a shoulder."Just be careful from now on, and don't let anything affect the transactions." He said.
I glanced at Bennile who was smiling as he kept enjoying his smoke.
"Is this how you do your thing? Supervising your clients and issuing out threats?" I asked Bennile.
"It's a couple of billions after all, one has to be extra careful. You would have done same if you were in my shoes, am I right?" Bennile replied, dragging in smoke from his cigar.
I glanced at Jake to see he had his eyes fixed on me and it made me wanna know what he is thinking about."Now that you both know each other, let continue from where we stopped. Jake will be the one to handle the transactions instead of me..."
I stared at Jake.This guy is so suspicious, there is something not right with him.
"Twice a week, the coke and meth will be transported through the Quay of Area F.
The purity is 99% and 30kg wraps is worth two million dollars. So the total value of each transaction is 20 billion dollars. Got it?"I nodded, turning to the side to look at Bennile."It looks as though you don't trust me.
We did a few business together in the past. Money laundering?"
"Well... to me, you look scared to do transactions with me."
Jake said.
I thrashed my head to the side to look at Jake.
"If this falls through, next time, we'll meet in hell."He smirked,"You must be the one to die first."I scowled.He is even pretending to be cool while saying those words.
Arrogant bastard!!!
"Dear boys, this shouldn't turn you both to enemies. We are business partners now." Bennile said, tapping our shoulders.
I smiled.
"Of course not. Okay then, Jay..."
"Jake."
Jake corrected."... let both do this well, Jake." I said, offering him a hand.
Jake took it, shaking me slowly."That's fair, Ree's man."I flinched.Ree's man?!!
The only person to have ever called me that way was... Ryan!!!I quickly took my hand away, squinting my eyes at him.
Jake smiled, turning around to leave."Is there anything the matter, Reece?" Bennile asked."Nothing at all..." I watched Jake as he left the place through the entrance,"...
you didn't tell me that The Mace Mafia gang hired a new member. Who is he?"He chuckled.
"Well, he is just an ordinary Chico who knows a lot about strict mafia rules."
I frowned.No, he is not.Whoever he is, I'm going to find out for myself.TBC♠️🍀