As beautiful as the sun
Stronger than iron and rock.
Valued as gold and silver.
And though the diamond remained a stone.
It set out from the rest.
Just like you.
A beauty to behold.
"How is she feeling? " Don Philip Angelis asked as he walked into Elle's room, He was a 65year old man, He wasn't tall and was a little fat. He always wore elegant white suits which when combined with those gray hair of his made him look like a celestial being.
"She's doing better, Her fever has gone down, and she'll be fine by the end of the day". Cleo their 40year old nurse replied
Don Phillip DeAngelis moved over to Elle's bedside, She looked pale, He stressed his hand to touch her forehead, It felt as hot as burning coal, He noticed a bruise on the side of her head. His jaw tightened.
"She's too hot. " He said angrily.
"It's the fever. She's doing better than yesterday, She will be fine soon."
"What about the bruise? " He asked
"She must have hit her head against something during the fire incidence, It's nothing serious, She will heal in no time," Cleo replied.
Don Phillip glowered at Cleo cause of what she just said. Saying the bruise wasn't serious got to him. Everything about his daughters felt serious to him. He would make sure he plucks off a finger or two of Elle's personal guards for not protecting her from this unfortunate situation. He never joked with his daughters. They were everything to him, Since the death of his wife during the birth of Elizabeth his daughters had become his only reason to keep living, the only spark that kept his fire burning.
He move around the bed observing every inch of Elle's body until he was satisfied that there was nothing to worry about.
"Is she hurt anywhere else? " He asked.
"No. Luckily for us, she was saved by a guest before things could get worse. " Cleo replied.
'A guest?'
Don Phillip had already heard stories of the young man who had saved his daughter's life last night. but no one seem to know who he was or his whereabouts at the moment.
"Take care of her. I expect to see her in perfect health by this evening. " He ordered, then turns to take his leave.
"I will do my best Don," Cleo replied.
Don Phillip DeAngelis visited Elena's room next. The young lady was so engrossed in a book she was reading, like a person who was hypnotized or had a spell cast on them that she didn't notice her father come in, He didn't bother disturbing her and left her to her reading.
He went to see Elizabeth last, The young lady was sleeping, He sat at her bedside to watch her sleep, She looked exhausted, Staying up all night with the Nurse to watch Elle must have tired her out. Her love for Elle was undeniable, It wasn't strange, Seeing as Elle had filled the role of their mum after their Mum's death and cared for Elena and Elizabeth the same way a mother would have. He watched Elizabeth for a few minutes before leaving.
Don Phillip went back to his office. His grand event was abruptly brought to an end by the fire incident. To him, nothing happens by coincidence. He had the gut feeling that one of the other two rival Mafia gangs was responsible. However, He had to confirm it before raining hell on the culprits. The thought of the man who Cleo claimed saved Elle's life crossed his mind
'Who was he?'
'Was he Perhaps one of his men?'
"Blade!" He called out to his personal guard who stood by the door inside his office.
"Yes, Don". Blade, a scary-looking guy with a huge scar on his face replied
"The guest who rescued Elle, Who is he?". He asked.
"We are yet to confirm his identity. He doesn't seem to be one of ours".
"Was any of our men present when he rescued her from the building?".
"Kelvin was the first to get to her once he rescued her". Blade replied.
"Get me, Kelvin, immediately after the meeting". He instructed.
"Yes, Don". Blade replies
"Don, Everyone is present now in the dark chambers". A Maid said from outside the door.
"Let's go," Don Phillip said
"Yes, Don". Blade replies before opening the Door for Don Phillip and they both walked out to the conference room which was referred to as the "dark chambers".
It was the room where the mafias of the DeAngelis family meet to discuss and strategize. The room was dimly lit and the curtains were black. Little wonder it was referred to as the "Dark chambers".
They all stood as Don Phillip stepped in. All aids were present, along with the DeAngelis Cousins Carlos, Caleb, and Collins, they were the key members of the family and each held a certain level of power in the gang.
"Sit". He ordered after sitting down and lighting his big brown cigar.
"Don Phillip, How is Elle doing?" Collins asked, He was the youngest of the DeAngelis Cousins, He was a tall skinny guy with Auburn-colored hair just like Elle.
"Elle is stable, however I do not understand why the bastards who caused the fire haven't been caught." He stated angrily.
"My investigation shows it was caused by gas leakage from the kitchen ". Carlos, the second of the DeAngelis cousin stated, Unlike Collins, he was a short muscular man, his hair seem to be brown rather than Auburn, he also was a bit bald, He was the one who controlled the information network of the Family. He had ears in every inch of England.
"Gas?"Collins asked giggling a little. " That's a bit strange because we are all aware that the fire did not start from the kitchen."
He glared at Collins "Are you saying I'm lying?" Carlos asked
"I never said you lied, I'm just saying your investigation was not done properly". Collins replied
"How dare you?" Carlos replied pointing his gun at Collins, Collins responded by bringing out his gun and pointing it at Carlos.
"Shut the fuck up!" Don Phillip said angrily as he bangs his fist on the table. "You both better keep your fucking guns out of my sight before I put a bullet in your brains". He instructed
"Sorry, Don." Collins and Carlos said as they both kept their guns back in their holsters.
"I don't give a fuck what caused the fire. It can be a Grenade for all I care. What I want to know is who is responsible for it?" Don Phillip said. The room fell quiet.
"I believe it's the Red Ravens". Collins spoke out.
"No. The Red Ravens prefer to send a clear message. If they wanted a fight they would have sent a very clear message, I believe it's the Sparrows, after all, they are well known for their fire tactics." Carlos replied.
"The Sparrows ain't so reckless and let's not forget that they have agreed on a peace path with us. Also last year we had gunned down 5 Ravens including Marcus Polo, the Cousin of the Red Raven Don, Don Sylvester. I won't be surprised if they were the ones who handled this attack by way of revenge". Collins who had lit his cigar said.
"We also have to consider the fact that it might just be a fire caused by no one?" Carlos said.
"Shut up Carlos! nothing happens by coincidence, You should know better!". Caleb who had stayed quiet since the beginning of the meeting slammed Carlos, He was the oldest of the cousins and the most feared, He was Elle's Favorite cousin. he was tall and huge, His hair was white and could be mistaken for wool from a distance and His handsomeness was second to none of his brothers, His voice however did not match his looks, He had a dusky voice which was probably as a result of the fact that he was always smoking, You could never see Caleb without a cigar.
"Enough!". Don DeAngelis said to silence all of them. "I need a name. I don't want guesses, I need the culprit. Carlos?" He called.
"Yes, Don".
"Handle that. Get me the name of the bastard who ruined my event and brought harm to my daughter".
"Yes, Don. As you wish." Carlos replied.
"The rest of you may leave. It's business as usual from here on."
"Yes Boss". They all responded before taking a bow. The others left but Blade, Collins, Carlos and Caleb stayed behind.
"Do you feel it's one of the smaller gangs?" Collins asked the moment the door shut.
"No. None of them will dare cross our path. It will be a suicide mission". Caleb said.
"What do you think Don?" Collins asked.
"I hear the Ravens are beginning to expand their business. I even hear they are trying to form a drug cartel at Stratford one of our turfs." He said with a smirk as he blew smoke into the air.
"If that's the case then I guess we have no choice but to teach Don Sylvester to not touch other people's things. I'll have some of my men flush out Sylvester's boys from Stratford." Caleb said.
"No need. That's why I pay the Police in our Turf. I'll have the police in Stratford trouble them, all we have to do is feed them information. Then if they can't deal with the situation we'll step in. There is no need to dirty our hands just yet."Don Phillip said.
"But does this mean the sparrows are responsible for the fire?" Collins asked
"No. Am not sure. But they are the only ones who would dare in East London for now". Don Phillip replied as he let out some smoke again before he continued. "What do we know about the guest who saved Elle?" He asked.
"I have my men asking around. He doesn't seem to be one of our own. Some of the men are saying they haven't seen him around here before. What is strange is how he vanished after the incident without a trace, like a ghost". Carlos said.
"Blade get Kelvin". Don Phillip instructed Blade who nods in affirmation and walks out of the room. In no time, he returns with Kelvin one of the young DeAngelis's aid. He led Kelvin to the middle of the room before moving back to his position behind Don Phillip's back.
"I heard you know the man who saved my daughter?" Don Phillip asked Kelvin who seemed scared. Why wouldn't he, The young man was standing face to face with Don Phillip and the DeAngelis Cousin, the key members of the DeAngelis Family.
"No, no I don't". Kelvin replies stuttering.
"Kelvin, You have nothing to be scared of, Do you know the man who saved Elle?" Caleb asked.
"No sir. I met him for the first time that day". He replied. "But when he brought Elle out of the building, I heard a man who was with him refer to him as Don Ralph"
There was Silence in the room. Kelvin looked confused as he wondered if he said something wrong.
"Are you sure you heard him being called Don Ralph?" Caleb asked him.
"Yes. The man said Don Ralph and carried him away when he collapsed after rescuing Elle".
"But there is no Don known as Ralph around here". Collins said
"No. There is one." Caleb said to correct him as he drops the cigar he was smoking and lit up another before continuing "The new king of West London. The Wesley Don, Ralph Zander Wesley ".
The room was silent. It seemed as though they had heard something scary.
"Mistake or not. A harm on a Wesley Don might lead to war". Caleb said.
"Blade?" Don DeAngelis who had stopped smoking now called.
"Yes, Don".
"Clear my schedule for tomorrow. Send a message to The Wesleys. We will be visiting The Wesleys tomorrow, Carlos and Collins will come with me".
"Yes, Don". Blade replied.
"Caleb, you shall be in charge until we return. Increase the security around my daughters". He instructed.
"Yes, Don".
"Are we going to war against The Wesleys ?" Collins asked Worriedly.
"No, But if the Wesley Don was badly hurt in the fire then we must prepare for the worse, The Wesleys do not forgive and they do not certainly forget".
The room became quiet again. Everyone seemed to be lost in thought.
Phillip DeAngelis wondered how things got this complicated. He wondered why The Wesleys Don came to his event without notice.
'Why did he save his daughter?'
Despite the worry, Phillip couldn't stop himself from smiling. The thrill of a man who stepped into the fire to save his daughter intrigued him a little.
"Don Ralph Zander Wesley is unknowingly going closer to his betrothed". DeAngelis said to himself and gave a devilish laugh.