TEN YEARS AGO IN ZURI'S CAMP
Zuri was just about to send off men to go and deliver the cargo; boxes and boxes of illegal drugs. There were also some girls who were being taken in as forced sex workers.
"This", Zuri said "is congratulations to Lucas. This is his first cargo."
"His first cargo? What do you mean?" Israel frowned.
"I am promoting Lucas. Once this truckload goes through, all the money, after The Capo takes his profit, will go to Lucas."
"But why? I have been in the game for years, yet I am still waiting to get my own cargo! It's me who trained Lucas; how does he get promoted first before me?"
Zuri laughed and stared at the two men standing in front of her. "Lucas is way smarter than you Israel, you can't deny that!"
"So what if he is smarter! I have been loyal to you and I have dreamt of having my own cargo, now you're promoting Lucas?"
"Ok let's get this over and done with; we will talk as soon as you come back. Now head off, we don't have all day!" Zuri dismissed them.
They got into the truck. It was a garbage truck, with the name DOUBLE L WASTE MANAGEMENT clearly written on it. Vice, Israel's younger brother, was the one driving, and as always, Lucas and Israel took their seats, with Israel closest to the window.
It was an exceptionally quiet journey, with no one talking to the other. Israel was visibly angry, and Lucas, although happy, could not openly show his excitement during such a time. When they got to the midst of the forests of Yellowleaf, Israel asked for the car to stop, for he wanted to relieve himself. He jumped out, and said, "you can come out too, men! Come stretch your legs for a while!"
Lucas and Vice followed outside, stretching and yawning.
Out of nowhere, Israel pulled out a gun and pointed it at Lucas, "move!! Move into the forest!"
"What is this now, Bassard?"
"I said move!" he led him deeper into the forest, while Vice followed them.
"Brother, what is the matter?" Vice asked.
"This man is taking my life! Everything that he has is supposed to be mine!! I will take back what belongs to me today!!" Israel shouted in anger.
"Is it about the cargo? Please let me go! You can have it, you can have it all!" Lucas pleaded.
"You think you can get off the hook so easily? No way!" Israel screamed at the top of his lungs. He went on to say, "Lucas la Martina; from the very first day you joined Zuri's camp, you made sure to take all that is mine. It was me who spoke about the waste management company, and you stole my idea and rushed to do it before me."
"What do you mean…." Lucas started to talk.
"Bassard Waste Management Company; does that name ring a bell? It does? Yes it does! Of course!! I thought you were a friend! I told you all my plans of starting Bassard Waste Management Company! I told you how easy it would be to transport our goods from one city to the other using these trucks; because no one really cares what is in a waste management truck!! I told you how the company would succeed as it works both as a registered company and as an underground business, using those same trucks! Did I not tell you all my plans; answer me now, la Martina!"
"You did, but….."
"But what!! You woke up one day and you stole my idea! You registered the company without even telling me!! And one day you just came to me smiling, telling me "you're looking at the new CEO of Double L Waste Management Company!" Tell me; did you not steal my business idea from right under my nose?!!"
"I'm sorry. I saw you were taking too long to start it, so I thought you were no longer interested!"
Israel let out a loud laugh and then immediately shut up. Great anger was registered on his face as he went on, "I did not have enough money to start that company! How could I? How could I have had enough, when you took all my business away? Isn't you're very close to Troy, and he always channels all the fine grade goods to you! And I get the trash!! I, Israel Bassard; gets the trash!! Ever since you joined Zuri's camp; my life has become terrible!!"
"I'm sorry I didn't realize…"Lucas was praying for Israel not to pull the trigger.
"Shut up! We all know that Troy loves you and favours you above us all!! What is he to you? huh? Answer me!?"
"Nothing, we just went to the same university and…."
"Shut up! Why are you not out there doing what you learnt at university? Do you have to come here and disturb our lives, while we're trying to live? You have trampled on my peace since the day you came!."
"I'm sorry I wasn't…."
"Enough of those apologies!! Zuri used to value me a lot; until you came! Now you have that brand new car and you have a new house. Those are supposed to be mine!! You stole my life, Lucas! And I will end your life here! Now!"
"Please Israel, don't do this! I can help you to get a new car too. Please. We can both have good lives, we don't have to fight about…."
"I won't listen anymore to anything you have to say!"
"Israel! Israel please, you can get this cargo. Get everything, I won't take anything from this one, please!", as Lucas kept receding, he carefully reached for his gun. He knew Israel. Israel was tough; and when he spoke of killing, he usually meant it. He hardly ever joked around about such topics.
Lucas could not believe that his death was just a few seconds away then; he felt sweat on his face. Israel did not say a word, but kept moving closer to Lucas, and that was the chance that Lucas got to draw his weapon and without hesitation he brought it forward to shoot.
"Israel!!!" Vice shouted out for his brother to watch out.
Upon hearing Vice's shout, Israel immediately darted while at the same moment Lucas pulled the trigger. The bullet, which was meant for Israel, went straight to Vice; causing him to widen his eyes in shock, and two seconds later, he fell on his back.
"Vice!!" Israel cried out. "Vice! Oh no! you killed him! You killed him, Lucas!!"
Lucas looked at his hands and trembled. It was the first time in his entire life to ever kill a human being. He was seriously scared and regretted ever pulling that trigger.
"I did not mean to," he cried.
"Lucas you killed my brother!!" Israel kept repeating.
He knelt down in front of Vice and cried out, "Vice, oh Vice! Vice, I have let you down! I promised my parents that I would take care of you and Eva. Oh Vice, don't leave me, Vice! Vice!! Vice!!" he shook his brother violently, hoping to see him opening his eyes or at least groaning in pain; anything to show a sign of life, but Vice did neither of those things.
"Vice! Vice please, don't leave me!!"
Israel was crying in pain when he heard the sound of a truck engine; only to look up to see Lucas driving the truck off. That had been the day that brought him the greatest pain of his life; even more than on the day that he lost both his parents!
***
And from then on, Israel became a sworn enemy of Lucas, and since Zuri refused to listen to Israel's complaints, he hated the whole syndicate. After numerous fights, they each sought to take the other's life. Israel left Zuri's camp, and because of how influential he was, he managed to take along half a dozen men with him.
Their fight continued until Israel was forced to fake his own death, for he was failing to match up with Zuri's camp. While in hibernation, the man grew his camp, with a lot of help from Terror and Toast.
And when he decided to start coming back into action, he realised Zuri's camp had changed their base, and they were nowhere to be found. Israel did not give up, he made intense investigations which led to his first step in revenge: stealing a whole cargo that belonged to Lucas. It was the largest there ever was, for it had the world's most expensive drugs, and young girls who were being transported to be sold off. It also had two kidnapped children who were being taken in to be sold to one professor who had paid for human beings in order to carry out his experiments.
The disappearance of that truck, just as Israel had hoped, caused havoc in Zuri's camp. Yet Israel was not done yet. He wanted Liam. A plumber by profession, the disguised Israel shared a house with Anisha and Valentina; not by coincidence, but because he wanted to get closer to the lady who was taking care of the la Martina baby. From listening in on the conversations between Anisha and Valentina, to secretly following Anisha to her employer's house, and finding some plumbing jobs in Harvey Street, Israel managed to find the information that he needed. His plans were well set.
Israel played his cards well until the kidnapping point. His whole aim was for Lucas to feel the pain of losing a loved one, and he swore that he himself was going to slice Liam limb by limb, while Lucas watched. His plan was to finish off la Martina after he had experienced the gruesome pain; the horror movie of watching Liam's death.