Chapter 80: B.Y.O.B

▪ D O M I N I C▪

It was around 4am in Aelbank City.

I stood with a frown in front of a convoy consisting of four identical black

SUVs and one black semi-trailer truck.

We had received information on the possible location of José Hernández

García and would immediately be making our way down to Miami. The

semi-trailer truck had a flatbed with a black tarp over it that contained some

extra weaponry.

With the police dashboard lights borrowed from the Aelbank City police as

well as the fake IDs, any problems we might encounter on our journey

would easily be avoided. Commissioner Thomas Edgehill had secretly

informed me of the Cartel boss' whereabouts and I was eager to make my

next move.

"Why did you wait an entire week and a half to tell me about this?" I had

yelled through the phone.

Most likely grimacing on the other end, Thomas had stuttered, "I-I'm sorry,

but I wanted to make sure I had something solid for you."

"I'd like to think after two or three days that the evidence should have been

solid enough. I'll deal with you when we get back to Aelbank City!" I had

barked out before abruptly hanging up.

According to the intel received from the Commissioner, undercover police

posing as gardeners had repeatedly seen José enter and exit the property a

few times over the last week. It seemed to be a hideout of sorts, but no sign

of Jade had been established and barely any movement on the premises on a

whole had been registered.

To me, it sounded more like a diversion and I doubted that the Cartel boss

was actually holding Jade there, but nonetheless, I was coming to

investigate.

My patience was dwindling, as in my opinion, we should have found her by

now.

The Commissioner stated that it might be best to leave it for the Miami

police to handle. Although at the moment, they could not enter the property

as they were still waiting for some information to be confirmed in order to

get a warrant.

I had argued that the legal way would take too long and was not about to sit

around and waste any more time. I was going to go check out the property

and no one was going to stop me!

This was a war between gangsters and as such, it would be best if it was

handled by us.

In my absence, I would be leaving Aleksandr to oversee things in my place

as the Russian's holdings were the least affected by the conflict thus far.

James was still rattled from Blaire's murder and Da'mon and Raeni were

still recovering from having lost a large majority of their properties.

Not to mention that out of all the other mafia heads, Aleksandr was the

most ruthless.

Before leaving, James had pulled me aside and said, "I know that if you get

the opportunity to kill José you won't hesitate. That Mexican needs to die,

like a lot."

Nodding, I had replied, "Agreed!"

The drive would take the convoy about twenty hours give or take, with

stops every five hours to change drivers as well as to use the restrooms. We

were all determined to make this trip a success and I would not return to

Aelbank City without Jade at my side.

"Do you think he's at the location?" Vincent asked when we were halfway

through our journey.

"Based on the information that was gathered from surveillance, I doubt it!"

I replied before adding, "García is too smart, he would have known that the

police would be tracking his movements from the hotel. A man like him

would have multiple properties here in Miami, it wouldn't surprise me if he

kept moving her around until they could sneak off to Mexico."

My fists clenched as I thought about José succeeding in getting Jade out of

the country. She should have been back in my arms already, but I knew that

I would get her back soon.

I simply had to!

Running a hand through my silvery white hair, I continued, "Not to mention

the fact that there was hardly anyone visible on the premises. It's most

likely one of his decoy houses. I don't think that García will be there, or

anyone of importance for that matter."

Nodding with a frown, Vincent concurred, "I have to agree, it seems much

too easy."

When the convoy entered Miami, it was past 10pm.

The men were alert, thanks to the intermittent breaks. The location of the

residence was in one of the rich areas in Miami. It was within a large gated

community with plots that were at least an acre in size.

After a brief call to Commissioner Edgehill, we used the police credentials

to easily pass through the security.

The Calvetti men were all dressed in black suits, even myself, with the

usual matching black shirts and ties, although no one wore the signature

purple tie pins. The semi-trailer truck unhooked the flatbed in the road in

view of the property before following the SUVs further down the street,

disappearing from sight.

The police surveillance that had been placed on the large house was

currently on rotation and would return in about thirty minutes as indicated

by the Commissioner. This was more than enough time for my men and I to

do what we came for.

Removing the black tarp from the truck's flatbed revealed the purple and

grey camouflaged Pak40 anti-tank gun that had been in the Calvetti

residence's garage.

"And you said we'd never need this," I smiled at Vincent.

Shaking his head, my second in command retorted, "We both know that this

is overkill!"

"There's no such thing as overkill! Besides, you know my philosophy; bring

your own boom!" I said with a grin.

Vincent simply shook his head again.

With a more serious tone, I stated firmly, "It's like we discussed, García is

probably not even here, so I need to make a statement. Might as well use it

to bring the walls down and prove how serious I am about getting my

woman back!"

Once the flatbed was secured to the ground, we watched as one of the men

put on his ear protection gear and stood behind the large weapon, loading a

high-explosive shell.

The others then proceeded to arm themselves with MP7s and G36s.

Raising an eyebrow, I watched as Jee-min looked at Quintin and asked,

"Who puts a scope on an MP7?"

"Doesn't hurt to be extra precise," he replied with a grin.

Their banter was interrupted by the loud booming sound of the Pak40 firing

and hitting the entrance of the house. Due to the shell used, the impact and

shockwave caused all the windows to shatter. The explosion left a large

hole in the wall, destroying the house's main entrance door.

Simultaneously, Vincent and the others had fired their guns at the main

gates and the nineteen Calvetti men stormed the premises.

There were a few Mexican men within the house, the large explosion

having rattled and confused them. The blast had disoriented them as their

ears no doubt rung from the resounding bang. Many of them had run

outside with a look of terror and bewilderment mixed within their widened

eyes.

Unfortunately, as predicted, José was not among them. I wasted no time in

having every last one of his men killed.

There was no doubt that the loud explosion would have alerted the

surrounding residents, even if they all were a few thousand yards away. It

sounded like a short burst of thunder and I had always loved the sound, the

big grin on my face illustrating my excitement.

Before calling back the SUVs and the semi-trailer truck, I ordered the man

to fire four more rounds from the Pak40. The shells hit the left portion of

the house in precise spots, causing that specific side of the structure to

crumble.

Quickly loading up everything, we then re-covered the flatbed with the

black tarp. Once everything was secured, we drove off just as quickly as we

had arrived, leaving the Miami mansion crumbling while the other half of

the building had been set on fire.

A part of me wished that we had more time so that I could stay and watch

the property burn to the ground. My eyes glistened as I pictured José tied to

a chair as he helplessly watched the flames crawl closer and closer before

engulfing him in their fiery depths, dragging him straight to the pits of hell.

Who needed matches when you could just light fires by simply blowing shit

up with a gun?

Although, I must confess, the simpler ways to start a fire were more

enjoyable as it took more time for the flames to grow before they erupted. A

slow sensual curve of heat that threatened to suffocate if one got to close.

I was getting excited just thinking about it.

Refocusing my thoughts, I took out my phone and called the Commissioner,

"Don't bother getting that warrant. As suspected, García wasn't there, and

neither is the house for that matter."

"Wait, what? What do you mean the house isn't there? What did you do?"

Thomas asked, slight panic in his voice.

"What I do best. I'm sure the Miami Police will inform you soon enough.

My men and I are going to a nearby location for now, I'll call you back once

we're settled in," I stated before hanging up.

Running a frustrated hand through my hair, I stared out at the lights, silently

wondering where Jade could be.

I had purposefully chosen a safe house in an area not too far from the decoy

house. I knew that José had to be nearby, most likely using the canals as a

mode of transport. I wanted to be as close as possible in the event that

another sighting had occurred.

My mind wandered about the canals.

It was the only explanation as to how the Cartel boss was able to slip past

the police surveillance, and it was something I would have done myself.

Shaking my head, I grinned slightly. I had to hand it to the man, José had

proven himself to be a formidable rival.

About thirty minutes later, the black SUVs pulled up onto a large

beachfront property.

The semi-trailer trucked parked just inside of the property, away from

prying eyes, while the men offloaded what we needed into the house.

With a sigh, I walked up the stairs and made my way to the master

bedroom.

Opening the balcony doors, I stepped onto the terrace and inhaled the night

air, enjoying the smell of the sea. I had planned to bring Jade to a similar

residence sometime in the future, just the two of us, away from all the

hustle and bustle of Aelbank City, where we could just focus on each other

and relax.

With a soft growl, my left hand gripped the railing tightly while the fingers

of my right hand touched the charm bracelet in my pocket. My fingers

slowly traced over each trinket as if willing her to return to me by some

form of magic.

Gritting my teeth, I closed my eyes and hung my head before whispering

her name.

Since her abduction, I silently beat myself up, knowing that this entire

situation had been my fault. If I had just held firm and told Jade no, none of

this would have happened. But then again, knowing the nature of the

business, I had a feeling that José would have managed to get to her one

way or the other.

Whether he would have used Rosita or Cristiano to do it was unclear. But

one thing I knew for sure was that the Cartel boss was no fool and he had

proven himself to be more efficient than I had previously given him credit

for.

"Shit!" I hissed out as I reopened my eyes and stared out into the dark

waters.

Damn her for outsmarting me!

Thinking back to that morning when she seduced me in front of the mirrors,

I let out a breathy laugh. That was my Jade, cunning and manipulative to

the core. By using her charm, she lowered my guard, buttering me up

before begging me to allow her to drive herself, knowing fully well that she

had a plan in place.

I silently vowed to tan her ass raw once I got my hands on her.

When I was done with Jade, she would think twice about ever pulling a

stunt like this again. Perhaps now she may understand why I had been so

overprotective of her and appreciate the bodyguards I kept around her.

"Stubborn woman... But fuck me do I love her..." I mumbled to myself.