120 - Benjamin Scott

120 - Benjamin Scott
Benjamin Scott

Benjamin was furious inside the car.

“I knew something was wrong. Trusting that everything was fine and not double-checking all the details about this shipment might have been our biggest mistake.”

“You don’t trust the Italians?” Jackson asked, turning toward me.

We’d been sitting in this car for almost two hours, watching the border just a few meters ahead. My gaze darted to all the cars crossing the checkpoint, growing anxious at not seeing the one carrying our merchandise.

“Borya hasn’t mentioned anything about this shipment. I believe the traditionalists would have called to inform us if the delivery was delayed,” I said, irritated.

I should be home. Camilla would soon want to rest, and she always asks for my help with her bath, as she’s been feeling hot due to her pregnancy. Thankfully, it’s been going smoothly, and we’re confident she’ll hold on for another week or two.

“Something’s wrong!” Jackson said, looking toward one side of the highway where we were parked.

The border was heavily monitored, and even though the police were on our payroll, there were still honest officers within the force who constantly disrupted our operations, whether receiving shipments or sending goods by land.

“I’m sure of it!” I said, pulling my phone from my pocket. “Find Oliver and Sebastian, they might be in danger.”

With my mind racing to piece together everything that had brought us to this point, I found the contact for the Romanos.

“Vincenzo?” I greeted him as soon as he answered.

Vincenzo Romano, the eldest son of Don Vittorio Romano. His story was full of twists and turns, and to achieve everything he wanted, he had to reestablish old alliances.

“Well, if it isn’t the Bishop who switched sides!” he said with a sarcastic tone.

“Cut the crap. Where’s my merchandise? I’ve been waiting for two hours, and it hasn’t arrived!” I tried to control the anger boiling inside me.

I heard some commotion on the other end of the line, Vincenzo calling for his sister.

“Man, I have no idea what you’re talking about…”

“What do you mean? We received confirmation of our Ecstasy order and were told to wait at the border!” I insisted, tapping Victor on the shoulder. “Head to the factory.”

I said this without worrying about Camilla at that moment. I knew no one could breach the well-protected complex. But my uncle and cousin were practically alone at the headquarters, leaving them vulnerable without enough soldiers to guard them.

“Benjamin, we’re not sending you any merchandise. I just asked my sister, and everything we’re shipping is going to Brazil!” His voice was filled with concern, and it seemed he truly didn’t know anything about it.

“I can’t reach my father…”

“Thanks for clarifying, Vincenzo. I’ll get back to you soon, but please investigate who gained access to our transactions,” I requested.

“Don’t worry, I’ll look into it right now!” My eyes met Jackson’s, who looked even more distressed.

“Did you manage to reach Amelia?” I asked as our car sped toward the factory.

“No, nor Sophia!” I grabbed my phone and dialed my little devil.

The call went straight to voicemail, and my heart sank at not hearing my wife’s sweet voice. I knew she wasn’t asleep, it was early, and by now, she was likely trying to cool off with a shower.

“Step on it. Something’s happening to them…”

I didn’t need to say anything else. Victor understood the urgency of getting to the factory as quickly as possible and then rushing home. I trusted that our women were safe at home, but even so, I called Camilla. Both Amelia and Sophia knew what to do.

When I finally got through to my little devil, Camilla was with Miley. Even though my uncle’s fiancée didn’t have the same training as my wife, I was confident Camilla wouldn’t be at anyone’s mercy. She would know how to escape the house if someone tried to break in, which, I believed, wouldn’t happen.

Luckily, the factory isn’t too far from where we were, and when we arrived, it was strange to find it in complete darkness, as if the solar panel generator had been shut down.

“I think there’s been a break-in,” Victor says, placing his phone between his legs while parking the car.

“That’s pretty obvious, but why are you so sure?” Jackson asks as he gets out of the car.

“The guards Mr. Sebastian assigned aren’t answering their phones...”

Victor parks the car in a hidden corner of the lot, where we’re less likely to be seen. I take off my suit jacket and toss it into the trunk, while Jackson arms himself with a couple of pistols that were stored there. I grab a few more and several magazines, just to be prepared.

Even though everything was eerily silent, chaos could be unfolding inside. We decide to proceed cautiously and quietly to avoid walking into an ambush.

Armed with everything we can carry, we enter through the employee entrance, a narrow hallway that leads to the locker room where our workers rest and change clothes.

We move in with our weapons drawn. Victor takes the lead, scanning every detail attentively, while I follow closely behind.

“Too quiet,” Jackson remarks from behind me.

“They might be in the storage tanks,” I suggest, noticing a faint light on the upper floor, seemingly coming from Jackson’s office. I point in its direction and gesture toward the staircase. With no electricity, the elevator is out of the question, and we need to avoid making noise.

After all, we have no idea who might be here.

We position ourselves behind the fire door, coordinating our advance toward my cousin’s office, where we saw the light. Whoever is here, I’ll make sure they don’t leave alive.

Entering the reception area outside our offices, I notice that my secretary’s desk is empty. My office door is closed, but Jackson’s is ajar.

I hear Oliver’s voice coming from his and his brother’s shared office. Lowering my gun, I push the door open abruptly.

“What’s going on here?” I ask, seeing him scrutinize various papers.

My uncle is there, shining a flashlight over the scattered documents on the desk. I can’t fathom why they’re here or, worse, why there’s no power in our factory.

“We’re not sure. We were getting ready to leave when the power suddenly went out,” my uncle explains.

I hear someone approaching and raise my pistol, only to see the soldier responsible for their security enter the room.

“Sir, there’s nothing here, but we received a strange call from the complex…” Just as he speaks, my phone vibrates in my pocket.

Pulling it out, I see my little devil’s number flashing on the screen.

“Little devil? My love, are you safe?”

I notice her labored breathing, as if she’s utterly exhausted.

“Promise me, if anything happens to me, you’ll love our children if I’m not there…”

A shiver runs down my spine, sending chills all the way to my neck. I lean against the desk, glancing at Jackson.

“Don’t say things like that. Tell me, are you safe?” I insist, noticing everyone around me turning their attention to my conversation.

“Yes, but Oleg hurt me, and I’m so cold. Bishop, you need to hurry and save our babies…”

“Camilla, what do you mean Oleg hurt you? Is he there?” I ask urgently.

"Wake up, Camilla, don’t give up..."

"That bastard came into my house, hurt my wife, put my children in danger, and when I get my hands on him, nothing will stop me from ending him."

"Miley?" I call out to her, noticing the urgency in her voice, which immediately catches my attention. "What happened?"

I ask, and it doesn’t take long before she answers the call.

"Sir, we were coming down, but we didn’t make it to the warehouse where the soldiers are. That man got in, and when he saw us, he opened fire. Camilla was shot in the ribs..."

I hear her sobbing. By then, I had already left the room and was heading toward our car. Just as I was about to step outside the building, I felt the impact of a bullet hitting my shoulder.

Staggering backward, I throw myself back into the building and am caught by Victor, who smiles while helping me to my feet.

"All this fuss over a little scratch?" he says.

If I weren’t so desperate, knowing my wife was in danger and injured, I might have given him a witty comeback.

"Let’s kill those bastards and get home!" Jackson says tensely in front of me.

If I had ever felt fear during my time aboard Chang's ship, it was nothing compared to what I was feeling now, knowing Camilla was hurt.

"Camilla needs me. She’s been wounded. I have to hurry..."

"Then we’ll kill anyone who stands in our way!" my uncle says, pulling one of the pistols from my waistband. He gets to his feet and starts shooting as I glance at the wound staining my shirt.

But this won’t stop me...