Chapter 40 THE BEGINNING OF A WAR
I suddenly could smell fire or perhaps it was more than just fire— it could be war. One of Rafael's men drawed near to me, covering me up with his long overall coat because my sundress had melted against my body, leaving the sight of my boldly carved body out of their view.
No one wanted to glaze lustrous emotions at their boss’ woman so they had to tame their eyes and control their thoughts.
Rafael had taken the lead, walking into the mansion and heading straight to the meeting room to be debriefed about what had happened to his men who had sent out to the Pedro family business for collection of what was due for the Devereaux family.
When I got to the door of the meeting room which was slightly opened, they had already proceeded with the agenda of the hour.
I ought not to be there as I had no business with whatever was going on between both Mafia families, but I also wanted to satisfy my curiosity with my presence in their midst.
When I arrived at the meeting room, one of Rafael's men was just saying something to the boss who was standing behind his table, already in a new fresh shirt with both of his hands resting on the table.
His eyes were cold and unforgiving, flashing with anger as he heard the words of the man.
“They knew we were coming and we had lost two of our men when they suddenly started a gun fight.” The henchman paused, lowering his head as he wallowed in sorrow briefly. “Fritz and Lopez both died in the game, boss— a bullet lodged in the heart and the other to his head.”
Rafael slammed his fist into the table furiously at the news, his anger rising.
“Boss, I think there's a mole amongst us.” Marco declared, holding tight to his injured arm that was pressed with fresh blood.
It only made sense how they had been attacked at the Pedro family casino with the existence of a mole amongst them.
The plan had been brief before Rafael's men had set out, no one knew this, no other family was involved.
Pedro himself wouldn't have predicted their visit nor was he bold enough to manage a duel with the Devereaux family. After all, the Pedros had just become a Mafia family not quite a few months back.
“Santiano Rafael Devereaux doesn't forgive betrayal and death to the man who has betrayed us by stabbing his brothers in the back today.” Rafael growled that I could feel the weight of his words where I had been standing.
This side of Rafael that was being shown to me at that moment seemed unforgiving, vexed and emotionally crossed that I bet I would have a hard time trying to pacify him if there was ever a need for it.
Two of his men had died at the hands of a man he had shown favor to; not once— he had also helped establish his family, creating a stepping stone for the Pedros into the Mafia world and he was repaid with the death of his men?
And then again, I could smell it; the tingling sensation of what fire smelt like as Rafael began to make a selection for a gun in his rack full of guns which he had behind him in an in-wall wardrobe.
All I could do was stand there and watch multiple men cocking up their guns with unforgiving stances overpowering them.
I couldn't say a word because I feared they wouldn't help matters and besides, what could I possibly say to them? To Rafael?
All that mattered to me was to get out of the Devereaux mansion; out of Rafael's life for good and him going to the war front would only hasten my freedom from— perhaps he would die.
“Boys,” Rafael's crude voice called at his men as he began loading bullets into the chamber of his gun.
His men were very attentive, pausing the reloading of their own choice of gun and weapons to listen to the boss.
“Tonight, we will take over the Pedro family casino and we will pay respect to our lost brothers Fritz and Lopez by laying them to eternal rest with the head of the Pedro family— Pedro himself bowed six feet at the base of their coffins.”
His men hailed at his declaration, accepting his speech and they were more than ready for war against the Pedro family to reclaim that which belongs to the Devereaux family and as well make Pedro pay with his life in reverence to their dead brothers.
And when it was time to leave, the tension became extremely palpable with malice and hate and when he began to walk towards me by the door, ready to let hell rain over his enemy— Pedro, I trembled.
Before he could walk out through the door, I reached out for his arm unconsciously. I didn't realize I had done that until after he reverted his attention to me.
I didn't know what I had done, but it just happened in the space of a moment— the golden second.
“I'll be back,” He said to me with a reassuring tone, but never with a smile to his lips like he was aware I would be worried about the war he was about to fight.
“Marco, you're in charge of the house until I'm back.” Rafael instructed before walking away with his men following after.
I simply watched him leave until he disappeared from my view, like he never had been there.
If he had asked me to pray again for his return, would I have obliged?
I took to my room at once, my mind trapped in my cluster of thoughts, unsure if things were going the right way that could aid my escape from Rafael.
Then I noticed it. Another letter.
A letter already lying in wait on the bed for me.
“That should be Leah!”