Chapter 44.

Chapter 44.
Leo's POV.

The atmosphere in the warehouse felt thick, like the air before a storm. I inhaled deeply, the scent of rust and decay mingling with the palpable tension. It was time to shed any lingering remnants of restraint. I'm Leonardo De Santos—Mafioso, predator, and king of my empire, and I'm not gonna let anyone threaten what belonged to me.

As the minutes ticked by, I could sense the clock winding down on our small window of opportunity. Luca stood next to me, eyes scanning the loading dock, focus unyielding. "We need to move fast. The Russians won’t be caught off guard for long."

“Let’s go ahead with the plan, then,” I commanded. “What’s our timing?”

“The diversion will hit in five,” he replied, voice low. “That’ll give us a chance to intercept their main force if they leave the docks unguarded.”

“Perfect.” I turned the map over in my mind, plotting our course. "But we won't be striking in five," I added and his eyes widened in surprise.

"What?" he burst, a mix of disbelief and concern flashing across his face.

"Give them time," I instructed, my voice steady but laced with a hint of playful malice. "Allow them to relish in their false victory, and then we’ll strike when they least expect it." A smirk danced on my lips, the thrill of the impending ambush bubbling beneath the surface.

“So when do we strike?” he asked, the gears in his head clearly turning faster than I'd anticipated.

“Sunset,” I answered, letting the impact of that simple word settle in the air between us.

Reluctantly, he pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed Zane. 

"Sir?" Zane's voice rang out.

"Hold and retreat," Luca ordered, his tone leaving little room for argument.

“What?” The surprise in Zane's voice was palpable, reverberating through the phone like an alarm bell.

“Don’s orders,” Luca reiterated.

“Understood, sir,” Zane replied, his tone shifting to compliance.

Luca hung up the call, glancing back at me. “So what now?”

“Bar,” I answered simply.

I have a meeting with two other Dons, more like Drug Lords.

"But that's supposed to be towards evening," he argued.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Silas, one of the Drug Lords I was meeting. 

“Don!” he said, his tone bright and welcoming.

"Can we meet in the next thirty minutes?" I asked.

“Any time is fine,” he replied easily, “We’re already at the bar.”

“See you there then,” I responded and ended the call.

"We meet now," I said to Luca and he rolled his eyes. 

The drive to the bar was a blur of oncoming lights, shadows flickering across my face as the city flickered in and out of focus. 

Pulling up in front of the sleek establishment, I stepped out of the car and felt the midday's crisp air wrap around me, mixing up with the heat of the previous moments. The bar was unassuming from the outside, an elegant facade that masked the brutality that often lay just below the surface in our world. But once you stepped inside, you entered a different realm—a bastion of debauchery, secrecy, and danger.

Luca fell into step beside me as we entered. The dim lighting cast a seductive glow over the polished wood, with shadows dancing across the walls, creating a haunting ambiance. The faint clink of glasses, muted conversations intermingling with hushed laughter, all played out like a symphony of intrigue.

Silas welcomed us from the far end of the bar, his presence commanding despite his relaxed posture. Sitting on another sofa adjacent to him was Rico, another player in this dangerous game—a man whose loyalty was frequently tested by his ambition. Accompanying them were a few ladies whom they were flirting with.

“Don Leonardo,” Silas greeted, a sly grin spreading across his face. “It’s always a pleasure to see you.”

“Cut the pleasantries, Silas,” I replied, moving toward them with purpose. “Let’s get down to business.” I said, settling on the sofa opposite Silas. 

"Before business, why don't you let these beautiful ladies help you relax," Silas said and two hot dressed ladies sauntered towards me but I was in no mood to flirt now. Plus Lexi's image played in my head—a much better hot body than tg ones sauntering towards me now.

"Just have your seats and do something else, perhaps touch each other." I said and the ladies looked at Silas and Rico confused.

Silas laughed, "just do what he says. Sometimes I enjoy watching ladies touch each other."

The ladies perched on the sofa adjacent to me and began touching each other but I looked away, more focused on what brought me here.

"Let's get down to business," I said.

Rico leaned back slightly, a flicker of unease crossing his features. “I imagine you’re here to discuss the shipment, yeah?”

“Indeed,” I said firmly. “But first, I need to know exactly where you stand with your recent dealings.”

“Oh, I’ve been keeping my end of the bargain, Don,” Silas spoke smoothly, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “My men are just waiting for your signal. Once you destabilize the Russians, we can move in.”

"That's not a problem, I got it," I assured them.

"But Leonardo... I think you should do a thorough check on your side, there's a mole I your team. Because why else will there be a problem in the shipment?" Rico expressed his concern and he's right. There is a mole in my team.

"And our team is clear so the mole can only be from your side," Silas added.

"I'll handle that, you don't need to worry about that," I replied and they nodded.

"Since that’s going to be settled," Rico began, his voice smooth and confident. With a swift click of his fingers, one of his men stepped forward, carrying a sleek black briefcase. The man handed it to Luca, who took it with a nod of acknowledgment. He placed it on the table in front of me and opened it. The sight inside made my lips curve into a satisfied grin—a lethal weapon, perfectly wrapped and ready for action.

“Consider it a small gift for our partnership,” Silas said, his smirk betraying a hint of pride.

“Of course,” I replied, mirroring his grin. 

Now this is what I call business.

“Do keep us informed on the shipment,” Rico added, his gaze unwavering.

“I’ll let you know when to slip in,” I assured them with a calm confidence. They nodded, understanding that this was a game of trust and timing.

The minutes passed swiftly, and the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. I found myself staring at Lexi’s number on my phone, my fingers itching to hit the call button. 

“It’s sunset now. Can we begin?” Luca’s voice cut through my thoughts, igniting the charged atmosphere around us.

“Is everything in position?” I asked, slipping my phone back into my pocket, focusing on the mission at hand.

“What do you think?” he countered, a flicker of excitement dancing in his eyes.

“Fire,” I commanded, my voice steady and resolute as I leaned back in my seat in my car.

The word hung in the air, heavy with its implications. I leaned back, watching as Luca’s expression transformed from determination to wildfire energy, each element of the plan syncing sharply into place. He grabbed his phone, his fingers racing over the screen.

“Fire!” he ordered, his thrill evident in every syllable. The world felt electric, charged with anticipation. 

“Now all we have to do is wait,” he grinned at me, an expression that mirrored the confidence swirling between us.

Minutes later, his phone rang, cutting through the palpable tension in the air. He answered, his face lighting up like a kid on Christmas morning. After dropping the call, he turned to me, his grin stretching wider. “It worked! The coast is clear, and our shipment would arrive in no time."