THE FALL OF THE LEADER

THE FALL OF THE LEADER
Damien’s pov

“Anderson,” I said in a low voice, watching the gun in his hand.

“Put it down. Don’t make this worse than it already is.” I warned.

His lips curled in a smirk.

“Don’t move, boss. Hands up now!” He commanded.

Anderson? He turned out worse than I imagined.

“You dare threaten me?”. I yelled at him.

“You heard me right,” he snapped, his voice firm.

“Raise your hands and don’t try anything stupid”. He added.

How can I get to the drawer close to my table and pull out the gun there I had never used? He'll shoot if I make such a move.

I stood still but did not raise my hands.

“Look at you! You’re not fit to be the Mafia lord, Damien. You’re too weak and naive. You think you can control this empire when you haven't controlled yourself?” he spat.

Fucking asshole, you were playing me all along. I force myself to stand still, not to show my pain.

“And yet, here you are, betraying the same empire that gave you everything. You call me unfit? You’re the coward who hides behind a gun.” I fired at him.

Anderson’s jaw clenched.

“I should’ve ended this long ago. You were never supposed to be in charge. You’re weak, Damien, just like your father was before he begged for his life.”

My father? He knows nothing about my father or his death

“You know nothing about my father, keep his name out of this, else…” I warned, stepping closer.

“... I’ll rip your tongue out myself.” I added.

He let out a wicked laugh.

“Then do it!” Anderson dared, stepping closer to me as he clenched his fist.

I moved faster towards him as I lunged at him, grabbing his wrist. The gun twisted between us as we struggled for it.

“Drop it, Anderson!” I yelled, forcing his hand downward.

“I said, stay down!” he growled, trying to push me off.

The gun clattered to the floor after a twist, sliding far away. We both glanced at it for a split second before turning back to each other.

“Fine,” Anderson hissed, cracking his knuckles.

“Let’s see if you can fight without your title protecting you.” He said clenching his fist as he came closer.

“So be it,” I replied, clenching my fist also.

He landed a hard punch to my face, and blood trickled from my lip.

I countered with a strike to his ribs, forcing him back. He gasped but came at me again, swinging wildly. I ducked, slammed my elbow into his chest, then grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the desk.

“You betrayed me, Anderson! You betrayed us!” I roared.

He spat blood, smirking through the pain.

“And I’d do it again.”

I gave him five punches.

Anderson blocked the sixth punch and landed one of his own straight to my jaw.

Ahhhhh! You bastard!

Then, he rammed his knee into my stomach, forcing the air out of my lungs.

“Still think you’re the boss?” he sneered, grabbing my collar and slamming me onto the floor.

I tried to rise, but his boot pressed against my chest, crushing the breath out of me.

“Anderson!” I groaned, trying to push him off.

He laughed.

“You’ve always been predictable, Damien. Too easy to deal with.”

He kicked me hard in the ribs.

Anderson!!

I began coughing out blood. My vision blurred, but I still managed to glare at him.

“You’ll regret this…” I muttered.

He bent down, grabbed me by the hair, forcing my face up to meet his.

“If not for one thing I would have killed you,” he whispered.

He smashed his fist across my face again.

He dragged me toward my desk, my knees scraping against the floor. I tried to fight back, but my body wouldn’t obey anymore.

He shoved me into the chair and began loosening the rope used to tie the captive.

He tied my hands behind the chair tightly.

“Anderson,” I rasped, struggling against the ropes,

“You won’t get away with this.”

He circled me as he bent and whispered into my ear.

“Oh, I already have, boss.”

I could hear him open one of the drawers.

“What do you want?” I asked weakly.

He came back around and crouched in front of me, smirking.

“What I’ve always deserved: control. You’ve had your reign, but it ends tonight.”

“If you think tying me up will make you the lord, you’re even more foolish than I thought,” I said to him.

He tilted his head, amused.

“Maybe, I really am but at least I’ll finally have your empire… and your head to show Lorenzo I’ve done my job.”

That's not true; the captive mentioned Anderson's job was to kill all my men and bring me alive.

He reached for the gun lying on the floor and aimed it at my forehead.

“Goodbye, boss.”

I stared at him without blinking. “If you’re going to kill me, do it looking me in the eyes, coward.”

He stepped back as he burst into laughter.

“Death is too easy for you. I want you to watch as I take everything you built and everyone you trust.”

He turned toward the door.

“Don’t worry, boss,” he added, glancing back with a cold grin.

“I’ll make sure they remember who destroyed you.”

Then he walked out, slamming the door behind him.

Noooo! Why? Why didn't I notice earlier? I trusted the wrong person, now look where it has gotten me. He's going to kill all the men. All the men I have? All the men I promised Celine to gather.

I've failed! I've failed Celine! I've failed my men! I've failed everyone! I'm a failure!