Chapter 6

After the party ended at 2am Felipe headed straight to the airport. He also didn't sleep during his flight, he was too busy contacting all the possible foreign investors. They might make most of their money from the mob, but he had better plans for his region.

In the past they’ve always laundered the money through the casino, but that wouldn't work for him. He had bigger plans. But before he could start making more money, he needed a way to launder it. Contrary to what Carlos believed, his main target was the hotel. It was more legit than a casino and wouldn't draw so much attention to itself.

That was why he was going to throw the biggest opening party he could with rich investors from all around the world.

The next step would be expanding the hotel to an international hot spot, after that everything would fall in the right place, and he could expand other sides of his business. The only problem was that he needed to keep everyone who worked under him in a straight line.

Some of the mobsters wouldn't like the fact that he was going to attend to the legal part of the business first. He knew he might have to make his point by spilling blood.

He was trying to avoid that, but deep down he knew it was inevitable. It didn't matter now, he was not going to waste anytime today. The first few days will be crucial, he had plenty time to sleep after things would settled down.

After his private jet landed he went straight to Zeriya .

There were still a few construction workers who hadn't finished parts of the exterior design. So the first few hours of his arrival he kept running up and down different floors, yelling at the contractor who hadn't finished his part on time, keeping an eye on the workers to make sure they wouldn't skip work. The opening was soon and the fact that the construction work still wasn't finished enraged him.

After he was sure the construction was running smoothly and it would be finished by tomorrow noon he headed to his office which was one of the penthouses.

He was knees deep in paperwork. By the time for lunch he had been running background check on the employees, read and reread the different types of employment contracts, permits they needed, and determining long lists of basic salary, insurance, etc.

Regardless of the fact that he didn't stop for a second since his arrival, there was still so much to do that he had his lunch in his office, reviewing contracts.

He finally left the hotel at dusk. As he step foot outside the door, he felt an icy breeze. He welcomed it, even though he felt a bit chilly.

‘Finally, some fresh air’ he thought to himself. In the last few hours at the office, he’d been starting to feel suffocated.

He stretched his legs after he settled down on the back seat of his car, and rolled his window down.

His mind kept racing while he watched the city light getting brighter and brighter as the sky got darker. After a while his thoughts took over most of his brain so it couldn't even focus on the images of the twinkling lights passing him by. Everything became blurry, his breath picked up, his head started to spin. He literally shook the thoughts out of his head.

He was heading to one of the family casinos, which was closed for the night so he could meet with his soldiers in private. He couldn't show the slightest sign of weakness, not now.

He needed their respect if he wanted to keep his position in this town, and his head on his body.

He knew the world they lived in, one second a soldier doesn't take you or your orders seriously, the next one of your enemies is putting a fucking bullet between your eyes and taking over.

He tried to clear the image of his dad covered in his blood, out of his head. He rubbed his temples with on hand, then pressed his head back into the leather car seat.

“We’re here boss.” Hector said as he stepped on the break.

Felipe nodded his head while he looked at him in the mirror.

He buttoned back his suit, as he opened the door and stepped outside.

After an hour of giving different versions of ‘I’m your new boss’ talk, he was able to capture each and every one of his soldiers’ attention, and he only had to beat the shit out of one of them. Which to be honest, was much better than what he initially expected. All he needed for the first day was their attention, respect would follow later in the job. Well it better be, or there would be more blood.

He wasn't particularly a violent man, but he’d do what needed to be done to stay ahead of the situation.

Finally after all was taken care of he went back to his car, where Hector was waiting for him. He opened the back door as soon as he saw Felipe emerge from the casino door.

Felipe sat down in the seat, with a serious expression on his face and kept his gaze in front of him to the back of the front seat. he knew the soldiers guarding the door were tracing his every movement.

After the car got faraway enough so it was out of sight, Felipe took a deep breath in and yawned.

He barely could keep his eyes open. the last coffee he had, had worn off hours ago.

“They were impressed. Your uncle would be proud.” Hector said without taking his eyes off the road.

“I sure hope so, cuz if not your job’s about to be much harder than you expected. How long before we get to Zeriya ?”

“I can’t take you there tonight boss.”

“Why the fuck not?” Felipe said while he jumped up to the edge of his seat to see Hector face.

“Your uncle gave me clear orders. I am supposed to take you straight home.”

Felipe threw himself back onto the seat and straightened his tie, “what difference does it make? I just wanna sleep, and if I sleep in my room at Zeriya you don't have to ride me back to work tomorrow.”

He was confident he could persuade Hector to take him back to the hotel. It wouldn't be the first time he’d be convincing him to disregard Carlos’s order.

“Sorry boss, not this time”

“Come on. It’s not like it was an order order. I bet he was merely suggesting that you’d take me home. It’s all the same as long as I get some rest before tomorrow.”

“You can’t convince me, not this time.” Hector said with a warm smile looking at him in the mirror. Despite his cold face and small white scars here and there, he looked like a compassionate father.

Felipe answered his smile with a tired low chuckled.

“I see you have grown immune to my requests, maybe I should find another right hand and bodyguard.” He said with a cunning smile.

“You can try, but I doubt you’d find someone who would bear with you.” Hector said with an indifferent face, then looked up in the mirror and smiled.

Felipe laid his head back and stared blankly out the window, exhaustion written all over his face.

“Don't look so down, there’s a good side to this too.”

“Like what? Waking up at 5 to get to work at 6?” Felipe said looking at roof in a haze.

“Actually you don't have to wake up early.”

“So you’re gonna carry me in my sleep?” Felipe said while he turned and met Hector eyes in the mirror, one of his eyebrows shot up and a smirk on his lips.

“Not exactly. You’ll be resting and I’ll go to the airport, pick up Carlos, give him a summery of what you did and he’ll take over from there.” Hector said with a straight face.

Felipe’s eyes wide opened, any sign of sleep left his face and body, he went on alert mood. “What do you mean? Why is Carlos coming here? Why didn't you tell me before?”

“He ordered me not to say anything, you were supposed to find out tomorrow.”

“Do you care to inform me why or should I wait for tomorrow for that too?” Felipe said, his voice raising and his face red from the blood rushing to his head.

“Don't say it like that. I just got the orders myself. You know you are my first priority.”

Felipe calmed down a little bit, but was still on alert. “What’s his game now?”

“All he said to me was you’d be needing the day off after tonight. I told him you wouldn't be happy about it and that you want to work harder the first few days, but he said when you go home tonight you wouldn't want to leave.”

“Oh hell. What the fuck is in there?”

“I don't know but he sent one of his guys to give this to me today. When you were in the casino he texted me to give it to you tomorrow before getting him from the airport.”

He held the key back for Felipe.

“What is it for?”

“I don't know. It’s too small to open a door. is there a box or safe in the house?”

“what are you looking at me for? I’ve never been there.”

“I thought you might have visited when he was staying here when your father worked here.”

“No my father had his own place. This is one of Carlos new houses.”

“Well It’s yours now. By the way you’re probably going to need a few maids, maybe a chef too. From what I heard it’s a big place. You may need a few more guards too, I can start looking tomorrow.”

“I don't need anyone but you. I don't trust them. The way they see it Carlos is the boss, I’m just working for him. I don't need strangers in my house snooping, not for him not for anyone. It’s bad enough he is coming to check on me on the first day.” Felipe covered his face with his hands.

He was lost in thought when he heard Hector stopped the car.

Felipe opened the door, half way out he brought his head back and looked at Hector with confusion.

“What are you doing? Why aren't you getting out?”

“My room is above that guardhouse over there” Hector pointed to the small building right next to the gate.

“No it’s not. Are you crazy? Look at this house, there are more than a dozen rooms. Why on earth would you stay in that shit hole?”

“Carlos wouldn't like that. Only maids and chefs can live in the main building, if you want them of course.” Hector said matter of factly.

“Well I’m telling you, you’re staying where I’m staying. I don't care what Carlos wants. I’ll answer to him, it’s nothing for you to worry about. Now stop acting crazy and get out of the car.” Felipe said with his boss voice.

“Your ordering voice is improving.” Hector said while getting out of the car. “It might not seem important, but the difference between a boss who knows his authority, doesn't need to raise their voice. They know how to show their power without it.”

Felipe gave the room next to the master bedroom to Hector, and while Hector brought up his suitcases he took a look around the house.

He couldn't find a safe or anything that would require a key like the one Hector gave him. He was too tired to look inside each and every one of the rooms, so after a minute he gave up and went to the master bedroom, which was on the second floor.

The room was huge, he was sure if there wasn't any furniture his voice would echoed in it. The lights were off but the blinds were open wide.

Moonlight that came through window walls, made it possible for him to see his way to the king size bed. He had no intention of turning the lights on, he could take a better look at the room in the morning.

He made his way to bed, which had decorative curtains around it.

As he was walking towards the bed he suddenly came to a stop.

He squinted his eyes to see better in the dim lights.

And there it was, over the bed , chained to one side of the bed, a body.

All his muscles tensed. It couldn't be. Non of his competitor could have gotten through the fences. Outside of the house was heavily guarded. The doors all were lucked and none but the inner circle could open them without finger print.

Maybe this was an inside job. Maybe someone didn't like the fact that he was getting this position in this young age.

His head was going a 1000 mile an hour. He was imagining every possible scenario in his head.

What if Hector knew? Was he on with the plan too? Or worst, what if he had planed it himself? What if Carlos was on it too?

He slowly turned around, his gun drawn and faced the door behind him.

He was staring at the door like any second now, someone would come through it guns blazing.

He slowly walked towards the door, still looking around the room from the corner of his eyes.

He locked the door as quietly as possible, then turned around, put his back to the door and turned the lights on.

He quickly scanned the room, gun in his hand. When he couldn't find anyone in plain sight, he went to the dresser opened the door. Then quickly returned to bed. The body on the bed was a girl but he didn't waste his time to get a look at her he immediately bent down to check under the bed.

There was nothing under the bed. He straightened his back and scanned the scene on his bed.

The girl was unconscious and had makeup, she was dressed in a silk nightgown and a silk robe.

It was then when it hit him. Her chain had a Lock on it, the key he had was for that.

The realization frightened him. This was nothing but trouble. He went around to the other side of the bed, and found a note on the nightstand.

“This is your true gift. Enjoy”

He cursed under his breath. This was bad. This was really really bad.

He thought to himself “what am I going to do. This will ruin everything. I cant believe he did this. This tradition was long forgotten, nobody gifts girls to underbosses anymore. Why now? Why me?”

He took a deep breath in. Then put his hands through his hair. He knew he looked like hell but that didn't matter now, he had much bigger problems.

He reached for the key in his suit and took it out with an exhausted look on his face.

He put the key in the lock on the bedpost and turned it.

The lock opened with a small clicking sound, then suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his neck and shoulder.

He was blinded by pain, the couldn't see straight but he felt someone moving.

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