The Deal

ONE MONTH AGO

DE SILVA ESTATE

"Boss, we know you trust the young master so much, but he's getting out of hand. He never obeyed you and even disrespected you in front of the other clans. How could you choose someone like him as your successor?"

Martin, the consigliere of Luciano De Silva, was worried about the future of the clan. Aciel, the illegitimate son of their boss, was chosen as the new underboss. He was now the second in command and now being groomed as their next leader.

Aciel was trained just to become one of the capos, but three years ago, the legitimate son of Luciano De Silva was killed. At first, his father didn't choose him as the new successor. Although his mother was a princess, he was never considered a strong candidate to take his father's place.

He didn't care about his position in the family. He was never interested in becoming the Mafia boss, but all of his other siblings were either a girl, too young or too weak. So his uncle, who took him in when he was a kid, voted him as the new underboss. Some were against it, but unexpectedly, most of the family members wanted Aciel to take over the clan.

Since he became a made man at the age of thirteen, he started to rebel against his father and everyone else. He was the youngest of five hundred made men, but he won every fight with them.

"Why do you always fight with them? They are your brothers, not your enemy. You should learn to trust them, Aciel." His uncle would always scold him.

No one could guess his reason for disobeying his father. He was never mistreated, but he also never felt a father's love. Growing up in a family like theirs, he knew there was no room for love and that loving or liking someone would only make them weak.

When he turned seventeen, his father finally announced that he would be the next Mafia boss.

"Why did you choose me?" He asked his father once.

"Are you against it?" His father answered him with a question.

He didn't reply and just left his father wondering. That time, he couldn't answer because he was unsure if he wanted the position or not. But after becoming the successor, his rebellion against his father grew.

"I can't leave this world without a successor. The clan will collapse if someone weak takes over my position. You, of all people, should understand that, Martin."

Martin sighed. Luciano was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and was given six months or less to live. No one knew about it except Martin. The boss ordered him to keep his mouth shut regarding his illness.

"I understand, boss. But as the consigliere of this clan, I also have a duty to protect its future."

"Do you have an idea how to stop Aciel?"

Martin nodded and told Luciano about his plans.

After a few days, Aciel was called by his father to discuss something. He wasn't interested and was supposed to meet Simon that day, but Martin suddenly appeared in front of his uncle's house to pick him up. He didn't complain, and since he had no choice, he went to see his father.

"What are all these pictures?" He frowned when Martin handed him a bunch of photos of different girls.

"Those are the daughters of the wealthiest families in the city. Your father wanted to offer them protection and security by making ties with them. It will strengthen our family's power." Martin started.

"Are you telling me to choose someone from these pictures and that she would be my wife in the future?" Aciel asked in disbelief.

Martin nodded.

Aciel laughed. "You are both crazy! Do you expect me to obey you? I would never allow you to control my life."

Martin was about to yell back at Aciel when Luciano raised his hand to stop the consigliere.

"I'm dying, Aciel." Luciano said.

Aciel was surprised by his father's words, but he knew his father was not bluffing. His voice was different from his usual tone because it sounded sad and weak.

"I was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. The doctor said I only got six months to live. I know my decision to choose you as the successor was not the original plan when your mother gave you to me. But I had no choice either. I was never a good father to you and your siblings, but all the things I did were for the sake of this family. I trust that you are the only one who could protect this family once I'm gone."

For the first time, he couldn't talk back to his father. He was also unsure if he would be sad, knowing that his old man would soon leave.

Luciano and Martin waited for his decision. Both men were hoping that he would accept their decision.

Aciel turned to Martin, still with a dark expression. "I can't choose from these pictures. I want to know them personally."

Martin glanced at Luciano first, then frowned at Aciel. "What do you have in mind?"

"All these girls were from Bloomsdale School for girls. I want that school and ours to be one. Make them a co-ed school. I will check these girls in that school myself. If one of them interests me, I will tell you. If not, then I will find someone else."

His father and Martin agreed with his offer but were only given two months to know all the girls from Martin's list.

PRESENT DAY

Aciel took out the black notebook Martin gave him. It was a compilation of the candidates for his marriage. He slowly checked all the pages, making sure he didn't miss one.

"She's not included on this list." He murmured.

He glanced at the magazine again. It was on the page where Xylia posed wearing a black two-piece bikini. The photo was seductive and sexy. She was on a beach, lying down on the sand. Her whole body was wet, and he could see droplets of salt water on her chest.

Aciel gulped when his eyes turned to her breasts. It was just the right size, not too big and not too small either. Then he stared down into her belly and between her thighs.

"Oh shit!" He closed the magazine and threw it on the floor.

He hated her, but how could she affect him so much. He felt a hard-on just looking at her photos. He had seen a lot of women in the same clothing and had countless experiences with them. What's with that woman? He thought to himself.

He picked up his phone and dialed Colt's number.

"Bring two girls in the penthouse. I'll be there in an hour."