A Good Team

CHAPTER 12

"Don". 

Rafa called once he reached Lorenzo's car window. Lorenzo turned to look at him. "Fin, Roger, and Gonzalez have brought back news from their resource findings".

"And?"

"They found the men who set the landmines". Rafa said and watched Lorenzo's eyes narrow for a second.

"And those who set the fire?".

"You'll need to come see for yourself".

Lorenzo gave the land where the warehouse burned a once-over, settling his gaze on the 'Landmine' signpost Damien had fixed.

"Where are they?".

"Italian downtown, peccati alleyway".

Lorenzo nodded and Rafa also gave a nod then went away to his car. Lorenzo drove away with Rafa following closely behind as both drove to Italian downtown.

As the reached, Lorenzo parked his car and came out, walking to the front of the alleyway. Rafa met him and they both walked down the alleyway together.

"There's a secret underground club where we've held them hostage". Rafa explained as they turned a corner.

Soon, Lorenzo and Rafa were both in the club and in a soundproof storage room where the men were tied up.

"Well, well, well". Lorenzo walked towards them, "what do we have here?".

"We don't know anything". The one in the middle spoke first.

Lorenzo gave all of them a sweepy look. They'd already been beaten to stupor.

"They still won't budge". Damien said cracking his neck and his knuckles.

"Let them be. For now". Lorenzo said rolling up his sleeves. "Who's your leader?".

The three men where quiet.

"Who is your leader, I asked". Lorenzo hollered.

They all pointed at eachother haphazardly which made Lorenzo clench his fist, obviously ready to give either one of them or all of them a blow.

"The one in the middle orchestrated the whole plan from the main blueprint. They're called the threeble makers". Rafa said and some of Lorenzo's men laughed .

"See? I told you the name was funny". The last man spoke. "We need a new..."

"Shut up". Lorenzo silenced him and ran a hand through his hair. "If only you knew the extent of the hell you've gotten yourselves into".

The trio looked at one another then back at Lorenzo.

"Now, tell me something will you? Threeble makers?". Lorenzo leaned forward with both his hands in his pockets. "Who sent you?"

"You think we know?". The last asked and Damien was quick to give him a blow that shut him up.

"You should not have crossed me," Lorenzo said, his voice cold and menacing. "You three should have heard about me by now because I met with local leaders and asserted my dominance. I made it clear that I wanted control of the area, and that anyone who opposed me would be dealt with severely".

"Speak now". Rafa said, "you have a chance while we're been nice".

The men were silent. The more silent, the more they got on Lorenzo's nerves. He soon gave a subtle nod and Damien and the others advanced towards the men and beat them mercilessly - again.

"Wa...wait". The one in the middle choked out, coughing blood due to several broken teeth.

"Speak". Rafa commanded.

"Banjo, Lenz, and I, didn't see the man that hired us". The guy in the middle said slowly.

"T-true. Eugene is telling the truth". The first said.

Lorenzo thought...The threeBLE- Banjo, Lenz and Eugene?

Quite creative.

"We just met him and his men in the night, he was putting on a suit, a hat that covered his face and holding a walking stick with a snake head on top". The first babbled on.

"Is that all?". Rafa asked.

The three nodded in unison.

"So how will they be dealt with, Don?". Roger asked.

"The same way those who replicated our Calude tablets were dealt".

"How...how were they dealt with?". The middle man - Eugene, asked, his voice shaking.

"Locked in a room with Loretta". Lorenzo said to his men than he responded to Eugene's question.

Rafa could sense Eugene's confusion.

"And might I add". Rafa said walking until he was standing in front of them, "The De Lucan cobra who's always hungry"

...

"News reached me concerning the warehouse downtown". Antonio, Lorenzo's father said while they both spoke on phone the next day.

Lorenzo closed his closet and walked to the window of his room, staring down at the landscape in his villa.

"Yes, father". Lorenzo answered.

"And well taken care of I assume ".

It wasn't a question but Lorenzo answered either way. "Yes" he said, folding his arms.

"And the area?".

"Fully secured and the latest addition to the number of De Lucan property". Lorenzo's eyes caught sight of the shooting range and they narrowed. His mind suddenly wandered to his family's enemy. "And I promise you, I will get revenge on those who have ever done us wrong."

Lorenzo's jaw clenched, his mind burning with vengeance. He would make them pay, no matter what it took.

Antonio's eyes gleamed with approval on the other side of the call. "They killed your mother, Lorenzo". He spat. "It's time we made them pay"

"Then you'd like what I have in mind, father".

...

'La mia via di fuga verso il paradiso'

"My way to escape towards paradise". Valeria read the Italian write-up in English as the car they were in rode past the signpost.

Soon, Lorenzo and Valeria arrived at the mansion in the Italian countryside. Just like déjà vu, Lorenzo walked out of the car and went inside without sparing her a glance.

The only difference was that instead of a maid, a butler carried her bags to a room. 

"Thank you". She told him as he set the bags in the room.

"Prego, signora. Di niente". He answered and with a slight bow, he left the room.

Valeria's smile faded and she turned and walked to the window. The mansion had a picturesque scenery and she already found herself deeply calmed by the sight.

As she unpacked her bags, she recalled that the way she felt staring at the scenery was a stark contrast to the tension between she and Lorenzo - There was no sense of calm. Only chaos.

"I have to speak with him". Valeria told herself and left the room, making her way through the hallway. She stopped for a moment to look around. "There's no one here?".

"You weren't expecting me to bring my whole team down for the honeymoon, were you?".

Valeria jumped, where had Lorenzo come from? They had barely spoken on the plane, and she felt that the silence was going to feel oppressive.

"You never go anywhere without them". Valeria noted.

"They're on their way". Lorenzo said and before Valeria could respond, they both heard a loud thud accompanied by heavy footsteps.

"What was that?". Valeria's eyes widened as fear crept into her.

"I'll go check, just stay put". 

Valeria nodded and still stood still as Lorenzo quiet stalked towards the front door. He looked through the glass designs beside the door and found armed men - that were not his men, outside the mansion. They were approaching it with such confidence. He wondered why he requested no security, he didn't think this would happen.

Gunfire erupted, and Lorenzo backed away, griping Valeria's hand and tugging her along.

"We need to get out of here," Lorenzo gritted as they started moving. "Now."

The front door was been meddled with Lorenzo stopped to face it with Valeria behind him.

"On the count of three, you run and go find the office in the villa, call Rafa's number. It's there".

"One...". Valeria nodded, her mind racing 

"Two...", but then the door burst open and men rushed in with weapons and guns, she stood still. Lorenzo let go of her hand.

"Three. Run". Lorenzo yelled as he started shooting at them haphazardly, trying to also dodge their bullets. They scrambled to safety somewhere in the house as they stood behind a wall.

"Do you have another gun?".

Lorenzo could not be distracted, "Valeria go".

"No". She whispered, her chest heaving from the erratic beating of her heart and the situation they were in.

How on earth did the attackers find them? Valeria started at Lorenzo. He was sweating profusely and breathing heavily.

She looked a little beside him and she frowned, gripping Lorenzo's hand and taking the gun from him. She fired at the man and he crashed to the floor.

"Let's go, the others have gotten a lead that we're here". Valeria grabbed his hand again and they dashed through the hallway, carefully watching out for any sign of danger.

"Don't you think we should call Rafa and the men to get here ASAP?". Valeria's heart racing as they both went out through the back door. 

"No, we'll get killed before we finish dailing Rafa's number. I can take care of this". Lorenzo held her hand instead and they scrambled for safety to the back of the garden wall. 

After a while, they heard the attackers too came outside, probably just realising they were no longer inside the mansion. 

Lorenzo peeped at them and withdrew a second gun from the back of his pants. He tossed it to Valeria and was already moving, his own gun drawn as he took down the first attacker. Valeria followed close behind, her own gun firing as she tried to keep up with Lorenzo's expert movements...their movements were fluid and synchronized.

Valeria saw something unexpected – a glimmer of trust in Lorenzo's eyes as he gave her a subtle nod as they took out the attackers. 

They scrambled to somewhere else for safety again and Valeria felt a spark of trust ignite within her. Maybe, just maybe, they could put their differences aside and work together.

Lorenzo's expression softened, and for a moment, Valeria saw a glimmer of the man behind the mask. "Valeria," he called her name in a low and husky voice, "I think we make a good team."

Valeria smiled. She seemed proud of herself.

Then the sound of a fired gun was heard and Valeria's smile faded replaced by a horrifying scream as Lorenzo fell onto her.

He'd been shot.