Chapter 30: A BOLD CLAIM
The following morning, within the heart of the formidable Gambino empire, Alejandro strode confidently towards the heavily guarded entrance of the state-of-the-art computer lab, with his loyal enforcer, Bruno, dutifully trailing in his wake.
Alejandro’s attire was a striking white tailored suit, perfectly complemented by a pristine pair of white shoes. Around his neck hung a gold chain, meticulously engraved with the name “Jandro.” His fingers boasted an array of opulent gold rings, and upon his left wrist, a dazzling customized diamond wristwatch accentuated his opulence.
Their journey along the extensive corridor leading to the coveted computer lab was anything but ordinary. At every step, the formidable duo received the respect they demanded from the hefty men in black, stationed along their path. Alejandro’s visage was cold, mirroring the ominous aura that seemed to emanate from his very being. The guards, though terrified, concealed their fear, knowing full well that any display of fear could lead to swift and merciless consequences.
The journey to the sanctum of the computer lab consumed no less than two long minutes, with the impervious doors sliding open only after confirming Alejandro’s identity. Stepping into the bustling chamber, Alejandro exuded an air of authority, while Bruno mirrored his boss’s demeanor, his expression equally menacing.
In this hallowed chamber, every computer expert present promptly rose from their workstations, bowing respectfully to the ruthless Alejandro. These salutations, however, fell upon deaf ears, as Alejandro remained focused on the task at hand, making his way towards Stacey, a capable and alluring member of his inner circle.
With a gracious smile showcasing her impeccably white teeth, Stacey greeted her formidable boss, “Good morning, boss.”
“Stacey, I want you to perform a comprehensive background check on this lady,” Alejandro stated, displaying an image of Marisa on his smartphone.
“Of course, boss. What’s her name?” Stacey inquired, settling into her seat and unveiling her beloved black laptop.
“Marisa,” Alejandro replied succinctly, taking a seat on the plush black leather chair beside her.
Stacey dramatically cracked her knuckles before commencing her diligent investigation. Her fingers danced across the keyboard with astonishing lightning speed, and her keystrokes were a testament to her expertise. A mere minute passed before she concluded the background check on Marisa, then she turned her laptop towards Alejandro.
“Boss, there’s not much to glean,” Stacey reported, her boss’s unwavering gaze locked onto the laptop screen.
“I managed to extract only a limited amount of information,” Stacey continued, “Her full name is Marisa Russo, and she’s twenty-five years old. She’s the mother of a five-year-old boy named Jeffery Russo, residing with her friend Clarabelle.”
Alejandro redirected his attention from the laptop screen to Stacey, posing a probing question, “Did you uncover any details regarding Jeffery’s father?”
“No, boss,” Stacey replied, shaking her head, “I couldn’t find any information about Jeffery’s father, and there’s no trace of Marisa having a boyfriend in the past five years.”
“So, you’re suggesting that Marisa hasn’t been involved in any relationships for the past five years?” Alejandro mused, a contemplative tone in his voice.
“Correct, boss,” Stacey affirmed with a nod, “However, it’s worth noting that all the information I could gather about Marisa Russo pertains only to the last five years of her life. There’s a conspicuous absence of any data of her before giving birth to her son.”
Alejandro fell into pensive silence, his mind awash with thoughts and conjectures. Stacey was on the verge of sharing her observations when her laptop emitted a distinctive beep, signaling the reception of a new message. With an air of intrigue, she hastily opened the message, and upon reading the message, her eyes widened, brimming with astonishment, prompting her to turn to Alejandro with an expression of profound revelation.
“Boss,” Stacey began, a sense of urgency in her voice, “I’ve just received a message from Livia.” She said, and as she continued, Alejandro’s brow furrowed, his curiosity piqued.
“You mean that lady who’s rumored to possess secrets about Mafia families?” He asked, and Stacey nodded in confirmation.
“Yes, but they are not mere rumors. Livia possesses an extensive knowledge about Mafia families across the globe, with the exception of the most guarded and dangerous ones like ours,” Stacey replied, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
“Well, what does the message she sent contain?” Alejandro inquired, sensing the potential significance of this revelation.
“Livia said that she has information concerning Salvador Morello,” Stacey revealed, and Alejandro’s interest was more than piqued – it was electrified.
“Livia knows something about the old geezer we’ve been relentlessly pursuing for years?” Alejandro clarified.
“Yes, boss. However, she’s expressed her desire to trade this valuable information for a considerable sum of ten million dollars,” Stacey continued, revealing the steep price for this critical intelligence.
“No problem. Provide me with the location and time,” Alejandro asserted, displaying his determination to act on this opportunity.
“The meeting is set at Brandie bar, scheduled for four o’clock in the evening,” Stacey reported with a steady tone.
“Alright, then. Proceed with your responsibilities and ensure you keep me updated on any developments regarding Marisa,” Alejandro instructed, already planning his next moves.
“Yes, boss,” Stacey acknowledged, and as Alejandro rose from his seat, he left the lab, with Bruno, his loyal associate, following closely behind.
“Bruno,” Alejandro called out as they made their way to his room.
“Yes, boss?” Bruno responded, ever attentive to Alejandro’s directives.
“Inform Alexandro that we have a crucial meeting with Livia at Brandie bar this evening,” Alejandro instructed, delegating the task with confidence.
“Understood, boss,” Bruno replied, and promptly headed to Alexandro’s room to relay the message.
As Alejandro continued his stride towards his room, he came across Blade, who was visibly injured, a result of Alejandro’s actions the previous night. In case you’ve forgotten, Alejandro shot her the previous night when he was arguing with Alexandro.
Blade stood before Alejandro, her expression a mix of pain and apprehension.
“Alejandro,” she began, her voice trembling, “I’m genuinely sorry for all that has transpired in these past few days. I was foolish to have defied your orders last night, and I also apologize for our… the sex we had.”
Alejandro responded with a cold, unyielding tone, his indifference evident. “I appreciate your acknowledgment of your foolish,” he replied curtly, “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have pressing matters to attend to.”
Blade stepped aside, her expression one of disappointment, having hoped for some semblance of warmth or concern from Alejandro. She watched as Alejandro continued on his way, unresponsive to her injured leg and her emotional plea. It was a stark reminder that in the world of a cold-hearted killer, there was little room for sentiment or compassion.
“I’m surprised you apologized to the boss,” a feminine voice suddenly pierced the tension behind Blade, but she remained composed. She recognized the voice immediately – it belonged to Jessica, a notorious figure within the Gambino family, known for her role as a provocateur.
Jessica, just like Blade, held a prominent position within the organization. She was the younger sister of a trio of formidable siblings who were all influential members of the family.
“I thought I was hearing things when you were apologizing to the boss,” another voice chimed in, belonging to Dagger, another formidable female figure in the family. Dagger had a penchant for causing trouble and bullying those beneath her in the hierarchy.
Blade clenched her fists tightly as she turned around, meeting the mischievous smirks of the two troublemakers. Their smug expressions grated on Blade’s nerves, and she felt an overwhelming urge to put an end to their taunts right then and there. Yet, she managed to restrain her anger.
“Blade, I never imagined a fearless and proud woman like you would stoop so low as to apologize to the boss,” Jessica taunted, her voice dripping with mockery, intensifying Blade’s anger.
“And I overheard you talking about your intimate encounter with the boss. Is that really true? Did you have sex with Lord Alejandro?” Dagger joined in, her smirk growing wider.
Blade drew a deep breath to temper her anger, attempting to walk past the two provocateurs. However, they blocked her path.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Jessica demanded.
“I asked you a question, so give us an answer,” Dagger added, her tone more confrontational. “Did you really have sex with the boss, huh?”
Blade’s anger reached its boiling point, and it became impossible to suppress. In a swift motion, she drew two knives from her waist sheath and mercilessly thrust them into the shoulders of her tormentors.
“Damn it!!!” Both Dagger and Jessica screamed in agony as Blade drove the knives deeper, then forcefully yanked them out, intensifying their pain.
“F**k you!” Jessica seethed with anger, launching a punch towards Blade, but Blade deftly evaded the attack, seizing Jessica’s arm and twisting it before delivering a precise kick to her stomach, causing her to collapse onto the ground.
Dagger, witnessing Blade’s assault on Jessica, grew more incensed and attempted to attack Blade, but Blade anticipated her moves. Before Dagger could land a blow, Blade executed a spinning kick to her face, sending her crashing to the ground beside Jessica.
Even with her wounded leg, Blade’s kick was a testament to her strength and skill, resulting in a bruised and swollen lip for Dagger. Blade then crouched in front of the two women as they groaned in agony.
“This is the final warning,” Blade declared, her voice laced with menace, “Do not speak to me as if we are equals. I surpass both of you in every way, and if you ever disrespect me again, I will personally ensure that you pay dearly, perhaps by cutting off your tongues and serving them to you.”
With a menacing presence, Blade stood to her full height and began to walk away. However, she abruptly turned around, a sly smirk gracing her lips. “And yes, I did have sex with Alejandro. Do you want to know why?” She asked rhetorically, leaving Jessica and Dagger writhing in pain on the ground.
“I had sex with Alejandro because he belongs to me,” Blade declared with an air of ownership. “Alejandro is mine and mine alone. Don’t be surprised when he crowns me as his Donna or when I give birth to his heir.”
With that, Blade turned and walked away, leaving behind the two troublemakers still writhing in pain.
“Yes, Alejandro. You are mine, and I won’t allow any other woman to take you from me. I’ll make sure I get rid of any other woman in your life,” Blade muttered to herself as she departed.