Owning the Mafia Don

Lucien

The small aircraft had touched down a distance away and now they had covered the rest of the distance on foot. Moving silently, purposefully, they had approached the large cluster of buildings in stealth. At times they had moved forward, crawling or slithering on their bellies to avoid detection. The fact that they were bogged down by the heavy weapons they were carrying along with them, did not stop them.

Lucien squinted through the night vision scope he had with him. It was the M2124-LRX Night Vision Sniper Scope and he could get a clear view of his surroundings. Although it was only around 2 am and the desert was bathed in darkness, the night was alive with the sounds of animals. The light descended upon them in patches of silver when the clouds parted to reveal the moon.

They had managed to crawl and reach a crested area overlooking the plain where the large house loomed up in the darkness. Up close it was apparent that the house was the main building. A couple of smaller outhouses were also visible in the courtyard. Using their night vision scope, his men had decided to call a halt to the group till they received news from Aiyana’s contact.

It appeared to be a large house, with high walls surrounding it. The windows of the house were like slits on the surface, mere apertures to allow the air to enter. Something desolate and brooding about the building which disturbed Aiyana, who shuddered. She could sense the deep grief, the helplessness of the men, the women and children who had been brought there in captivity only to be humiliatingly paraded and then sold to a life of bondage.

***

They were still a few miles away but not so far that they could not observe the house.

Lights were flickering; cars revved up and left, zipping away into the desert, back to civilisation, raising clouds of dust in their wake.

The buyers returning after completing their purchases thought Aiyana. her lips twisting in disgust.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

The night sky was overcast but the clouds parted now and then to reveal the moon.

It would be dawn soon.

The need to get away before daylight was a pressing one.

He signalled to his group and at once, they inched forward, cautiously, led by Lucien himself and Beston.

The building ahead was mostly shrouded in darkness. The walls they could see were most likely electrified fences, he reckoned. It was cold in the desert and the wind howled. The Desert of Souls he thought grimly. Yes, there was a yearning, a sorrow that seemed to grip them all, a yawning sadness that seeped in from the earth into his soul.

His lips tightened . He could only think of the woman he loved and he ached for her.

Yes, it was a wasteland alright with no other houses, no dwellings in the vicinity.

He felt the cold wind whistling around them, and saw Aiyana huddle into her long trench coat, her face a mask of stillness. Danielle swore softly and he sent her a glare.

Schwartz was lying flat on the ground, on his stomach, the typical sniper’s position. He was peering through the darkness. His body was absolutely still and he seemed oblivious to the cold, harsh wind and the hard ground he was lying on. He had trained his magnifying scope on the building ahead and he was intent on his task, totally shutting out the people around him with a professional ease that made Aiyana envious.

Lucien could not remember when his friend had picked up his Barrett M82. It was the semi-automatic anti-material rifle that was Schwartz’s favourite. Most people forgot the fact that Handsome James was a trained killer and a very good assassin. In his days in the army, before he got injured, he was one of the top marksmen. But the injury to his chest and later, his love for Fionella, the nurse who had tended him, had made the honourable discharge from the army bearable. Joining Lucien Delano had been a turning point in his life.

Now James Schwartz lay, watching the building, still and unmoving, almost one with the weapon he cradled almost lovingly and blending in with the world around him in such a way, that it was impossible to make out that he was there.

Danielle was trying her best not to swear, and Aiyana had her cold gaze fixed on the building, her phone in the bag slung over her back.

Lucien was armed too. Apart from the Glock 22 which he carried around everywhere, he had brought along two of his favourite weapons, the DSR-Precision DSR 50 Sniper Rifle, one of the deadliest guns he had seen and which was his weapon of choice. Being highly adjustable and short in length, it had a holder in the front. From his experience as a dealer of arms, Lucien knew that the German-manufactured gun had an enviable free-floating barrel technology. He knew that the gun had a reduced reload time, and that was something he was aware of; the paucity of time.

Beside him, in the large bag with the DSR, he had also brought the F-2000 Assault Rifle. The grenade launcher and the effectiveness of the gun made it another of his favourites. He was armed to the teeth, as were his companions, and they lay waiting, watching for Aiyana’s contact to call.

They needed to enter and spirit away Proserpina because the place they were thinking of storming was like a mini-fortress.

Suddenly Danielle swore, louder than before.

“Boss, ‘ she snarled as Lucien whipped his head around to glare at her ferociously.

“It’s f*cking Tristan f*cking Lord.’

Furiously, Lucien snatched it, but Aiyana’s cool voice stopped him.

‘What does he want?’ she said softly and authoritatively

“It must be urgent.’

Lucien scowled at the phone and then, flipping it on, he snapped,

“What do you want?’

***

Tristan

Tristan breathed a sigh of relief. He was on his way back to his house in Hollowford. He had left his lover, Melissa, there with his father. It was safer there, he thought.

“Delano, I am the one who bought your wife.’ he burst out.

The silence at the other end of the line was terrifying.

Then Lucien Delano’s voice came over the line, a snarl of rage,

“What the f*ck did you just say?’

Tristan was close to losing it.

“I SAID I BOUGHT HER!’

And then, in a more controlled tone, he went on, after taking a deep breath,

” I mean, I paid for her, for her freedom, and I am bringing her over to you.’ he yelled.

“I have arranged for the air ambulance to shift her to the St. Thomas Hospital ‘

And he named the location in one of the nearest towns.

His tone altered as he continued,

“But I think Don Ricci has got wind of it; he might go there any minute now.’

Lucien was breathing heavily and Danielle and Beston watched him. Schwartz continued his vigil but Lucien knew that his friend had heard every word.

***

Lucien

He cut the call abruptly.

‘It was Lord who …bought…’ he stumbled over the words,

‘Bought Proserpina.’

There was a silence. No one dared to speak. His sorrow, his anger throbbed in his voice and he looked like a man who would leap and kill the first person who spoke.

Swallowing hard, he went on in a harsh whisper.

‘But the Condor and his men are on their way to get Proserpina.’

He smote his forehead in frustration.

‘Mate, I see some activity happening.’ said Schwartz just as Aiyana’s phone vibrated.

The dull sound of an approaching aircraft filled the air. As one, they all raised their heads to stare at the sky.

An aircraft was approaching, and they could discern a large red cross on the outside of the aircraft body.

An air ambulance.