Page 19 of A Game of Survival

“Now, now Cole, you want pretty little Lucille to come to no harm? Do as I say otherwise she’ll be finding herself in some trouble that not even your brother's lawyer can get her out of, mark my words.” He chastises me.

“Fuck you, I’m just your pawn in this game, they survive as long as I do as you ask. You never said I needed to be polite about it,” I snap.

“Maybe I should change my terms and conditions then. You need to learn to show some respect otherwise this whole operation will go up in flames,” he hisses. Well that gives me food for thought. It's time I ignite the fire and leave no one questioning me as to where my loyalties lie.

“As you wish,” I say, hanging up the phone. He can get fucked if he wants me to say goodbye politely.

Walking towards Salvatore Cucina, I don't even bother to creep into the place. I have to get this done as quickly as possible. As I enter the establishment, I hope I don’t run into Enzo, because that would make this even harder than it’s already going to be.

I see Benji at the bar, talking to one of our lower leveled men. Tod or something. Knowing Benji, he will have two others in the back packing and sorting the goods for pick up tonight. It's a well oiled machine. I always liked a good work ethic, get the shit done efficiently and we won't have problems, the men here are the same. No nonsense. Benji’s eyes met mine, he looks unsure of me, as he should be. I trained him, not even I am to be trusted when it comes to this world. Good Benji, my brother has you as loyal at least, otherwise I’d have to kill you, maybe not today but at some point.

Benji motions to Tod to go out back. I’ll bet to inform Silas, good I want them here to witness this. They have to believe this as much as Ronan. “Boss, where have you been?” Benji asks, I see him move his hand, he's got his hand on his gun. I’m kind of proud of him right now, not many men would have the balls to even reach for it in my presence.

“Benji, Benji, Benji. Do you remember the night I first met you?” I ask. The crazy manic is coming out to play.

“Yes, you were taking the eyes out of one of our enemies, the fact it was in broad daylight made no difference to you.” he responds comically.

“Ahhh yes, that fucker deserved worse. He raped his step daughter repeatedly. But alas, I’m glad you remember. I bet you're wondering why I am here? It's the same as that day. I’ve come for retribution.” I smirk.

Benji pulls his gun out but I'm too quick for him and lunge over the bar. He struggles but I overpower him easily. He releases his gun, and it drops to the floor. That is disappointing, he has been slacking on the weights. No change there but that will cost him. I might not plan to kill him but he's going to have to carry some wounds away with him today. I push all of my weight down on his arm until I hear the bone snap beneath my weight and he screams in agony. The doors fly open seconds later, two men rushing in, looking more green than the money in my pocket.

“Get the fuck out of here, get the supplies out!!” Benji snaps, they retreat quickly. Benji struggles out of my grip, and crawls to the doors of the kitchen. I let him get a head start. My plan isn't for him to die, it's to show Silas and Lincoln I am not on their side.

“Run away boys, you won't get far,” I taunt, laughing menacingly.

I follow Benji to the kitchen, the guys are already out of the door with the bags of cocaine. I begin to make my way over to the stove, running my fingers across the stainless steel. It's a shame this will all be ruined. I turn the gas hobs to full, letting the smell engulf my nostrils. I take in one last look at the kitchen, before leaving out the door to follow Benji. Benji is shouting down the phone, to my brother I assume. I smirk, “Benjiiiii, it's time to play.” That gets his attention, his eyes meet mine, I see the panic in them. I pull my gun out of its holster and shoot at his upper leg making him drop to the ground. His phone slides across the tarmac towards me, I smile as I see the name on the screen before stamping on it, we don't need them to hear what is going to happen next.

“So, Benji, here is what is going to happen. You and the rest of the men here are going to fuck off unless you want to become chargrilled. Understand? Gather that up and fuck off. You have two minutes otherwise, I can’t say that I like your chances of survival.”

Benji glares at me before I turn and enter the building once again. The smell of gas is so strong now that I have to cover my hand over my face as I stroll through, taking one last look at the place that means so much to me. Stopping at the door I finally light the match to one of the curtains, watching the flames begin to dance up the walls like wildfire. I make quick work of leaving the restaurant before the flames ignite the leaking gas.

Watching from outside as the building begins to smoke, thick smog rises into the air. I hear the screeching sound of a car pulling up around the back of the restaurant. They have arrived. Silas and Lincoln. It's time for me to put on a show.

I make my way around the building, the smoke is getting thicker with every minute that passes. It's becoming difficult to breathe. That's when I see them, questioning Benji, who is clutching leg, desperately trying to stem the bleeding. I don't even think Silas in his rage has noticed that he's hurt.

Laughing wildly, I finally gain their attention. “Welcome Brothers, to my reign of fire.”

The look on their faces is priceless, I kind of wish I had a camera.

“Get out of here, NOW!” Lincoln demands to Benji and the rest of the team, and they don't have to be asked twice.

“What the fuck is going on, Cole?” Silas asks.

I smirk at him, “Well, what do you think is going on?”

“Don't play games, Cole, why are you doing this?” Lincoln coughs through the smoke.

It's getting more and more toxic the longer we are here. I want nothing more than to tell Lincoln and Silas the truth but too much is on the line.

“Why do we do anything in this life, Lincoln? We do it for our own gain. Maybe I'm fed up with being second to you when it comes to my brother. I was second to him in my fathers eyes. I can already see that I am second or most likely third for Lucille.” I sneer at them both. It’s all bullshit, I don't feel any of this. I never have but I know they worry about such things. It's the only way for me to convince them of my betrayal.

Before they can reply to my deception, a bright flash blinds my eyes as the force of the building exploding knocks us off our feet. The air is so full of smoke, it's hard to see exactly where they are. I ignore the panic inside of me that wants to check that they’re okay. It's time to get out of here before I do something stupid.

Running towards my bike, I jump on, looking back one last time. As I do, I see Silas and Lincoln running towards me shouting my name. Relief washes over me at the knowledge that they are safe. I press the pedal down and speed away from the suffocating air, but no matter how far away I ride away, I still feel the weight of my actions. They may never forgive me for what I'm about to do, let alone what I have already done.

Watching the flames engulf my restaurant hit hard, it was the place I could lose myself in without inflicting pain on anyone. My demons rarely reached me when I submersed myself in the kitchen. It felt like losing a piece of my sanity, as the fire burnt the building down, the ash filled the air quickly and flooded the sky with its thick gray smoke. But as bad as that felt, walking away from mio topolino again was a hundred times worse. The kiss we shared is cemented into my memory, I can still taste her on my lips, her sweet mouth felt so good. She fought me, but I felt her softness before I came to my senses and pulled away. I knew as soon as the words left my lips to tell her she deserved it, I'd regret it. She crumbled and all I wanted to do in that moment was to hold her and tell her everything. But I couldn't, not yet. I need to ensure my plan would work, and in order to do that, they must all hate me. I managed to get what I needed from the office, but I wasn't expecting her to be there, it made my mission more difficult. It was the hardest thing I've had to do, see her and leave her, make her believe I am the monster. It's the second time I've had to abandon her, and I feel like each time my soul is being ripped from my body, it's fighting to get back to her. She is the other half of me, the air to my lungs. I try to push away the overwhelming feelings of despair and regret at how I have had to treat her. It is for her own good, I keep reminding myself, no matter how much I wish to keep her, I want her safe more than I want to be selfish.

I pull up to the abandoned house on the outskirts of town. It's the address that Ronan has arranged to meet me at once I had burnt bridges with Silas and Lincoln. It's funny that it's exactly what I've done. I have done as Ronan has asked, I've even gone the extra mile and secured my brother’s next shipment plans. All so Ronan can intercept them and steal them from him. Silas is not going to take this well. I know my brother and his temper, he will want to kill me or he will kill some poor soul in a fit of rage. Silas sees everything as black and white. You are on his side or you are the enemy. Lincoln however will be his level headed self, always looking at the picture as a whole. He's the one I have to fool. He will not believe I can be this disloyal to them. It breaks me that I have to deceive him. He might not be blood but he has always had faith in my tarnished soul. He might never forgive me for this.

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