Page 24 of A Game of Survival

"I'll welcome and embrace all you have to give me, la mia luce." I flirt back at her.

She rolls her eyes at me as Max pipes up. "Right, as touching and sickening as this all is, we have more important things to discuss."

"Finally, something we can all agree on. So, if your beautiful sister wouldn't mind changing your dressings, then we can go to the kitchen and have some breakfast." I suggest. He nods silently and Lucille begins to hover over him as I leave the room and make my way down to the kitchen to prepare something for them both. It's not my usual expertise, this is where Cole excels but I will try my best.

As I am flipping the bacon and eggs in the pan, I’m in a world of my own, trying to fathom how I'm going to explain last night to Lucille. After seeing Cole at the club, I'm just not sure how she'll react. Will she hate him? Will she hate me for having to mark him as the enemy or will she agree and say he has lost all his chances.

Snapping me from my reverie, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I turn the stove down so the food doesn't burn and check who is calling me. It is Marcello, he's looking after the club in my absence. Making sure all of the girls are provided for and it continues to run like a well oiled machine.

"Marcello, what can I do for you?" I answer. He doesn't call often so I know he will have a good reason.

"Boss, I'm just calling with an update," he explains. "The new girls, Trish and Scarlett are settling in well. The sets are bringing in new customers, it was a good decision to take them on as a double act." Trish and Scarlett used to work at a rival strip club. They are twins, which a few of our customers have a fetish for. I'm waiting for him to talk about our other newest recruit when he continues. "Julio, he's getting a lot of attention from the girls, too. But I can't fault his work ethic. He is professional and hasn't even looked at any of the girls unless it's to check on their safety. And I'm not going to lie, no one wants to mess with him. He's built like a fucking giant." I laugh at that. Julio is a big guy, I wouldn't fancy many people's chances on his bad side. I'm happy he's settling well. At least with all the shit going on here the club is still standing.

"Good job, Marcello, I know I have the right guy watching over my empire." I tell him

"Thanks Boss," he says before I hear someone smashing a glass. "For fuck sake, sorry Boss I've got to go, this stag is going to need an ambulance from me beating the shit out of him for breaking one of our don't touch rules."

I chuckle, Marcello doesn't like anyone breaking the rules, especially that one. It's what makes him so good at his job. I pity anyone who gets on his bad side. I doubt they'd even find the body if he wished for them not to. "Do what you think is best, just don't attract too much attention, Marce." I say, hanging up as I start to plate the food up ready for Max and Lucille to join me.

As if on cue they enter the room, chatting about how Max needs a check up at some point, he's fighting a losing battle in my opinion, because if she wants him checked over that's what will happen.

"I've made some eggs and bacon for you both." I explain as I set the plates down at the table and they take their seats opposite each other. I opt for the seat next to Lucille.

Max looks tentatively at his food, though I’m not entirely sure if it’s because he doesn’t trust my cooking or he’s still feeling fragile. After a couple of mouthfuls from her own plate, Lucille asks, "So any ideas where they would keep Teddy, Max?" This new confidence she has since seeing Kat has done her good. Katrina will have my thanks for building my girl up.

"Ronan has a few safe houses scattered over the city we can try. But he's not stupid, it’s unlikely he'll be using one of those knowing you’ll be looking for him, and honestly I didn’t recognise the cellar from where they were holding me." He replies not breaking eye contact. Truthfully, he has a point but anything is worth trying.

"That's true, but we might be able to find one of his men to question at the very least." I suggest tapping my fingers on the table, Max nods agreeing with me.

"I'd say it's the best opinion we have right now, we have two houses over on the south side of the city and one on the east. My only concern is if the word gets out that we have gone to one, they may empty the others. I think if you have the men we should ambush them all at the same time." Max explains. It's a strong plan and I agree, but with the recent events I'm down a good handful of men. Can I trust Costello to step up?

"I would agree, in normal circumstances I'd have myself take one house, Lincoln another and Cole the final house. But there are some decisions that I’ve had to make after last night’s events." I say, taking a drink of water before eyeing both Max and Lucille who frown and place their cutlery down to listen. Clearing my throat I try to explain the complete clusterfuck of last night. "Unfortunately Cole can no longer be trusted.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, my stomach curdles with a mixture of disappointment and frustration. I hate this. Lucille looks concerned but Max doesn't seem bothered. I mean, why would he? Cole comes across as a psychotic serial killer to everyone outside of our tight family unit. Why would anyone trust him? For me, it's simple, he's my brother and I would do anything for him, that's why the sting of betrayal hurts so much more.

"What happened, Silas? What has he done now?" Lucille snaps at me. I can tell she's angry with him but I detect some concern in her voice. The way her hands clench together as she fidgets in her seat tells me she's fighting conflict with her feelings for him just as I am.

"He burnt down Salvatore Cucina. He openly shot and attacked our men in Ronan's name." I explain.

"That's why you had to rush off last night?" Lucille gasps.

"Yes, he's openly switched sides. I have to think pragmatically about this, and if he wasn't my brother I'd have hunted him down and torn out his eyes for this. I have given the order, if he makes any attempt to get near us, they can use any means necessary to capture him." I sigh, letting out a deep breath as the frustration builds in me.

Lucille’s features morph into shock but she doesn't argue about it as I thought she might. Max continues to look uninterested as he begins picking at the food on his plate again.

I continue, making suggestions in dividing the teams to be able to take Ronan’s safe houses at the same time when my phone blasts from the work top. It can't be Marcello again. Leaving the table I see Lincoln's number flashing on the screen, without hesitation I answer.

"Fratello," I say.

"Silas…'' he snarls. I hear gunshots in the background that makes my heart pound in my chest with panic. "It's an ambush, Ronan's men are here!"

Fuck!!! This is not good. I need to get to Lincoln, I look in Max's direction and see he's already on his feet, as is Lucille. They can see the anger in my face. When Linc suggested nobody should be going out alone at the moment, I knew the idiot wouldn’t have bothered to think of himself in that scenario.

"Cole is leading them, they want the shipment. I can’t take them on my own, there’s too many” he states.

The next thing I hear is muffled noises before the line cuts off. My heart sinks. I knew it was true but I hadn't let myself truly believe it until this moment.

"Lincoln!" I shout more in frustration at myself that I let him go alone. The fear, anger and frustration explodes inside of me like a volcano erupting after being dormant for years. Before I can even stop myself, I punch the wall next to me leaving a large hole behind. The anger and fear racing through my veins has me in a blind rage until I hear her voice.

"Silas, we need to help him. Save the anger for your brother because he will have not only your fury to deal with but mine too." Lucille says vengefully.

---