“Someone sure seems happy,” Victor commented as soon as Marcel came into the kitchen as soon as he returned home.
“And someone sure seems satiated,” Marcel jibed back at him, drawing a smile from his lips.
“As satiated as a cat,” Victor shamelessly acknowledged.
“Mmmhmm, I can see that.” Marcel walked over to the counter, looking for something.
“Here, have this,” Victor handed the coffee to Marcel knowing that was what he was searching for.
Marcel looked at the dark liquid and glanced up at Victor with gratitude.
“What would I ever do without you, my wife?” He teased him, bringing the cup to his knees.
“Exactly, I wonder,” Victor said, basking in the glory.
Marcel gulped down the coffee, feeling his body getting rejuvenated. He could not do without a cup of this on a good morning. He loved it the most, that is, after sex with Arianna. It was his second-most favorite thing in the world.
.....
“From the look on your face, I don’t need to ask if it went well,” Victor started the conversation, leaning on the counter and watching Marcel’s reaction.
“What do you think?”
“It went well then,” Victor breathed in, “One problem finally evaded amongst our seas of problems.”
“What are you talking about?” Marcel could sense Victor was not telling him something.
Victor finally put down his cup on the surface and began, “I couldn’t sit back and do nothing after I heard about the attempt on your life and so I did some digging around. Although the bastard was able to hide his traces on the dark web, I did find something interesting.”
He pulled out his phone and swiped at the screen before dropping it on the counter and pushed it in Marcel’s direction. Marcel stopped the phone from tipping over from the edge and picked up the phone only for his eyes to widen slightly when he saw the photos.
“Keep on looking,” Victor told him and Marcel scrolled through picture after picture until he came to the end.
Marcel looked at him, “Drugs? How are there so many in the streets? Who is pushing them in?”
“Richardo Santo, he’s back in the city and trying to mark his spot,” Victor answered him.
“With drugs? He’s not even keeping it on the low and with this kind of attention, it’s only a matter of time before the feds come snooping around!” Marcel said through gritted teeth, the veins on his neck bulging.
As much as drugs were a lucrative trade, it was cancer that ate deep into the city and it’s only a matter of time till whoever is in power does a sweep. It was quite the problem with small gangs who do not understand the risks they pose to bigger businesses. Marcel would not let some wannabe crime lord try to put the family he swore to protect in trouble.
As much as the authorities were looking away, they wouldn’t for so long when crime becomes too much. When a pattern becomes the order of the day, questions would be asked, and with questions comes discovery. Ricardo had to step down his production or risk being taken care of.
“His father didn’t exactly have a moral code and took up any business as long as it provided profit, so it’s not surprising that his son, the apple, didn’t fall far from the tree. They moved out of the city years ago and now they’re back with his son in control of his business.”
“You think that this Richardo person ordered the assassination?” Marcel asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Truthfully speaking, he found it a bit laughable. Richardo or whatever he called himself was a nobody.
“I don’t know, however, I don’t believe in coincidences either. He returns to the city, drugs litter the streets and an attempt on your life is made. That sounds sus to me.” Victor said.
“Fine, let’s say, Richardo came even relatively close to assassinating me, why? Most people who try to attack me are people who couldn’t get to Daniel and decided to take it out on his son or those who simply don’t like my face and finally, those who hold grudges – they are the most dangerous. So why? I have never even heard of the guy until today.” Marcel pointed out that he was a bigger player and had nothing in common with the fool.
“I don’t know.” Victor shrugged, “Perhaps a power tip. Our family holds substantial control of our part of the city and your death would bring about a power struggle and it might be just the distraction he needs to make a strong footing here and establish himself.”
“In that case, I’ll give it up to him, he sure dreams big.” Marcel didn’t think of him as a threat.
“I would say not to underestimate him, especially If he really was the one who hired the mercenaries. For someone to make such a bold move, I’ll say he has cards that he isn’t showing us right now.”
Hearing those words from Victor, his consigliere aka advisor, Marcel moved in the direction till he was standing in front of Victor. He said,
“So I should be scared of a nobody?”
“No, I’m just saying that we should keep an eye on him.”
Marcel sneered, “If I keep an eye on even the smallest problem, I’ll go crazy from overthinking. Just send our people to take care of him if he bugs you too much.”
“Marcel -”
“I just had an amazing morning, Victor. Do not ruin it.” Marcel told him with a note of finality.
“Fine, I’ll take care of it myself.” Victor did not push the case anymore.
“Thank you, wifey,” Marcel was back to his jovial self. He stretched his body while on his way out, saying, “Any other Issues, you know where to find me. I have a lot of things to do in the office and meetings to attend as well.” He was full of energy this morning.
“Sure,” Victor tried to be cheerful, but as soon as Marcel left, his features were back to being serious. He stared hard at the photo of the drug being distributed in the streets and clenched his jaw. He was surely going to find out this bastard.