Marcel tore his eyelids open and set his gaze on the person who woke him up and was not exactly pleased. He recognized him, it was one of his men, but Marcel didn’t appreciate the fact he just disrupted his beauty sleep.
He had worked all night and returned to the base early morning. Thanks to his spending time with Arianna lately, he had neglected much of his duties and had to take care of them before they became a problem. Victor has been doing a good job of covering up for him, but it was only a matter of time before negligence like this starts to get noticed and poses a problem.
He was the boss and has to make appearances to solidify his position. People would often assume that his position was easy and begin to get ideas when they see him slacking off – and believe he wasn’t worthy of that position. Marcel had to tighten his control and stomp out every fire before it gets out of control.
Hence, it was a long and tough night – fighting and torturing – and he needed to rest. However, it was obvious fate had other plans for him.
“What is it?” He asked, his voice etched with tiredness and a bit of annoyance.
“There is this person that wants to see you?”
Marcel breathed, “Does he have an appointment?”
“No.”
.....
“Is he someone important?”
“No, it’s a young man, boss.”
“I’m not in the mood to entertain kids, and you can tell him this is not a playground,” Marcel dismissed him, closing his eyes to continue his sleep from where he stopped.
“He says he has something urgent to tell you and that you’d recognize him by his name.”
Marcel groaned, wiping his palm down his face and erasing every trace of sleep from his face.
He asked, “What’s his name?”
“Akim. He claims he’s a prince and that he needs your help.”
Hearing those words made Marcel’s brows furrow at one. Nothing good could ever come out of anyone asking for his help. It was always a favor that required him to do something dangerous. Moreover, why didn’t the brat go to his pompous uncle, Niklaus Spencer? Either this was some sort of sick joke and a trap or something was seriously up.
“Fine. Let him in then, I’ll meet him downstairs.”
Marcel had no choice but to stand up to his feet and go into the bathroom where he brushed and washed up as quickly as he could before going down quietly, hands in his pocket.
He didn’t make his presence known and spotted Akim before he could see him, taking the time to study him. His appearance looked rugged as if he was involved in a scuffle before coming here. His hair was ruffled and he kept tapping his feet impatiently against the floor as if he couldn’t wait to see him?
As if the Akim sensed his gaze on him, he turned and their eyes connected. Marcel frowned when he saw his red, swollen eyes as if he had been crying all night and that made him nervous for strange reasons. The last time he saw him, the boy took off with Winters.
Winters….
Marcel felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach when he thought of her. He was a quick study and over the years, he has learned how to read the atmosphere in a room. And right now, his instincts were loud and clear, something happened. Not to mention, the boy didn’t exactly know how to hide the emotions on his face and the grief was raw.
Akim didn’t wait for Marcel to come to him. He already began to walk over to Marcel with tears streaming down his face while the mob boss’ feet stood rooted to the ground.
“Marcel…” Akim cried out when he got close enough to him, but Marcel wasn’t there to comfort him because he grabbed him by the shirt and hitched him up, growling in his face.
“Where is she?!”
“I-I don’t know…” Akim answered and Marcel’s stomach churned.
“What do you mean you don’t know?! The both of you left together!” He was barely holding off his rage.
“We were until they took her,”
“Who are they?!” Marcel’s grip tightened around his neck he was beginning to suffocate him.
“I don’t know! That’s why I had to come to you,” Akim explained to him, “We were returning home when they came out of nowhere with their identities hidden and abducted her. I had to return and told my uncle to find her. But Niklaus doesn’t care, he thinks it’s one of the people she offended that took her to have their revenge and that she deserves it. He was only concerned about my safety and wanted to send me back to Lincolnshire, but I managed to escape by sheer luck and came to inform you. Winters spoke so highly of you… please.. f-find… ”
Marcel found out that he was beginning to go red in the face from the lack of air and let go, pushing him away roughly. He should have protected her! He shouldn’t have taken her away from his sight if he knew that he was going to lose her like that.
Akim collapsed to the ground trying to catch his breath while Marcel paced up and down the space.
“God damn it!” He cursed, running his hand through his hair. He began to think hard, was it really the people she offended that took her?
No, it didn’t make sense.
Marcel knew Winters and she was a genius and wouldn’t do such a sloppy job. Moreover, she was under his protection, no one would dare to touch a hair on her hand without fearing his retaliation unless…
It dawned on him.
[ I should be the one telling you not to come begging at my feet later for help.]
The target was not Arianna, but Winters.
That was the reason for Macy’s confidence. That had her already.
“Fuck!”
Marcel picked up his phone at once and called Victor.
“I don’t care how you do it but I want every single detail about Richardo from Macy right now!” Without waiting for a response, Marcel hung up on him. He had to get moving.
However, his cold gaze fell on Akim
“And as for you,” He told him, “Your uncle, Niklaus is right. Don’t you dare involve yourself in this matter. You just return to your kingdom and be the cute, little prince you were meant to be. If I get you around Winters ever again, I’ll kill you myself.” Marcel threatened him.