Chapter 15Santiago

Earlier that day…Ciara

My fist curled around the handle of my gold cane. Not that I needed a cane. It was a weapon, with a trigger in the handle for a sharp point in the tip. I found that spanking my men into submission with it was also a healthy way to keep them in line.

I stared at the knuckles on my fingers as they became white, while my blood curdled in my veins. Slowly I stood from my wooden rocker which I had swiped from old man Mercado when he betrayed me.

"She's trying to draw me out by mutilating my son."

The Dimucci organization had wiped the Mercados clean. I knew what they were capable of and had to tread carefully. Because of the Dimucci clan, Mercado had to retreat from Chicago and relocate to Champaign, and still Dimucci found them. Now this! This woman Ciara was grieving her brother, but that didn't give her the right to mess with what was mine. Let's see how good she is.

"Have Topaz deal with her," I told my right-hand man, Manuel, aka Manny.

I left the rocker and walked to the intersection leading to the main area. There were no doors here except for the restricted areas and the entrance. We had no women, or children here. This underground domain was mine and I made sure it remained free of the outside world. Cell phones did not work here, but we did have a telephone system, and electricity.

For entertainment there was a games room, a lounge, as well as a fiber optic network for television networks above ground. Our boxing and martial arts arena – the fight club – were for keeping the men in shape and hosting professional fights. There was even a canteen and a store. I had turned this section of the underground tunnel into a city, and I would be damned if some woman ruined it for me.

These underground tunnels were built in the early 1900s and were mostly located in Chicago. What most people didn't know was that there was a secret tunnel that passed through Champaign. This was now my residence – my domain.

This was where all my work took place – the drugs and our printery. Therefore, I couldn't risk my men getting involved with Dimucci. Topaz was an associate who did most of my work above ground, for a commission. He and his crew were not a part of my organization, but I could always count on him when needed.

The music from our lounge blasted through the spaces that carried sound so well. I looked down the winding path and beckoned to Amaz, who trotted over.

"Yes Boss," he greeted.

"Find out all you can about a woman working with Dimucci named Ciara."

I didn't know how fast Topaz would act, but I wanted her information for safe keeping, just in case. After speaking with Amaz, I went to check up on my son who the doctor had sedated. There was nothing the doctor could do to save his eye, so he would need to stay here with me until he was healed. Micheal, I refused to call him by his street name, was sleeping peacefully.

I loved my son, but I wasn't about to risk all that I'd worked for to seek revenge. So long as Topaz took care of her, I'd be fine. And so long as she didn't touch my baby girl living in Urbana.

Our telephones worked only here and was not connected above; therefore, Manny would have to venture above to contact Topaz. It's been twenty minutes since I gave the instruction so he should be close to the entrance by now. Manny should receive the message within the next ten minutes.

From my standpoint, the task should be completed within twenty-four hours. By tomorrow this time I should get word of her demise. If not, then she would definitely be a threat to me and my business.

* * *

Wack!

The cane landed on Bilbo's cheek. He reeled back and fell on his ass. I advanced and he scrambled backwards, his arms coming to shield from another hit to his head.

It was almost twenty-four hours without a word from above and I was losing my patience. People were skimming off my business while some woman threatened my son.

"You worthless piece of shit!" I snarled. "How could you lose three kilos?" The tip of the cane next to his nose. "Next time I see you, I see my goods. Get outta my site!"

This was what I had to deal with on a regular basis. There was always one who didn't fit, one you couldn't trust. I couldn't blame Bilbo for losing my pearl, he was just an idiot used as scapegoat.

Bilbo scrambled away just as Manny rushed in. "Boss!"

"Tell me something good."

"It's not good Boss."

I closed my eyes and rolled my neck in frustration. Because of the shitting little nephew of mine I had to deal with Dimucci. And these incompetent little shits around had no god damn use. It seemed I had to come out of retirement to deal with this woman and the Dimucci clan myself.

"Tell me," I muttered.

"She got Topaz, but she sent another message."

"What is it?"

Manny fidgeted. "It's one of Topaz's men. He's in the infirmary."

I opened my eyes wide. "You brought a total stranger in my domain?" I lifted my cane and pointed it at his chest. "Have you completely lost your mind?"

"We covered…"

SMACK! The cane struck an elbow. Manny grabbed his arm with a howl.

"Boss…"

"You realize he's bait, right?" I yelled. "Seal the entrance now, you buffoon!"

Earlier that day…

Ciara

The expression that it's always a calm before a storm was true today. Not a mouse moved. The men were unusually quiet and that irked me.

Luca and I decided to kill the boredom while we waited by playing a few rounds of Gin Rummy in the canteen area. I would have preferred to play jenga but it wasn't available. I would have been content to play poker on my phone, but Luca wanted my attention.

"I hate the anticipation," I murmured. "Why do you look so calm?"

"Experience. You know Blaze is the father of ambush."

"Ambush?"

Luca nodded. "Yes, this is a kind of ambush. Instead of going to them, we call them to us."

"I never thought of it like that … it's happening."

His eyebrows arched. "What?"

"They're here."

"How do you know that."

I placed a finger over my lips. "Listen."

"I don't hear anything," he replied.

"Exactly, it's the calm before the storm."

I didn't quite finish my sentence when a single gunshot echoed from outside. We played another round of rummy as a few more shots were heard.

"You cheating bastard," I laughed, throwing my card on the table in faux temper. "Aaaaiiish!"

"Look who's talking, I should spank your ass!"

I leaned forward, my palms down on the table as the activity around us increased. "You think that because we fucked you can handle spanking this ass?"

He stood and leaned forward, his face an inch away from mine. "Oh baby, I will spank you and so much more."

I continued to tease him as it was turning me on. "What else can you do? Huh. I think you're a big old bluff."

He moved from his position and came up behind me, pushing his pelvis into my ass. The imprint of his dick sent shivers up my spine a squirt of pussy juices on my panties.

"Get a room you two. Santiago sent his henchman instead," Sandy called out from the doorway.

I pushed Luca away. "Dafuck? Let's see who he sent."

We rushed out, weapons drawn to join the melee. Hand to hand combat was in full swing while a few shots rang out. So far, they hadn't infiltrated the factory building because we had fortified it prior. We guarded ourselves while checking out the perimeter.

While stealthily surrounding the building, I lost Luca. With my weapon in hand, I sidled against the wall at the back of the building. About fifty meters out, there were two shipping containers where I knew some men were taking cover.

I'd moved a couple of feet to my left when I collided with someone. The man was black, with dreadlocks and a scar over his right eye. In his hand was a three-foot-long piece of steel. I took a few steps back before he swung at me. I ducked and fired, hitting him on the chest.

I felt someone move behind me and before I could turn to see who it was, a hand clamped over my mouth while pinning my right arm. My weapon fell to the pavement and skittered a few feet. He pushed me against the wall hard, causing me to lose my balance. I fell back against him, and he steadied me. I could not see his face, but I knew it wasn't anyone from my team.

"So, you're the one Santiago wants," he stated. His voice gritty.

I relaxed my body, letting down my guard while he breathed down my neck.

"You seem impressed," I responded sweetly. "Have you seen a woman so hot before?"

"I see dozens of hot women like you daily."

While we conversed, I slowly reached for my stiletto from it sheath attached to my belt. I leaned back into him, resting my head back on something hard which I assumed to be his shoulder.

"You horny little thing," he said. "I should just have you before I kill you."

He relaxed his grip just a little bit which gave me the opportunity to twist around, my blade sinking into his belly.

"Oh, who's the horny one now?" I twisted the knife, sinking it deeper. "And who are you?"

"Fuck you!"

I pulled the blade and swiped it across the soft flesh of his throat. "No, fuck you !"

As he sank to the ground, I took a long look at him. Tall, thin, kinda boney, deep bronze skin, bleach blond hair and dark brown eyes. He wasn't ugly but wasn't great looking either. In his left ear he had an earring with a stone the color of blue topaz.

His name was Topaz, the one Santiago sent to do his dirty work. I stared down at the bloodied body as Luca and Sandy spoke of Topaz and his men.

While some of our men were injured and two died in the combat, most of Topaz crew were dead. The six who remained were placed into our custody as we pondered what to do with their leader.

"Return to sender with another message. This time, we follow the trail," was my suggestion.

Luca looked at me like a proud husband. I rolled my eyes at him and turned away with a smile. That man knew how to make my heart flutter.

The plan was foolproof. The best of the street team would follow Topaz and his man wherever they went. If they had to split into groups to do it, so be it. But no one would return without a report on where Santiago was. That was an order.