Chapter 21SantiagoCiara

Chapter 21

Santiago

I crushed the photograph of my dead son and tossed it across the room. I had worked hard to keep a low profile but now this little bitch was calling me out. She killed my son and was taunting me.

If Ciara wanted me, she would have to come get me. I was smart enough to know never to allow anyone to take me out of my comfort zone, and that was what she was trying to do.

"I'm sorry Micheal. I won't avenge your death this way. I hope you understand."

Did he really think he had the means to take on these savages? Even I was no match for them. That one who wanted nothing to do with the business was as savage as the brother I helped Mercado kidnap. Not to mention that Ferdinando was raised by Dimucci himself, with an adoptive brother who was like a demon king of the underworld. Blaze feared nothing or no one.

I hadn't been in the outside world in a decade and wasn't about to step into war there. Let her come to me. I had to stand my ground if I was to defeat her, and the best place to do that was in the fortress which I created. Over the last few days, we reinforced our domain and brought in extra manpower.

I left my office and personally checked each entrance and exits for any weaknesses. We had all we needed here for a few days while we waited to see what she would do. We separated the fight club from the other areas as we had a couple of matches that could not be cancelled.

In less than thirty-six hours a big fight would take place between our champion and one of New York's best underground fighters. This was a big money fight that many billionaires had placed their bets on. I would not let that woman keep me from making my money.

"Manny," I called out.

"Yes Boss."

He'd been following close behind me. I stopped and he rushed up to me.

"Are any of Micheal's men alive?"

"We don't know Boss, there has been no word from those who went with him."

I slapped my cane against the wall. "That fool. Have you been able to gather any more men?"

"We got six bouncers for fight night, but they are paid security for that night only. We haven't been able to recruit anyone for the team."

"What's the head count now?"

"Eighty-three, but seven of them are visiting families."

"Have them return immediately. Tell them it's an emergency!"

"Yes Boss."

I sighed and nodded. "Eighty-three is good, right? How many soldiers can Ferdinand have? Most of Mercado men have disappeared or deserted. Can we recruit any of them?"

"Sir, most of them have rejoined Ferdinand's team."

That was disappointing to hear. However, I felt that I had enough men who were well trained and armed. We knew our domain well enough to protect it and not allow someone to come in and destroy what I built from scratch.

Ciara

Three large Ford Transits drove into the factory yard, a few dozen armed soldiers jumped out. Luca was right. These men were no ordinary fighters. They looked as though they'd been training for the apocalypse.

A few minutes later a dark sedan drove in. Nando and another man, older and even more gorgeous than Luca or Nando also alighted the vehicle. There was something about this man that told me he was Blaze. His deep blue eyes were piercing as they settled on me. He had an almost scary aura about him.

Damn, if I wasn't a part of the organization I would have bolted. Makeba you're one brave lady. I heard that the lady pulled a gun on him. Just the way he looked at me made me want to shit my panties.

I gripped Luca's hand. "That's Blaze isn't it? He looks hella scary, yet completely gorgeous!"

"I had no idea you could be scared of anything," he chuckled. "No one gets on his bad side."

"That's who Makeba pulled a gun on?"

"Trust me, they are made for each other. She ain't scared of shit. He's the one scared of her."

Blaze reached where we were and held out his hand. "Hello, you must be Ciara."

Tentatively, I took it and he gave me a firm shake. "Hello Mr. Blaze. Good to meet you."

"Hey Cuz." Luca greeted.

"You good?" Blaze asked Luca who replied with an affirmative nod.

While Blaze greeted us, Nando spoke with Sam and a few others. Blaze, Luca, and I proceeded to go inside. Once inside, one of Blaze's men took out a map of the tunnel which Blaze spread across the largest table in the room. By this time Nando also came inside, and we gathered around the table.

"That bastard Santiago is killing our kids," Blaze announced. "The drugs he pushes on the street is contaminated with nitazenes. Five people, including high school kids have died during the past week and countless others before that."

"That's why you brought in the cavalry," Luca commented.

"Yeah, the police are useless. I want to keep the streets clean of this drug. So let's do this."

It was nice to know what Blaze cared about what happened to kids on the streets, and not just care about money. He had rebuilt the school they had closed in Strident. That's how he met the infamous Makeba.

"This is where the fight club is," he said, pointing at a particular spot on the map. "And this is where his entrance is. What he doesn't know is that there is a secret entryway that was created by the Ebony Blades before they were wiped out. That entry is here."

"So, we'll enter from there?" Sam asked.

I hadn't seen Sam in a minute and his presence took me by surprise. I waited for Blaze to answer.

"What do you think Ciara?" Blaze asked, looking directly at me. "Should we enter there."

"Well, even though it's supposed to be a secret entryway, Santiago's been down there so long we don't know if he knows about it. Moreover, if we enter from all directions, it will probably throw them off."

"I like the way you think," Blaze said. "Tell me more."

"You see, he has got to be here tomorrow where the fight will be. Because it will be crowded, he doesn't think anyone will enter here. So, I'm sure he is guarding his main entrance more than anything, and also guarding the secret if he knows about it."

"So…" Luca murmured.

"So, we attend the fight as guests, cause a melee which will bring his men to sort it out. Meanwhile we take control of everything he has underground."

Blaze clapped Luca's shoulder. "You ready for this?"

"Always."

I frowned. "For what?"

"Going inside the ring."

"The hell you are," I rebutted. "You don't know these guys. You could get hurt."

"Babes," he placed both hands on my shoulders. "There are lots of things you're gonna learn about me starting today. I've done this before. So don't worry."

"Luca, these underground fights don't have rules."

"I know. I can handle it."

"Yes, he can," Blaze said. "He was our champion back in Chicago. Moreover, he got a black belt in Judo and Taekwondo."

Luca leaned close to Blaze and whispered. "You forgot Krav Maga."

"I don't want to scare her."

"How come I've never seen you fight before?" I asked.

"No reason to. These idiots we've been dealing with haven't posed any challenges."

I pulled him aside. "I don't want you getting hurt."

"Don't worry, I'm fighting to win."

The plan was to enter in the of the minor fights as challenger from the audience. I was worried that he was too cocky about his abilities and might get hurt. But I had to trust him and Blaze that they knew what they were doing.

We spent the rest of the day packing the weapons and gears inside the vehicles while Blaze and Nando went into town. We were ready to roll, and I was anxious to meet Santiago. My only concern was Luca and that fight.