Chapter 22: Chapter 22

10 YEARS AGO

FEBRUARY 15, 2004. LEKKI, LAGOS.

All the members of the Lawal mafia family were all seated in the conference room while Richard sits down in the king-sized chair with the consigliere by his side.

"Richard, are you saying Alexander will become the underboss? What about your first son, William?" One of the capos of the mafia, Benedict Johnson, questions.

"The position of the mafia is not only passed down due to age differences but also by competency..." Richard takes a dice from the table."-Lexis has proved to be more than capable in many ways." Richard says firmly.

He turns to his consigliere, "William would become his consigliere instead."

The consigliere sighs, "Boss, I know very well of Lexis's capabilities, but is it not right to give the position to William?" He shrugs his shoulders. "-I mean, Lexis is only 18."

"Yes, boss. Come to think of it." Benedict adds as he turns to Lexis who is sitting like a statue looking at the air as if he's not even paying attention to what's happening."-Lexis is not only young but he's Serena's

Son."

Lexis looks up at Benedict by the mention of his mother's name and his jaws tightens as he clenches his fist

underneath the table.

"—And we all know what the mafia family went through because of Serena's betrayal..."

"Capo Benedict."Capo Martins calls his name cutting him off. "Serena had no influence on Lexis. The boy has

proved that he's more than capable to lead this family..." He turns to the consigliere. "Consigliere, at the age of 7, he ended his mother's life..."

Lexis fist tightens underneath the table. If he didn't have a plan, he wouldn't hesitate to wipe off everyone on the table in a flash. Their presence irked him and still irks him. He had no choice but to put up with them for years.

Once he's made the underboss, he would make sure they all pay and regret making him the one in line to lead the mafia. Death is not even enough for this people, death is merely hell for his father. He would become worst of a monster and show these people what it feels like to experience pain.

"-At the age of 15, he pulled a trick on a whole rival family making it easier for us to win..." He smiles playing with the ring on his thumb. "-At the age of 17, he made the casino earn huge sum of money..." He spread out his hands looking at the consigliere. "-Recently, he killed that cheat Felix who has been hiding under Abubakkar's protection earning us an alliance and respect from Abubakkar..." He entwines hi fingers together before continuing. "—So tell me, would William, the first

son be able to do all that?"

No one said anything. There was complete silence in the room as everyone keeps throwing glances at Lexis and William. William sits with his fist clenched in anger and defeat as he glares at Lexis who only has an unbothered expression. He's 25 and way more matured than Lexis but they do not see him fit to lead the mafia family. Even his own father do not trust or see him to be capable. Most of the members are all on Lexis' side and that could mean that he has no chance of being the underboss. It makes him mad and frustrated that he has to follow his younger brother's commands and beading until his last breath.

"Yes I agree that Lexis has done all of that capo Martins." Tunde who has been quiet since finally started to say. "-But do not forget that most of his acts were reckless. He could have placed the entire family in a big mess

when he killed Felix and also would have gotten my daughter killed in the process."

Capo Salman who is sitting beside Lexis cuts in, "Capo Tunde, Erica is not only your daughter but also a member of the mafia. She might even one day, become a capo like you and would have to lay down her life for the boss which would be Lexis..."

"I never said my daughter would become a capo, Salman.." Tunde started to say but he couldn't finish when the boss hits his fist on the table calling everyone's attention to order.

Richard sighs, "Who wants Lexis to be the underboss and who doesn't?" He asks tapping his mid finger on the table. No one said anything more. They only keep murmuring among themselves and Richard sighs turning to the consigliere.

"Do you have a solid reason why Alexander should not be the underboss?"

The consigliere slowly looks at Lexis who looks back at him without blinking. He really doesn't have solid

reasons to oppose Lexis in being the underboss but he just gets the feeling that it wouldn't be a good idea to make this 18 years old kid-who has blazing dangerous look in his eyes, one that send chills down anyone's spine-the underboss. Ever since the day of his mother's death, he knew that Lexis would no longer remain the innocent cheerful kid everyone knew. And Lexis did change drastically, becoming more ruthless than the boss himself.

He sighs in defeat not saying anything else.

"Do you have a thing against the kid consigliere?" Martins asks narrowing his eyes at the consigliere.

The consigliere glares at him. "Watch your words Martins, you're nothing but just a low capo here."

Martins purses and twists his lips to the corner without saying any more word. Compared to the other capos, he is of the lowest rank because his wealth and shares do not match up to the others.

"As for me, I'm in full support that Lexis should become the underboss." He shrugs. "I mean, he's definitely fit for it."

Benedict rolls his eyes, "Why don't you just reconsider boss?" He moves his hands in the air as if demonstrating. "The consigliere does not support the

decision and so does most of..." Richard cuts him off, "You don't have to make decisions for the consigliere." He says to Benedict who quickly

bows to him.

"I apologize boss." He says bowing his head. Richard place the die in his hand into a mini glass bowl. "Now, I present to you the new underboss of the Lawal

mafia family.." He turns to Lexis and smiles. "Alexander Lawal."

Lexis only bows and everyone except Richard stands up to their feet holding up glasses of zinfandel wine each.

They say in unison as they raise the glasses, "I shall never betray any of the secrets of the mafia. I pledge my

undying loyalty to the underboss." And then, they all gulp down the glasses of wine. William gulps down the wine with a heavy heart before sitting back down as everyone else.

Lexis stands up grinning lightly, "I shall not let you down.

A MONTH LATER...

MARCH 15

Lexis sits in the king-sized chair holding a cigarette in his right hand as well as the consigliere who is sitting by his side.

"You sent for me, underboss?" He says the last part with sarcasm.

Lexis smiles perming out smoke from his mouth before turning to him.

"It's time you step down from your position, don't you think?" Lexis says with a grin.

The consigliere looks at him in shock.

"What?"

Lexis stands up from the chair and places his hands on the table before titling his head at him. "I can't work with old people, so kindly step down. Relate this information to the capos as well."

The consigliere couldn't believe his ears. This was what he was trying to avoid and that's why he didn't want

Lexis to possess such power. The worst part is that the boss supports every decision he makes.

"You can't just ask us to step down Lexis. We have been working with your father for years and just because you became the underboss a month ago..." He clenches his fist."-Doesn't give you the right to remove us from her positions."

Lexis scoffs and leans down close to his face before whispering in his ear. "You should be happy that you only have to step down. If you don't want me to make it harder fro you, step down from your position."

The consigliere but his bottom lips in anger, "And you think it's best your brother becomes your consigliere? What makes you think he would be loyal to you?"

Lexis tsk and tsk at him, "Whether my brother choose to be loyal to me or not, has absolutely nothing to do with

you." He moves away from the chair and goes over to the consigliere's back. He leans close to his neck and

whispers in his ear. "You will also not have a single share as you step down. You make a wrong movement, I don't need to remind you of what I can do."

He moves away from the consigliere and starts walking away but then he pauses as he reaches the exit. "I need all of your resignation letters and oath tomorrow. Don't keep me waiting." With that being said, he exits then room leaving the consigliere to sit there in frustration.

"F*k!" He curses loudly as he hits the glass on the table causing it to shatter on the ground.

THE NEXT DAY.

Martins and Salman walks into Lexis' meeting room with papers in their hands. They bow before him with smiles on their faces. Lexis nods at them but doesn't anything. He simply sits with his fingers entwined as he stares at them.

"We have decided to resign and leave the positions for the young youths. We have worked in the mafia family for years and you will need a change, so that's why we decided to step down." Martins is the one who spoke.

Lexis arches and eyebrow at them.

"You sound like you two came here on your own? Wasn't I the one who passed the information to the consigliere?"

Martins and Salman share a confused look.

Salman speaks, "Underboss, we did not receive any information from the consigliere. We only came her on

Our own accord."

Lexis looks at them puzzled before realizing that the consigliere definitely have not told them.

He scoffs, "He sure takes my words lightly"' Turning to them, he adds. "You made a great decision to resign. I already planned not to work with you anyways."

Martins and Salman sighs before nodding. They place the resignation papers on the table while holding on to the papers containing the oath of resignation. They recite it in unison before stamping on it with their fingerprints.

"If I find your sons fit, they will take over your positions but if not, I will be forced to look past them."

Martins and Salman bows. "Thank you underboss."

With that, they exit the room and Lexis sighs before going through the letters.

LATER THAT EVENING.

The consigliere sits down at the table as well as Tunde and Benedict. And just then, Lexis walks into the conference room, taking his seat. He places his hands on the table and turns to them.

"Are your resignation letters and oath of resignation ready?" He asks looking straight at the consigliere.

"With all due respect underboss, we do not want to resign. I mean, the boss has never said he wants us to." Benedict says with a deep frown on his face.

"You don't have to think we wouldn't serve you well..." Tunde started as he places his elbow on the table resting his jaw in palms. "-We wll do that. We havebbeen serving the boss with loyalty for years, so we would definitely do the same to you."

Lexis scoffs trailing his fingers on his wrist. "I didn't call you here to listen to how you're going to be loyal or how you will not..." He places his elbow on the table as he entwines his fingers raising his chin lightly with his thumbs. He continues. "-I simply want your letters."

The consigliere says gritting his teeth. " A kid like you cannot just order me around. I'm the consigliere of this mafia family."

"So you're saying?" Lexis relaxes his head on the chair as he taps his middle finger on the table.

"You cannot tell me to step down Alexander, because you did not appoint me." The consigliere says firmly looking into Lexis's eyes.

Lexis nods, "Oh, I see." He stands and walks over to where Benedict sits and leans close to his ear.

"I hear your son is in the UK?"

Benedict nods wondering where Lexis is going with this.

"Well thought you missed you family, so I brought them to you." Lexis adds before moving away from his ear.

Benedict stares at him in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Lexis smiles and walk pass him to where Tunde sits. He places his right hand on his shoulder before saying."It wasn't easy getting your wife since you protect her well but your daughter wasn't hard at all, since Erica is always here following me around."

Tunde's eyes widen and one doesn't need to tell him that Lexis is talking about his daughter Erica, and his wife.

Erica is his only daughter and the last time Lexis killed Felix, a capo of Abubakkar's mafia family, she could have died while trying to save Lexis from a bullet.

Tunde loves his daughter very much and did not even have any intention on letting her become the next capo after him.

"Leave my daughter out of this." Tunde says gritting his teeth.

Lexis grins, "Relax Tunde, she is too cute so I will not hurt her." He walks away from him and moves over to the consigliere.

The consigliere scoffs, "So what would you threaten me with? I have no family members. Will you threaten to kill

me?"

Lexis sighs and smirks. "I'm not stupid consigliere, I know that very well but don't worry, your own package is special."

Package? The consigliere stares at him wondering what package he's talking about.

Lexis turns to the guards at the entrance. "Bring in Benedict's package." He says to them and quickly, they leaves to bring it.

Benedict scoffs, "What are you scheming again Alexander?"

Lexis smiles, "Relax Benedict, I'm sure you will love my package."

Benedict gulps as he sees the wicked smile on Lexis's face. He knows very well that Lexis has done something again.

And just then, the guards brings in a small child and a woman. The boy is in bind while the woman's hands and legs are tied with her eyes binded as well but she's asleep.

Benedict stands up in shock knowing very well that it's his family.

The guards place them in front of Lexis opposite where Benedict is sitting ant they akes off the binds away from the boy's eyes. His eyes her red swollen from crying and he stares at Lexis who keeps looking at him with a grin on his face.

Lexis squirts before the boy and stretches out his hand. A guard quickly runs over to him and place a gun in his palms. Lexis collects the gun and waves it at the little kid who

stares at it blinking multiple times.

"Hey little brat..." Lexis calls the boy who looks sway from the gun to stare at him. "Do you know what this is?"

The boy moves his eyes back to the gun and nods.

Lexis grins, "Oh? I see." He places his left hand on the boy's head. "So you know what it is used for?"

The little nods his head.

"Oh wow, you must be smart then. Tell me, what's this used for?"

"It...It is used to put people to sleep but they won't wake up again." He says in a low voice.

Lexis strokes his head, "Oh really?"

The little boy nods again.

"Do you want to know where the people who falls asleep by this thing..." He says referring to the gun. "—goes to?"

The little boy shakes his head as he stares at the gun with interest.

"They go to a very nice place. There, there's lots of ice cream, lots of cakes, lots and lots of lollipop, and many

toys."

The little boy's eyes widen as he moves his eyeballs to stare at Lexis.

"Really?" He asks.

Lexis nods, "Of course."

The little boy stare at the gun again before looking back at Lexis. "Lots of lollipop and toys?"

Lexis nods, "Yes. So do you want me to send you there?"

The little boy nods his head quickly with excitement but then, his smile fades and he looks at the ground. "But I will never be able to see mummy and daddy again."

Lexis lifts the boy's chin and smiles at him. "Then do you want me to bring mummy and daddy along?"

The boy's face lits up with a bright smile as he nods quickly. "Yes!"

Benedict moves away and walks towards where and his son but then, Lexis points the gun at the little boy's head.

"Take one more step and I'll send him to hell." Lexis threatens.

Fear grips Benedict as he stops in his track. "Stop feeding my son with your bullshit! Don't listen to him son!" He yells loudly but the little boy's focus is on Lexis as he beams.

"Oh little brat, your daddy is begging me to bring him along, should I?"

The little boy nods.

Lexis smiles and chuckles lightly. It's so fun seeing how innocent the little boy is. "Okay then little brat, should we go ahead?"

"Will...Will it hurt?" The little boy asks nervously.

"Lexis please! I will resign! I will resign so pleaseeee..." Benedict draws the last word desperately. "-Don't hurt my son, please. I beg you."

Lexis shakes his head ignoring Benedict, "No, it's actually painless. It wouldn't even feel like anything hit

you."

The little boy smiles at him before nodding. "Okay then." He readily agrees.

"Fk! Lexis f**king stop! Please!" Benedict pleads with tears flowing down his eyes.

Lexis places the gun on the little boy's head smiling wickedly at him and then, he pulls the trigger.

Xoxo.