Chapter 29: Chapter 29

SCENE CONTAINS VIOLENCE.

“What a pleasant surprise to have the great Alexander in my house." Alhaji Bawa says as he climbs down the stairs to meet Lexis who is standing in the foyer alongside Erica and Robert.

Lexis feigns a smile, "Of course l should visit from time to time Alhaji."

"Walai(I swear) it's really a surprising sight." Alhaji Bawa says before reaching where Lexis is.

Lexis grins at him, “People change."

Alhaji Bawa shakes his head as he chuckles. “People change you say but not you. I know you don't like me much and you see..." He shrugs. “The feeling is mutual.”

Lexis only smiles but says nothing before following Alhaji Bawa to the Florida room. After discussing with Alhaji Bawa, Lexis exits the house and the driver starts their journey back to his mansion.

Lexis relaxes into the seat with his eyes shut while Erica sits by his side going through her iPad.

Lexis heaves a long sigh making Erica turn to him.

“Are you okay underboss?” She asks.

He nods,“Yeah."

“Should I have people watch Alhaji Bawa?"

“There's no need, there's nothing new.”

All through his conversation with Alhaji Bawa, all he kept talking was his beautiful daughter and the auction which is going to be in a week time.

"I want to say something underboss." Erica says and Lexis nods permitting her.

“Ever since you brought that Kemi girl to your mansion, haven't you noticed that the consigliere has never asked of her or confronted you on why you took her? Isn't that strange considering the fact that he personally brought her in and right into his room at the family mansion.”

Lexis sighs and open his eyes, "Are you trying to say William brought her on purpose?"

Erica pauses for a while before nodding her head, “At the family mansion, during the time that girl was still there, she was under training for the auction. I got info that the Kemi girl was beaten seriously by one of the sluts supervisor but to everyone's surprise, the consigliere came to stop it. He took the girl to his room and even ordered for the supervisor to be killed." Erica shrugs as she finishes.

Lexis didn't say anything for a while but moves his eyes from side to side trying to put together what Erica had said.

“I'm sure he didn't bother since he's aware that I took her." Lexis says with an unbothered expression as he shrugs. "He could have taken a likeness to her.”

Erica only nods but didn't say any more word. She looks through the tinted glass still not convinced by what Lexis has told her. They reached the mansion and the driver makes a horn sound for the gate to be opened. As the gate is about opening,the sound of gunshots is heard. The bullets hits the tinted windows of the car making cracks on it but it didn't penetrate. Robert quickly comes out of the car and brings out his gun. He looks around but couldn't see anyone. He carefully walks around every corner and even searches the air but there's still no one. He places his hand on the communication device on his ear to talk with Erica.

“Capo, there's no one here which means we're being targeted from hidden places. I will need backup,and the underboss should be taken inside."

"Do a good job Robert." Erica says before connecting the call to another associates. “Outside the mansion, hidden targets." She says to the device.

The driver starts to move inside as the gate opens but another bullet comes flying into the car killing the driver on the spot. Erica's eyes widen in shock as she stares at the dead driver. She turns to Lexis.

“We have to get you inside underboss. I will drive you."

She moves to the front pushing out the driver but then, Lexis pats her shoulder.

"I will handle this before the associates arrive, I shouldn't be running away.” With that, he steps out of the car making Erica panic.

"Un...Underboss..." She quickly comes out of the car as well. Lexis brings his gun and starts walking away from the car.He looks around the area carefully before aiming behind the huge piles of molded cement blocks at the corner. As he starts shooting towards the block, moving closer to it, a tall black guy and an average talk white guy both dressed in black leather clothes comes out from behind the cement block and starts shooting at Lexis.

Lexis moves his body side ways and down to avoid the shot as he also shoots at them and his bullet meets the black guy on the chest sending him to the ground. Another bullet comes flying pass Lexis meeting the white guy on the head. Lexis turns around and sees Robert walking towards him with a gun in his hands.

"I'm sure there are others around." Robert says.

Lexis nods as he looks around carefully before walking pass Robert.

“Underboss!!" The desperate yell belongs to Erica who runs towards him with all the strength she has as she shoots pass him.Lexis turns around to where she shot at and sees another guy taken down.

“F**king do your job right Robert!" Erica curses angrily at Robert.

Lexis looks behind and sees other men getting out of a black car. He points his gun at their direction.

“Where the f**k is the back up you called for Erica?”

Erica brings out her gun standing beside him and that's when a two white cars pulls up wand the backup come running out from each.

Lexis shoots at the people shooting at the from the black car and when it got too rough and impossible to keep dodging the bullets, he hid behind his car alongside Erica but unknowingly to them, as every is focused on shooting at the people they can see, one of Pablo's men is standing at the top of an uncompleted building by the window side aiming at Lexis from there.

And then, Erica sights him just before he pulls the trigger but she has seen too late and would not be able to shoot the person so she pushes Lexis out of the way and the bullet comes straight at the right side of her stomach.

She winces in pain and still manages to shoot upwards at the person but misses. Lexis's eyes widen as he sees Erica clutching on to her stomach with blood all over. He looks to the direction ofvwhere the gunshot came from but no one is there anymore. He takes out his phone and dials on it.

“Hello underboss." Henry answers on the other end of the call.

“Drive one of the cars out now, I'm outside the gate."

"Ye...Yes underboss." He hangs up before moving closer to Erica. He supports her back with his hands placing her head gently against the car. Robert and two others seeing the situation runs over to him.

“Cover me." Lexis says to Robert and the others. Robert nods before standing in front of him with his back facing them. The others did the same while Lexis lifts Erica up in his arms.

“The f**k did you get in front of the gun for Erica?" Lexis asks with a frown as he walks away from the car with her in his arms.

“You could... You could have gotten shot un...underboss...My...My life is yours." She manage to mutter.

Lexis sighs saying nothing. Henry drives the car out of the mansion while Lexis carries Erica over to it as they keep covering him shooting back at Pablo's men who are shooting at them. He places Erica into the car before bending his head to talk to Henry.

“Take her to the hospital Henry,they will follow if I come along so I can't." He says referring to Pablo's men. Henry nods before driving off.

After a while, the shooting and all stopped with Lexis capturing one of Pablo's men while the others ran away.

INSIDE THE MANSION.

Lexis sits on the bed with his hand bleeding while Robert stands beside him with worry in his eyes.

"I have called doctor Stephen, he's on his way.”

Lexis nods as he takes off his jacket placing it on the beside him on the bed. He takes off the shirt underneath before pulling out the first aid kit from the cupboard.He hadn't gotten shot but I'm the process of fighting with them, he got injured again on the spot he was shot before.

“Have you heard from Henry?" He asks as he takes out the kit.

“Yes, he said the capo is undergoing surgery."

Lexis sighs. He may act tough and heartless but he really cares about his people. Even if he doesn't know how to show it, he doesn't like it when his people gets hurt. He would have entered into the house but he knew they won't stop until they get him so he decided to deal with them once and for all. He doesn't need anyone to tell him those are Pablo's men.

He knew Pablo will not let him go but he didn't expect the men this soon. After a few minutes, Stephen came and starts treating his wound.

“Why do you keep getting yourself hurt?.."Stephen keeps scolding him as he dresses his wound. "If you had gotten shot on the same spot, trust me you wouldn't use your arm again."

Lexis sighs and rolls his eyes, "If you're gonna keep scolding me, you should leave."

Stephen rolls his eyes and sighs, “I am your doctor, l'm not going anywhere.”

Lexis shakes his head and sighs.

TWO WEEKS LATER

Lexis sits with George in his office room in the mansion. George is holding a tab in his hand reading out information to Lexis.

“Alhaji Bawa's daughter has arrived in the country yesterday. She clubs a lot, likes to flaunt her father's money,and..."

Lexis cuts him off, “That's enough, it's already clear that she's as useless as her father."

“After the long postponement,the auction is finally in two days time, the consigliere has everything in check."

Lexis nods, "William probably likes to take his time in preparations." He says with sarcasm.

George purses his lips for a while before he says, “What...What em do you plan on doing with the girl?”

Lexis tilts his head at him, “What girl?”

“Kemi.”

Lexis relaxes his head on the chair. "Nothing,why?"

“Em...You know she was supposed to be auctioned, does that mean she would no longer be auctioned?"

"It depends."

George narrows his brows, "It depends on what?”

Lexis tilts his head at him. “You seem very concerned about her too."

George shrugs, “I am just curious."

Lexis grins, “Well, I will do with her what my mind tells me to."

George nods,"Whatever pleases you underboss."

Someone walks into the room with a banquet of flowers and bows before him.

“Put it on the table." Lexis says to him and he did so before exiting the room.

George stares at the flowers in puzzle. “These are for Erica. Take it to her.” Lexis says to George.

George nods staring at the flower.Erica came out if surgery safely and has been recovering well at the hospital.

"I will do just that." George says standing up as he takes the bouquet. He smiles slightly at Lexis before walking out of the office.

*****

AT THE HOSPITAL.

George sit beside Erica's bed while she sits up with a cannula on her. She stares at George who stared right back at her, both of them saying nothing. And then, George sighs placing the bouquet on the beside her on the bed. She stares at it puzzled.

“What are these?" She asks staring at the bouquet.

George folds his hands across his chest. “Obviously flowers." George rolls his eyes.

“From who?" She asks taking it up.

“And why do you think it wasn't from me?" George asks waving his hand in the air.

Erica scoffs staring at the flowers before smelling them. “Who is it from?" She asks again.

George sighs, "It's from the underboss."

Erica looks at him before looking back at the flowers. She smiles, “He sent them?”

George shakes his head, “I can't believe you're actually be smiling because of that?”

Erica didn't answer him but keeps sniffing the flowers. “They smell nice." She smiles totally ignoring George.

“I'm the one who came to visit you and you haven't even said any nice words to me but you're smiling because the underboss sent you flowers?" He stares at her in disbelief before saying in a serious tone. “You could have died Erica.”

“But I didn't and besides, Lexis is safe."

George bit his lower lips before standing up in anger. “It's been years Erica..." He leans close to her.“-You need to stop being in love with him, Lexis is not the same anymore. He's no more our sweet friend, he's the mafia's underboss and we're are strictly his capos..." He presses his hand on the bed beside her. “Do you think he would have cared if you died, do you?"

Erica frowns at him before pushing him backwards with her right hand. “I'm not a weakling so don't you talk to me like one!" She yells at him. “Whether I'm still in love with him or not has nothing to with you, George. And isn't it our duty to put our lives for our bosses?"

George sighs and runs his hand over his hair. “All I'm saying is that you should also take care of yourself. I know it's normal to lay your life for the underboss as a subordinate but you still have to be smart about it. If those people planned on killing him, they wouldn't have made their movement obvious. I'm sure if he were to be shot, it could have been his hand or side. He's not the type to go down easily.You...”

"It's okay George! I have heard!” She yells at him before sighing. "I'm fine, there's no need for the long speech.”

George sighs shaking his head, “Fine then, I won't say anything.”

Erica rests her head on the pillow before turning to him. “Thanks for coming, you can leave now."

George stares at her for a while before standing up. “Always know that I still care about you, it doesn't matter what things have changed."

And with that, he exits the room leaving Erica to stare through the window. She heaves a long sigh as tears stream down her cheeks. Despite the fact that he was ruthless and emotionless, she loved him regardless. When they were young, he was a sweet boy who was so kind and adorable but everything changed the death of his mother.

AT THE FAMILY MANSION

Lexis sits on the sofa in the Florida room while his father sits on the sofa opposite him with a deep frown on his face.

Lexis takes up the glass of wine ok the table in front of him and sips from it. “You haven't said anything father. We've been sitting like statures for over 30 minutes." He says as he puts the glass back on the table.

Richard's frown deepens. "What did I tell you before you went over to Italy?”

Lexis didn't answer but simply sighs.

“I f**king told you to let me handle it Lexis but did you listen to me? No..." He bit his lower lips before continuing.“You still went over there to take out his consigliere right in front of him and you think he would let it pass?”

“You weren't going to do anything father." Lexis shrugs.

"I hated the fact that you were allowing corrupt people like that, come into our family. He is no match for anyways, he..."

Richard cuts him off, “Pablo is a mafia boss of his own family Lexis." He sighs before saying continuing in a low voice. “-What if he starts a war?"

Lexis shrugs, “Then he can go ahead. We are a more bigger mafia family than his. If he cannot have any fear for us, then he should at least respect us. You shouldn't allow such a minor family threaten you father,you're bigger than that.”

Richard hits his fist on the table. “This..." He clenches his fist on the table as he stares at Lexis. "-Minor family you're taking about, have so many strong alliances, Lexis. He might be the mafia boss of a minor family but he's still dangerous, I know Pablo very well.”

Lexis sighs as he shrugs his shoulder. “I don't know about you father, but as for me...”He moves his back from the sofa and entwines his fingers together before leaning his moving forward while still sitting on the sofa. “-I'm not scared of him father. What he did recently has angered me the more and I'm going to make sure he regrets it.”

Richard sighs. “A capo was shot this time. Next time, who would it be?”

Lexis only stared back at father but didn't say anything. He feels bad for getting his person hurt but it still won't stop him. If Pablo wants to have it hot with him, then he can bring it on.

“I admit it's my fault this time but it makes me angry to see you curling up for a mere minor mafia family."

Richard runs his hand over his face. “You think I fear? I'm just concerned about you son."

Lexis scoffs inwardly. He knew his father did not worry for him, he was simply worried that their friendship had been destroyed and he would no longer get benefits from him “Don't be, I've got it under absolute control.”

Richard sighs before nodding, “Exactly, you need to have it under control.”

Lexis stands up to his feet. “Can I leave now?”

“Alhaji Bawa will be around for this auction so l want..."

Lexis rolls his eyes, “You have said that times without number and I have told William about it ages ago."

Richard shrugs, “I just wanted to make sure."

Lexis nods, "Don't worry, everything will be just as you want." He feigns a smile at him before exiting the room.

Xoxo