Chapter 111: Chapter 111
"Luci, my boy, I have to ask you to pull out," Leandro spoke to Lucien over the microphone. He was panicked, but he did not want to alarm Lucien about what he had just found out. "I am sorry, but I cannot let you go there," he added with a firm tone.
"I'm sorry, grandpa, this might be the very first time I would fail you," Lucien replied with equal firmness in his tone. "I cannot leave Anna there, whatever reason you may have. That girl saved my life more than once. I have to return that favor not only because I owe her but because I want to. I want to see her alive and well. I want her beside me if I may dare. And..." Lucien paused and sighed.
"I think I love her, grandpa. I am not even sure what that word means, but I would never be in peace knowing she is in great danger. I may not be as tough as she is, but I want to do my best and get her out of there. Alive if I'm not too late, but if not, I will give her dead body a proper burial, on the lest," Lucien stated clearly.
Leandro's heart shook in pain. He was convinced his grandson was madly in love. Lucien is even willing to sacrifice his own safety just to make sure his beloved girl is rescued. But Leandro was also aware that if their enemy got a hold of Lucien, the grandfather would have no options other than to do whatever his enemy will ask of him to be done. And it might end in losing both the lives of everyone they love.
The old Michaelson took a deep breath and closed her eyes to clear his mind. This is not the time to panic. He needed to think straight and be wise in handling the situation.
"Just make sure you are safe. Promise me you will not be reckless. Remember, to save Anna, you have to be alive and free, not captured by the enemy, understand?" Leandro spoke with calm.
"Thank you, grandpa. I will make sure to do as you say. You're right. I will be of no use if I get captured by whoever has Anna right now," Lucien agreed. He was glad to hear the calmness in his grandpa's tone. It was a sign that he was under control. A sign that the old fox was wisely thinking what best move should be made next.
Leandro spoke to Enzo, who he sent to go with Lucien. If there were anyone Leandro would trust his own life with, it was only Enzo, and so he sent his assistant to guard his only grandson, Lucien Michaelson, personally.
"Enzo, I know who is behind all these. I will make sure we have them by the neck. I will send some of our men to collect some valuables and make a bargain if he ever tries to hurt any of you, including Anna and Elliott," Leandro stated clearly.
They were speaking in coded words, which only Enzo and Leandro understood. Whoever is stealthily listening in their conversation, if ever there was anyone, they would never get the exact idea of their spoken words. They were intentionally made with vagueness.
"Yes, Master," Enzo replied affirmatively. He saw that man on the screen as well. He knew that person, and Enzo was personally furious. How dare he greed for the property of the Mafia King. The Lion in the Mafia Jungle. He is old, so he is not as loud roaring, but Leandro is a fierce and undefeatable King. His power does not depend on his physical strength alone. But not everyone around the underworld understands that fact. Especially the younger generations, they want to overthrow the king from his throne, but no one has succeeded until now.
The new generation of Mafia people could just start their own throne of their own since Leandro is no longer active in his Mafia life. He is now more of a businessman. He is too old to manage more than his Casino business but these young generations greeds for what Leandro possesses aside from the title alone. They want to take over his properties. They were blatantly expressing their desire knowing none of the Michaelson's want to follow Leandro's steps in the underworld.
The man who has Anna and Tatum right now was the grandson of Leandro's most hated enemy. The old Michaelson did not want to regret letting this boy live as he should not be blamed for what his grandfather had done to Leandro's wife, Sara Gilbert Michaelson, he wasn't even born then when those awful things happened, but looking at the situation right now, Leandro wanted to knock his head. But Tyler Benning seemed to have a vendetta on his own. He is fueled with so much hatred against the Michaelson's as he was raised with the idea that Leandro wanted to wipe out their whole race from the face of the earth. Untold of the real reasons why Leandro brutally murdered his grandpa with his bare hands after seeing what happened to his poor wife, Sara.
"This stupid family wants to piss me off from generation to generation," Leandro made a speed dial in his phone and talked to someone.
"Don Leon?" Asked a deep male voice over the line. "It's been quite a while." Surprised was unconcealed from the voice of the man Leandro was speaking with.
"General Lockwood, I was hoping not to bother you with manageable matters, but I guess I failed because I need some backup. Can I ask you this huge favor?" Leandro did not beat around the bush. "It's Benning's grandson. But I am sure there is more for you to find in this case. Based on their location, I am sure they are hiding big-time contraband. I wouldn't mind them having such things, but the problem is they are after my grandson and his girl."
"You know how I feel about these lawbreakers, Don Leon," General Lockwood replied sternly. "I will send a chopper to get you right away. It's better to see the action on a wider screen than yours," he humorously replied. "They will be there in twenty minutes, be ready."
"Thank you, General. I owe you big time," Leandro uttered with humbleness.
"Please don't flatter me," the General replied. "I won't be here alive and well if it weren't for your help. Do I have to remind you that, again and again?"
The two were almost the same age. They even agreed to take each other as friends since the age gap between them is less than a year. They were born only months in between, one after the other. And they met in a bar where the young Lockwood was still in his first vacation from the service and having a good time when a few thugs tried to gang up on him as girls were flocking on him at the bar. The other guys envied him and waited for him to get out of the bar after having fun.
During that time, Leandro was having a break from his table at the nearby gambling house, stretching his limbs in the alley after a stick of smoke. He has his bodyguard sent by his sponsor to keep him safe. They would walk behind Leandro and assist him in whatever situation just to make him safe. That was the order they had from the boss who sponsored Leandro's games with finances. Leandro was already known as the God of Gamblers. He walked casually to where the group of thugs was cornering the young man, whom Leandro did not know yet, and called their attention.
The thugs ignored Leandro, but as they continued to beat the helpless young man, Leandro grabbed a steel bar and started swinging against the ones closest to his reach. His bodyguards did not stay idle. They assisted Leandro, and the thugs ran for their lives. Leandro and his company saw the beaten young man almost half-dead. Leandro called for medics right away. He even assigned one of his bodyguards to ride along to the hospital and tell him everything about the victim's conditions. He did not know why he felt so obligated to help the guy, but Leandro followed his instincts. He shouldered all the hospital expenses. The doctors said he would need a dislocated shoulder surgery. As the patient was unconscious and had no identification, they acknowledged the guy with him to be his guardian and proceeded with the procedures. They had no time to doubt as the guy paid with his card to do the treatment right away.
Later, Leandro found out he had saved the life of a young Captain in the US Army. Captain Andy Lockwood. He traced his savior after his recovery, and ever since then, Andy assisted Leandro in anything he would ask for help. There weren't much as Leandro did not want to abuse the Captain's kindness, who sailed in his Military career and now a respectable General. But today, Leandro is grateful he followed his instincts and saved that brave soul. Now he is not alone in his battle of a lifetime.