Chapter 201: Chapter 201
“I have this man under surveillance since then. He is wired and we caught the conversation between him and a man who called to speak with him. They did not mention the name but I believe I got a clear clue on whoever is behind all these,” Don Leon said with his jaw tightened in anger.
“Your suspicions might be right,” Brianna mentioned. “We lost hold of Charles Anderson just a few days ago. And Jack had been trying to find him ever since then but to no avail. We don’t have any traces to track him like someone so able to hide and conceal his whereabouts is helping him.”
“I didn’t want to bother you, nor make you worried about other things, but when Tatum went to assist your men during the invasion in your place, there were two different groups of mercenaries sent to do the job,” Leandro Michaelson said, then he gave Enzo a nod and the assistant came forward with a tablet screen handing his old Master. “Here, have a look.”
Leandro handed the electronic gadget to Brianna for her to see the pictures of the men Tatum Elliot had captured that night behind Brianna’s backyard.
“Are they still alive?” Brianna asked.
Leandro shook his head softly.
“These pictures were taken the very next day. They were tied up. Tatum checked them for any poisons hidden in their body just like he saw you did with the mercenaries last time, but he saw none. I trust Tatum did his tasks well, but we found them dead even before we could interrogate them, both of them. Also poisoned.”
Enzo answered instead of Don Leon. Enzo knew the Old Michaelson was already upset that they were not able to ask their captives who sent them and who were their target. Leandro wanted to know if the men were only after Anna or if they were supposed to finish both the youngsters, Lucien and Anna. But they did not get the chance to do so, and it was making the old Michaelson very unhappy.
“Based on these tats, they are from different groups. I have similar ones with these symbols,” Brianna pointed at a zoomed-in portion of the man’s left shoulder. “If I am right, this man will have three dots in a triangle form tats behind his left ear. If so, he is from an agency where Charles Anderson would take job orders when they fail to do the job.”
Then she turned to the other picture.
“This one here has a different signature. But they have one thing in common. If you check their left arm. A few inches, about three or four, from the elbow, you will find a barcode like tats. That is where they hide their poisons. Inside their skin, a tiny capsule-like container would have been inserted that probably got through the upper limb veins and the right heart chambers before stopping in the pulmonary artery. But if I am not mistaken, I believe they are after me. We have been into many rivalries. I wouldn’t be surprised if they come after me for revenge. I just did my job, but I guess some of them had their egos crushed by me, and they are not into letting me off that easy.”
Leandro and Enzo were keenly listening. They both gave each other a meaningful glance that they should check everything Anna had mentioned.
“Do think they were there to execute a personal vendetta on you?” Lucien asked, worried but he did not let his emotions show.
“It could be, or since their agency bosses are acquaintances with Charles, I won’t be surprised if they were hired to finish me. After all, I shot him only an inch from his heart. I bet Charles is furious like hell and will shake hands with the devil himself if it means he can get a piece of me or swallow me whole if only he could,” Brianna answered. Then she turned to speak directly to the Mafia Don.
“Do you mind if we gear up here?”
“Of course, not! I would even be more comfortable if you leave here well-armed and protected. Come!” Leandro excitedly led the young couple to his armory. “You can take whatever you need.”
If he was being honest, Leandro wanted to insist the two, Anna and Lucien, get geared up before they leave his mansion since they did not know when and where their enemies would take their nasty attacks. Right now, since they are still inside the old Michaelsons abode, it was safe because their security was impenetrable. But the moment they step out of the gates, it would be like walking naked in broad daylight for Anna and Lucien, if they were not equipped with the most reliable firearms and ballistic vests.
“Enzo, bring out the best we have for Anna and Lucien,” Don Leon ordered.
As ordered, the assistant opened the vault. Enzo introduced them one by one and Brianna chose what she considered would be wise and best to carry.
“This one is the latest invention of your Uncle Matthew,” Leandro said.
He pointed at an assault rifle that Brianna had chosen after checking on a few of them on the rack. Brianna chose the gun when she realized it was the lightest among the rifles that she weighed in her arms.
“I just hope this beauty has its perfection in the field,” Brianna coldly uttered.
“I believe Tatum Elliot can provide you with proof according to his experience, but then again, I would love to hear your feedback on it before I decide to let it go off the market,” Leandro replied. “I even have the manufacturing of it on hold because I wanted you to give it a try first, I did not expect you would be needed to use it literally on the battlefield,” the old Michaelson sighed defeatedly.
“Don’t worry grandpa, I will make sure to bring her home safe and sound, just like mom and dad,” Lucien could no longer keep his silence. He felt the need to speak his heart out to remind himself and assure his grandfather that everything will be just fine. And that he will bring all his family back home to make his old folk glad and proud.
“I will hold you for that. I need all of you to come home unscratched, as much as possible,” Leandro answered.
While gearing up, Brianna asked everything she needed and wanted to know. When she heard all the answers she sought answers for, she stated her plans.
“Since we already have the exact location and our enemy is expecting backup to arrive, let’s create a diversion to have their guards down….”
Brianna told the two elders about her plan and they hurried to get everything ready according to her requests and a car left with only a man and a woman. The car that Lucien drove coming to Leandro’s mansion exited the gates. Soon after, an appliance truck came to deliver some electronic kitchen appliances and after half an hour it left.
Everything seemed to be at its usual in the old Michaelsons’ mansion, but unknown to the outside world, the truck was a trick. There were big boxes inside it when it arrived in the yard, and as if they needed to move the heavy boxes inside, the truck was parked with its doors behind facing the mansion’s kitchen side door, under an extended roof. After the boxes were removed, the truck was loaded with fully armed men, ready to go into war if need be sent.
The truck moved out with Brianna behind the wheels and Lucien right beside her.
“Enzo, please take care of grandpa. I will blame you if anything bad happens to him. I don’t do threats. I am simply warning you,” Brianna spoke knowing she was audible to everyone with an earpiece while Leandro and Enzo were listening over the loudspeaker in the control room. Then she started driving.
“Yes, Young Madame. Please be safe as well,” Enzo answered politely.
Enzo knew Brianna was aiming to say her words of goodbye to the old Master, but she did not know how to deliver such words any other way than how she said them. So, Enzo did not retort or correct the young lady. He was also glad that the young Madame was somehow expressive of her concerns for the Old Master.
And Leandro was no different. He was glad of how Anna made her words conveyed, crystal clear, although with a little detour, still, it had its own charming effect on the old man. She addressed him as grandpa! So, Leandro took the chance to return the gesture.
“Luci, my boy, make sure to stick to your job! Your one and only job in this mission is to bring my granddaughter-in-law safe and sound, do you hear me?!”
“Sir, yes, sir!” Lucien replied with a broad smile.
“I know this is not the best moment to be smiling, but I love the way the two of you express your concerns. Very unique yet bodacious, may I say...” He said with a gleeful mien.