Chapter 44: Chapter 44

Ray stepped into his father's room, his jaw clenched as he tried to steel himself for his father's wrath since the old man had already given him a little taste of it during their call in the morning.

His father came into view, his face contorted in rage and as soon as Ray was within touching distance, he smacked him across the face. Ray stumbled back, his hand clutching at his broken nose, the pain from his father ring cloaked fingers ricocheting through his brain as he tried to breathe.

"You're pathetic. You couldn't even keep our deal with the Lucianos. They called to call the wedding off, you made me look like a fucking fool".

Ray straightened, the news hurting him more than the slap did. He hadn't realized that Andrianna was going to leave him since she'd taken care of him while he'd been in the hospital and even tho they broke up, he thought that she was just being rebellious, but from what he heard now, that was not the case at all and he couldn't look his father in the face because he was right.

The Lucianos were my final hope to get that piece of land after you failed to convince Dante to sign them over to me. How can you be so careless with the family business, do you want them to come after us, take over our house and run us into the ground" he shouted, his veins standing out from his skin.

"I'll never allow that to happen. I've already built up a reputation and no one would dare challenge me now" he said, knowing that, that was the only thing he could brag about achieving.

His father sneered, then shook his head. "Your reputation will get us nowhere until we have the deeds to that land, without it, we'll be considered low-life's nobodies, is that what you want? You want our family name to be a thing of ridicule in the mouth of those not worthy".

"Never" he roared, hating the picture that his father painted in his head. There was no way anyone would ever ridicule them, not while he was still breathing.

His father grabbed the back of his neck to pull him closer until they were head to head.

"Then you have to do something fast, once our rivals find out that you're no longer going to marry Luciano's daughter they'll come after us thinking that we're weak".

"I won't allow that to happen".

"I know you won't son, so do everything you can to get Sergio Dante to hand over those documents, if you have to kill his sons to do it, then do it, I don't care, Just make sure those documents are in my hands by the end of the month. This is your only chance Ray, if you blow this up, don't bother coming back home" he said, his gaze unflinching and Ray nodded. His father let go, then patted his shoulder.

"I won't let you down father".

"And as for Andrianna, don't let her get away with saying no to you, make her pay for it," he said without meeting Ray's gaze.

Ray nodded once, determined to do everything to make his father proud of him.

******

The bartender's hand smacked against the table and Ray's gaze snapped to the drink in front of him before he picked it up grudgingly.

The drink didn't stop the feeling from boiling in his chest. His father saw him as a failure and he was right too, he failed to get the land deeds, he failed to get Andrianna, and he also failed to figure out who it had been that sent assassin's after him.

He'd spent two years in the hospital and despite how fast he'd climbed back up the ranks of the mob's power ladder, it didn't diminish the fact that he was a failure and that he should have been in a far better position. His family was almost in fifth place in the number of houses with a lot of power, and that was pretty low, and it came with a lot of risks. The higher-ranking houses could decide to take over any houses that seemed weak, they either killed the previous owners, or sell them off, or used them for dirty work.

That could never happen to his family, Ray promised himself. He'd do everything to lift them higher up the rank.

"Your brows are furrowed too tightly, be careful because it might become a permanent feature" a soft voice whispered from behind him and he whirled around to face the person. It was a beautiful woman with bright red hair, deep black eyes, a small nose, and red painted lips, that drew the eyes to them.

"And that would be a bad thing because…" he asked, deciding that maybe he did need someone to keep him company so he didn't go off the deep end.

"Your face is too gorgeous for frown lines".

Ray smiled. "You make a good point. Let me buy you a drink".

The lady sat down with a smirk. "I think I've had enough drinking for the night but I am feeling pretty lonely, so do you mind if I seat with you for a while".

Ray nodded, although he didn't only want her to seat with him, he wanted her in his bed by the end of the night.

"What are you so beat up about".

Ray grinned, then drowned his shot. "Family business. You think you have a hang of it and it all just comes crashing down".

She nodded. "I guess I would be drinking too if that happened to me but I don't have a family business, so I guess that would not happen anytime soon, although I'm kinda running away from the law," she said with a laugh and Ray stared at her.

"I'll take that as a joke since you didn't say it with a straight enough face. I can tell when people lie you see".

"Ahhh, that is a very nice superpower, but I'm guessing it's faulty now because I wasn't joking".

Ray chuckled. "And what is your name, pretty criminal," he asked and the lady hesitated. "Don't worry, I won't bite" he said, trying to put her at ease.

"I'm Jenny, Jenny Orteze" she introduced, then reached out for a shake. Ray took her soft hand in his, as he stared at her face.

"There was this Jenny who killed her best friend some years back, so these days I tend to be careful of women with that name, cause they always turn out to be psychotic".

"A good thing I'm not that chaotic, and you shouldn't believe everything the news tells you. She could have killed her friend by accident"

Ray smirked. "I guess she also took her friend's belonging by accident".

Jenny's nose flared, then she waved for the bartender to pour her a drink. "You seem to know all about the news".

"That's because Arielle Franco Vandenberg made sure it was on all the news channels, I bet she's still dying to get even" he paused, then regarded Jenny. "But I'm curious, why do you think she killed her friend by accident".

"Because that was what happened!" She snapped then took a deep breath, before meeting Ray's eyes.

Ray smirked, then leaned closer. "You're Jenny aren't you... I mean I can tell you are by how angry you sound right now, although your face doesn't match hers, which would make sense if you told me you had your face changed, I'll also go on a limb and say you approached me because you know who I am".

Jenny smiled. "You're very perceptive, I'll give you that and you're right. I did have my face changed and I also didn't mean to kill Nicole, and yes, I know who you are".

"And you're telling me all these because?"

"Because I need your help, and maybe in return I could help you with whatever you're going through right now".

Ray pulled back, then gazed down at his cup." Why do you think I'd be interested in helping you".

"Because I happen to know who it was that sent those assassins after you. It took a lot of digging but at the end of it all, I got result. Wouldn't you like to know who it was Ray?" She asked with a sweet smile. Ray stared at her, his body on full alert.

"Tell me who it was" he snapped, grabbing at her arm but she just smirked.

"Is this how negotiation work with you Ray? Let's be civilized people or else we might end up creating a scene".

Ray let go of her. "Tell me who it was and maybe I'd consider helping you don't even think of keeping silent because I could decide to screw it all and turn you over to the cops and trust me, they'll be very thrilled to apprehend such a pretty face as you" Ray threatened and Jenny paled.

Jenny exhaled, then picked up her drink gingerly. "Fine, you win. I'll tell you what you want to know, but you'll have to help get my revenge".

"I'll help you if your information is good enough".

"It is and I'm sure that you might even willingly work with me once you find out who it was".

Ray slammed his hands on the counter. "Don't beat around the bush dollface, tell me exactly what it is you know" he snapped and Jenny leaned towards him, her eyes holding his.

"It was Sergio Dante, Zach's Father."