SEAN

I was sitting on the dining table, reading the newspaper while sipping on my coffee. Lucas had left earlier to be at office today while I would join him later on.

For the noble world, the Millers were the frontrunner in the gold industry. We had used this cover for decades behind which, we operated the biggest drug mafia in Chicago. Well, to be honest, I think most people knew my reality but chose not to indulge in it and be my adversary.

I had been handling these affairs for almost a decade now. Sean Miller, the business magnate and Sean Miller, the gangster, they were two different people. It wasn't what I wanted from my life always. Back when I was a kid, I wanted to pursue a higher degree but Dad made me drop out beforehand.

I had been in jail twice; once for six months and once for a whole year. It was over six years ago. But other than that and the dozens of bullet scars on my body, I had managed to lead a repercussion-free life. The police was dealt with accordingly and it didn't go on the permanent record of FBI. Yes, there was a small part of me that wanted a normal life; a wife, kids, a normal job but I would rather bury that part deep down inside me. Normalcy is not for everyone.

Lucas, unlike me, wasn't interested in conventional life. He loved the life of terror and crimes. He had shared most of my responsibilities but I made sure his name never came in front. As his elder brother, it was my job to protect him despite his self-destructive tendencies.

Everything was going on smoothly until that girl came in my life. Penelope Woods. I knew the moment I saw her screaming in the hallway of my office, this girl meant trouble. She had slowly crawled her way into my mind until I was left with my last few shreds of sanity. So much so that I was on my third cup of coffee, hoping she would be here for breakfast any minute now and I didn't want to miss that.

At last, I finally asked Jennie, "Why is Penelope not downstairs for breakfast yet?"

"She had her breakfast early morning in her room." She replied and my eyebrows furrowed.

Putting the coffee cup down, I stood up to check on her. As I reached her room, I slid open the door and looked at her lying figure. She was covered with the blanket but I had a feeling she was pretending to be asleep. What was she up to this time?

"Penelope." I called her name but no response. "I know you're up."

"I am sleepy." She said in a low voice.

"Why are you avoiding me? What did I do this time?" I said as I walked inside and then felt pathetic at my wording. Why did I sound so desperate?

"The world doesn't revolve around you." She said but her voice sounded weak.

"Are you sick?" I walked over to her bed and lifted the blanket from her face. Her eyes looked swollen but other than that, she didn't appear sick. "What happened?" I asked, failing to hide the worry in my voice.

"Just leave me alone, Sean. Don't bother about me." She said, turning around to face the other side.

"Are you missing your home?" I asked.

"No." She replied.

"Then?" I asked again.

"Leave me alone Sean. Please. It's a request. Don't make me talk to you." She said and that's when I realized she really didn't want to talk to me. But I didn't remember doing anything to her. Last time we met, we sat in the lawn and talked about our past. I felt like we really bonded and it felt heartwarming. And now, she didn't want to see my face. What was wrong with her?

"I'm leaving. Don't expect me to come again and beg you to tell me what's wrong." I said.

"Great." She muttered and I sighed. God, she was stubborn.

I walked back to my room and collapsed on the bed. Due to her, I threw Hailey out of my room last night despite her persistent attempts at seducing me and now, she won't even talk to me. Girls and their mood swings. Yeah, maybe she was on periods and it was just casual mood swings. That would explain the lack of attempt to leave the bed and inexplicable annoyance at me. I was probably beating myself up for nothing.

•°•°•°•

It was quarter past 6. Lucas and I were in the car, on our way to Ali, the tech expert. I was in the office with Lucas when he called me saying he decoded the chip and both of us left the office immediately.

"Should we take Penelope with us?" Lucas suggested.

"She is already weird today. Let's check first and then we'll inform her." I said.

"And if everything goes right, she will be out of our house soon." Lucas said and I stared out of the window, clenching my teeth. "She will, right?"

"Yeah." I said. He was right; if this information was of any help, Penelope would be out of danger and then, she could go live her life as she wanted.

"I get it, brother. You have feelings for her. But we need Senator Connor. I'd marry Hailey myself if she didn't know I swing the other way." He said.

"I know. I proposed her. Remember?" I said as my chest tightened.

"But it won't work if you keep sulking. Besides, nobody said you have to be loyal to her. You can keep Penelope as your side piece. But only if you stop having these mushy feelings for her." Lucas said as he lit up a cigarette. He passed me one but I wasn't in mood.

"No. I..." I sighed. "It's disrespectful to her. If I'm going to marry Hailey, I'll make sure Penelope is as far away from as possible."

"Since when did you become so moral?" Lucas taunted.

"I am not." I said sharply and he shrugged.

We stayed quiet the rest of the drive until we reached his office. The driver waited outside while we both went upstairs. Ali came out to welcome us and then led us inside. It was a studio apartment that he had converted to his office but aside of that, Ali was best in his field. That's why I hired him.

"I didn't click on anything yet. I didn't think you would appreciate that." Ali said as he gave us a seat in front of his computer and clicked it on. He then opened the drive that contained hundreds of documents, photos and videos.

"You thought right. Now leave us alone." I said and clicked the first photo.

•°•°•°•°•

We sat there for the next half an hour with shocked faces, clicking each and every file in the folder.

"You know what that means? This could end Machiavelli's." Lucas chimed in.

"Not even God himself could save them if these proofs were to be handed over to FBI." I said, scanning through the documents.

From these files, it was clear that Machiavelli's were involved in sex trafficking with Bulgaria. It has proofs and photos of millions of American girl they have sold off during the last five years, all between the range of 8 and 24. Everything was in there. Elijah has gathered all he could against them. Drugs was one thing; trafficking underage girls put them in a whole new level of evil.

I stood up to walk towards the window and searched my pocket for my phone. I needed to tell Penelope about what we have found and also how this could help us get rid of Machiavellis for forever. Before I could dial, Lucas called my name.

"Sean, who is this?" He said.

I walked over to the computer and saw the photo. It was an old picture of whole Machiavelli family, back when the head Antonio Machiavelli was alive. Lucas was pointing towards a guy standing between Paolo and Enzo.

"That's probably the youngest brother Marco. I last saw him when he was ten." I said.

"Imagine him without a beard and with bleached hair." Lucas said and I did the same. My eyes widened as the realization dawned upon me. Lucas and I exchanged a look that showed both of our disbelief.

"Fuck. How's that possible?" I cursed as I immediately called Thomas, who picked up the call on second ring. "Listen to me carefully. Go to Penelope's room and stay there with her. We are coming. Do not leave her alone." I said.

"Yes boss." He said.

Shutting the phone, Lucas and I took the USB drive from Ali and rushed downstairs to my car. As we sat inside, the driver hurried the car and soon, we were on our way.

My phone started beeping soon after. It was a call from Thomas. I picked up the call and answered, "What is it?"

"She isn't in her room, boss. In fact, I've checked the whole house and she is nowhere." He replied.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Revelation time