★LUCIANO★

"I think there is a traitor in our midst because Luigi has disappeared from his cell," Romano informed me, rendering my jaw to drop in disbelief.

I could not believe my ears.

How the hell did Luigi escape from the damn cell? And who was the dimwit that let him out?

A fit of rage instantly seeped into my guts.

Furious to bits, I clenched my fist in fury, and twitched my jaws before declaring between gritted teeth; "Let's go and find that bastard."

Romano nodded, then he turned towards the door, proceeding to lead the way out. However, as I made to follow him, the urge to apologize for the insensitive utterances I recounted about Janie's circumstances, overwhelmed me, but because of the rage coursing through my veins, I tossed it aside for later.

Beyond reasonable doubt, it was better to solve the issue at hand first— find Luigi and whoever helped him out of that cell. Later on, I would attend to her. So I pressed the 'move' button on my wheelchair and left the room, right after Romano.

As soon as we got out of the mansion, I instructed Romano to summon all of my henchmen to the front yard and he went ahead to immediately do my bidding.

In the blink of an eye, all of them gathered in front of me in an orderly manner, and then I began to address them.

"Before I begin, Silas and Steve....go and lock the front gate properly and make sure certain parameters aren't breached," I commanded. Following my decree, the both of them scurried off to do my bidding and returned a few minutes later.

"Done, Boss."

"Good." I drummed my fingers against the arm of my wheelchair to control the anger jostling through my veins. If rage could roast, all of them would be toast by now. "Now, who the hell is unfortunate enough to let Luigi out of his cell?" I roared angrily.

And nobody answered.

With my eyes thoroughly analyzing each one of them, I demanded again a little bit louder this time. "Luigi is in no position to leave that cell on his own. Whoever let him out, first and foremost, you ought to know that you betrayed me. Perhaps, I might forgive you this once. So I'm going to ask again....who let Luigi out of his cell?"

Once again, none of them responded.

"Alas, I might have to start interrogating you all one after the other. Minus my compromised state at the moment, y'all know what I'm capable of!" I growled to assert my point. "Now...for the last time, who let Luigi out of his cell?"

Silence ensued after my voice. They all spared each other a questioning glance, wondering who it could be amongst them.

For one thing, my men knew not to betray me. At some point, I have sacrificed for every one of them, so even if they owed me something in return, it ought to be their loyalty and respect.

Seeing that no one was ready to talk, I licked my lower lip, preparing to speak, but then Damon single-handedly stepped out.

Murmurs arose from my men as they wondered what could have prompted Damon to carry out such an act. But as soon as I tossed a scornful glare their way, everywhere became dead silent.

Nevertheless, Romano wasted no time, kicking the back of Damon's legs to force him down to his knees. Afterward, he pointed a gun at his head.

"It wasn't me! It wasn't me!" Damon cried out immediately.

A part of me didn't want to believe him, but then I signaled Romano to remove the gun from his head and he simply obeyed.

Thereafter, I leaned forward to stare directly into his face before uttering just one word. "Speak."

Damon swayed back and forth out of fear of being shot. I wouldn't blame him though, he knew damn well that I could ask Romano to shoot him right away without even blinking. However, I didn't intend to. At least, not until I've gotten my answers.

"B-Boss," his voice quivered. "Because I am the one in charge of cleaning the dungeon today, I went on to carry out my duty. Alas getting there, I saw Tyler coming out of the back door with a bleeding man. So I proceeded to ask where he was taking him, and Tyler responded that you requested for him, just so you could end him." He paused to catch his breath before continuing. "Since I didn't suspect a thing, I let them go."

With my gaze still fixated on Damon, I could tell that he wasn't lying. He has worked with me for three years now, and he was still the same sweet boy I rescued back on my trip to Spain.

Realizing Tyler was behind this, fueled my rage. He just joined my mob a couple of months back. Yet, he was already on the route of betraying me?

"Tyler has signed his death certificate." I expressed with a scowl. "Now, I want you all to hunt him down, then bring him back to me. I'd make sure his ancestors scold him for betraying me in the afterlife."

"Yes, Boss!" They chorused at once.

I dismissed Damon to join them with a wave of my hand.

He shuffled to his feet quickly. "Thank you, Boss." Then he went back to his standing position.

"Also..." Raising a finger, I started to buttress my point. "Do not show him pity. Whoever helps Tyler will receive a bigger punishment. Trust me, you do not want to die by my hands. Now, disperse and get me the dimwit Tyler and Luigi."

Almost at once, they scattered in various directions to search. Meanwhile, Romano and I stayed there, waiting for their return.

"Who do you think ask Tyler to do this, Luciano?" Romano asked me.

But I shook my head, unable to think of a damn person in mind. "I don't know, but alas, we will find out the moment they bring him back."

Romano nodded in response and we continued to talk about other things.

About thirty minutes later, some of my men returned with Tyler and a bloodied Luigi.

As usual, Romano kicked down Tyler, forcing him to his knees in front of me.

Planting a grim expression on my face, I tilted Tyler's chin with the tip of my finger then blurt. "The devil you have known or the angel you just met?"

Tyler trembled beneath my touch. "I am sorry, Boss."

"Wrong answer!" I took the pistol from Romano, cocked it then aimed his left eye. "You have ten seconds to explain why. If not you are about to become a fucking pirate! Now, who sent you to disobey me?"

" No one." He whimpered in fear. "No one asked me to disobey you, Boss. I just couldn't watch Luigi die."

What?

My mind went blank. Dumfounded and stupefied, his statement riled me up a lot. However, I decided to mask it with laughter.

So I let out a dry chortle. "Funny how tables turn. Alas, Luigi will be the one to watch you die if you don't tell me why you let him out of that cell this instant!" I bellowed distastefully.

With his chest heaving, Tyler expelled a sharp breath of air. "I was part of Luigi's gang before I came to the States. He has helped me in so many ways, that's why I decided it was time to pay him back." he enunciated.

Although he sounded like an ingrate right now, I bobbed my head, pretending like I wasn't affected by his words. "Well, I guess I haven't done enough for you. But you know what I detest the most— ungrateful douchebags. I saved you, clothed you, fed you, and bought you home. Yet, you backslide on me?"

"No no...I intend to apologize after setting him free. I owe you my life, Boss, I will always serve you. Please, I am sorry."

Tightening my grip around his chin, I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth. "Sorry doesn't cut it anymore, you know. I hate that word so much." Then without remorse, I shot his right arm.

Instantly, Tyler let out an earsplitting cry, muffled the next minute by his whimpering sound as he pressed his lips together into a grim line.

Another thing he knew I detested was unnecessary noise.

Yanking his head forcefully to my chest, I tilted my head down, then whispered. "I ought to kill you just so I could teach the rest what it meant to betray me. But you're damn lucky I'm not in the mood to kill anyone today."

Just as Tyler was about to say something, I pulled the trigger on his skull, thereby blowing his fucking brain off.

His eyes became bloodshot red with terror and his lips formed those unspoken words he never got to state before his body fell to the ground in a loud thud.

When I said I wasn't in the mood to kill anyone today, I meant it. However, not killing Tyler would prove to my men that there was a chance for betrayal. Some of them might think of betraying me, hoping I'd get to forgive them, so I had to curb that thought.

And Tyler bore the brunt of his actions— Whoever betrayed me has to die nonetheless.

Watching how his red crimson blood seeped out of his open skull to form a pool at the base of my feet, I hissed and then raised my head to address the rest of my men.

Most of them had this blank look, while some had that horrified expression boldly written on their faces. Still, I didn't care.

"If you feel strong enough to face me, perhaps you can start by letting Luigi out of his cell." I bellowed out of rage. "Now whisk Luigi back to his cell and pack up this carcass."

Having said that, I put my wheelchair in motion, heading straight to the mansion.

Romano followed right behind me and I raised his gun upward so he could take it.

Without uttering a word, he took it from my hand. Thereafter, he opened the front door and assisted me on the patio.

"I take it that you'd like to finish up where you stopped with Janie." He implored and I simply nod.

With his little help, I was able to get up the stairs.

"Get on with your business, Romano. I'd take it from here."

"As you wish." Romano turned on his heels and then trudged down the stairs. While I continued making my way alone to Janie's room.

After knocking once, I didn't wait for a response before entering the room. It was empty and dark, prompting me to think that she was in the bathroom.

"Janie," I called softly, moving to the bathroom. But when I got there, the bathroom was empty.

Maybe she went downstairs to get something to eat, I thought to myself.

So immediately I whirled my wheelchair around, then head out of her room, straight into the long hallway. Just as I was about to take the stairs, the nurse emanated from the last flight of stairs, holding a tray of medications.

"Have you seen Janie?" I asked her.

"Yes, Mr Pavarotti. I saw her downstairs ten minutes ago, she said you were calling her at the annex of the mansion to bring your bag."

"Wait!" I growled, hoping it wasn't the silly thoughts creeping into my head. "Where did you see her?"

"At the back door." Her eyes searched mine with curiosity and worry. "Is something wrong, Mr Pavarotti?"

My mind promptly went numb.

I knew I didn't send Janie such a message. And for her to be found at the back door, carrying a bag, that meant only one thing..... she has escaped!