"Congratulations students, I want to welcome everyone here to the University of Alphacrest Medical School", I was sitting in the audience right next to Ms. Denise, Verena's mother as we watched her and hundreds of other students who would enter into their first year of medical school.

I cringed as I watched the president of the University of Alphacrest, Dr. Elias Grayson, make a speech encouraging students to stay motivated and encouraged while in medical school. I am genuinely inclined to focus my attention on people who are not associated with the mafia, but for some reason, something did not sit right in my stomach as I watched this man closely.

Dr. Elias Grayson has been serving as President of the University of Alphacrest for the past three years and this is the first time I am seeing him in person which I did not take too kindly to. Every person who had a high-appointed position in town whether it being the mayor, the police chief, or the CEO of a corporation or company where made aware that the Vallea Mafia would to need to build some type of interaction with them, yet it be in understanding their position would remain in their vicinity if they would not interfere in our affairs as well as making sure they understood they could not do anything within the city without our the Vallea Mafia's approval. As Dr. Grayson continues to talk I send a text message to Arsenio.

Me: I need records about a Dr. Elias Grayson, president of the University of Alphacrest

Arsenio: No problem, working on it right now

Me: Good, don't bother to send the information to me through text, I need a physical copy of these records

Arsenio: Alright bro, shouldn't take me longer than five minutes. I will leave the files on your desk at your office

After Verena's induction medical school ceremony ended, I quickly kissed her goodbye telling her I needed to make a stop at my office to pick up some files and would send my driver to come pick her up so I could make dinner for her back at the estate later on tonight. I made it back to my office and found a thick stack of paper sitting on my desk, which did not sit right with me.

I flip through each page, and my muscles in my back become stiff and tight as I realize that Dr. Elias Grayson, has a close affiliation with the Alvarado family, being that he once worked as their family doctor. The timing of when he moved to Alphacrest aligns around the same year that my mother was murdered. Dr. Grayson probably more than likely was told to move here, find a job, and try to build a strong front in the community to look as though he was a medical professional just trying to find a new job. I am unsure of how he was able to become president of the Univeristy of Alphacrest Medical School so quickly, being he just moved here three years prior.

Dr. Grayson was going to feel my wraith and I was not going to try to smooth things with him over. Once I discover someone had ties to an enemy, they would more than likely need to be obliterated. Rather than allow time to pass before deciding what my next move, should be I quickly decided to deal with Dr. Grayson, right now. 20 minutes later, I arrived at Dr. Elias Grayson's home, I sent a text to Arsenio as well as Tirian and Arlo, sending them the address of where I am so they can meet me. While waiting for my men to arrive at the destination, I take pictures of Dr. Grayson's cars sitting in the driveway as well as the car tags, and send them to Arsenio. It does not take my men long to arrive.

Arsenio jumps out of his Bugatti Veyron as I step out of my Aston Martin Vantage, before fixing my necktie and the Rolex on my wrist, I smooth out the wrinkles on the arms of my tailored navy suit. Arsenio wears an olive green Gucci collar long-sleeve shirt, with olive green pants, and Ferragamo black loafers.

"Seems as though the Alvaradoes are still trying to find a way to lure themselves back into our vicinity", Arsenio says as I see Arlo and Tirian leaning against a black Chevrolet Suburban, with their arms crossed in front of them, as they wait for my signal, I wave my finger out two times, before they nod, understanding what I want them to do.

"You planning to talk or do you just want to kill the bastard get the shit over and done with", Arsenio asks as I ring the doorbell, placing my hands behind my back, while one of my hands rests on the small sharp knife that is my back pocket.

I hear footsteps and the front door opens revealing Dr. Elias Grayson, an older black male who is in his mid to late 50s with his salt and pepper cropped hair his eyebrows are raised in question. We are about the same height, but my muscular frame, makes me look more intimidating to his slim one.

"Can I help you two gentlemen with something", his eyes shift from mine to Arsenio.

"No actually you can't help me with anything. I want to know why a the former doctor of the Alvarado family has been living in my town for the past three years".

Dr. Grayson's face pales as soon as I finish my statement, looking guilty. "I am unsure who you are referring to young man..", I do not allow him to finish as I press my fist to his stomach, knocking the wind out of him as I push him back inside of the house, as Arsenio shuts the door. "Please, don't kill me. I no longer work with the Alvaradoes, I swear".

Dr. Grayson tries to move away from me, but I twist back his arm with my right hand, popping it out of its socket as he screams out in pain, his body dropping to the floor.

"I don't take kindly to anyone affiliated with my enemies moving into my town".

Arsenio walks over and holds Dr. Grayson up by his shoulders, "You've worked as the Alvaradoes' doctor for the last 15 years. Do you honestly think I wasn't going to find out who you truly were", I then punch him in the face repeatedly, until blood, covers my knuckles, reddening them in the process.

Dr. Grayson coughs up blood, "Please man, I don't have anything to do with them anymore". I shake my head, "Too bad, I don't give a fuck", I then place my hand around his neck, twisting his neck, until I hear a crack, before he falls to the ground, no longer breathing.

"That's a record took you less than 10 minutes to kill him", Arsenio says looking down at his Richard Millie watch. I smirk, "I guess that's a new record, I guess I'm getting better at making swifter kills".

5 hours later

I am chopping up a red onion on a cutting board as Verena sits across from me at the kitchen counter with a glass of red wine sitting in front of her. "I just can't believe Dr. Grayson is dead, like what the hell happened", I continue to mince the red onions before placing them in an empty bowl.

"I am not sure maybe he made some enemies somewhere or owed a debt" " I added before washing my hands and drying them off with a paper towel.

"How can the president of the university be murdered on the same day as my medical school induction ceremony? This is a crazy way to start medical school", she then takes rather a long sip of her glass of wine, before placing it back on the counter.

"No need to worry your pretty little head about that man. Come over here so I can show you how to make pasta from scratch". Verena gets up from her seat, goes to the kitchen sink to wash her hands, and drying them before she stands next to me as I walk her through each step of how to make pasta. It does not take her long to catch on to what I am doing as she begins to knead the dough with flour.

Zyran and Kaemon come downstairs while Verena and I are cooking.

"Hey you two, did you have a good day at school today", Zyran has a bewildered look in his eyes. "We don't go to school, we have tutors that come to the mansion to teach us a variety of different subjects".

Verena looks a bit taken aback, "Oh, I'm sorry. I just assumed you guys went to public school like the other kids around here".

Zyran opens his mouth once more to comment, but I give him a stern look urging him to not say anything else, as Verena stands in front of me, as she cannot see my expression. I distract Verena from asking anything else as I show her how to make tomato sauce from scratch. I know it might be wrong what I am doing lying to Verena, but some things she just do not to be aware of at the moment.

Once the food is cooking on the stove, Verena escapes to the bathroom I glance over at Kaemon and Zyran as they both stare back at me.

"I need you boys to make me a promise", I look both them in their eyes, one similar to mine. "Okay," they say at the same time.

"Do not share anything regarding what our father does, what I do, or the things I am teaching to you to Verena". They both look a bit confused.

"But she is your girlfriend, don't you think you should at least her tell something", Kaemon adds taking me by surprise at his statement for being a thirteen-year-old boy.

"She was not born into this lifestyle and does not understand a lot of things that we do. It is best we keep that way. Promise me you won't say anything".

Zyran sighs, "I promise". I then look over at Kaemon who has a solemn look in his eyes as if he wants to say more but refrain from doing so. "I promise".

I was going to do everything in my power to make sure Verena stayed clear from dangerous aspects of my life as much as possible. "What are you boys in here talking about", Verena comes downstairs with a smile covering her beautiful face.

I walk over and kiss her on the lips, "Nothing, we just talking about how I was going to start training them in martial arts".





Kaemon, although young, already knew what Eryx was doing lying to Verena was wrong.