The room seemed to close in as Luca's eyes bore into Don Lino. His usual nonchalant expression was gone, replaced by something colder, sharper—a challenge. Lino felt it coming, sensed the tension building between them, and for the first time in a long while, it seemed like Luca was preparing to cross a line.
"Boss," Luca began, his voice low but with an edge that hadn't been there before, "I think you're making a mistake."
Don Lino's gaze hardened. His enormous frame loomed over the octopus, but Luca didn't flinch. He stood his ground, tentacles still and coiled tight, like he was preparing for a fight.
"A mistake?" Lino's voice was a growl, the rumble of it filling the chamber. "You better watch yourself, Luca. I don't tolerate disrespect."
Luca shrugged, his eyes narrowing. "Disrespect? That's rich, coming from someone who's lost sight of what's important. This thing out there—it's not just whispers, Lino. It's bigger than you, bigger than us, and you're sitting here distracted by a pufferfish? You've got the whole reef watching you, and you're too busy chasing ghosts to see what's right in front of you."
Lino's teeth flashed, sharp and deadly. His patience, already thin, was now snapping. "You don't know your place, Luca. I built this empire. I made this reef what it is. Don't stand there and tell me how to run things. You're nothing without me."
Luca's tentacles twitched, but his expression remained icy. "You built this empire? Sure, boss. But you didn't do it alone. You needed all of us, and right now, all I see is a don losing control. You're too focused on that fish, on whatever you're hearing in the water. You're slipping, and the whole reef can see it."
Lino surged forward, his massive body radiating power and rage. "You think you can talk to me like that, Luca? You think I don't know how to deal with disrespect? I could crush you right here, right now."
But Luca didn't back down. If anything, the challenge only emboldened him. "Do it, then! Because if you don't wake up, you'll lose everything you've worked for. The whispers, the shadows—it's coming for you, Lino. And you're too blinded by that pufferfish and your past to see it."
Lino's eyes blazed with fury, his chest heaving as he glared down at Luca. The tension in the room was thick, both of them standing at the brink. For a long moment, neither moved, the water between them charged with the threat of violence.
Then Lino spoke, his voice dangerously quiet. "Get out."
Luca blinked, his tentacles still, as if unsure if he'd heard right.
"I said get out," Lino snarled, his voice rising with barely restrained fury. "Before I decide to end this right here."
For a moment, Luca didn't move. His gaze met Lino's, unflinching, the defiance still simmering beneath the surface. But then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he turned and swam toward the exit, his tentacles trailing behind him. Just before he left, he glanced back, his voice calm but cutting.
"Just remember, boss," Luca said softly, "if you lose control, the reef will find someone else to lead."
YOU ARE READING
" The Boss .. " - A Shark Tale Story ( Mr Sykes x Don Lino )
RomanceIn the depths of the ocean, a ruthless shark mafia boss, Don Lino, rules his side of the reef. He's feared by many... except.. for one peculiar fish, a pufferfish, Mr Sykes. Together they face trial and error, eventually, Syke's being able to be the...