The Maad Doctor [The Maad Series #1]

|20| The Request.

Lady Camilla had learned Stella killed John before departing from the house with three masked women. The first part didn't surprise her. With the demon inside Stella, she expected it. It was the second news that left her grinding her teeth.

"I hate Bones," she said.

When Stella had run away from home years ago, Bones contacted her and demanded a ransom. Lady Camilla paid them in gold. After that, the sky pirates became a thorn in her back. They robbed her cargo airships, attacked diplomats heading to Virtue City, and so on. Lady Camilla wasted money and resources trying to capture them. She failed at every attempt.

"But if Stella is with them, then she's going after Sky." Lady Camilla smiled. At least the demon brought the passion out of her daughter. But Lady Camilla would not sit back and let Stella kill Sky. She needed the mercenary and thief apprehended and delivered to her. She wanted to use them as an example that no one could mess with her and get away with it.

Lady Camilla had no intention of honoring the rewards. She sent out the flyers to cause chaos and make it easier to locate Don and Sky. She had someone who would capture the malefactors for her.

As she waited for the person to arrive, she sat behind her desk and began drawing Stella in her current state. She started with the largest scar and finished with the smaller ones.

She stared at the image, and nausea engulfed her. Stella looked like she had an incurable disease. In a way, it was. Lady Camilla had invested a lot on Stella, and she hoped to regain it by marrying her off to a wealthy man. But luck wasn't on her side.

"What should I do with you now?" She caressed Stella's image before sighing. Disappointment weighed her down. She felt she failed Tomas. Before he had died, they planned on finding Lilith's Treasure. But to achieve that, they required a lot of money. They planned on getting it by selling Stella's hand-in-marriage.

A knock came on the door.

"Enter," Lady Camilla answered.

The door opened, and the Marquess of Sin City walked in. Edge Carlton had a stoic build and a round belly. Wearing a black hat and a full dress tunic decorated by medals, Edge stood at ease and saluted Lady Camilla. His fair-skin wrinkled over the years and crow's feet filled the corners of his eyes.

"Welcome, Marquess." Lady Camilla stood and extended her hand. Edge shook it.

"Much appreciated, Duchess." He grinned, revealing his crooked yellow teeth. Edge used to be the Fleet Admiral in Hervana's navy. He had stood in the front lines when North Stato tried invading the country. After the war had ended, he retired. Lady Camilla had approached him and handed over the keys to Sin City. She believed only an army man could deal with the scums of that city.

"You look fatigued, my friend," Lady Camilla said, noticing the frown on his face. He also had bloodshot eyes and bags under them.

Edge rubbed his eyes. "I wish you would have warned me before dropping the flyers and turning my city into a hunting territory."

"I understand your frustration, but time was of the essence. If you read the flyers, you'd have known they did indefensible things."

"I read them." Edge sighed.

"What's wrong?"

Edge removed his hat and held it. He had hair on the side of his head, but he was bald on top. "It's La Familia."

Lady Camilla sighed. "What did they do?" The group hadn't been a dilemma to her in a while. But that was because Edge was their primary target. In the past, they considered her an ally. Then down the line, they turned on her.

Edge's expression softened, and tears welled in his eyes. "They..." He swallowed his saliva, then looked away from Lady Camilla. He stared at the paintings on the wall, blinking repeatedly. A sunken feeling consumed Lady Camilla's stomach. She feared the worst had happened. "They killed him. La Familia killed my boy." Tears had run down his cheeks before he buried his face in his hands.

"Sorry for your loss." Lady Camilla knew Marcus since he was a child. He visited her home frequently. But as he grew, he wasted his time with criminals. "How can I help?"

"Allow me to wipe them out of existence. I know where they are hiding. After that, I will accomplish whatever you demand of me." Edge scooted forward on his seat. "Please, Duchess, I need this. They sent me Marcus' head in a plastic bag. I want them to feel my pain."

Lady Camilla knew what Edge was going through. She had experienced the same thing when Stella died. Losing a child was the most painful thing a parent could go through. "Do whatever it takes to get rid of them," she said.

Edge smiled. "Much appreciated, Duchess."

"After that, I want you to arrest Don and Sky and deliver them to me alive."

"Consider it done, Duchess." Edge stood and extended his hand. Lady Camilla shook it. "See you soon, Duchess."

Lady Camilla nodded. "Until next time, Marquess." She watched Edge Carlton vacate her office before sitting down. She hadn't thought about La Familia in a long time. But now that Edge had mentioned them, she couldn't wait to learn of their demise. "Out with the old, and in with the new." She smiled.