No Longer Safe. {COMPLETED}√

•Family•

Italy.

Roberto Ernesto watched calmly as the last finger on the accomplice hand dropped on the concrete bloodied floor. The man's face was covered in deep cuts and bruises, his left eye sunken and barely visible. Alphonso's family had worked for the Ernesto for many years, starting from his great grandfather, grandfather, father and now him.

It had come as a surprise to Roberto, when he learned that useful information had been leaked to their enemies, the Blackhats. And when he investigated discreetly he found Alphonso, his trusted guard as the culprit.

"So you really won't talk Alphonso? You prefer to die than spill whatever you told the Blackhats?
Alphonso moaned in pain as Paolo delivered a more brutal kick on his left side. An audible crack was heard by the two men.

Paolo raised a bloodied hand and managed to clean the sweat that had gathered on his forehead without smearing blood. He watched Alphonso as he gradually bled out on the moist ground. " I never thought a day would come when we would treat one of our own to a cup of our medicine. Just look at him boss,be is going to he dead in five. Minutes." He finished with a satisfied smile.

Roberto, who had been watching quietly from a dark corner, moved into the light and peered down at the bartered man, he looked just like a fish which had been ran over by a moving truck, all pulpy, messy and broken.

He wasn't a man to talk much neither did he let his emotions show, but the sight before him was repulsive and it shook him to the core.

"I wonder what they had promised him. A lot of money? Safety? To make him accept death instead. Too bad he wouldn't be able to enjoy any of it."

Paolo chuckled at Roberto's words as he moved toward a table at the far end of the room. The table contained all manner of torture equipment one could think of. And all of them were covered in blood. Paolo had made use of the each tool, but Alphonso remained tight lipped.

He picked up a hot red iron which he had pulled out from a makeshift furnace. Eyeing the glimmering red metal he moved purposefully toward Alphonso, who was still sprawled out on the ground. "With your permission boss, I will gladly remove our symbol from his filthy body."

Roberto Ernesto took one last look at the man, he should be around the same age as his own son. He was certain they had played together as children. He sighed and gave Paolo the signal.

He wouldn't allow himself to feel guilt. Whatever had befallen Alphonso was no fault of his, the Ernesto family held a lot of secrets that have passed down from one generation to the next.

No one was ever known to betray the family and get away unharmed.
"Burn the flesh where his mark is and make sure to dispose of the body properly."

"What method of disposal would you like boss?" Paolo asked as hot iron descended on Alphonso's muscled left arm. It made a squishing sound as fire met flesh and blood. In no time the smell of burnt flesh and hair filled the air.

"Boh! Just clean the damn mess up and meet me in my office when you are done."
With that said, Roberto walked out of the dimly lit room and headed for his office.

________________________________✏

An hour later...

Angrily Roberto yelled into his cell phone as he tried to convince his strong headed son to come home for Christmas.

Paolo sat across from him picking his nails and feigning lack of interest. He stole glances at his boss and wondered why the man tries so damn hard.

Was it because of love? He was sure that the old man didn't love anyone, not even himself. So why bother the poor guy?

Since Sebastian left home at the age of fifteen, his father had been trying to bring him back but nothing worked, not even the death of his beloved mother.
The poor woman couldn't handle the pain of loosing two children, one to the cold hands of death and the other because of the monster she married.

Roberto bellowed into the phone. "Listen here son! I haven't seen you in fifteen years, I want to teach you the family business, I want you to learn the ropes. I ain't gonna live forever, you gotta come home."

Paolo's ear perked up with interest. Was that desperation he heard in his boss's voice.

Damn!

That son of a bitch was making his boss all soft. The guys better not find out, because it ain't good for business.

He spoke rapidly and moved around.
He was restless.
"Conosco i miei polli!" He said into the phone in rapid Italian. "Look Sebastian I am your father and I demand you come home. What! You dare not han--" The phone line went dead with a click.

Roberto moved to his desk and picked up a file. He felt dejected and rejected, the feeling shouldn't be new but he couldn't help but feel that way.

He felt it every time Sebastian hanged up on him.

Clearing his throat, he turned and addressed Paolo who had made himself quite comfortable during the conversation between father and son.
" Paolo, what do we have on the Everest company?"

Paolo tangled both fingers and placed them on the desk and smirked. "The deal is genuine, the company makes good containers that can be used to transport our products anywhere in the world. I highly feel that this company's got good stuff, our source say that these containers are indestructible and you could put it in water for years and not a single drop goes in."

Roberto smiled brightly which made the side of his eyes crinkle. "So how much do they cost?"

Paolo whistled low, picked up a pen from the desk and twirled it between his fingers.
" That's the damn problem boss, the company ain't gonna sell to us. Before you ask why? Here's the answer, they don't sell outside the US."

"Well then find another seller Pablo, I don't have time for such shit."

Paolo shook his head. "No boss, there's no other seller with the good stuff. We need those containers."

Roberto was getting agitated. "Offer them more money. I need to make serious cash before New year's day. The company and its owner surely needs more money don't they? Find anything Paolo! Do something."

Paolo gave a single nod and left the office.

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