Bab 12: Don Luca!
As the car cruised away from the park, Arslan found himself in the backseat, eyeing the middle aged man beside him. Dressed all fancy like, with a bit of white hair and glasses, the man seemed like he was off to some important meeting. Without so much as a glance in Arslan's direction, he finally piped up with a simple question.
"Hey, kid, what's been going on with you lately?" The man's voice was calm, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, with the armrest between them creating a bit of distance.
Arslan sat back, taking in the unexpected turn of events. The car rumbled through the neighborhood, the quiet night wrapping around them like a blanket. The man's question hung in the air, waiting for a response as they continued their mysterious journey through the darkened streets.
"Nothing much, just trying to pay back the money I owe you, Mr. Spark," Arslan replied, his tone earnest as he met the old man's casual smile with a sense of respect. The atmosphere in the car shifted slightly as Mr. Spark turned his gaze directly towards Arslan, his eyes locking onto Arslan's own.
Mr. Spark, a respected figure in the Moyah Family and James's boss, exuded an air of authority that commanded attention. As he continued the conversation, his piercing stare seemed to search for any hint of deception in Arslan's eyes.
"I've heard you've been running some errands for Elijah. Is that true?" Mr. Spark's question hung in the air, his intense gaze unwavering as he probed for the truth. It was a tactic he often employed, using his intimidating presence to instill a sense of fear in those who crossed his path.
Arslan gave a single nod before speaking up, "Yeah, I've done some jobs for Elijah," he admitted, his tone steady and unapologetic. With a hint of defiance in his eyes, he met Mr. Spark's gaze squarely. "You worried about where my cash comes from?" Arslan challenged, a faint smile playing on his lips as he held the older man's stare.
"Watch your tone, Kid," The tension in the car simmered as James, seated at the front, interjected with a warning about Arslan's tone. However, Mr. Spark lifted a hand to silence his henchman, his gaze never leaving Arslan.
"No need for raised voices in my ride," Mr. Spark declared firmly, his eyes locked on Arslan's, unwavering. "I ain't concerned about the source of your money, kid. As long as it's green, we're good." With a swift motion, he retrieved an envelope from under the armrest and handed it over to Arslan.
Arslan eyed the envelope in his hand with a mix of curiosity and caution. "What's this?" he inquired, not eager to dive headfirst into any business that could complicate his already precarious situation.
"It's a job I need you to take care of," Mr. Spark replied, lighting up a cigar with a casual air. "I've heard you're skilled at slipping into safe houses and ensuring safe extractions. I want you to do the same for this person."
Arslan was caught off guard by the request, his mind racing with questions about how Spark knew of his previous work for Elijah. The revelation left him puzzled, considering the rivalry between Elijah and Spark, who vied for control over the city's territories.
The realization dawned on Arslan that there might be a mole within Elijah's operation. However, it wasn't the wisest move to confront Spark about it directly, especially with the older man awaiting his response, the smoke from his cigar curling lazily in the air.
"Does this guy have any ties to anyone?" Arslan inquired, his hand still gripping the unopened envelope, a sense of caution lingering in his demeanor as he sought assurance of his safety in the task ahead.
"What if he does?" Spark's response was firm, his gaze fixed on Arslan, daring him to challenge the directive.
"In that case, I'll have to pass on this job, sir," Arslan asserted, returning the sealed envelope to Spark. The older man didn't take it, his next words catching Arslan off guard, causing his eyes to widen in surprise.
"What if I told you I'd knock off 15% of your debt if you take care of this for me?" Spark's voice held a note of confidence as he laid out the tempting offer for Arslan, who couldn't help but feel a glimmer of relief at the prospect. He was almost ready to agree on the spot, the envelope still unopened in his hand. However, a sudden realization struck him, prompting him to pause and consider his next move.
As Arslan weighed his options, he couldn't shake the feeling that Spark's willingness to reduce his debt so easily signaled the importance of the task at hand. "30%, and you let this week's payment slide as well, considering it settled," Arslan countered boldly, his eyes fixed on Spark as he made his unexpected proposal without relinquishing the envelope.
Mr. Spark's surprise was evident as he processed Arslan's audacious negotiation. He had not anticipated the young man's boldness in challenging his initial offer of 15%, a move that hinted at a newfound strength and resilience in Arslan's demeanor.
The car came to a halt, and Spark extinguished his cigar before the door swung open, yet he lingered inside, his gaze fixed on Arslan with a hint of amusement. "You got balls kid," Spark remarked with a chuckle, his tone laced with a touch of admiration. As he straightened his attire and dusted off any lingering debris, he continued, "I'll give you this week's payment, but the 15% deal stands, kid. Leave your answer with James here."
With those final words, Spark exited the car, leaving Arslan alone with James, who promptly drove off as the door closed behind the departing boss. The weight of the decision ahead hung in the air, the echoes of their conversation lingering as Arslan contemplated the path laid out before him.
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As Mr. Spark stepped out of the car, he was welcomed by the grandeur of the imposing house, where servants promptly took his coat and ushered him inside. Guided to a private meeting room, he was greeted by five elegantly dressed men, each exuding an aura of power and authority.
"Well, well, look who finally graced us with his presence," remarked one of the men, slightly heavier than the rest, his tone tinged with a hint of sarcasm.
"You do realize this mess falls on your shoulders, Spark," added another man, a shorter figure with a noticeable bald spot, his gaze icy as he locked eyes with Spark.
Ignoring their remarks, Spark made his way to the near corner of the square table, flanked by six chairs on the sides and one at the head, signaling the beginning of what promised to be a tense and pivotal meeting among the city's elite.
"What's done is done," Spark said, taking a seat and dismissing the other captains with a cold tone. "Deal with it you whiny bitchs," His words ignited a fiery response from the men around the table, their anger simmering just below the surface as one of them moved threateningly closer to Spark.
"Fuck you just said you little shit!" the man spat, ready to confront Spark until a commanding voice intervened, halting the escalating tension.
"Enough of this nonsense." The voice belonged to a young man who entered the room, his presence instantly commanding respect from all present. It was Don Luca, a figure of authority and power, accompanied by a silent companion. The room fell into a hushed reverence as Don Luca made his way to the head of the table and took his seat, prompting everyone else to follow suit. The young leader's mere presence quelled the brewing conflict, setting the tone for the meeting ahead.
"If I wanted to witness a bunch of old men bickering, I wouldn't have gathered you all here," Don Luca stated, leaning back in his chair and stroking his chin thoughtfully. "I called this meeting to address the legal troubles we're facing, courtesy of our dear friend here." He gestured subtly towards Spark, indicating the source of their current predicament.
Listening to Don Luca's words, Spark let out a weary sigh before addressing the room. "If I had known my own blood would turn against me, I would have never allowed him to get this close," Spark confessed, the weight of his cousin's betrayal evident in his somber tone. "I'm already changing my whole operation because of it and loosing a lot of business because of it" Spark said with a heavy tone as he knew how much problem his cousin had caused for him.
"My concern isn't with your day to day opporations, Spark," Don Vito asserted, rising from his seat and pacing around the table as he addressed the room. "My concern lies in the extent of our vulnerability." Don Luca, standing behind the man facing Spark, locked eyes with the older capitan, his gaze unwavering.
"I'm the one facing the brunt of this storm here, there's no need for undue alarm," Spark responded, bearing the weight of the situation on his shoulders. However, his assurance was short lived as Don Luca's Consigliere, Sergio, abruptly interjected by throwing a warrant onto the table, revealing the recent search of Don Luca's residence for incriminating evidence.
"What do you make of this, Spark?" Sergio's voice was sharp, questioning Spark's confidence in his cousin Eddie's involvement and potential knowledge of their operations.
Examining the warrant, Spark's expression darkened before he addressed Don Luca directly, his tone grave and resolute. "I swear on the souls of my daughters, Eddie is oblivious to anything beyond the weekly kickback I send your way," Spark affirmed, his words carrying the weight of truth and loyalty. Don Luca, visibly conflicted, approached Spark, signaling a pivotal moment in their conversation.
Don Luca's eyes blazed with intensity as he gripped a fireplace poker, a tangible symbol of power and authority in his hand. "My father entrusted each of you with his life and his business, and we all know how that ended for him," Luca's voice carried a steely edge as he addressed the room, his gaze unwavering. "Don't think for a second that I would make the same mistake as him."
In the tense silence that followed, Spark found himself at the center of Luca's scrutiny, feeling the weight of expectation and consequence bearing down on him. "Don Antonio was a fair man, and he would understand that these things came with the game that we're playing." Spark's voice held a touch of defiance as he defended his actions, facing the inevitable judgment from Don Luca and the others.
Approaching Spark with deliberate steps, Don Luca placed the fireplace poker on Spark's shoulder, a silent yet potent gesture of expectation. Leaning in close, Luca's words hung heavy in the air, demanding a resolution to the chaos that threatened their operations. "I trust you to handle this situation with the same care and precision as my father would have," Luca's tone left no room for mistakes, awaiting Spark's commitment to set things right.
With a single nod of agreement, Spark affirmed his dedication to resolving the turmoil, prompting Don Luca to release his grip on the fireplace poker, a silent indicator of both trust and warning, as he moved away, leaving the room steeped in anticipation.
Don Luca and Sergio left the room, their departure leaving a palpable tension in the air. As the door closed behind them, making the other Captains look at each other before they also stood and started leaving the room making Spark the only one sitting there alone.
Hadiah
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Power 
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