Twelve

RYLAND POV.

Roaring in anger, I flung the glass I held in my hand against the wall, my chest heaving erratically. Jade was not here and yet it was a freaking battle to get everyone to respect and obey me. I'd done everything, killed, tortured, and maimed, but yet, they kept asking for her and saying all sorts of shit about how I was unfit to lead, and they also suspected that I had something to do with my father's death.

That wasn't far-fetched because I did, but they'll never catch me, I'll kill each one of them before they got to me. I smirked, thinking about all the blood I'd already shed in just a few days of taking over the syndicate.

The door to my office opened and Simone stepped through the door, his gaze weary.

"Shut the door behind you," I said and he obliged. "Well, did you find her body"?

"I'm sorry boss, but we've spent days scouring the forest and..." He paused, looking caught in the headlight as he struggled to find his next words. "The Forest seems to be a haunted maze, we keep moving around in fucking circles".

I stared at him with a raised brow. What the shit was he talking about. Was he going to give me such a lame excuse? Was he seriously going to tell me the stupid forest was haunted? I stepped towards him and he took a step back.

"Stay put" I gritted out and he hurried to obey, a determined frown on his face. I grabbed the lapels of his jacket and jerked him forward until we were face to face. "All you just said is bullshit Simone, and the next time such crap comes out of your mouth, it will be your head getting chopped off your neck" I threatened, and shoved him, watching in glee as his back smacked against the door. He righted himself but refrained from adjusting his shirt.

"You'll go back into that forest and bring me back the body of Jade because until those scatterbrains see evidence of her dead body, they won't stop asking for their beloved business partner. I don't want to go over this again. If you come back one more time without a body, then I'll have no choice but to make a mummy out of you".

Simone gulped as the threat sank beneath his skin. "I'll do whatever it takes to bring you her dead body Boss".

"That's what I'd been dying to hear from your mouth since I sent you into that cursed stupid forest. Also, don't forget to send some of the soldiers to Don Vito's house, he was too disrespectful at the last family meeting."

Simone looked uncertain, probably because Vito was my Uncle and he had been pretty close to my father when he was alive, but I didn't care. Father was dead now and everyone who pledged their alliance to Jade was my enemy.

"Do you want him dead?" he asked, his voice coming out low and on edge.

I pondered the question. It would be fun to take out the old man but he had a lot of connections that could help me further my influence over the syndicate, so maybe I shouldn't take him out just yet. He could be useful if I played my card right.

"Don't kill him yet. How's his beautiful daughter doing, is she going to be home this week from school..." I drawled and Simone paled further. He was acting suspicious and I didn't hesitate to take out anyone who could stand as a threat to me in the future. Maybe I'll still have to kill him after all, or just hope that he got mauled by the wildlife that roamed Etral forest.

"Yes. She'll be home for the holidays..."

"Have her abducted from the airport" I said, glancing to see how he took the order. His eyes widened a fraction before he composed himself.

"Vito will know it is you, and he's going to rebel".

"No he wouldn't, and that is only if you do what I tell you to do. He won't rebel or attack us because her abduction won't be linked to us and I'll be the one to help him find his beloved daughter, do you understand what it is I am hinting at" I said and he nodded quickly.

"Got it! I'll take care of it, boss".

"You can go now, don't come back until you have results," I told him, lacing my words with enough unspoken threat to spook him.

Simone walked out of my office, his shoulders stiff as stone. I took my phone and dialed one of my trusted bodyguards. He picked on the first ring.

"Simone just left, I want you to watch every move he makes, and if he so much as hints at betraying me, put a bullet through his head".

"Got it. I was also about to call about Lexis. She's been talking and acting strange lately. I think you should talk to her".

"I'll go see her," I said then ended the call.

What was up with Lexis? I had other serious issues to deal with than worrying about her.

Sighing, I put on my coat and walked out of the new room I'd taken over, it had been for father but now it was mine to do as I pleased. He tried to keep it from but I got it in the end.

I got nearer to Lexis and exulted in the feel of all the guards that lined the hallway bowing and cowering in fear at my presence. It was a nice feeling. One I would make sure never to lose as long as I breathe.

Pushing the door to Lexis' room, I stepped inside to meet her pacing around her room like a maniac. Her mascara was smudged and she looked as if she hadn't slept at all the night before.

Her gaze jerked to mine and I was taken aback by how dead they looked.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Why do you look like that?"

Her lips trembled and she quickly wiped at the tears that slipped down her cheeks. "It's nothing" she replied, her voice coming out in a whisper.

"Don't give me that crap Lexis. I know something is up. You look shitty and you never look so fucked up, so you better spill before I lose my patience" he warned and lexis glared at him.

"Don't freaking threaten me when this is all your fault".

"My fault, what did I do to you?"

"You made me kill our father that is what you did" she yelled and I'm on her in a second, my hands slamming over her mouth as I slammed her into the table behind her.

"Are you fucking stupid, why don't you use an amplifier and scream it for the whole world to hear." I snarled, my heart smacking against my ribcage.

Her red-rimmed eyes stared back at me and I let go of her mouth sharply. Inhaling deeply, I dragged my fingers through my hair as the whole stress of becoming the leader weighed heavier on my shoulders.

"Why are you doing this Lexis. We finally got what we wanted. I got you everything that you requested, what more do you want to help you move on".

"It's not about that Ryland. At your party last night, we were all having fun but I could feel them looking at me. They know I did it, Ryland, they know and they're going to take us down. They're going to kill both of us".

I cursed before grabbing her shoulders and forcing her to look at me. "No one can touch us if you just listen to everything I tell you Lexis. We've just begun our reign, do you think I'm going to let anyone take this position away from me".

Lexis shook her head. "Exactly, so just forget about the role you had to play in father's death and let me handle everything else ok".

She nodded, then grabbed his arms. "What about all those people that know about us, what about those that know we killed Papa".

Groaning, I shook her hard. " Snap out of it Lexis, no one but you and I know, and if you don't tell anyone it will remain that way. Can I trust you to keep your wits and not expose everything to the lower families? Swear it Lexis" I urged when I saw the doubt in her gaze.

"I swear. But what about Jade? I heard her body hasn't been found yet. What if she's still alive? What if she comes back" she asked, her voice sounding agitated once more until I was close to seeing red. "She's not going to spare us for attacking her, you know that right".

"She's already dead" I gritted out, even tho deep down the reason I wanted her body found was because of the nagging feeling at the back of my head that screamed that Jade was still alive somewhere. She was like this horrible dark cloud hovering over my head that refused to leave no matter what I did. The cloud was getting thicker, and it was because my sister was also starting to become a threat.

"What if she's alive" she insisted, and I let off her.

"If she is then I'll have to kill her again, and this time I won't make any mistake. Trust me Lexis. This is our territory now, no one is going to take it from us" I assured and the words seemed to reassure and calm her down enough. I pulled her into a tight hug, and she snuggled into my chest, her body going slack against mine.

Lexis was turning out to be unstable and that was not good for me if I wanted to remain the Don. My hit list is starting to get longer. I'll have to arrange for my little sister's funeral.