Eighteen

RYLAND POV

Uncle Vito's eyes were bloodshot as he stared at me. He had his fist clenched, and his eyes followed every move I made. The toll of losing his daughter had taken a lot more from him than I expected. It was good, but I didn't like the look of suspicion in his beady eyes.

Simone was a fucking snitch, but he wouldn't be talking anymore not when he was six feet under the ground. The worms were probably feasting on his carcass now. Served the filthy bastard right too.

It was good I'd set Antonio on his trail. The traitor had tried to warn Vito of my plans. He didn't succeed, but I was sure they'd communicated before the initial meet up so I was sure Vito suspected foul play.

It didn't matter. If uncle Vito misbehaved, then I'd have no choice but to kill his little princess. I'd also have to get rid of him too because I couldn't take any chances.

"How much longer are you going to take. They might be torturing her right as we speak".

Sighing in annoyance, I pushed my hair back, then glared at him. "They won't torture her. I already paid her ransom money, and that is what we're going to get back. You and I both know that I don't care about Mirabella. They could eviscerate her for all I..." I didn't get to finish because the bastard punched me. I staggered back, a copper taste spreading over my tongue. I spat out the blood with a smirk.

"Was that all you got uncle? You're starting to get weak. Are you sure it's not time you retire?" I sneered and he grabbed me by the shirt, his voice a hoarse whisper when he spoke.

"Don't play around with me boy. Your father might have tolerated your shenanigans but not me. I know you're holding Mirabella hostage, and if my daughter is not released this minute, I'll..."

"You'll do what uncle?" I asked, staring at him challengingly, a sick smile stretching my lips. He glared at me, his throat working furiously but he kept his mouth shut. "That's what I thought. Play nice Uncle. I have to say, you've got me wrong uncle, and it hurts. I wouldn't dare to abduct my cousin. What sought of monster do you think I am?" I asked, then grabbed his shoulders. "The Putakali clan messed with you, they messed with my family and that is something I will never tolerate. I'll bring Mirabella back home. I'll kill every last one of those men, every one of them because they dared to touch my family, our family".

Uncle's throat worked, then he let go of my jacket, his demeanor much calmer. The old goat didn't take a lot to convince which was good for my plans.

Shoving my gun into the holster, I turned to face the four men that would be accompanying me on the rescue operation. Two of them were mine and the other two were Vito's. I was going to have to kill them. Friendly fire.

"Let's get them in one strike. Kill everyone that moves or breath" I ordered.

"Yes boss" they yelled in reply, their faces fierce and bloodshot just like Vito's.

I turned to my uncle. "I am going to bring Mirabella back. You don't have to worry one bit. They dared to touch an Alvarez, those filthy animals. I'm going to crush them to bits then I'll bring their heads as a souvenir" I promised and he nodded, his eyes reddening.

He grabbed the back of my neck and then pressed our heads together.

"Do not spare any of them".

"I wasn't planning on it. I'm going to kill them all" I assured and he let go.

I waved for my men to go ahead, then I followed after, sure that Vito was totally buying the whole show. The only reason he would ever doubt was when he didn't see Simone again. But that didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was that once he rescued Mirabella and she sang my praises, Vito would have no choice but to support me all the way.

It was me Killing two birds with one stone. I was going to destroy one of my major rival clans and also gain Vito's trust. The only thing left was to find out if Jade was alive or dead, which was starting to lack importance because I knew there was no way that Jade would still be alive and choose to stay away.

Jade was too power-hungry to be breathing and yet watch me take over everything she'd worked hard to earn.

Mirabella was not with the Putakali clan. I was only going there to wipe them off the face of the earth. I didn't need any competition or to foster a relationship that Jade had thought wise to keep. I didn't want anyone stabbing me in the back. If I suspected such, death was to be the only way out.

Entering the car, I glanced around the huge empire that I'd acquired by killing my father. I waited to feel any sought of emotion that resembled guilt or regret but all I felt was satisfaction that everything was going according to plan.

I wished I could raise a toast on Jade's dead body. That, and I also wanted to see the look on her face if she'd been alive to see me take her place.

Hayden stood talking to Lexis and my heart lurched as she grinned at whatever it was he was saying to her.

The bastard! He was going to push through with what I asked him to and he was not even being sly about it.

Lexis had to die and if there was one thing I hated, It was, getting my hands dirty. Also, lexis was my little sister. Killing her myself would make me feel bad but at least if she was happy before Hayden finally killed her then I'd have done my part as her big brother.

I just couldn't keep her alive and have her exposing all our secrets at public gatherings just because she thought people could see through her. It was a risk I wasn't willing to take because I'd done so much and come too far to let it all go.

*****

The drive felt longer than usual, and as we left our territory and moved Into the Putakali territory, my gaze became more alert. This was it, I was about to create something beautiful. I was about to fulfill destiny and it was going to be so easy because Jade had already paved the way.

The thought had barely settled when a swish of smoke raced past my car, it hit the car beside mine and the explosions had my head spinning inside the car as the force of it pushed my truck out of the way. The sound of gunshots filled the air as I recuperated from the first hit.

"Code red" I yelled into my talking device and watched as the real soldiers I'd put in place rushed out of the surrounding areas with the big guns. I'd known that someone was going to tip off the Putakali clan that I was coming to destroy them, hence why I'd taken some preventive method as Jade always drone it to those she trained.

The explosions going off shook the bulletproof van I sat in, and sitting, I watched everything unfold. The fire, the screaming, the burning, the gun sounds, and the blood mingling created a beautiful pattern. The sound of the men dying reached my ears and as I watched more of my rival clan die, a grin spread across my lips.

As the commotion died down, I got out of my car and strode towards their main house which a major part of it was already burning to the ground. My soldiers covered me, killing off all the men that stood in my Path until I was in the chamber of their leader who looked like he had been expecting me.

He held a glass of wine, and an eerie grin grazed his lips, which looked really full and rosy. I stared at them, thinking that they looked exactly like Jade's.

"Jade told me you'd stare at me like this" he got out cockily. "She says you're obsessed with her and want to have anything that remotely reminds you of her".

I grinned, pulling out my gun and aiming at his head. "Do you still believe that after I had her killed"?

He grinned, took another sip of his wine then dropped the glass. "A person like you could never kill Jade," he said matter of fact and I saw red. How could he be so nonchalant even in the face of death, and why was he so fucking sure that Jade was alive. Had she been in contact, was she baiting and waiting for the time to strike?

Choosing to ignore all those possibilities, I pressed the nuzzle of the gun harder against his cranium. "It doesn't matter now Ares Putakali. I've already destroyed your domain. Death will be the only way out for you now"

"Then pull the trigger, Ryland. I do not fear death. It's something we all are going to face, some earlier than others" he said, his voice thick and brave, his stormy eyes challenging.

No, death would be too easy for him. I wanted him to suffer. Suffer for making me worry and doubt. I pulled the gun away tucking it into my holster and watched with amusement as he stared at me in confusion.

"I do not like men, but I have eyes to know that you'll be a hot piece of ass for my whore houses," I said with a flourish, then grinned as the first look of fear and anger clouded Ares's already dark iris.

"You wouldn't dare. My brothers will come for you. You broke the tru..." I don't allow him to finish his soddy speech. My fist collided with his jaw and he tumbled over his chair. I picked him up like a rag doll and threw him at my surviving soldiers. "Have your fun with him, but do not damage him too much, remember we still need him to bring in some cash for us, and with your reputation as the former Putakali clan, you'll have a long list of clients waiting to get even, "I told and watched as he trembled in rage.

"I rather die".

I stepped closer to him, a grin on my face that stretched the smaller he looked. "You do not deserve death."

*******

Watching Vito reunite with his daughter was boring but I had to stay around to make sure Mirabella stuck to the script. She was a damn good actress and with the way she went on about how I'd gotten there just in time to save her from being defiled by those vile evil men, I knew I had Vito hook line, and sinker.

He came up to me and kissed my cheeks, then held my arms, his eyes conveying his gratitude.

"Thank you Ryland. Thank you for saving my daughter".

"You are my family and I will do anything for you but I hope you will treat me as a family too. Can I count on you to be on my side at the next Rizzo meeting" I asked, getting straight to the point.

He nodded. "Yes, Ryland. You have my alliance. No one will dare oppose you now. I'll make sure of it" he promised and I smiled.

If Jade ever came back, which was a slim probability, I'll be so mighty that, with just a snap of my finger, she'd get crushed and stay dead.