Reckless Games (Reckless Mafia #1)

Chapter 6

Lorenzo

"We have some people shadowing Miss Angela's house secretly." Giovanni's revelation grabbed my attention immediately, my brows knitting as I processed his words.

"Since when? And you're just telling me this now?" Anything concerning Angela put me on high alert, and the fact that I'd been kept in the dark irked me.

"Since the last two days, there's been some unusual activity. I'm not entirely sure what's going on."

" Cazzo ," I hissed under my breath, my mind racing. "What time?"

"Around 10 pm. But what could anyone want with a burnt-down property?" Giovanni questioned, his expression mirroring my concern.

I checked my platinum wristwatch. It was 9:30, giving us enough time to reach Angela's place in time.

"Let's go find out then," I declared, standing up swiftly and shrugging on my coat. Whoever dared to meddle with Angela had no idea what they were signing up for. By provoking me, they were digging their own graves.

Giovanni followed suit as we made our way to the car, my mind already strategizing how we would handle the situation. There was no room for mistakes when it came to Angela's safety. If someone was foolish enough to set foot near her property with ill intentions, I would make sure they faced the consequences.

We arrived at her house exactly twenty minutes later and parked the car in a concealed spot where we could not be seen. From our vantage point, we watched two men in casual clothes and caps, their faces obscured by black masks, skulking around the property. After ensuring the coast was clear, they kicked the main door open with two swift, forceful strikes and slipped inside.

"What could they possibly be doing here?" Liam, my head of security, asked, as we saw them making their way into the house.

"Let's find out," I replied, climbing out of the car with Gio and Liam following close behind. We moved silently, making sure our steps were measured and quiet. All three of us had our guns ready.

We entered the house, and the smell of ash and emptiness permeated the air. We advanced cautiously, sticking to the shadows, on the lookout for the two intruders. Given the house's compact size, any noise or movement from us would easily alert them to our presence. If we hadn't seen them enter, it was easy to assume we were alone in the house.

I led the way toward Angela's now-charred bedroom, my grip on my gun tight and my breathing steady. The door was slightly ajar, allowing me to carefully slip inside without causing any noise. My senses were heightened, and I was attuned to any potential threats.

As I rounded her bed, I could not find any sign of the two men. But just as I relaxed my guard, the closet door burst open, followed by the loud crack of a gunshot. Instinctively, I ducked, the bullet narrowly missing me and embedding itself in the wall.

The man, now without his mask, emerged and fired another shot. This time, I reacted swiftly, firing a round that struck his hand, causing him to drop his weapon with a pained cry. Seizing the opportunity, I lunged forward, landing a punch square on his face. My focus was to incapacitate him rather than kill him outright, as I needed answers.

I followed with a series of blows to his nose and forehead, causing blood to trickle from his face. A well-aimed kick took him down, leaving him sprawled on the floor. As he lost consciousness, I delivered a few more punches for good measure, ensuring he wouldn't get back up anytime soon.

Once he was subdued, I searched him for clues, finding nothing out of the ordinary except for a serpent tattoo on his neck. That told me all I needed to know. I smirked, muttering to myself, "Wasn't expecting you, Chávez." It seemed it was time to pay an acquaintance a visit.

Dragging the unconscious man out of the house, I found that Liam had already dealt with the other man, who was now tied up and unconscious. "Good work. Secure this one as well," I instructed, gesturing to the man I had knocked out. "Put them both in the trunk and call for backup. We need to make a quick visit.”

***

I kicked open the door to Leonardo’s office. The two men I'd tied up were dragged behind me by Gio and Liam. They stumbled as they were shoved in front of their boss’ desk, falling unceremoniously to the floor. Gio and Liam took their places at the entrance of the office, keeping a watchful eye on Leonardo.

The atmosphere was thick with tension, the icy chill between my growing rage and Leo's unsettling calmness creating a crackling intensity. His face betrayed no hint of concern, even as he looked at his men crumpled on the ground, bound and gagged.

"What were they doing there?" I demanded sharply, venom lacing every word. I wouldn't care if we were in an alliance; if he was a threat to Angela, then I would take the required actions.

Leonardo raised an eyebrow at the abrupt interruption, his gaze shifting from his men to me as he took his time standing from his chair. "Good to see you too, Martinez," he greeted with a wry smile.

"Cut the crap and answer me!" I growled, already losing my patience. His games were getting old, and I was not in the mood to play. He called it surprising people; I called it bullshit. I was not a very patient man, and he liked to test me.

"What were they doing where, Martinez? I'm a little clueless, if you'd care to elaborate," he replied smoothly, as though oblivious to the tension simmering in the room.

"I'm not in the mood, Chávez," I warned, stepping closer. "I will ruin the order; damn the consequences if you don't start talking right now!"

Leonardo Chávez was a cunning thirty-five-year-old Spanish Mafia leader known for his involvement in some major criminal activities and for having a successful IT company that could find dirt on anyone from any corner of the world. In the past, he'd been useful in handling some delicate business matters and keeping certain situations under control. Which is why Declan thought he'd be an important addition to the Obsidian Order .

Leonardo’s response was not what I expected. "The question isn't what they were doing there, Martinez. The question is, why are you so bothered by what they were doing there? You don’t typically concern yourself with burnt properties. Or is there something I'm missing?"

His smirk fueled my anger, and I took threatening steps forward, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and pulling him close. My free hand held my gun, the cold metal pressing against his forehead.

"You know I'm not a very patient man," I said, my voice low and filled with warning.

He remained unruffled. "Which makes me wonder, what is so important to you that got you on edge, Lorenzo?" He used my first name with a casual ease that grated on me. "Tell me, why do you care?"

His words set off alarm bells in my mind. How much did he know? And how had he found out?

"Your clock is ticking, Chávez"

The audacity he displayed next shocked me—he laughed. A full-blown, victory-filled laugh echoed through the room.

"No, Martinez," he chuckled, taking a moment to collect himself. "You won't shoot me. You can't—not without answers, at least. You know why?" He leaned in closer to my ear, his breath brushing against my skin as he whispered, "Because you have too much to lose this time."

My fury boiled over, igniting my veins with searing heat as I absorbed his damning words. My jaw clenched, my muscles tensed, and my eyes blazed with a mixture of threat and sheer rage.

"So the rumors are true, then. I just wanted to know how much she has you wrapped around her fingers," he taunted, his lips curling into a smirk. "It's good to know you would kill for her, maybe even die."

Leonardo's words told me that he knew more about Angela than I had expected. Only a few selected members of the gang knew about her significance to me. Only my trusted men, including Liam and Gio, were aware of the extent to which I valued her safety.

His dismissive demeanor rubbed on my nerves as he brushed my hands away from his collar, leisurely returning to his desk to take a seat. He acted as though my presence in his office was nothing more than a minor inconvenience, his confidence almost mocking.

"But worry not. I'm no threat," he said nonchalantly, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "Although it's good to finally see someone have you tied down," His words dripped with smugness as he casually glanced at me from across the desk.

I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to assess how much he really knew. "How do you know?" I demanded, my voice laced with suspicion.

He laughed, as though my question amused him. "I have my ways," he shrugged, his tone dismissive. "Declan had his suspicions. Gave me the perfect opportunity to—" he paused, leaning in closer on the desk as if to share a secret, "rile you up. You know how much we love doing that."

"Don't make me regret giving you permission to expand your business in my state," I warned him, my patience wearing thin.

He grinned slyly. "Come on, Lorenzo. I couldn't let you enjoy a monopoly, now could I? Besides, you did owe me." He wasn't wrong—he had saved my life once, putting me in his debt. Fuck, only I knew how much I had to restrain myself from blowing into his face and wiping that smug look off.

"You still haven't answered my question," I reminded him, refusing to let him off the hook.

Leonardo leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "I already told you, buddy. Just a harmless...what do you call it? Ah, just a harmless prank. Nobody got hurt." His gaze drifted down to his injured men, a faint hint of pity crossing his face. "Well, except them. I didn't expect you to rough them up so much. You really are in deep trouble ."

He chuckled, implying, as always, that love and trouble were synonymous. "But then, we all know you're no stranger to trouble," he added with a knowing glint in his eye. “Although, it is a first for this kinda trouble. I like it. I'm going to so enjoy this. You should let the others know. Wait… ” He took out his phone, “Let me save you the trouble.” He instantly typed something on his phone, and before I could snatch the damn thing out of his hand, my phone pinged with a notification. Pulling it out, I huffed after seeing the message in the group he sent.

Leonardo : Code Red! One of our soldiers has fallen.

Emir : About fucking time! At least one of us is getting some heat in their life.

Declan : Told ya Leo.

Emir : Wait a minute. So it’s not you, Declan?

Declan : What the fuck made you think it was me?

Emir : Lorenzo! You sneaky little bitch. Where the fuck are you?

I huffed, rubbing my temple after seeing their instant replies. “You are so dead, Chavez.”

Leonardo's smile remained, a look of self-assured victory painting his expression. "Chill out, would you? Let's have a drink. It's good that you came over. Now I can talk to you about the pending shipment," he said, motioning for me to take a seat across from him. I complied, settling in for what was likely going to be a long conversation.

"I thought that was delivered days ago," I responded with a frown.

"It was, but some local goons managed to intercept them during transit. We managed to recover all but one of the containers. My men reported it was lost somewhere along your coastline. Take care of it, would you?" Leonardo leaned back in his chair, the smoothness of his words and casual tone only heightening my suspicion.

I gave him a single nod, contemplating the situation as the door creaked open. A bundle of joy bound into the room, her energy contagious as she bounced across the floor and around the desk. "Daddy!" the little girl squealed, her small legs propelling her into Leonardo's lap with an infectious delight.

"Sophia, didn't you go to bed?" Leonardo's demeanor shifted to a playful yet firm parent.

"No, Uncle Mario didn't get me ice cream even though I cleaned my room," she complained, her face forming a pout.

At that moment, Mario, a trusted member of Leonardo's gang, rushed in, his breath coming in heavy from chasing the energetic child. His wide-eyed gaze landed on Sophia, who glared back at him defiantly. "Sophia, what are you doing?" Mario's voice was filled with concern, but Sophia's displeased expression told him he had no choice.

"I want ice cream," she insisted, crossing her arms and pouting in a manner only a child could master.

"Just get her some ice cream, Mario. But not too much." Leonardo sighed, his tone a blend of resignation and amusement.

Sophia's face lit up with joy as she bounced off Leonardo's lap and ran out of the office. As she left, I turned my attention back to Leonardo. "So," I smirked knowingly, "ever thought of getting yourself into trouble for her?"

Leonardo chuckled heartily, shaking his head. "Trust me, I would if I had the opportunity."

His response carried a mix of sincerity and fondness, his gaze following Sophia's retreating figure. It was clear she was his world, and while he navigated a dangerous world himself, he drew the line at exposing her to it. The brief interaction with Sophia brought out a softer side of him, a side that few ever got to witness.

***