Chapter 22: In Which He Is Summoned

Richard Takaheshi was sitting in the estate lounge with guards surrounding the area and Vincent standing to his side looking as if he was the closest member of the mafia family.
They had been waiting for the computer experts to crack their way into the firewall software that Ashton had put up in order to protect delicate data on his laptop but so far they were having no luck, the algorithm was quite complex.
"Sir, the hacker has given up, he says the coding is too complex and would take years to get through each barrier without the password" one of the men informed making Richard Takaheshi grit his teeth.
"Fine. We have no time to waste anymore, we will have the direct source come here. Call Ashton, tell him to head here in no more than twenty minutes or there will be consequences, no need to say more. I will handle the rest when he is here" Richard commanded.
"Yes sir" his men acknowledged.
Ashton had just gotten done with cleaning up the mess that the consignment shooting between the serpents and Takaheshi had left behind.
He now sat in his truck to take a breather before he had to cook up a plan to come with some reasonable explanation or something to explain to Richard Takaheshi about how his million dollar weaponry consignment got stolen.
His phone rang and he put the bottle of water that he was chugging down in order to receive it.
"Yes" he answered without greeting cause that's what he always did unless it was his girlfriend on the phone which he'd know before hand as a beautiful picture of her would light up on his screen whenever she called him.
"Ashton, I have orders directly from Mr. Takaheshi himself for you to be here right away, he expects you here in twenty tops or he says there would be consequences"
"What's this about?"
"You will know once you're here" with that the phone was hung up, leaving Ashton confused as to what emergency could it be, he just saw the mafia leader an hour or so ago.
In any case, his plan to stop by home for a decent lunch with Sora had been dumped in the gutter considering that he didn't want to find out what consequences he might have to face if he didn't show up at the Takaheshi estate within the given time, he already had enough problems in life.
Ashton was let inside the estate as soon as the guards at the gate saw his truck which was unusual because they usually made him stop for a little interrogation before letting him in.
Mr. Takaheshi must have informed them in advance which led Ashton to believe that the matter was more critical than he had initially thought.
Nevertheless, Ashton sauntered inside the main house with sweaty palms.
"Wait there" one of the men standing guard stopped him from entering through the doors.
Ashton halted in his steps and was patted down by the guard for weaponry for the second time today, this time though, he had an army knife he had tucked in his sock before exiting his truck, he didn't expect to be patted down like this since they never before did this with him when he came to this estate as they had started recognizing him since he was appointed as the right hand man of Mr. Takaheshi.
The guard soon found the knife tucked away in his sock and took it out giving Ashton a look but Ashton remained stoic even though he wanted to roll his eyes seeing as the guard was carrying a revolver in his jacket but a Swiss Army knife was being frowned upon.
It wasn't his fault that he wanted to keep a little something for his own safety when entering the lion's den.
The guard ushered Ashton inside after confiscating the knife.
"Finally, you're ten minutes late" Richard Takaheshi annoyed voice greeted Ashton as soon as he entered living area where the crime lord was perched on the couch with both arms resting on the backrest of the couch and a leg over the other, he was clearly anxious as his foot kept moving.
There were guards surrounding the whole living room area today but that was least of Ashton's concerns as his eyes landed on who stood right beside Richard Takaheshi.
Vincent.
Ashton's jaw ticked at the sight of him. That mother fucker annoyed him to no end.
But more importantly, what the hell was he doing here?
"The security measures were a bit tight today" Ashton stated without taking his eyes off Vincent who had a devilish smirk on his face.
Oh something was definitely wrong.
"Well it's because there have been some very serious allegations made against you but I'd like to give you the benefit of the doubt and prove yourself innocent"
Ashton didn't like where this was going. He could get in major trouble.
"What sort of allegations and from whom?" Ashton asked.
"I believe you know Vincent, he had been your partner on many jobs before, he claims that you are the mole in my team, you are the one who leaked all my weaponry consignment routes to the serpents, is that true?" Richard asked, his gaze scrutinizing.
Ashton was panicking on the inside but he kept his expression remote on the outside.
"I know Vincent, of course, he has been on assignments with me quite often but he is lying, You know I was reluctant to join your team as your right hand in the first place, if I wanted to betray you wouldn't have been sweeping off blood all these years, I would've thrived to work my way up in this organization. The only reason I am even here is because this is the life I was taught to lead and I am very well aware that you'd make my life a living hell if I leave, mine and everyone around me as well" Ashton lied through his teeth, or half lied.
Richard Takaheshi seemed to be convinced, so Ashton thought because his next demands made it clear that he was only half convinced.
"Fine then, prove it. We took the liberty to collect your laptop from your house, we're assuming that's what you use for work purposes, if not, we can go back and collect whatever it is that can prove that you had no hand behind this otherwise I am sorry to say but all the evidence points towards you"
Ashton's laptop was placed in front of him by one of the guards. His mind directly wandered off to Sora before he could worry about opening the laptop. He could only hope that she had left for her gandmother's place when they raided or at least hid well enough to not be found. There wasn't any indication that she was in their clutches as of yet and that was the only relief that he held on to.
"You should trust me enough to know that I wouldn't go against you without needing any evidence considering you promoted me as your right hand man, if I wasn't trustworthy then that means there was a lack of judgement on your side" Ashoton said, quite boldly.
"Silence you arrogant prick! I didn't want to do this but you have pissed me off now. Perhaps a little persuasion would make you hasten this up. Guards, bring her out" Richard Takaheshi bellowed.
Ashton was only left confused there for a moment before his jaw hardened and his fists clenched as he saw one of the guards carry out Sora from the huge double doors.