Chapter 75 Chief

*One*

I was at home relaxing at the penthouse suite of my Manhattan apartment building when my phone rang.

Here we go again. Elder Eric Lockwood calling me to do his dirty work. To be honest, there was no bad blood between me and his son Lucas. I haven't even met the guy. Yes, it was really tough for us rogues to find a sanctuary when we were living in Jersey, but that's how packs normally operate. They always needed to make sure their territory was secure.

I do know that Lucas had a piece of property where he would allow orphans and rogues to stay. Actually, when Second and I were trying to look for a place to stay, we did contemplate heading to that safe haven. Fortunately, I became One and even if we lived in campsites and trailer parks, we had a good thing going. That is, until Eric Lockwood gave us an opportunity which has made me rich as well as settled. There are times I regret killing all those wolves of Alpha Connor's pack, but they were a means to an end.

"Diana? E.L., first it was Lucas, then Athena now your granddaughter too? Can't you just be like any normal loving grandfather and welcome her with open arms?" I asked him. A little girl like her couldn't have possibly taken down my small team of rogues. Eric Lockwood was just saying that so I wouldn't have any qualms killing her.

"She's a half breed abomination. Why on earth would I welcome her with open arms?" I knew it was meant to be a rhetorical question.

"Because she's your son's daughter? E.L., killing your whole family off isn't going to be productive for you. Who's going to take over the empire if I kill all of them? Chase? You know Chase isn't the CEO type. He's more of the spoilt little rich kid who lives like he doesn't have a purpose in life," I answered.

"So are you meaning to tell me you don't care if any of your rogues are missing? The server named Dos turned out to be Lucas's Beta Michael."

"Hold on. Second isn't there?" He should have just started with that.

"Not that I'm aware of, no. Alpha Connor is here though. He's seated with Lucas right now," Eric Lockwood said. So Lucas was alive. I knew it was a hoax.

"See Eric. This girl named Diana couldn't have possibly killed Second. It must've been Connor. That I think is more probable. Sorry Eric. I'm not going to kill this girl named Diana. While you call her a half-breed, I see her as one of us, a minority, an outcast. Wolves like us stick together. Anyway, I know a way to find out Second's whereabouts. He has a tracking chip on him."

"You kill Diana, One, and I promise I will make it worth your while," Eric Lockwood said, trying to bargain with me.

"What do you have to offer me that I don't already have?" I asked him.

"Why I don't know. What do you want?" Lockwood asked.

"The Mage actually. But I doubt you know where he is," I replied.

How about property? I still have that building in Manhattan," he said. Good deal, but I really didn't need a building in Manhattan. I already have one.

"I'll think about E.L. For now, I have no beef with her. Why don't you ask Chase to start pulling his weight? He can't just keep partying and not do anything. It's time he got his hands dirty like the rest of us," I said.

"So, is that a no? How about I tell the Wolf Troops where to find you? I don't think you want to spend your whole life in a silver cell," he threatened. I laughed. He had balls this Elder.

"Sure. And when they come pick me up, I can tell them that you are the head of this entire operation. Remember, I have evidence against you, E.L. You can share a cell with that old hag Minerva Allen and rot there for the rest of your life. Then, Lucas and Athena will get everything. And oh that goes for your boy, Chase. If I go down, I'll make sure you and Chase come with me,"I replied.

"You think you're so clever, One."

"And you think everyone is beneath you, E.L. It's about time you show me some god damn respect! If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be rich. I read the business section. I know Athena is just keeping your empire afloat." I paused and sighed. "I told you I'll think about it. But if you find the mage for me, I will do it in a heartbeat. You have my word, E.L."

"Fine. I will do what I can to locate the mage," he said, finally giving in. "One, if you fail, there will be dire consequences. I want Diana Lockwood-Crowne dead as soon as possible. It would make me happy to see her corpse on the floor of this very ballroom." So his granddaughter mated with that Alpha we had been looking for. Now I know the reason why Eric Lockwood wants her dead.

"That's suicide, E.L., and you know it. Just leave it to me. I'll have your granddaughter on her knees, begging for her life, in the very near future. For now, enjoy the party. You're supposed to be nominated as High Councilman after all." I hung up.

That old man should have just killed all his kids when they were children. Or he shouldn't have mated in the first place. What a prick!

Now I had to find Second. Connor, I assumed, would keep him alive to get information on me. That I was banking for. What they didn't know, and I assumed this too, was Second has a tracker on him. Because of all our enemies, we both decided to have trackers inserted in our hip. Just in case one of us goes missing, we could track each other. I opened my laptop to find out where he was. Calling his phone would be risky, especially if Connor had it. I didn't want to alert Connor. He'd definitely yank Second's head off from his body.

It took several minutes, but I was able to lock on Second's location. He was at the Four Seasons on one of the top floors. Definitely in one of the suites.

Now how the hell am I supposed to get to him? Through the helipad? Nah, Wolf Troops would probably patrolling the area. I'd have to wait for them to take him out of the hotel. I was already deciding on a course of action when I heard a knock on my door. What is it this time? I walked to the door of my home and opened it. One of my men was waiting outside.

"One, Chief is here."

"Let him through," I ordered.

I waited for him to exit the elevator that led to my home. He was a big and mean looking wolf. All muscle. Yet, even if he was big, he was a master of stealth and could kill without a second thought. He was one of the reasons why my operation ran so smoothly, but he was expensive to hold on to. Very expensive.

He was carrying a box which I suspected had elixir inside it. I had heard they raided the Hamptons Allen Estate to find evidence of her involvement in the elixir trade.

"Chief, I see you come bearing gifts. Come in and perhaps join me for a drink," I greeted him. He grunted and walked inside my home without even a smile. Well, he had horrible teeth anyway.

Chief was what usually any wolf would believe a rogue to look like. He had jet black hair, black eyes, a square jaw and a permanent resting bitch face. He had this scar that ran from the corner of his right eye all the way down to his upper lip which made his dark face so menacing. They said he got it from his old man who used to physically abuse the shit out of him. Well, he grew up to become a savage Wolf Troop while his father was found dead at his home, sitting in his favorite chair with a silver knife stuck in his head. Speculation, Chief had done it, but he had an alibi. He was at the barracks when it happened. Clean. Now he's Chief of the Wolf Troops.

How did I get him under my payroll? Chief here wanted a life of luxury since his family when he was growing were dirt poor. Apparently, he couldn't get rich from a Wolf Troop's salary. That's when he started to gamble. It all started at the barracks and they would play poker to pass the time. He found it very rewarding when he would clean out his team. He wagered he could win more at the casino and that's where I stepped in.

All the rogues knew him. Why wouldn't we? He was a legend in law enforcement and he was the one wolf we didn't want showing up at our doorstep in the middle of the night.

He won big and when I gave him a complimentary stay at the suite, I walked in and introduced myself.

"Why do you gamble?" I asked. It was an innocent question. I wanted to know if he had an addiction.

"I want to make money," he said. If you thought his face and demeanor were scary, his deep voice was even scarier. He sounded like the devil.

"How about you help me? I will make it worth your while," I told him.

"How much are you offering?" He asked.

"How much do you want?" I asked.

"How about a starting fee of a million with a monthly wage of one hundred grand a month? I also want a nice apartment and a nice car. And if you have gold, I want some of that too," he answered. At first he was reasonable, but now he cost way too much. I had to increase the price of the elixir just so I had enough money to pay him. Well, he did allow my men to escape from the Mage's mansion with all the elixir in tow. I paid him so much might as well use him.

He stopped in front of the coffee table of my living room area and placed the box on the table.

"A box of elixir. I'm keeping the rest for myself," he told me.

"No problem. I have something I need you to do. Second I believe is being held at the Four Seasons Hotel. I need you to get him out for me and bring him to me."

"Show me where he is," he instructed. I pointed at my laptop that was on the coffee table. He picked up the laptop and looked at the screen. "I see he's at the Four Seasons." He dragged his finger on the mouse. "This is near the High Lord Wolf's suite. Any idea who has him?"

"I'm assuming an Alpha Connor. At the moment he's at the Christmas Ball which is being held in one of the ballrooms at the lower level of the hotel," I answered.

He nodded his head and turned to the foyer to  leave when I remembered the she-wolf Diana. Might as well have her assassinated so I could get Eric Lockwood off my back.

"By the way, there's a certain Diana Lockwood-Crowne I need taken care of. I'll pay you double your monthly fee if you can finish her off for me," I told him. He stopped and turned around to face me.

"Is there a specific deadline?" Chief asked.

"None, but of course the sooner the better." I took several bundles of money from a small chest I had on a side table. "Here's a downpayment. I'll give you the rest when you show me proof she's dead."

He nodded his head once again, took the money and began walking towards the door. I followed him, keeping a safe distance. I wasn't scared of being captured. I was scared he'd kill me. He opened the door to my home and suddenly turned around to face me.

"Make sure my money is ready when I've completed my mission. I will not take kindly to delays," Chief said before walking out the door and closing it behind him.

I heaved a sigh of relief. Killing Diana won't be a problem after all.

____________________

*Chief*

I stepped into the front seat of the black car that was parked inside the car park of the rogue's building. I placed the money in the glove compartment and glanced at my lieutenant who was beside another one of my men at the back seat.

"We have something important to do. Call ahead and have my chopper ready for us," I ordered.

"Yes Sir," my lieutenant said, taking out his phone from his pocket.

"See who is patrolling the Four Seasons helipad. Tell them to vacate the premises for my arrival," I instructed. "Also, I need information on a Diana Lockwood-Crowne. If she is at the Christmas Ball, I need someone to tail her. If they can, kill her without any evidence."

"Very well, Sir.

I fixed myself in my seat. "You," I looked at the driver, "drive."

Double my monthly fee. Half a million dollars. I just needed to pay my men several thousand dollars each and the rest would be mine. I could buy that diamond necklace for the woman I have been seeing. She gave me joy in this cruel world thus, she deserved every luxury this world had to offer.

I hear the incessant tapping in the back seat from the two men behind me who were hurrying to do my bidding. My lieutenant was finished giving instructions to our pilot. I assumed he was now looking through the list of men we sent to protect the High Lord Wolf.

"Calloway, you are to vacate the helipad as well as the two floors below. By order of the Chief," I heard my lieutenant say. "We will be taking over security." He paused listening to the Wolf Troop. "Sir, Calloway and his men are vacating the premises."

"Good," I said. The other wolf troop who was beside my lieutenant coughed to get my attention.

"Sir, I have that information you wanted. Diana Lockwood-Crowne is the daughter of Lucas Lockwood. She is one of the guests of honor of the High Lord Wolf."

I sighed. My job was never easy. "Who's in charge of the security there?" I asked.

"Sir, Captain Hathaway." I closed my eyes and shook my head. He was one wolf that couldn't be bought. Him and his team. He knew my men and if he saw one of them inching his way to get to her, it will raise a red flag. No way of getting to her tonight.

"Have one of our men tail her and remind him to be cautious. Hathaway will kill him if he sniffs anything unusual. Diana can live another day," I told them. "Tonight, it's a rescue mission. We are tasked to get Second out from one of the suites of the Four Seasons. Brief the men and make sure everything is ready."

"Yes, Sir."

We finally arrived at the warehouse which we use as our headquarters. My team was ready and the helicopter was already in place. I took my gun out of my holster and checked if it was fully loaded.

"Men, remember....NO WITNESSES."