157- This Means WAR!

**Third Person**

“Marcello?”

Now standing within a room full of angry looking men does Marcello move to glare at each of those present. His jaw fractured even as he attempts to speak. His words laced with a venomous tone.

“Father”

“What the… How in the bloody hell did this happen?” barks Jace. His eyes now on those of his brother. Marcello the third oldest out of four brothers. Jace unable to comprehend the reasoning behind Marcello’s betrayal.

Jace still trying to hold onto his happy memories of when he, Ronin, Blake and Marcello would all live a carefree life. The feeling of betrayal now rising over everything else he was currently feeling.

“I’ll tell you how it happened. It would seem here that young Marc had decided to slip away when he thought no one was looking, except, what Marc didn’t know about was of all our new updated security features and what they managed to capture without him knowing” explains Tony, his fingers now quick to tap a few keys upon his tablet. A piece of him happy that they made the modifications back when they did otherwise they would be hunting down an unknown suspect.

Tony quick to pull up the footage of Marcello as he moves to look over his shoulder. Quick to make sure no one was following him before making his phone call to his unknown source. The sound of ringing soon filling the room followed by a voice. A voice that Lucus and his brothers would not forget anytime soon so long as they lived.

“WHAT?!” barks the voice of Antonio, his voice clearly annoyed that he was being interrupted.

“Sirs…. We have a slight little problem”

“What problem? Speak!”

“It’s about the wedding. The one involving Lucus and your girl. It’s happening, now” explains Marcello, his voice now a whisper even as he moves to talk to Antonio and his brothers.

“What?! What do you mean now? That can’t be right” snaps Angelo, clearly pissed they had been lied too. Antonio, Vincent and Lucia unable to form words in that exact moment.

“Exactly. We were told it would be in another 2 weeks” yells Vincent, clearly finding his voice as he moves to speak up next.

“Sorry Sirs, but it’s totally true. My father along with both Jace and Blake are all here too. And had I not known what I was seeing when I did, I wouldn’t have believed it myself. But no. I clearly saw Isabella being escorted down the aisle by my father and hers” explains Marcello. Marcello’s distain for his own family clear as day as venom dripped from each word. The name of Isabella not sitting well with those within the room.

Screams of profanities soon greet the air as each of them continued to watch the feed. Marcello clearly flinching at how loud Antonio and his brothers were being on the other end of the phone.

The audio feed soon silent as those within the room move to pause. Making those present think that call had dropped only to for Antonio to speak once more.

“Alrighty then. If those cock suckers wanna play hard ball then hard ball we’ll play. Stay where you are. We’re sending you some of our most trusted men over to you. They’ll be there shortly.”

“Alright Sirs. But… what about our deal? You said you’d handle my entire family” asks Marcello, his voice now cautious as he spoke.

“Don’t worry, we will. And you’ll still inherit the family business along with Lucus’s European companies. But for now, just keep your eyes open and your lips sealed. And above all, Don’t. Get. Caught.”

Then, with that said does the audio finally go dead. The men within the room now watching Marcello who was still currently chained by Lucus’s men. Marcello still glaring at those within the room even as Tony continued with the evidence. “Later during the night, Marcello received another phone call. One that had him leaving the reception” explains Grant, his voice calm even though he was anything but calm. No, he along with those present wanted revenge for what happened.

“That’s not even the half of it either. Our security feeds manage to catch Marco observing Marcello for a while at least before moving to follow him. Clearly not trusting him. Marco soon calling in backup. The footage eventually showing them all near the northern part of the compound” replies Tony, quick to pull up more and more footage of the grueling scene.

With the footage now playing do those within the room continue to watch. The video showing glimpses of Marcello now standing with a group of men. Men who were clearly not theirs. Marco also quick to notice as he moves to call in for more backup.

Yet, unfortunately, even with the added backup, was Marco physically unprepared for what was about to happen to them next. The cameras quick to spot hundreds of more men now hiding among the trees. Men that belonged to Antonio and his brothers as they soon surround Marco and his men.

A brutal blood bath soon erupting among the trees as each of their men were brutally stabbed or had their necks slashed. Marco the only one of the group to be shot directly within the back of his head.

The video still playing. Even as everyone watched helplessly as Antonio’s men began hacking up each of their men. Axes in hand. Marcello currently giving directions on what to do. The scene enough to make anyone nauseous.

“And.. if your wondering about the sign that you found hanging from Marco, it was all on Marcello here. He was the one who wrote it” says Tony with an afterthought before continuing.

“Our men here of course soon caught him trying to flee the property. And upon immediate capture managed to find 2 sets of phones plus 1 burner phone along with pictures that he sent to a group of unknown numbers. Numbers I can only assume belonged to Antonio, Angelo, Vincent and Lucia as proof of what he did.”

The room now silent as emotions ran high from everything that happened. Alexis now moving to stand up. His movements slow and deliberate. Alexis soon moving to punch that of his son. The sound of something breaking soon filling the air as Marcello now laid upon the office floor.

“Take him away. I no longer wish to see this piece of trash. He’s no longer my son nor apart of this family. For not only did he brutally murder your friend and commander but those of your men in cold hard death. Not to mention he dare threaten my niece and your Queen. So for that, my family and I move to wash our hands clean of him” growls Alexis, his eyes cold along with those of Jace and his brother Blake. Neither of them caring what happened to Marcello as Lucus’s men soon dragged him away.

Alexis soon turning to address Lucus and Matteo along with Roberto. “My apologies. To you and your family. My sons and I had no idea that Marcello would do this. Treachery isn’t allowed but rest assure that my sons and I will do a full sweep of our men. You have my word as a Pardou.”

“Don’t apologize my friend. You couldn’t have known. But your words do mean a lot to us in this time of need” replies Matteo, a sad smile now rising upon his face as he moves to think of his daughter. Isabella strong but only strong to a point. Eventually she would collapse from all the things happening around her.

The sound of the door soon catching their attention as eyes move to see who had entered. The men soon seeing Sophia and Angelica. Both wearing similar expressions.

“It’s true my friend” replies Angelica as she moves to stand next to her husband. The men knowing it wasn’t a question but that of a statement.

Sophia quick to speak up as well as she moves to stand next to Roberto. Her eyes now locked on those of her son. “No mercy for them Lucus. No mercy at all.” Lucus and his brothers soon grunting in approval, glad his mother agreed just as Sophia moved to speak again. “Go. Go to Isabella. She needs you all like you need her. Now go.”

“Besides, we have it from here. So go. Enjoy your wedding night. Life’s too short for any regrets. And what perfect way of showing her that, then with that of her honeymoon” chimes Angelica, deciding on adding in her last two cents.

“They’re right you no. Life’s too short son. Jace and I, along with Matteo and Roberto will handle things here while your gone. Go, enjoy a little alone time with your Queen. Heavens know that she needs it” offers Alexis, hoping that his words would give them the push needed to go through with the honeymoon.

“Exactly. Now GO! Go make us some grand babies. GO”

At the mention of children do Lucus and his brothers turn red. Each of them remembering when Isabella had asked them for a child. Now quick to wish everyone good night do each of them soon rush from the room. The four of them now heading for Isabella. Isabella already awake and waiting. Her body naked as she sat there waiting for them. The need to forget what she saw now pressing because tomorrow they would grieve.

Grieve for those who lost their lives all thanks to Antonio and his men. But tonight, tonight was for her because no matter what life threw at her, her love for her men would never die. And if Antonio and his brothers wanted a war, then a war they would get.