88 - The Unwanted Gift

Lucus

It’s quiet for a typical day over at the compound. Grant currently off doing business over in the city while Alex is off training new recruits for our ever growing Omega teams, while Tony on the other hand is just down the hallway should I need him for anything of importance.

Sighing, I move to take a glance over to my computer monitors, monitors that are currently opened on my laptop computer. A heavy thunderstorm currently raging just outside the house as water continues to hit against the large window panels.

Another sigh rising as I move to watch the screens. Isabella, our Queen is currently napping in one of the overly big chaise loungers that we have in there, a book laying carefully next to her as she continues to sleep peacefully. Completely unaware of her surroundings or to the storm that raged just outside her window. Unphased by the booming or that of the lightning as the weather continued to pelt against the roofs of the house.

Smiling, I continue to just admire our Queen. Isabella growing more beautiful with each passing day and it was definitely something that me and the guys always seemed to notice with each day that we are graced by her presence.

Groaning, I move to return my focus back to the task at hand. A task that I was supposed to be doing before I got side tracked by Isabella. The ever tedious paperwork of the business. For while it wasn’t always glamorous, someone had to make sure it got done and unfortunately today it was me who was the lucky winner.

Reaching for my first sheet of paper I almost have it brought to where I can see it when a knock suddenly sounds against my Office door. A frown rising at who it could possibly be.

“Yes? Come in?”

Now waiting patiently for whoever it could be, I mentally prepare myself for who it could be when suddenly I see Marco. My focus now solely on him especially when he enters the room silently.

“Marco? What’s wrong?”

Watching me with completely mixed emotions within his eyes does it take him a good solid minute to gather his bearings. Almost as if he was trying to get his emotions under control for what he was about to tell me.

“Um, Boss. I think there’s something that you should know. And it involves Isabella, Sir.” begins Marco, still trying to gather his wits.

“What about Isabella?” I ask, now waiting for him to continue.

“She received a package, Sir. With it came this” offers Marco as he moves to hand me a card. A black card. A card that was written very neatly in fine gold print. My breath suddenly hitching when I move to see what was written on top of it.

The words making my blood run cold like ice as I read it clear as day. 

*We’re coming for you, our dear sweet Isabella.*

*Soon, you and your heart will forever belong to us and only us.*

Quick to stand, I find myself now rushing for the door. My body instantly running from the room as I move to head for the foyer. Marco hot on my heels as he moves to follow me. A part of me knowing that Marco and the others wouldn’t bring the package any further than the front door without proper approval.

Upon reaching the foyer, I instantly pause. My eyes now scanning the room until my eyes finally land on the big black box. A box that could stick out like a sore thumb anywhere as I move to approach it carefully. Mentally preparing myself for what I might see upon opening the lid. My hands lifting it slowly as I did.

Pausing within my actions, do my eyes move to take in the most disturbing scene ever. A scene so horrific that never in my entire life could I even bring myself to do it. For fuck sake. Whoever did this had a funny twisted sense of humor to them.

For while I might be a cruel hearted bastard and did my fair share of disturbing life choices, this one by far took the cake. It was like a whole new level of cruelty.

My hand quick to close the lid as the sudden need to puke rises. Having not felt like this since I was roughly six years old I move to whip out my phone. My fingers flying across keys as I move to text the guys. Grant and Alex both letting me know that they were both on their way back while Tony said that he would join me in the Office soon.

Panicked, I move to summon more guards. Sending four of them quickly up towards the library and to where our Queen laid sleeping while I moved to get to the bottom of this. Marco on clean up duty as he moves to take pictures for our own personal records while in the process of removing the box.

“Marco” I growled, catching his attention as I did. “Where did this box come from?” I bark clearly wanting answers right then and there.

“It was dropped off, Sir. Over by the east side of the compound, by the gate”

Growling louder, I mentally move to curse myself. Of course the fucking gate over by the east side. For while the box did have a waterproof covering due to the raging storm that was going on outside, the east side was also completely unguarded most of the time only guarded by cameras. Plus it didn’t help matters either when the box completely turned up fingerless, not one damn fingerprint anywhere along the big black box.

Having been delivered by courier instead of delivered by mail, Marco agreed to look into the local courier service. Hoping to find some sort of lead as to who it was that wanted it delivered. And while it could possibly be a long shot and even a dead end I had to believe Marco would pull through. For Isabella’s sake as well as our own we had to at least try.

“Thank you Marco, let me know what you find out. I’ll be upstairs in the Office, waiting for the guys to arrive if you should need me” is all I say as I move to head back the way I came, Tony already there within the Office as we both move to wait for Grant and Alex to return back home.

A few short minutes later….

“What the actual fuck Lucus? Who does that?” asks Tony, anger and worry both lacing his voice once he too saw the pictures of the content within the box addressed to Isabella. His eyes on me as I move to enter the room.

“I really don’t know man. But whoever it was, has a fucked up mind. A sick and twisted one at that.”

Upon returning to the Office, I move to take a seat. Tony and I both waiting for Grant and Alex to arrive just as they both move to enter the room just shortly after myself. Both clearly not happy about the news either, having been briefed by Enzo who was probably briefed by Marco during clean up.

The four of us now huddled around my desk as we each tried to think of logical solutions. Solutions that would help ease all of our minds until Alex finally moves to speak up after being quiet most of the time he’d been back home.

“What if- What if we personally train her? Ourselves?” offers Alex, his suggestion causing the rest of us to look at him for a moment.

“Dude you can’t be-” I begin only to pause when he moves to speak again.

“Hear me out. I mean, we all know we want her. Mind. Body. and Soul. And hopefully the way things have been going she’ll eventually become the perfect little sub as well as the perfect girlfriend. But, and this is the tricky part of it all. What if we train her for the Mafia side of our lives too? I mean, we all know her father is already a Mob Boss, an Italian Mob Boss given their origin so she’s already kinda familiar with our lifestyle and what we do. And as much as I want to always be there and protect her with my life, there’s still that constant “what if” running in the back of my mind.”

Pausing now in his words, we all begin to see it. A small shimmer of wetness within his eyes as he tries not to break down at the thought of ever losing Isabella even for a second. All of us knowing just how much was truly riding on this. Our lives. Our happiness. Our Queen.

“Plus, if by some weird chance these crazy SOB’s do manage to get to her before we do, I need to know she has the tools accessible to her in order to protect herself when needed until we’re able to get there and save her.”

When falling silent yet again crosses his mind do I move to approach him slowly, my hand comin to rest against his shoulder as I move to speak up. Hoping my words would assure him that we would do everything within our power to protect what was ours.

“I can’t agree with you more. Trust me brother, we’ll do everything within our power to ensure our Queen stays safe, even until our last dying breath.”

Nodding his head does Alex finally move to leave the room. A part of me knowing that he was now seeking comfort from Isabella’s presence. His one source of comfort. Grant, Tony and I all moving to do the same. To find our woman, our safe haven. Our home. The need to be with her now, way more important than anything else in that given moment.