RECLAIM THE EMPIRE

It was 2:24 pm, the sun already out over the blood-soaked warehouse. We had barely slept, the adrenaline still coursing through our veins. I stood outside.

The crew told me about what happened though I hardly remembered. I slept immediately after they said, my hand has been tended to but we needed to move, who knows the new treats that may come.

We gathered our things and loaded into the cars. The drive was tense, everyone on high alert. El Rado sat beside me, his expression unreadable. "You know more about Father's holdings than I do," I said. "Where should we start?"

El Rado handed me a file. "These are his major properties. We'll start with the farm. It's nearby."

The farm was a sprawling estate, hidden behind high fences and guarded gates. As we approached, the guards stepped forward, their eyes narrowing at the sight of us. I stepped out of the car, Evander and El Rado flanking me.

"We're here to see the owner," I said, my voice steady and authoritative.

One of the guards, a burly man with a scar across his cheek, stepped forward. "And who might you be?"

I met his gaze unflinchingly. "Sebastian. The rightful heir. Now step aside."

The guard hesitated for a moment before stepping back, motioning for the others to do the same. "Welcome, Mr. Sebastian. The farm is yours."
This was too easy so I asked.
“Why.”

“Well let’s just say, everyone by now knows who you are and from the looks of it I also know where you are coming from.”

We moved through the gates, the tension palpable. The farm was well-maintained, a testament to my father's wealth and influence. Workers glanced up as we passed, their expressions a mix of curiosity and fear.

In the main house, I found the overseer, a grizzled man named Marcus. He looked me over with a critical eye. "You're his son, aren't you? The spitting image."

I nodded. "I'm here to reclaim what belongs to me. Are you going to give me any trouble?"

Marcus shook his head. "No trouble at all. Your father was a hard man, but he respected strength. Looks like you've got plenty of that."

With the farm secured, we moved on to the next property, a series of luxury apartments in the city. The buildings towered over us, gleaming in the morning light. We entered the main office, where the manager, a sleek woman named Carla, greeted us with a wary smile.

"Mr. Sebastian," she said, extending her hand. "We've been expecting you."

I shook her hand, noting the slight tremor in her grip. "Good. I trust everything is in order?"

"Yes, sir," Carla replied. "We've kept everything running smoothly in your father's absence. The tenants are... cooperative."

"Cooperative?" I raised an eyebrow. "I need more than cooperation. I need loyalty."

Carla nodded quickly. "Of course, sir. You have our loyalty."

As we moved from property to property, the pattern repeated. My father's name still carried weight, but it was my presence and determination that cemented our control. Skyscrapers, warehouses, even a car dealership—each one fell under my command.

At the second mansion, my father's former home, the staff lined up to greet us. The head butler, an elderly man named Thomas, stepped forward. "Welcome home, Mr. Sebastian."

"Thank you, Thomas," I said, looking around the grand foyer. "I trust everything is in order?"

"Yes, sir," Thomas replied. "We've maintained the estate as per your father's instructions."

I nodded, satisfied. "Good. This will be our base of operations. Make sure the security is tight. No one gets in without my permission."

As we settled into the mansion, I took a moment to reflect on the day's events. Each property we reclaimed was a step closer to solidifying my position, but there was still much to be done. My father's underground business was next on the list.

Evander handed me another file, this one detailing the various enterprises my father had kept hidden from the public eye. "There's a lot here," he said. "Illegal arms deals, drug trafficking, gambling dens. You name it."

I smiled, flipping through the pages. "We'll need to clean this up. Get rid of the untrustworthy and impute the blind followers. And we'll do it better than he ever did."

Our first stop was an underground casino, hidden beneath a seemingly abandoned building. The entrance was guarded, but a quick show of force got us in. Inside, the air was thick with smoke and tension. Gamblers looked up as we entered, their expressions turning to fear as they recognized me.

"I'm taking over," I announced. "Anyone who has a problem with that can leave now."

A few men stood, their hands hovering near their weapons. Evander stepped forward, his presence enough to make them think twice. They sat back down, grumbling but compliant.

The casino manager, a slick man named Vinnie, approached us. "Mr. Sebastian, we didn't expect you so soon."

"Surprise inspection," I said dryly. "From now on, things will be different. We'll run this place clean. No more cheating the customers. And you'll answer directly to me."

“Common, this is a casino, all we do is cheat, we cant play fair..” He said laughing slightly as he looked at me.

“I Agree, but I know your kind, you steal from the customers, some you kill when they gain too much or, let me put it this way, when they win too much, luck is luck, but you can set a limit, raise this limit, up and down for special days and see maybe you won’t get your fair share of men with betting problems.” I said to him but he looked away in somewhat dissatisfaction.
“Am io clear?” I said to him my gaze strongly upon him.

Vinnie nodded quickly. "Understood, sir. We'll make the necessary changes."

The rest of the day was spent visiting similar establishments—clubs, warehouses, and other fronts for my father's illicit activities. Each one fell in line, their operators quickly realizing that resistance was futile, some I allowed because they had no other use but to be what they are.

As night fell, we returned to the mansion, exhausted but victorious. I sat in my father's second office, surrounded by files and documents. The weight of my new responsibilities settled on my shoulders, but I welcomed it. This was my empire now, and I intended to rule it with an iron fist.

Evander entered the room, a rare smile on his face. "Not bad for a day's work."

I leaned back in the chair, allowing myself a moment of satisfaction. "Not bad at all. But there's still more to do. We need to make sure every corner of this city knows who's in charge."

"And they will," Evander said confidently. "You've already made quite an impression."

I glanced at the clock, noting how late it had become. "We'll start again tomorrow. For now, we rest."

As I lay in my bed that night, the events of the day played over in my mind. We had come a long way, but the journey was far from over. I had reclaimed my father's empire, but now I needed to make it my own. And I would stop at nothing to ensure that everyone knew the name Sebastian—the ruthless mafia lord who took what was his and built an empire that no one could challenge.