Chapter 105 An Unexpected Event

(Jean Luc POV)

Tonight's event of the French Mafia was to commemorate the rise of the Caïd. He had been the head for more than 2 decades and he wanted to celebrate it to rub it in our faces.

It was an extravagant affair held in his 5 star hotel. However, those who have had run ins with the police were asked to enter in the back entrance through a secret door where the vegetable, fruit and meat trucks were parked so they wouldn't be seen. The rest could enter through the front and enter the grand lobby and walk through the carpeted floors towards the ballrooms.

Since I had longstanding relationship with the law, I had to enter the hotel at the back where a long queue of low-ranking associates had already formed. It was time to push my weight around to get in first. I saw a Councillor among those in line and I coughed to get his attention.

"Haut Consieller, good evening," he greeted me then yelled at the others, "Step aside. The High Councillor needs to enter." One by one, they stepped aside, nodding their heads in acknowledgement. I walked right into the entrance through the metal detectors and scanners to the men frisking the guests. The Caïd was making sure no one entered his hotel armed.

From security, we were given a direct path to the ballroom through the doors used by the staff. I saw a door on the side being used by the servers  just before the ballroom entrance and I turned to the side door to make an exit.

Through that door, I entered an empty ballroom. The servers were entering a side door that lead to the kitchen area. I decided to take the main entrance of the empty ballroom knowing I'd be able to find my way to the lobby after.

I open the door and exit the empty ballroom and close the door behind me when suddenly I hear a voice behind me.

"High Councillor, is that the ballroom we are suppose to go to?" I turn around to see a very handsome couple in front of me. Both had green eyes and were both clearly amused to see me sneaking.

"Ah Fang, I made a mistake. I thought this was the ballroom." I lied, embarrassed I was caught entering through the back of the hotel. They both laughed at my outright lie. The ballroom was at the end of the hallway where woman in gowns and men in tuxes or suits were entering. The sound of music and laughter can be heard as the guests open the double doors to walk in.

"You must have been preoccupied then, Monsiuer...?" The tall beautiful woman with an English accent was asking for my name. I just stood there tongue-tied while she waited for me to speak, smiling, her pearly white teeth twinkling in the light.

"Celeste, this is the Haut Consieller, Jean Luc Dupont. High Councillor, I present my sister, Celeste Ashcroft."

"Ah, this is he, the High Councillor, you speak so highly about. It is a privilege to meet you, Monsieur." Her green eyes were captivating. I could imagine myself with her beside me, ruling the French Mafia. I shake my head of my thoughts. I was getting ahead of myself.

"Call me Jean Luc, Mademoiselle Celeste." I croak out.

"Sorry, I didn't quite catch that." She leaned towards me, her ear towards my mouth, and I took a sniff. She smelled like a bouquet of red roses, so sweet. It was a heady scent. I just felt myself wanting to be with her and only her.

"Jean Luc. You can call me Jean Luc." I say with more confidence. I am the High Councillor after all.

"And who do we have here, causing traffic along the hallway?" We all turned to the source of the voice. The Caïd was walking with the she-wolf Ava on his arm while the Parrain was alone just as I, with a sulking look on his face. "Ah, Fang. My boy. This lovely lady is the sister you fondly talk about?"

"Yes, Caïd. I would like to present my sister, Celeste." The Caïd takes Celeste's hand and kisses it. I hear a growl come out from me. Everyone looked at me surprised. I myself was surprised. Fang made a low chuckle and proceeded to introduce the Parrain.

"Parrain, my sister, Celeste." The Parrain was about to take the hand of Celeste to kiss it when the Caïd took Celeste's hand and hooked her arm into his and guided her into the ballroom. Ava looked surprised leaving her behind, but Fang took her hand and hooked her arm into his and she smiled, allowing him to escort her into the ballroom.

We all entered and we saw a crowd of well wishers fawning over the beautiful Celeste. Tall and svelte, her diamonds sparkling under the light and her long think brown hair moving gracefully as she moved, the curls bouncing back into place when she stood still. The Caïd knew he would gain more attention with the elegant Celeste by his side instead of the she-wolf Ava, who was wearing a red dress with a low deep v in the front and a high slit on the side that almost showed part of her buttocks. Celeste was like an angel in white.

"Seems my sister has gained all the attention." Fang stops beside me, amused his sister was the center of attention.

"She's very beautiful. I...uhm, we, did not expect her to be to be so..." I couldn't find the words to describe her. Magnificent, stunning, glamorous?

"High Councillor, she is indeed beautiful. However, maybe you should see her without the pretense. In a more relaxed setting, like having a cup of tea or perhaps coffee." That was a good suggestion. I am a single wolf and when I sniffed her, I smelled the wolf in her. I have been looking for a mate to carry my heir. She would be perfect and I would be the envy of every man with her by my side.

"You'll have to fall in line then. The Caïd is married and Celeste is not the type to be a kept woman. I could give her the security she deserves." The Parrain straightens the bow of his tuxedo and walks to the table where Celeste was seated.

Fang laughs and shakes his head. "These humans are just plain clueless. Enjoy the night." Fang walks to Maximus' table and seats Ava beside him. The wolves huddle together, discussing something and for the first time I wanted to be a part of their group.

The group closest to Celeste.

_____________

(Hope POV)

The Boss of the mafia was now my date for the evening. It was perfect. I didn't have to go to his table and flirt to gain his attention. I was beside him without doing anything to gain his attention.

When he touched my hand, I saw the death of his mother, his hard life as an orphan, his escape from the orphanage and his life of crime. All he knew was crime, but now that he is getting old, he wanted to retire and hand over the reigns to someone young, capable and fair. He liked Maximus and Fang, he wasn't keen on handing the leadership to the Parrain nor the High Councillor.

Maximus and Fang were well liked by many of the low ranking members of the mafia because they were fair and never asked for more than they agreed. They despised the Parrain because his cut was always bigger than the Caïd's which didn't leave much for the rest.

"Celeste, champagne?" The Parrain placed a  glass of champagne on the table, in front of me. I sniffed it, there was a peculiar smell coming from it. The champagne was laced with something. Before I could decline, Jean Luc snatched it up.

"No, no, no, Mademoiselle Celeste. It is better to drink from a newly opened bottle." He called one of the servers who had a bottle in his hand and opened it with a resounding pop. The server then poured the champagne in empty glasses on a cart beside him. Then he handed a glass to each one of us at the table.

"Here, ma cherie. CLEAN, crisp and with a fresh aroma." Jean Luc dumped the contents of the glass in a container at the bottom of the cart and placed the used glass on top of it. The server nodded his head and pushed the cart towards the bar.

"You wasted a good glass of champagne." The Parrain rolled his eyes in disdain. Jean Luc laughed at what he said.

"Next time, I will give you the glass to drink, oui?" Jean Luc eyed the Parrain warily then he turned to me. "Drink, Mademoiselle Celeste. The champagne is excellent!" He raised his glass in toast. "Vive le Caïd!" Everyone raises their glass and takes a sip.

"You are in good spirits tonight, High Councillor." The Caïd stands up and puts a hand on his shoulder. "Let us drink and be merry!"

"À votre santé! To your health, Caïd!", exclaims Jean Luc and they both drink to the toast, loving the taste of success. Fang and Maximus join the merriment at our table while the Parrain sulks in a corner.

Jacques and Jean Luc... they both had the same built, same beautiful ebony skin, same pouty mouth. There was a resemblance between them that Jean Luc did not seem to recognize. I wonder if the others in the mafia have.

The group of men at our table started singing and I looked on amused. They were having such a good time when the event organizer told Caïd it was time for his speech.

Everyone went back to their respective tables while Jean Luc takes the seat beside me. The Caïd was about to start his speech when the Parrain suddenly stood up from where he sat, clutching his chest. "I...can not...brea--", he uttered before collapsing on the floor, unconscious.

"Andre! Get the doctor and call an ambulance hurry!" The Caïd ordered one of his men as he rushed to the side of his friend. He grabbed the Parrain's hand, a worried look on his face.

The doctor came and after making an assessment started CPR. A stretcher was rolled in by a pair of EMTs and they lifted the Parrain's body onto it to wheel him out.

The Caïd watched as his friend exited the ballroom in a stretcher. As much as he wanted to go to the hospital, he couldn't. The police would arrrest him in a heartbeat. There was nothing he could do, but continue with the party.

He walks to the podium and picks up the microphone. "The Parrain has just had a heart attack. Maximus, you will be acting Parrain for the meantime."

I saw Jean Luc's face crumble.