Episode 8

Xavier Bulgare.

After spending the afternoon handling the financials of the operation, I jump on my bike and head towards Dona Jacinta's bar. That woman is incredible, the toughest and most resilient I've ever met. Jacinta is the wife of one of my father's former frontline soldiers, the mother of Gutem and Bruninha - a real stand-up girl who helps out with the local association. Charity work isn't my thing, never was, you know? But if there's one thing leading has taught me, it's that a true leader never forsakes his own. My old man was a tough cookie – both hated and loved in equal measure by the residents here on High Hill. Discussion wasn't his style; he ran things with an iron fist. When he died, he took at least thirty men with him. But you can't deny he empowered his people, contributed to the community, and took charge when needed. Growing up alone is tough. My mother was a worthless addict who vanished when I was born. Dona Jacinta, she stood in, you get me? She did a lot for me before I was old enough to take over the business, and I'm grateful for that. Gutemberg became a brother to me, and she, the mother I never had.

"Hey, Dona Jaci."

I get off the bike and walk over to her.

"You arrived just in time, son."

She lifts a bowl of freshly prepared snacks. I crack open a beer, sit down on one of the stools, and she looks at me seriously.

"It really disappointed me, what you did, Xavier."

I know she's talking about the duck incident. I don't want to be rude, so I try to change the subject.

"Is Gutem at home?"

She takes a deep breath.

"He's upstairs."

I pay for the drink, grab a snack, and then go up the stairs into the shack where Gutem is sitting in front of the TV.

"Who's playing?"

I throw myself on the sofa, and he hands me a drink.

"Palmeiras and Corinthians."

"Derby? Damn, I'd forgotten that."

We're both absorbed in the game when the broadcast is suddenly cut for a newsflash.

"What the heck, right at the end of the match..."

Gutem grumbles, a die-hard Corinthians fan, clearly pissed if his team loses.

"Breaking news."

The reporter speaks, and I don't pay much attention until she begins.

"Today a Russian family was arrested in Rio de Janeiro."

"Turn it up, turn it up!"

I shout at GB, who complies.

"Members of a criminal faction known as Uralmash, were arrested today at one of Niteroi's ports in Rio de Janeiro. A vessel carrying weapons and drugs from Yekaterinburg was intercepted in a joint operation by port security and Interpol. The group's leader Jeremiah Chinaider and his son Ryan Chinaider were arrested while attempting to flee the scene. In addition to them, fifteen other members of the group were detained. According to the authorities, two other family members are on the run; Lesly Chinaider and Kaya Chinaider are also wanted by the police."

"Damn."

Gutem looks at me, agitated.

"That son of a b*tch Pato, look at the mess he's got us into."

I run my hand through my hair.

"I knew it, I knew those girls were nothing but trouble."

I stand up and he's watching me.

"What are you going to do?"

"Kick them off my turf right now."

We head down the stairs, and he follows me.

"LP, D2, let's go."

I shout, getting on my bike and they follow in a car. GB gets on the back, and within ten minutes we're at the Two Patty's shack. I open the door and they're also watching the news. The blonde one looks at me with wide blue eyes and for a moment, I forget why I came there. She looks eye-catching in a white pair of shorts and a top barely covering her stomach.

"So we're in the presence of royalty? Mafia princesses?"

I say, and she looks at me annoyed, starts to mutter a bunch of things. The girl is all nerves, and despite the fact she infuriates me, I won't let her talk to me like that in front of my soldiers. She yells, asking me to let them go, which is exactly what I came to do, but why has that desire vanished now that I'm here?

"And all the money I spent on this circus?"

I tease her, and she rolls her eyes in her petite face, a feisty one and a good fighter.

"Do you have any idea how much your home invasion cost me? How many men I lost because of your damn dad?"

I pull her close to face me, and without resisting, I touch her face. The spark of defiance in those beautiful blue eyes makes me lose control. I grip her cheek, forcing her mouth open, fighting the urge to kiss those red, impudent lips.

"Now you belong to me, blondie. You're going to work off your debt."

"I don't owe you anything."

She argues back, clearly a defiant pain in the ass. I rant, and I wipe the irritating courage from her face as I toss her onto the sofa. She clings to her cousin, and I turn and walk to the door. Before leaving, I look at her again.

"You're working the dance tomorrow night, both of you."

I shout, and they seem startled.

"You'll be serving my guests, so wipe those sad expressions off your pretty little faces. I don't want and won't tolerate any funny business."

I leave, slamming the door, GB, and the lookouts follow me.

"Weren't you going to send them packing?"

Gutem looks at me with a smirk, which would earn him a smack if he wasn't a friend.

"I'm the boss of this sh*t. Can't I change my mind?"

He raises his hands in surrender.

"Sure, boss."

He grins, further irritating me. He tries to get on the bike, and I speed off.

"What's your problem, Venom? Got jokes now?"

He grumbles and I ignore him. My mind is a mess; I don't recognize myself. I speed to our spot and run into Melinda.

"Get on."

I stop and she sashays over, thinking she's all that but oblivious that she's going to be the stand-in for that hot-tempered blonde from house seven. The one messing with my head. We get to our spot and head straight for my office. We get it on right there on the floor. All I can think of are those piercing blue eyes that seem out to drive me insane. I'm going to have to have her and then kick her out. This must be repressed desire. Damn it, a dog doesn't fall in love.

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