Seductive Secrets

Chapter 5

The journey back home was uneventful, but Georgio finally had his baby girl resting soundly, her little head resting on his laps. He would have given all the money he had just for this and here it was handed to him on a silver platter.

He was happy for the moment, but there was only one problem. Lia was either a deceptive devil or an angel, because she had somehow won Gabriella's heart in a way no one else in the office had.

So he had to face another bitter truth: If Gabriella had taken to liking Lia, then getting rid of that woman would be more difficult than expected.

*****......*****......*****.......******.......*****.....

Lia left work that day with one word on her mind: Exhausted!!

Yes, she loved deal with children and adored them so much, but she had just never dealt with a sorrowful, melancholic child with such kind of trauma. She felt really sorry for the little girl. She had lost her mother at such a tender age. She heard the story about why she couldn't speak from Maria Walters.

So, Gabriella had stayed glued to Gabriella almost the entire day. Georgio had left Gabriella with her because she was reluctant to go along with him. Lia also accepted to keep her company while she worked. The young girl sat quietly on a chair as Lia dealt with calls and messages coming in. Once she dropped the call or message, she returned to holding Lia's hand trying to drag her away as though there was either something to show her or she wanted them to play.

It was a stressful experience, but one that gave her an idea of what Georgio went through on a daily basis. She had now felt a genuine compassion for him and the things he went through on a regular after having taste of it today.

*****.....*****......

Gabriella and Georgio finally reached home as he lay her down on the bed. It had been a long day, and a stressful one at that. But he had achieved something, the love and affection of his daughter was gradually being restored. So he put her down to sleep and also went to sleep himself.

*****..... ******......

The man stood inside the compound typing a message from the mobile in his hand. He was sure his message would not be intercepted by anyone located within the compound. They were all dumb fools, he had worked here for less than three years. Before coming in, he had done a proper assignment and so knew where almost all security devices were located and how to bypass.

He was simply another mole located here, the weakest link in the current chain of the security personnel. He had been hired by the ring, with one purpose in mind to monitor. To follow up on Armando Georgio while looking for a suitable time to eliminate both him and the little girl or simply bring her back to them where she will be put to good use by the ring. Another option would also be to first make her pay for her father's sins before anything else is done to her. He smiled for now Georgio could rest easy, "The ring” was coming for him.

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Georgio had left everything behind, family, brothers and other members involved in the crime and had decided to go solo, not just solo, but with a major bounty over his head. Since he left, his brother Antonio had taken over his position as one of the seven leaders of the ring. This was after the death of their father some twelve years ago.

Before he died though, their father had disowned Armando for bringing him shame. He himself had endured ten years in prison, and still had scars plus a cut finger which he bore proudly, to show for his efforts, but had stood true to their oath: death rather than betrayal. He had also lived up to his name "impregnable". This was what had finally earned him a right to be one of the leaders in the ring, to sit at the big table and make the tough decisions.

The underworld was a place where leadership was gotten by paying the price with one’s own blood, and so he was disgusted when his own son had proved to be a weakling, even worse than a worm.

He had betrayed friends, broken his oath, rubbished their loyalty and by his actions even threatened their very existence.

The other members of the big table had even begun to look at him with suspicion, especially Gostavo and Fàbiàn. It had taken him disowning Armando, and even placing a bounty for his death to earn back the trust of the men he had known for over twenty years.

"Valentino, seems you have grown soft uh?" Fàbiàn had accused him one day.

He almost turned red before he remembered that Fàbiàn's own son was among those who were killed, by the treachery of his son Armando, and so he kept quiet.

"Maybe you and your son have planned this all this while", he further accused. At that, Valentino had no option than to stand up to his full height and speak.

Maybe these men had forgotten who they were talking to.

"Fàbiàn", he started, opening his shirt "recall this mark? It was in prison, and that punk tried to stab you in your sleep. I took the stab remember?"

I also had to fight him off while you slept like a baby and I didn't tell you till morning, remember?"

"Or Gustavo, do you remember when you almost went to jail for killing a police officer I raised a hundred thousand dollars in cash to clear the case".

He continued "I have done things for you guys. I stood by you and I earned the name unbreakable by not ratting out the ring even after ten years in prison. I earned everything I have today with sweat and blood just like we all have"

"We are one, we are bonded", he continued. "One for all, they all screamed".

Valentino was a born orator and would get his message across with any method, plus he was a man of his word and a born leader.

He looked them in the eye and drew in his breath to bait them and build up some excitement in their hearts before he dropped the buzzer...

They waited with bated breath for Valentino to make his announcement. The atmosphere took on a chilly feeling as their ears itched to hear his words, knowing it would be heavy.

"I would personally give a hundred thousand dollars to whoever kills Georgio and a hundred and fifty thousand dollars if he is brought back alive. He looked around again at the men and they knew he meant every word.

The search began in earnest but no one had suspected it would take ten years to track down Georgio, and so the old man died without fulfilling his promise.

*****.....*****.....*****.....

Antonio turned his mind away from those dark thoughts of the past and came back to the present. He was scarred on his left leg, and had a fond memory of his brother. He could have died from a snake bite, but his brother selflessly sucked out the poison with his mouth and saved his life. So he would try, for the sake of that alone to save his brother, unknown to other members of the big table of the ring.....