~ THY SAVAGE ABODE ~
“What the hell are you saying? How come Cesare is dead when you are right in front of me?” Matteo yelled earning an angry look from Lilo.
Cesare lips tilt in a devious smile.
“Never heard of plastic surgery?” Cesare asked confusing Matteo.
“Ten years ago the real Cesare, Mariano’s true friend was caught by my men. Due to his stubbornness to cooperate with us, I had him killed and disguised myself, going as far as to change my look to that of Cesare just to be close to Mariano and you all”
“And it has help us for a very long time” Lilo said, smiling at him.
“That’s right. I was able to spy on him for years without his knowledge”
“This is crazy! If you aren’t Cesare like you claim, then who are you and most importantly, why are you after Camila? You tried to take her once by taking Mariano as hostage” Matteo said to him.
“Who am I? I doubt you will know even if I tell you”
“Just tell me” Matteo insist.
“Fine then. Ever heard of Pedro Diaz, the only son of the richest man in Florence city but all that change when my father was killed by Mariano’s grandfather years ago” Cesare said.
“Which is why you’ve been around Mariano, you want to avenge your father!” Matteo said.
“That’s definitely one and for the other, I plan on taking Camila from him. I saw her first, I wanted her first and I will end up making her mine and with that said, I don’t want any mistakes during the mission tomorrow” Cesare added crisply.
“We go into the party as guest, We kill Mariano and take Camila with us. It’s all set boss, we only have to carry out the mission” Lilo said and he nodded.
“So? Will you accept to work with me or are you still going to think about it?” Cesare asked.
“Just like you, I want Mariano to go down. He has never treated me with respect and it’s time he pays for it” Matteo said, earning a smile from Cesare.
*****
~ NEXT DAY~ MARIANO’S BIRTHDAY~ CAMILA’S ROOM ~
The room was empty apart from Bianca who stood starring down at a box which had the logo of a very popular brand on it.
“So he’s now buying gifts for her, something he hardly did for me” Bianca muttered as she pulled out the deadly poison.
She pulled on a glove and pulled out an expensive necklace which Mariano bought for Camila.
She rub the poison powder on the necklace and set it back into its box after wiping traces off the white stain on it.
“As long as it touch her skin, she will end up dying. Goodbye Camila” Bianca said to herself and left the room in a rush.
She was down the hall when she saw Paolo.
“Did you put the poison on Camila’s stuff?” Paolo asked.
“I put it on a necklace Mariano bought for her. Am sure that once she wears it to the party tonight and she ends up dying, he would blame himself for her death” Bianca replied coldly.
“Now that your thing is out of the way? What about mine?” Paolo asked.
“When the party is about to begin, I will call Cora and tell her to go to the empty ware house at the end of the castle, go meet her there and do wh@tëver you want, I will cover up for you” Bianca said.
*****
~ HOURS LATER ~ EVENING ~
Matteo stared around like a thief and when he saw no one, he quickly open the back door, letting in Lilo and his men.
They were all dressed up for the party too.
“You look stunning” Matteo compliment only to recieve an angry glare from Lilo.
“I h@të wearing a tux but I have to since it’s the only way to mingle amongst the guest without being notice by Mariano and his men” Lilo complain.
“Don’t worry, as soon as we kill Mariano and you get Camila, you can leave” Matteo said.
“What about Pedro (Cesare)” Lilo asked.
“He’s at the party, acting like Mariano one and only friend. So who’s going to take Camila?” Matteo asked.
Lilo took two men with him, using the detailed plan Matteo gave him to find Camila’s room while Matteo return to the party with Lilo’s disguised men.
From where Cesare stood with Mariano, he gave Matteo a questioning look and Matteo gave a nod which told him that everything is going as plan.
“Why are there only men?” Cesare asked Mariano who was slowly sipping his wine.
“Am not sure. I left the guest thing to Bianca and I think there are some few female too” Mariano replied.
“That’s true but then men are much more than the female but then, it’s up to who you invite. What about Camila?” Cesare asked.
“Refused to come, she didn’t even want to see me” Mariano answered.
“Seems like her hatred is deep. You should let her go before things get out of hand” Cesare said as Bianca walk towards them.
“It’s time for you to give a thank you speech” Bianca said, dazzling in a red evening gown.
Mariano went to the podium and took the mic.
“Good evening everyone. Firstly, I would like to thank you all for coming to my party to celebrate my birthday and secondly, I’d like you all to do something” Mariano said.
“While coming in, you were handed a blue card right? Those with the blue card should move to the right hand side of the room, please” Mariano said and immediately, everybody began to move except for Cesare, Matteo and his men.
“What’s going on? Why didn’t you tell me about the card thing?” Cesare said softly to Matteo.
“That’s because I had no idea too” Matteo said in return as Mariano continue his speech.
“Cesare will you do me a favour and join the people on the right hand side” Mariano said and immediately, Cesare did as he said leaving Matteo.
Matteo was about joining the people on the right hand side when Mariano stopped him.
“You on the other hand aren’t going to join ”
“But Boss, I can see the savages and some few men there,why am I not allowed to join them?” Matteo asked.
“That’s because….I know you are with the spies” Mariano said and immediately, the people standing on the right side pulled out their gun.
Pointing it at Matteo and his men who weren’t expecting it.
“Do you really think am a dummy as not to know what you are planning? You made the wrong choice by working with the enemy and it’s time you pay for it ” Mariano said pulling out his own gun, now standing with his men on the right, ready to shoot the traitors.
*****
~ HOURS EARLIER ~ HOW IT ALL BEGAN ~
Camila got to her room only to see the box which had jewelry and a party gown in it.
Camila didn’t know about the poison Bianca had used in touching the necklace, she was about picking it up when a sudden knock on the door stole her attention.
She went to open but saw no one there except for a letter which was place on the floor.
Camila picked it up and read its content, immediately, she went in search of Mariano.
“You need to see this” Camila said, breathing heavily as she got to his study.
Mariano took the letter from her, reading it’s content too.
★ THERE’S A SPY AMONGST YOUR CLAN AND HE’S PLANNING TO HELP LILO AND HIS MEN TO ATTACK YOU TONIGHT DURING THE PARTY. DO SOMETHING BEFORE YOU LOSE YOUR LIFE AND YOUR WIFE ★
“What do you plan to do?” Camila asked.
“What else? I stay and fight them” Mariano answered.
“Stay? That’s dangerous. You should leave, they might try to kill you like they attempted weeks ago” Camila said worriedly.
“I know but this time we’ve got the upper hand. We know they are coming and we are going to prepare for battle, Its time I fight back the devils and get them out of the way for good”
“But….”
“Don’t worry, I will be fine and I will protect you and Lucas ” he said as he called Selena and then Stephan and Alexis.
Selena was the first to arrive and he ordered her to get all the workers out with the help of Cora, along with Camila and Lucas to sand castle villa where they will be kept safe till the fight ends.
“I will definitely do that” Selena said as she stared at a hovering Camila.
“Please, take care of yourself” Camila said, starring at Mariano.
“I….” He didn’t get to complete his words when Camila gave him a sudden hug.
“Make sure you fight this battle and come back to Lucas and I and also, happy birthday ” she said, kissing him lightly on the cheek before leaving the room.
Mariano was still feeling a bit stunned by Camila’s action when Alexis and Stephan showed up.
“You called for us boss” Alexis said as he walk in.
“Lilo and his men plans to attack us tonight and there’s someone amongst us helping them” Mariano said.
“You mean there’s a spy?” Stephan asked and Mariano showed them the letter.
“Am only telling you two about this because I trust you and also am in need of your help In catching Lilo and his men. This time we won’t run away, we need to catch lilo and the spy amongst us” Mariano said.
“Tell us what to do, boss” Stephan urge.
“Firstly, I don’t want you telling others about it most especially Matteo. I don’t trust him” Mariano said.
“He isn’t even around, I saw him going out with Cesare this morning” Alexis inform.
“This morning” Mariano muttered remembering that Cesare told him he will be staying in till the party begin.
“Okay. Get our men to dress up for the party this evening and give them all a blue card”
“What’s that for?” Stephan asked.
“Those with the blue card are my people and those without it are going to be Lilo’s people ” Mariano explained.
“Which will be easy for us to identify and kill” Stephan sum up.
“Then get Luna and Enzo to plant secret camera In every nook and cranny of the castle, I want to know what’s happening in every little area” Mariano added.
“Once you are done with that, go get ready for the party tonight. We must all attend, pretending we know nothing about this attack so we can catch them unaware and get them once and for all” Mariano added.
“If we do find the spy tonight, what are you going to do boss?” Alexis asked.
“Am going to chop him off to pieces and feed him to the dogs. No one messes with me and goes scot free” Mariano said, looking like the devil himself.
*****
~ PRESENT MOMENT ~ PARTY HALL ~
“Wh…what do you mean am with the spies? Am not one of them” Matteo said, covertly starring at Cesare.
“Don’t dare deny it! We’ve have a footage of you letting in the spies” Alexis who was also pointing his gun at them said.
“So you mean, am the only one you caught?” Matteo asked starring at Cesare.
“Don’t tell me there’s someone else?” Stephan murmur.
“Tell us who it is!” Bianca yelled at him, prepared to shoot his brain out.
“Sorry everyone, I will leave that to you all to find out yourself!” Matteo said hiding behind his men as they all began to shoot.
Some of the devils clan were gun down immediately while some took off like Matteo.
“You go after Lilo’s men and you guys should check around if there are more of them in the castle, I will go after Matteo myself” Mariano said giving orders to Alexis, Paolo, Bianca, Lenora and Stephan.
Mariano went after Matteo, pursuing him into the woods which had turn dark due to the night sky.
“If you keep going, I won’t hesitate to kill you” Mariano yelled at Matteo but he didn’t listen and kept running.
Mariano stood his ground and fired the gun on his left leg, it got Matteo falling on the floor.
Mariano walk towards him and dodge the bullet Matteo shot at him.
Angered by his action, Mariano shot him on his hand.
Matteo cried out in pain, holding onto his hand.
“Tell me who the other spy is and I might spare your life” Mariano said.
“I won’t! I’d rather die than to tell you” Matteo yelled at him.
“So be it” Mariano said pointing the gun on Matteo’s head but he didn’t get to shoot, instead someone fired at him from behind.
The bullet pierce right from his back out to his front and slowly, Mariano fell on wet grass.
Matteo sat up to see Cesare standing some pace away, holding the gun he use in shooting Mariano…..
TBC💚
