Chapter 688: Chapter 688

688 [Bonus chapter] Neutral Ground

“I warned you about the dangerous game you were playing! I warned you not to do anything stupid! What the hell were you thinking?!” Eric roared at Elijah who was seated on a chair like a good little kid and accepted his scolding.

It was a good thing that Jason was there to keep an eye on Eric because the amount of anger running through his brother was enough to make him strangle him. Eric might love and pamper Elijah but not when his family was endangered. Not one, but the whole of them.

Ever since their father died, Eric as the firstborn son took the responsibility of keeping his loved ones safe very seriously, hence, for Elijah to put their family in harm’s way was a big turn-off for him. He thought Elijah was better than this.

If there was anyone in their family that had a deposition for trouble, it was his mischievous brother and twin, Ephraim. Elijah had always been smart and promising and he didn’t have to worry about him causing trouble for the family. But not anymore. He should have kept his eyes on him from the start.

“I didn’t mean it. Heck! You think I don’t know the consequences?! I just never expected them to die. It was supposed to be a warning to Marcel that I was coming for her, and didn’t expect that his men would get so drunk they got themselves killed.” Elijah added immediately,” And technically speaking, they weren’t supposed to drink and drive in the first place. ”

“Don’t quote the law with me!” Eric yelled at him, his expression stern with hard lines. He gestured, “You think the Luciano’s would take the fucking law as an excuse. Does it erase the fact that they lost five of their men, not to mention, a Capo, because of you?!” He fired at him, “No tell me, what do you expect me to say to them?! That it was their fucking fault for drinking and driving?”

Jason came to stand between him when he saw the boss advancing slowly toward Elijah, infuriated by what he had said.

Elijah didn’t say anything but lowered his head while grinding his teeth. As a man with pride, he didn’t take it too well to being scolded, but at the same time, it was his fault and he needed to take responsibility. Whatever sympathy Elijah had earlier for Marcel vanished knowing that he was the one that sent the letter. It had his signature on it and that.

So much for pitying him. It seems the bastard was doing well unlike Arianna who had it hard. Good thing, he took Arianna away. When Arianna finally gets over him, she can finally go for someone better than him. If only Elijah knew that Marcel was as helpless as he was in the case.

.....

Eric ran his hand through his hair in frustration while pacing up and down the room. He stopped abruptly, “I have to honor the invitation. The fact that they wrote to me means that they’re open to negotiation. I would have to clean up your mess.” Eric said.

“No, you can’t!” Elijah stood up, ” What if this is a trap and they want to take your life instead as vengeance.” He thought about it. There was no way he was losing his brother because of his brother.

“I’m the head of the commission and even as strong as the Luciano family is, I’m sure they cannot face an all-out war that comes with my death. Moreover, they want the meeting to be on neutral ground and we all know neutral ground must be adhered to .”

“There’s only one neutral ground in the city. I can have my men run the perimeter before the meeting just to be on the safe side. Even if the Luciano family keeps their word, there might be others who might take advantage of the situation and attack, blaming it on the other party,”

“Good idea, however, be careful. Daniel is a sly bastard and must have his men looking out for the place as well. I don’t want the innocent gesture to be seen as an aggressive move. In times of tension like this, misunderstandings are sure to arrive and I refuse to die because of a mere mistake. ”

“Sure, boss,” Jason answered and took his leave.

It was Elijah’s turn to say to him, “I’ll come with you.”

And Eric gave him a glare that would have vaporized him on the spot if his eyes were lasers. He turned to face him,

“What do you think the Luciano’s would think when I attend this summoning with you by my side?” Eric stepped closer to Elijah till he was in his space and they were looking each other in the eyes. And as much as Elijah was taller by a few inches, Eric still intimated him with his broader frame.

“They would probably think that I’m mocking and rubbing it in their face by attending this meeting with the murderer,” And as much as Eric was speaking from the perspective of the Luciano family, it still hurt him that his brother called him a murderer. Death was as common as breathing air in their trade. In their kind of business, nobody was innocent.

He went on to say, “I don’t even know what their demand would be. What if it involved slitting your throat in their presence as penance for what you did? So no, I’m not going to take you with me.”

Eric sighed, the anger easing from his body and he was less taut than before. He reached out and cupped Elijah’s cheek and placed his forehead against his, saying, “As much as I want to strangle you for what you have done, you’re my brother and I want you very much alive, ”

“But if you want to do something useful,” Eric pulled back and patted his cheek, “Call your brothers and tell them what you did. I’m sure they would kick your ass better than I would.” Eric grinned wickedly, and left, leaving him dumbfounded.

“Seriously?!” Elijah yelled after him, but there was no response. He was doomed.