797 Uncharted Territory
âMarcelo Xavier, Son of Daniel Luciano, what an honor to finally meet you,â Richardo was the first to break the tensed silence between them.
Marcel smiled, âI didnât know that I was this famous.â He added, âAlthough I canât help but feel that my father is much more famous than I am, donât you think so?â
No matter how tried Marcel tried to establish himself, Daniel was always a constant people recognized first and attribute his success to his fatherâs sacrifice. It was almost as if Daniel worked hard to make sure he could never bypass the glory of his name.
âNo,â Richardo disagreed with that, âSure your father is a force to be reckoned with, however, I find you more intriguing, honestly. Thereâs nothing more motivating than young people ruling the world.â
âIs that so?â Marcel hummed, playing with an invisible speck of dirt on his finger.
âOf course,â
âIn that case, shouldnât I speak formally to you, after all, youâre older than I am and I should pay my respect,â Marcel asked in an innocuous manner when in reality he was looking down on him.
Richardoâs expression shifted for a fraction of a time when he heard that, however, his lips curled up at the last minute as he covered his displeasure with a smile.
âCome on, donât be so serious. After all, youâre a legend, I should be honored to get the chance to speak with you. Look, we are even face-timing as real friends do. I say we put the decorum aside,â He laughed, even though inwardly his fists were clenched on his lap.
.....
Marcel had the natural talent of making someone feel inferior to him and if the both of them were to be voted and compared, Marcel Luciano was a prince, a royalty in the underworld, compared to him. He was a nobody trying to climb up the food chain with all means necessary â by bringing down the royalty.
âIs that so?â Marcel was having fun, âThe pleasure is mine then,â Since the bastard wanted to play the game of pretense, he was in.
The thing about people like him who rose out of nowhere was that they donât like to be reminded of their past. In their mind, they felt theyâd made it and wanted that dark chapter of their life erased forever, if possible.
âAlthough I have my concerns about us being friends,â Marcel raised the matter, âYou see, people I associate with always tend to end up trying to covet what belongs to me. By chance, you wouldnât end up doing the same, would you?â He asked such an obvious question, with a straight face.
Richardo lowered his head, his body beginning to shake with the laughter that raked through him. When he lifted his face once again, it was obvious to Marcel that he finally decided to drop the act.
âWhy donât we cut to the chase and go straight to the point,â He sneered, his expression filled with disdain.
âI thought you were never going to say it,â Marcel said.
âAnd I never thought you were this shameless,â Richardo retorted.
Marcel told him, âYou have what I want.â
Richardo answered, âYou have what I have too.â
âThen why donât we relieve our problems tonight?â
âGood with me, too,â Richardo said to Marcel who shared a brief look with Victor standing at the far end. He didnât interfere with the call.
âWe meet by nine.â
âAnd Iâll pick the location.â
Marcel lifted a brow when he heard that.
Richardo replied, âYou have a larger organization and a lot of people on your side. What are the chances that you wouldnât try to take me out.â
âIf I wanted to take you out, we wouldnât be having this conversation and I would send my people to end your pathetic life.â
âBut youâd lose her.â Richardo reminded him. If his life was threatened in any form, he would make sure the girl doesnât see the light of day. He would make sure to take away something precious to Marcel.
âExactly,â Marcel admitted bitterly, âIâll lose her.â
âIâll still pick out the location,â He insisted.
âFine,â Marcel let him be, âHowever, you can only take two men with you in this exchange and I would do the same. Any number other than that, Iâll take it that you planned an ambush and Macy would not see the light of day either.â Marcel threatened him too. That bastard was too cocky and it was beginning to get on his nerves.
âFine. Two men.â Richardo agreed through gritted teeth.
And just like that, both men spent a while negotiating their meeting place until they came to an agreement.
âI canât wait to see you tonight, Marcel Luciano,â
âAnd I canât wait to see you too, Richardo Santi,â There was a hint of promise in Marcelâs tone right before he ended the video call.
âWhatâs the plan?â Victor was by his side in a flash as soon as he stood up from his seat.
âRichardo dies tonight,â Marcel declared and Macy who heard it began to make a muffled protest, her eyes going wide.
The both of them looked in her direction but Marcel was the first to take his eyes off her. His heart hardened and whatever feelings or sympathy he had towards her had exhausted. Marcel could easily forgive her for what she did in the past, but the crime of plotting his death was unforgivable. To Marcel, Macy was dead in his heart.
âBut you gave him your word,â Victor reminded him, knowing his cousin never goes back on his promises.
âNot when he intends to take me out. Richardo knows I wonât let him survive after tonight, so he would do everything possible to end me too. One of us has to die tonight for the other to survive and he already has an upper hand by choosing the location. Iâm stepping into uncharted territory.â Marcel said causing his cousin Victor to gulp unconsciously. It seemed more serious than he thought.
âShould we tell Daniel?â He asked.
Marcel snorted, âAs if he doesnât know already.â