Son of a Bitch

Son of a Bitch

"How do you know Enzo Parker?" was the first question directed at the man sitting opposite King. The crime lord, sat there showcasing his rule and dominance all charmingly, stared at him like at a prey, or at least that's exactly what Logan Grey was feeling like.

A prey.

Despite knowing basic things about the friendship of both Logan and Enzo beforehand, King started with just that. It was a way for him to inquire whether the other was telling the truth.

The day had started like any other. A puking episode that occurred early in the morning resulted in a cursing and whiny Mago... to the chaotic breakfast with the younger spurting different stories while wolfing down a portion of two at the dining table,.... to the start of routine work in king's office.

And then, just like any other day, after finishing his working hours efficiently, Mago flew to the office to create mayhem in the manor somewhere after a quick peck on King's inviting lips.

Leaving King and his right-hand man to shake their heads at his loud departure. None of them tried to stop the boy or get interested in what Mago was up to, they believed that they would know eventually after something unique and truly out of their expectation would happen.

After all, Mago was unpredictable.

It wasn't until late in the afternoon that King was informed about the arrival of the guest he had jotted down in his schedule for a long while now. The crime lord was busy writing something on a pad, scribbling many agendas for the upcoming future, seated on his comfortable sofa when a knock on the door caught his attention.

A swift 'come in' flung open the door and in came a scared, cautious-looking middle-aged man. With wide open eyes and body posture stiff as a rock, Logan Grey had arrived at the mansion of the most feared man The Crime lord, following a toughly built, frowny-looking Charlton.

Mr Grey was sceptical and scared and why won't he be? The place he was at the moment belonged to a notorious leader of the underworld, a King of the Mafia who holds a reputation no less than a supervillain.

And villain he was indeed, there were so many scary stories circling around every so often. Most of them ended with King being the one to end them ruthlessly.

The man stood where he was silently, keenly observing everything around him and thinking of the reason he was escorted out of his grand office building, by some strange men holding weapons, to the equally grand mansion which belonged to the man he has known as dangerous.

While he searched for potential threats his life was involved in, King closed the file he was working on and raised his gaze towards the entrance of the room where Logan and Charlton stood awaiting his attention. Soon, Mr Grey's scared aged eyes met King's darker young ones and his breath hitched at how daunting and authoritative King looked, sitting in a man spread, gracing the lavish seating area.

Serious and unsmiling.

Surprisingly and unexpectedly for Mr Grey, King neither shoved his authority in his face nor did he try to intimidate Mr Grey in any way, he welcomed him with a firm handshake and a calm introduction like the good gentleman he was, instead.

Logan Grey was impressed.

After the initial talk and question and answer session, a long chat about Enzo and Logan's relationship, their history and a tale of their best friendship, Mr Grey was more at ease. He was offered an expensive label of wine by King himself which made him feel welcomed and unthreatened as he shared what he had kept for himself alone.

The man was of course still very cautious and fearful but reminiscing the old times with his best friend helped him in relaxing his nerves. Mr Grey had then fluently talked about how good of a man Enzo was, how he had accomplished many things, his secrets, the treasures in his life which included the love of his life Snow Monroe and his beloved child Mago Parker, to the day till he died tragically.

By the end of the revelation of the facts of Enzo's life, Mr Grey's eyes were teary. A sad smile rested on his face while he talked slowly. It wasn't hard to notice that Mr Grey missed his dear friend big time, that he had lost someone valuable in his life.

It was truly heartbreaking.

King observed the man with his own scepticism. Providing enough space to him proved fruitful when Mr Grey wasn't as alarmed and jittery as before, sure he was watchful but still very much at ease. Seeing him relaxed and inclined towards sparing details and sharing more, King deemed it perfect to dart the question he had been wanting to ask for a long.

"Do you recall anyone named Kangsu or Wren Christopher or by any chance have you heard about them?" The crime lord asked, he started his investigation and watched in satisfaction when Mr Grey's face turned serious and a disdained expression surfaced on his features.

A hateful nerve was pressed.

"I don't know anyone named Kangsu but how can I forget that son of a bitch Wren Christopher" the man hissed with a distasteful tongue while both Charlton and King exchanged brief glances.

"Care to explain in detail, Mr Grey?" King asked with a slight smirk growing on his face. Unanswered queries were finally falling into place, and another chapter of Mago's relative past was revealing itself, the unfortunate death of his parents and the role of his foster home entering his orphan life altogether.

Mr Grey sighed audibly and closed his eyes for a second, once he opened them back, the man was ready to tell the tale.

.......

"Enzo wasn't happy with Wren's work for him. In the name of being a part of someone so powerful and rich, that man was a stealing bastard. He was a corrupt man that didn't know what loyalty exactly meant and soon that characteristic of him got disclosed in front of Enzo....." Mr Grey started with a grimace as he remembered those times when he had witnessed his distressed friend.

"I still remember that night when Enzo decided to fire his existing security team and hire a new one. He wasn't happy at all with the constant problems surrounding him all the time..... and since he had a feeling that he and Snow were getting stalked closely, the first ever doubt he had was his own people, the closest of all, that was his personal security...." King watched how Mr Grey stopped abruptly and his face softened slightly. He reached forward and picked up his glass containing sparkling alcohol before leaning back on the sofa and crossing his legs stylishly.

"then?" he asked.

"then the next thing I knew..... was what happened that dreadful night......" Logan replied ever so whisper-like, a clear layer of sad emotions taking over his bright yet tired eyes.

The man was tired to his bones fighting everything that was coming in his and his family's way. Several stalkers that had emerged out of nowhere, following his wife and their son discreetly which didn't go unnoticed by the man. He was capable enough to take a bunch on his own and most likely end their life in a snap but what worried him was the protection of his small family when he wasn't present.

A close circle of suffocation formed around him which made everything ten times difficult for him, like all his limbs were tied and he was left abandoned. He couldn't leave his wife and child alone for a second and that anxiousness of him took a toll on Snow.

She advised him and they discussed.

After thinking about it thoroughly, Enzo finally decided to turn towards his acquaintances in the Mafia, which he always wanted to keep separate from his normal life and seek help and protection for his family from the crime lord of that time, Mr Xavier.

But It was too late

Before he could even pay a visit to his king.......the fate of Parker's family was decided.

"after Enzo was gone, a huge blow of disarray occurred in the lives connected to him, everything was chaotic and unmanageable and it was most difficult the life has ever been for me. That's when I encountered Wren for the first time....." the old man stopped again. He also picked up his glass of wine to wet his parched throat and breathed to calm himself down....... before he started again.

Apparently, Wren was shot in his arm by the intruders and he was asking....no, he was compelling Logan Grey for compensation. Wren played cunningly, he had an emotional story about how he had sacrificed himself for the family and had tried to save them by placing himself first, but he couldn't play it as cleverly as he thought.

Mr Grey wasn't stupid to believe him and pay him what he demanded without a question. He was a smart man, what Wren recited as his pity story was a blatant lie and he knew it right away.

At that time, Mr Grey was under so much stress, that sleep and appetite had left him and only constant stress was what replaced them. Enzo's sudden death, and the rumours of him being the ruthless Mafia Black Panda reaching every ear, had dispersed all potential investors. It had caused a roar of ill-intended partners in the company to claim double of their money and permission to separate their business.

Logan Grey declared them snakes, seeking the perfect opportunity to strike.

The chaos was unmanageable and it seemed impossible to gain the position of their large, extended company back to its peak. But then Melissa, Jacob and Logan, the three closest friends of Enzo decided to eliminate their partner from the business, cut any possible association with Black Panda, and declare it as their own to save its value.

The decision was so upsetting and unfair to Enzo in their view but it was the best decision they could make at that time......and so they proceeded.

"So you knew about Black Panda all that time?" King asked with a raise of brow making Mr Grey stop and look at King with sad eyes. He then silently shook his head and placed his now empty glass back on the glass table.

"I didn't. Not until Enzo told me himself but yes, I knew it before the rumours were out." Mr Grey sighed rubbing his face up and down, dishevelling his hair in the process as he muttered.

The room went silent for a long minute, king sipped his drink slowly while watching the other with keen eyes.

"Carry on Mr Grey...." King commanded, gesturing the older to continue with the tip of his chin and the older lowered his gaze, staring at his lap while remembering the past.

........

Don't close the book yet people.

The next chapter awaits your attention......

Sayonara~~~~