STANDING by the large mahogany dresser in his opulent bedroom was Lucas, the soft light from a bedside lamp casting a warm glow across the room.
His hands deftly organized stacks of documents and cash, each piece a testament to the life he had built- powerful, dangerous, and relentless. He was actually working on them that dull morning.
In the background, the noise of the television played idly, a mix of the morning news reports and banal chatter.
As Lucas worked, his mind oscillated between the relentless demands of his empire, not necessarily his empire though, and the safety of his family.
Boogie’s assurances the previous day had brought some comfort, but the unease gnawed at him greatly. The photographs of Kennedy and Katherine were burned into his memory, a constant reminder of his enemies’ reach.
Suddenly, a name pierced through the white noise of the TV: “St. Michael’s Academy.”
His hands froze mid-motion. His head snapped up, eyes locking onto the screen.
“Breaking News,” the anchor announced, her voice tight with urgency.
“A bomb blast occurred near St. Michael’s Academy earlier this morning. Initial reports suggest that the explosion happened just outside the school grounds. The scene is chaotic as teachers, parents, and children are seen fleeing in panic.”
Lucas’ heart plummeted. The screen filled with the scenes of the chaos: smoke billowing into the sky, shattered glasses, terrified children running, some in tears, teachers and parents desperately trying to shepherd them to safety.
The camera panned across the wreckage, capturing the sheer scale of the disaster.
Lucas’ pulse pounded in his ears. He dropped the papers and cash, striding quickly to the TV, eyes wide with horror.
“Kennedy… Katherine,” he murmured, his voice barely a whisper.
Just as the reporter began detailing the extent of the casualties, his phone rang, the shrill sound cutting through the air like a blade, he shivered slowly turning to stare at it on the table.
With a trembling hand, he grabbed it, glancing at the unknown number on the screen, his heart skipped a beat.
He answered, his voice a mixture of rage and desperation.
“Who is this?”
A chillingly familiar voice responded, dripping with menace.
“Mr. Lucas, I see you got our message. This is just a taste of what can happen if you continue to defy us. Back off from Mr. Jeremy’s case, or next time, it won’t be a warning.”
Lucas’ blood boiled, the initial shock immediately giving way to a white-hot fury.
“You coward!” He spat.
A cold, mocking laugh echoed through the phone.
“Oh! No need for that. The question is, do you know the price of your pride? Think carefully, Lucas. Your children’s lives depend on it.”
The line went dead instantly.
Lucas stood there, his chest heaving with barely contained rage. He slammed the phone onto the dresser, the impact sending a stack of papers fluttering to the floor.
For a moment, he was paralyzed, his mind a storm of fear and fury. Then, determination set in. He couldn’t afford to let his emotions control him. He needed to act, and fast.
Immediately the door flew open and Boogie barged in, looking scattered and anxious.
“Boss?” He called slamming the door behind him.
Lucas looked up at once.
“I just saw it on the news,” he said.
“We need to call -.”
“Exactly,” Lucas interrupted and immediately dialed a contact, his fingers shaking slightly. The phone rang once, twice, before a voice came through.
“Boss, I saw the news. I’m already on my way to the school,” the owner of the voice spoke up immediately he answered it.
Lucas frowned.
“You idiot!” He cussed, “they are supposed to be home by now, damn home,” he shouted, banging his fist on the dresser.
“I know Boss, I’m trying,” the voice replied.
“If anything as much as a scratch happens to my kids, -.”
“Nothing would happen to them Boss, I assure you,” he cut in gently.
Lucas hissed.
“Fool! Find Kennedy and Katherine. Make sure they are safe, and tighten the security around them. I don’t care what it takes,” he said, his voice steely.
“Sure Boss, sure. I’m at the school now,” he said.
Lucas sighed.
“Call me immediately you get home,” and he hung up.
“They are good huh?” Boogie asked.
“I hope so.”
“Boss J seems to be serious, what are we going to do?” Boogie asked.
“I have had my mind made up, she has threatened me enough. I will back off,” he said.
“Hmmm,” Boogie muttered.
“Yeah, besides, it’s not like I’m doing it for myself, but for Zach.”
“So what about him? What happens?”
“Do I look afraid? I will tell him I’m no longer interested, he should go somewhere else and get the help he seeks. I can’t jeopardize my happiness for him,” he said.
“Okay,” Boogie nodded.
“Send for him,” Lucas said, “and let’s tell him straightaway,” he said.
***A Few Minutes Later***
Zach arrived the mansion about twenty minutes later, headed straight for Lucas’ bedroom where he met Boogie.
“Lord Lucas?” He called as soon as he entered the room, “you sent for me,” he added and walked up to them.
Lucas was now sitting on the sofa staring into space and Boogie stood beside him, looking into a paper.
“Zach?” Lucas called without bothering to look at him.
“Boss,” he replied.
“My children’s lives are in great danger,” he began and Zach went confused, what has that got to do with him?
“O… kay, but I’m confused here Boss,” he said.
“I am being threatened everyday to back off Jeremy’s case, and it is my kids, my children, my secret that is being used as a bait.”
Zach sighed deeply and said nothing.
“This secret, this sacred secret of mine that I have tried all my years to guard is slowly getting out, the public would get to know of it soon, my enemies would,” he said making emphasis on ‘enemies’.
“Okay, so what are you trying to say? How has that got to do with me?” Zach asked and Lucas for the first time since he entered the room, shot him a hard stare, Boogie removed the paper from his face to look at him as well.
“I am not doing this with you anymore,” he said.
“What!” Zach gasped.