“I want all the information about the leader of the python gang,” Harry said to his assistant as he looked out of the window with a distant look.
“On Mr. Dominic Volkov?” The assistant confirmed, and Harry hummed.
“If you don’t mind, can I ask why you are interested in knowing about him suddenly? I hope it doesn’t have anything to do with Miss Aaliyah,” The assistant said, and Harry lit his cigar.
“That’s enough of a big reason. Something is going on between the two of them, and I want to know just what kind of man he is that Aaliyah is even letting it happen,” Harry said before taking a whiff of his cigar.
“Sir, about the ax gang taking out men as hostages -”
“Alert all the members in the area. We are going to attack the ax gang. I know this is what they want too, but we have no choice. We don’t leave one of our own behind just to avoid a mishap,” Harry’s words made the subordinate smile.
That’s what he liked about Harry since he joined the gang. Though he always appears tough, Harry is a thousand times better than other gangs because he would never leave you behind.
*****
“Do you have the number of that girl? Call and invite her to lunch at our base. I want to get even with her and know what her purpose is. Now I am sure she is with my son for a reason, and as much as I hate to agree, my son has been fooled,” Nathan ordered Sandra, and she looked at Samantha, who shrugged before looking away.
If it had been precious times, she would have jumped and made excuses to keep Aaliyah out of this mess and inform Dominic. But after what happened at the meeting, Samantha wasn’t sure about Aaliyah anymore.
Her mind always said this girl was mysterious, but seeing her being so goofy around Dominic and how her friend was so happy, she buried those thoughts deep.
Aaliyah, on the other hand, busy pretending to be a dead fish in front of her mother so that she would cook her favorite cookies, scrunched her brows when her phone vibrated.
“Well? Now I will see how long you will pretend to be this fish, who is dying without cookies,” Laura mused, and Aaliyah pouted.
“Fine. Just pick it up already. I will bake it for you,” Laura rolled her eyes, and Aaliyah’s eyes beamed before she pounced on her phone, looking at the number, confused.
“Hello?”
“Hey. Sandra, this side,” Sandra felt a bit uneasy.
“Sandra? To what honor do I owe this call?”
“Well, I wanted to invite you to a family dinner. We would be glad if you could come. Our mom wants to meet you,” Sandra lied, and Aaliyah squinted her brows.
“Okay, I will be there. Text me the address,” Aaliyah ended the call, looking at her mother, who was staring at her suspiciously.
“Sandra. My new friend. She invited me for lunch. Her parents want to meet me,”
“That’s great. You should interact with more girls. Why don’t you invite her here next time? This is how a bond becomes strong. I will tell you when I don’t have surgery lined up,” Laura said.
“Sounds like a great plan,” Aaliyah stated before going to her room to change into something presentable.
Wearing a peach crop top, she wore her denim jacket, pairing it with her black jeans and boots.
After forty minutes, she parked her spare bike in front of the mansion.
“You must be Aaliyah Gold. We were informed of your arrival,” The guard said, and Aaliyah entered the house, her gaze flickering to all the guards guarding the place.
“Aaliyah! Thanks for coming,” Sandra clapped her hands, but Aaliyah’s gaze was only focused on all the men roaming around.
The security here was no joke. Is this the power of the most prominent gang in New York City?
“Aaliyah,” She heard Nathan’s voice, and Aaliyah turned to look at the man.
“Hello, Mr. Dominic,” Aaliyah nodded.
“We were hoping to dine here earlier, but there is a quick change of plans. Do you have a good place in mind?” Nathan asked.
“You can choose any place. I trust your decision,” Aaliyah smiled, and Nathan scoffed in his mind.
Is this how this girl has captured my son’s heart? Unfortunately, these tricks won’t work for me. He nodded.
After driving for thirty minutes, they stopped at one of the most expensive restaurants in the city that were known for regular visits by gangs and upper-class men/women.
Walking to the entrance, they were about to enter the restaurant, the guard asked them if they had a prior booking, and Nathan hummed.
“I suppose there is always a table booked for the Python gang,” Nathan said, and the guard nodded before looking at Aaliyah.
“Are you a part of the Python gang, miss?” He asked her, and Aaliyah shook her head.
“I am sorry you can’t enter without a booking,” the guard looked at her, and Sandra pressed her lips into a thin line, knowing all too well her father was deliberately doing this to avenge what Aaliyah did to his son at the meeting by saying she doesn’t know him.
“Will this suffice?” Aaliyah asked, bringing out the dragon keychain.
Since her back was facing everyone, no one could see what she brought out, but the guard widened his eyes before looking at the girl, whose gaze was darkening with each second he was wasting.
“I am sorry, miss. I didn’t know,” The guard bowed to her, shocking everyone, and Aaliyah smiled before placing the key back in her pocket.
“That’s okay. As you said, you didn’t know,” Aaliyah’s eyes crinkled, and that guard smiled gratefully.
If their manager came to know he dared to stop an eagle eye holder, he would’ve lost his job today.
Entering the restaurant, Aaliyah looked at Nathan.
“Miss, there is this table on the terrace with the best view of the lake and forest on the other side. Please honor us by using it,” the manager rushed to Aaliyah after being informed by the guard before his gaze landed on Nathan.
“What a pleasant surprise, sir? Your table would be ready in a minute,” the manager said, and Aaliyah grinned.
“We will take the rooftop table. Is that okay with you?” Aaliyah looked at Nathan, who nodded stiffly.
As Sandra watched the girl playing her father at his game, she couldn’t help but bite her cheeks to stop herself from laughing.
No wonder Aaliyah has Dominic in the palm of her hand. She always has something to amuse and surprise you.
“Will your mom be joining us later? You said she wanted to me, but I can’t see her anywhere,”
“She will indeed join us later, but before that, you tell me what are your intentions with my son,” Nathan went straight to the point.
“What do you think, Mr. Nathan?” Aaliyah raised her brows.
“I had many things come to my mind. Starting with, you want to use my son for wealth, fame, name, or to strengthen your foothold in this industry, but I couldn’t pinpoint what exactly. So if you would tell us yourself, it would save both of us some time,” Nathan’s eyes turned cold.
“Would you like to order something? Cold coffee for me, please,” Aaliyah ordered and leaned back in her chair while everyone gave their orders before Nathan looked back at her.
“Judging from your behavior, your son hasn’t spoken to you, I suppose. We have cleared this matter between us,” Aaliyah said.
“I don’t want to hear it. I know cunning girls like you have a way around. You must’ve seduced him with your toxic beauty. This is the only weapon girls like you have. He isn’t someone to give in and drink his insult like this. What is your plan?” Nathan slammed his hand on the table, and Samanta trembled, feeling slightly bad for Aaliyah, but the latter didn’t even flinch.
“Now your next question would be, what I was doing there and what my relationship with the eagle eye gang is, right?” Aaliyah asked, not losing her composure.
“Can we have a little privacy?” Aaliyah asked.
Nathan nodded at everyone, and they nodded before walking to the railing to give them some space.
“Mr. Nathan, I assume you already know the leader of the eagle eye gang. After all, you guys were childhood friends, weren’t you?” Aaliyah leaned on the table.
“You are quite observant and updated on things that only a few people know. Well, I won’t be surprised. Seducing my son and capturing his attention must’ve taken a lot of work. Yes, I know the leader. You are talking about Harry, right?” Nathan asked, and Aaliyah smiled.
“Will this be enough?” Aaliyah brought out a photo from behind her wallet’s hidden chain and placed it on the table in front of him, making him look at the photo in shock, his eyes widening.
“You are -”
“Harry’s youngest child,” Aaliyah said, and Nathan’s blood ran cold for a second at all the things he called her.
“The successor of the eagle eye gang,” Nathan whispered, and Aaliyah smiled.
“That’s a hard guess,”
“Does my son know about it?” He asked, and Aaliyah shrugged.
“I am sure he tried his best to find out everything. Unfortunately, we are called the hidden gang for a reason,” Aaliyah stood from her seat and practically snatched the photo from his hand.
“Sorry, I am possessive of it,” Aaliyah said before smiling at the waiter who brought her cold coffee.
“Why did you say you don’t know my son? Did you want to hide it from your father? Do you think he is unworthy of -”
“That’s not the case Mr. Nathan. I was just saving Mr. Dominic some hassle. Knowing my father, he would already start searching for him. Besides, you said you would never accept me, so there’s no point. If you weren’t busy judging me, you would’ve understood things more clearly,” Aaliyah smiled at him sarcastically.
“I also know you called me here to insult me, which I can see you failed at. Don’t worry. I won’t be the bad person and tell Dominic about this meeting,” Aaliyah drowned the cold coffee before smirking and slamming the $500 bill on the table.
She didn’t need to droop to his level and insult him. Aaliyah knew she made the impact needed.
“I don’t stay at places I am not respected. This is for coffee. Enjoy your meal,” Aaliyah raked her hands through her hair, and Nathan watched as she left with mixed emotions.
“So? What did she say? Did she agree that she was seducing Dominic? Is that why she left? She apologized, right?” Sandra asked, and Nathan kept looking at the back of the leaving girl.
“Sandra, what do you think Dominic would do if he came to know I insulted his love even after being warned?” Nathan said out aloud.
“Dad, why are you worried about that? You did it for Dominic’s sake. He won’t say anything when he would realize she is wrong and was using -”
“She is not using him, Sandra. We got her all wrong. That’s why I fear what Dominic would do,” Nathan said, closing his eyes.
Meanwhile, as Aaliyah rode her bike toward her house, her phone vibrated with an incoming call.
She looked at Matthew’s name before picking it up.
“Aaron, send reinforcements to the Axe gang’s base. Dad is there in trouble,”
“What trouble?” Aaliyah asked, and Mathew looked at the name he dialed before gulping and ending the call abruptly, making Aaliyah look at the phone with a glare.
What are they trying to hide from her now? She thought before turning around with a screech.