When Vlad arrived at the back of the villa, he saw the henchmen sent by Lucas. He nodded at the leader before being escorted inside the villa while chaos ensued in front of the villa.
“Are the preparations according to my instructions ready?” Vlad asked.
The leader nodded before lifting his shirt and seeing a silencer strapped to his waist. “The Mercado will be yours if this step is successful,” the leader of the group said.
“Don’t worry, I give you my word. I will do what I promised to Lucas,” Vlad said firmly before gesturing to enter ahead.
The group leader nodded to his companions before the dozen men following Vlad entered behind him.
In front of the villa, Don Timon came out and fired a warning shot upon seeing the chaotic scene of mixed bodies of enemies and his family lying on the ground, some lifeless and others unsure if they were dead or alive.
“The Abate Familia truly has no laws!” Don Timon angrily exclaimed, his face cold as he surveyed the scene before him.
Upon hearing the gunshot, the people immediately stopped moving. Anton looked arrogantly, spat on the ground, and spoke, “Timon, it’s good that you came out! Do you think our Don is unaware of what you’re doing just to get the attention of the Sicilian Familia?”
“What have I done? You’re the one causing trouble here! You show no respect for the Mercado Familia, and you dare to wreak havoc in our territory, even killing some of my people!” Don Timon said coldly.
Anton chuckled, “Timon, do you think I don’t know the purpose of your training?! Aren’t you preparing to attack us?”
Timon doubted how Anton found out. “What are you saying? You have no proof, but there’s evidence that you caused chaos here and killed some of my people!” he retorted.
Anton smirked, “Evidence? Do you want evidence?” He laughed. “And what proof do you have that I killed your people? All I see are dogs here.”
“No respect! What you did in my territory was a disgrace, and you rampaged for no reason. Did the Abate Familia forget the alliance agreement?” Timon said, anger evident in his every word.
“Agreement? Weren’t you preparing to break the alliance and challenge us? Do you think we don’t know that you’re conducting training to eliminate the Abate Familia in order to gain the favor of the Sicilian Familia? Because you think we’re the obstacle, that’s why the Sicilian Familia doesn’t value you even though you’re the ones trying to steal the credit?! Well… well, well, sorry to disappoint you because your plan won’t succeed!” Anton replied.
Don Timon was surprised. He wondered why the information known to the Abate seemed twisted, suspecting that something was wrong as if someone wanted to create chaos and destroy the trust between the two families as if they were being manipulated, “What did you say? Stealing credit, Mercado? Isn’t the information you have wrong? Isn’t the Sicilian Familia always favoring the Abate because the credit always goes to you every operation?” He expressed confusion in his words.
Anton grinned, “What are you saying, Timon? Do you forget why the Sicilian Familia values us? Don’t you forget? We gave half of our business to the Sicilian Familia during the uprising against Genovese to strengthen their forces and rise with a new strength? This has nothing to do with the recent operations!”
Don Timon’s eyes widened as he remembered Anton mentioning this. He realized they had fallen into someone’s trap. “Damn! This is-”
“Don Timon, your requested backup to wipe out the Abate is here! It’s a good thing they were on standby immediately! All Mercado members, get down quickly!” Vladimir shouted, running swiftly with the group carrying guns.
Anton became furious upon seeing the group and glared angrily at Don Timon. “You’re really shameless, Timon! Bringing in outsiders to ambush us, it’s obvious you planned everything, even our arrival. You’re good at pretending!”
Don Timon was about to speak when Vladimir’s group suddenly fired guns, causing the Mercado members to flee immediately after Vlad spoke. The Abate Familia members were left behind without guard, taking all the bullets released by the group. They couldn’t escape and dropped one by one to the ground, with bullet holes in their bodies.
Upon seeing his men drenched in blood, Anton’s rage erupted like a volcano. “Timon! You have no shame!” he shouted furiously as he charged towards Timon at a close distance. Drawing his concealed gun, he immediately fired three shots at Timon’s chest before turning to Aljun, who was trying to shield Timon. He fired at Aljun too, hitting him in the head before he fell lifeless to the ground.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three bullets pierced Timon’s chest, striking his heart. Timon never expected Anton to have a hidden weapon. Blood gushed from his mouth as he collapsed to the ground. However, before falling, he lifted his shotgun, aimed, and fired at Anton’s head. Anton’s head exploded, his brains scattered, his body lifeless without a head. A terrifying smile crept across Vlad’s face as he witnessed the scene.
Vlad’s men ceased firing their guns. Vladimir quickly approached Timon, “Don Timon, are you okay?” he asked with concern. Don Timon gasped for breath before his eyes widened upon seeing Vlad. Vlad leaned in close to Timon’s ear and whispered, “Don, rest now. I will take care of the Mercado Familia,” he said calmly.
Don Timon’s eyes widened as he realized that the information messing with his mind came from Vlad, causing him to forget other truths. He pointed at Vlad with wide eyes, “You, Vlad-” In his intense anger, his heart rate soared, causing him to gasp for breath and die. Vlad stood with a sorrowful expression before facing the remaining members of the Mercado Familia.
“Comrades, Don is gone, and many of us have perished. You all know that Don entrusted me with many tasks as his successor. Although Don’s message was left incomplete, you saw in his eyes when he pointed at me that he trusted me with the Mercado Familia… All of you know Don Timon guided me,” Vlad said somberly.
After exchanging glances, the family members unanimously chose Vladimir as their new Don. They understood that without his timely intervention, they might have been the ones lying lifeless on the ground. Vlad smiled triumphantly, his plan successful. “Everyone, take a rest and organize those who will clean up the scene. Due to what has happened, significant changes will occur in our family… Those who aided us in resolving the Abate Family will help elevate the Mercado to a different level, so trust in me, and I will not disappoint you.”
Upon hearing this, everyone respectfully acknowledged their new Don, immediately they departed and moved to clean the villa. Vlad nodded to the leader of the group sent by Lucas as a gesture of gratitude, the leader nodded back before disappearing with his men from the place and reported to Lorenzo about the incident that occurred.
….
In the villa of the Abates, their Don stood while gazing out of the villa window, the whole villa quiet. He divided his men into two, sending his Under Boss to the Mercado to finish them off while the other half joined the expedition of the Sicilian Familia. He smiled as he waited for good news when suddenly someone walked towards him.
“Don, I have something important to discuss with you,” the man said.
“What is it, Jose?” Don asked.
Jose, the Consigliere of the Abates, nodded before approaching Don, pulled out a silencer and shot their Don in the chest, “Farewell, Don, rest in peace,” he coldly said while showing a chilling smile.