Lucas was momentarily stunned, unable to react. He held both of Victoria’s hands and, with love, asked, “Victoria, is it true that I’m going to be a father?”
Smiling, Victoria nodded happily, “I’m going to be a mother.”
Lucas was overjoyed and wanted to shout, but Xavier beat him to it, exclaiming, “Yes! I’m going to be a grandfather!” he said joyfully, dancing with excitement. He shouted, “Since this is such a wonderful surprise, quickly, buy some expensive wine and share it with all the guests,” as he handed out his bank card.
The crowd erupted in cheers, congratulating Xavier on becoming a grandfather.
One guest exclaimed, “Mr
Xavier, you’re going to be the coolest grandpa!”
Another added, “This calls for a grand celebration!”
A third chimed in, “Your family just keeps getting better!”
Two more guests offered their congratulations, “What a blessing for your family!” and “Here’s to many more happy moments!”
Vivian was also thrilled and congratulated Victoria and Lucas before suddenly jumping and dancing alongside Xavier. The entire venue was filled with joy. The DJ quickly played disco music that echoed throughout the room, bringing the scene to life as everyone joined in the dancing.
Venice beamed with excitement. “Victoria, this is amazing news! I’m so happy for you!”
Maya hugged her tightly. “You’re going to be such a wonderful mom, Victoria!”
Lila added with a warm smile, “Congratulations! This is such a blessing.”
Thomas also congratulated her. Her cousins Daniela, Sophia and Ethan also congratulated Victoria.
Lucas, standing close to Victoria, asked softly, “When did you find out?”
Victoria smiled, her eyes shining. “I started noticing the symptoms about a week ago, so I took a pregnancy test earlier at home.”
Overjoyed, Lucas kissed her forehead tenderly. As he held her close, his mind was already racing. ‘I need to move quickly,’ he thought. ‘With a baby on the way, there’s no time to waste. The Sicilian Familia needs to be dealt with, and I can’t afford any mistakes.’
While Lucas and his group were celebrating, on the other side, intense training continued at the Mercado and Abate villas. The determination of their people was evident, even as they struggled and nearly gave up during their rigorous sessions. These individuals were resolute, driven by a deep desire for revenge.
Even their Dons, Jose and Vladimir underwent intense training to lead their respective Familias. After a week, significant progress was visible among the members; their physical and mental capabilities had improved greatly due to the week-long training.
….
At the Mercado Familia villa, Tiger observed the four individuals he had been training. Their movements had become swifter, their coordination more precise, and the force behind their attacks stronger. Pleased with their progress, Tiger clapped his hands to gather everyone and halt the training. Once assembled,
Tiger announced, “Tomorrow, with The Iron Wolves, we will strike the Gallo Familia to test your strength. Don’t worry, we will have two people from the Abate Familia with us, carefully chosen by Lion. Our goal tomorrow is not the main headquarters of the Gallo but their smaller businesses. This is your mission: take down the guards and seize the ledgers they keep at their small enterprises. Lion and I will be observing from the outside, but if any problems arise, we will step in to assist.”
Tiger paused, looking at the four. “Are you ready to fight?” he asked.
The four members of The Iron Wolves responded firmly, “We are ready to fight!”
Satisfied, Tiger nodded. “Okay, everyone rest up, because tomorrow, not just these four will be in action. The rest of you will be led by Vlad to another location for your first mission. Your target is the site of the Gallo Familia’s main cash vault. Their house vault is divided into four, so you’ll need to coordinate with Jose and other members of the Abate Familia. Do you understand?” Tiger asked the group.
They responded with a resounding, “Yes, we are ready!” filled with anticipation and adrenaline.
They knew the Gallo Familia was quite strong, nearly on par with the Coasta Familia, but they felt no fear, aware of the level they had reached in such a short time. Tiger nodded, “Dismissed! Everyone, get some rest!” With that, everyone respectfully acknowledged Tiger before dispersing to rest.
….
At the Abate Familia villa, Lion did the same as Tiger had done with the Mercado Familia, dismissing his group early. They were all eager, like hungry lions ready to feast on fresh prey.
The next day, Lion and Tiger met at a predetermined location, accompanied by six followers. Tiger pointed to an ice factory and began to speak, “That small ice factory is more than it appears. Concealed within the dry ice cubes are illicit drugs. Your mission is to infiltrate the facility. Courtesy is not required; your sole focus should be on securing the ledger.”
Lion added, his voice steady and authoritative, “The ledger is divided into two crucial parts: the standard ledger, which records their legitimate transactions, and a second, more clandestine ledger that details their illegal dealings. Securing both is imperative. By comparing the figures, we can uncover the identities of the Gallo Familia’s clandestine partners. This information is vital for dismantling their network of illegal activities.”
He paused, allowing the gravity of the mission to sink in, before adding, “These ledgers contain more than just numbers. They hold the keys to understanding their entire operation-names, dates, transaction amounts, and even coded messages that could reveal future plans. With this information, we can anticipate their moves and ensure we stay one step ahead. It will be invaluable for our future strategies, allowing us to act with precision and caution.”
The six operatives looked at each other and nodded, understanding just how important this mission was. “This is big,” one of the Iron Wolves said. “Our businesses have similar records, so we know how valuable this information can be.”
“Exactly,” Marco from the Abate Familia chimed in. “If we pull this off, the intel we gather could be enormous.”
With determination in their eyes, they all agreed. “Let’s do this,” Carlo from the Abate Familia and Diego, the best fighter of Mercado Famila and leader of the Iron Wolves, said confidently.
They set off toward the ice factory, fully aware that the stakes were high, but the potential rewards were even greater.