Meanwhile, Lucas and Victoria were on their way back to Mr. Rozzo’s villa. The night before, Lucas had received a call from Lorenzo. Lion and Tiger had managed to win over the Gallo Family-something Lucas hadn’t expected so soon. They had thought blood would be shed before the Gallos would consider switching sides. Who would have thought Lion and Tiger could secure something so valuable to use against the Gallos?
Lucas was impressed with their performance. He knew he had made the right choice in training Lion and Tiger to lead against these smaller mafia groups. Now, the vacation at Victoria’s grandparents’ house was over, and it was time to return.
During the drive, Lucas gently suggested that Victoria stay at his parents’ house, where she would be taken care of, especially since she was pregnant.
At first, Victoria wanted to stay at Lucas’s villa, reasoning that the servants there could take care of her. But Lucas quickly objected.
“No, it’s better if you stay at your parents’ place,” he said. “I’ll be really busy, and there won’t be anyone to watch over you at the villa like there would be at your parents’ home.”
In truth, Lucas was worried. He knew the greatest threat was fast approaching, and Victoria wouldn’t be safe at the villa. It was far safer for her to stay at the home of the richest man in Italy, where the Sicilian mafia would think twice before launching any attack. After all, no one knew exactly what kind of connections Xavier Rozzo had. Even Lucas suspected that Mr. Rozzo wasn’t just wealthy-he likely had significant power in the underworld.
When they arrived at the richest man villa, Lucas told them that he had to leave to take care of some small matters. Victoria didn’t ask any questions-she knew how busy her husband was. Lucas had also forbidden her from going back to work because of her pregnancy. He didn’t want to take any risks, and Victoria understood his concern.
While Victoria spent the afternoon with her mother, Lucas got into his car and drove to his secret base, where the Mercado, Abate, and now the Gallo Family were part of his underground alliance.
As he drove, Lucas dialed Tiger’s number.
“Big Boss,” Tiger answered respectfully.
“Gather everyone at the hideout in 30 minutes,” Lucas instructed.
“Understood, Big Boss,” Tiger replied. “The Gallo Familia is showing significant improvement over the past few days. Their training is progressing well.”
“Good to hear,” Lucas said. “I want a full report on their progress. How are they adapting?”
“They’re adapting quickly,” Tiger reported. “The members are becoming more disciplined and focused. It’s like watching a transformation. They’re eager to prove themselves.”
Lucas nodded, though Tiger couldn’t see him. “That’s what I like to hear. Keep pushing them. We need them at their best.”
“Of course, Big Boss,” Tiger assured. “The training is intense, but they’re handling it. It’s like molding them into a formidable force.”
“Excellent,” Lucas replied. “Make sure all the Familia are gathered at the hideout. I want everyone there.”
“The Mercado and Abate are already at the villa,” Tiger informed him. “We expect to reach the hideout within 30 minutes.”
“Perfect. I’ll see you all soon,” Lucas concluded before ending the call.
Back at the villa, Tiger halted the training session to deliver the news about Lucas. “Everyone, listen up! The Big Boss wants us at the hideout in 30 minutes.”
Don Giovanni felt a mix of excitement and nervousness upon hearing the news. The training stopped immediately, and the members prepared to leave.
Jose and Vlad were pleased, eager to see Lucas again. The Iron Wolves, Marco, and Carlo exchanged glances, curious about the kind of person their Alliance Leader was. They had heard stories and felt a sense of awe and intimidation at the thought of meeting him.
The group quickly boarded several vans and headed to the hideout. For those observing from the outside, this was a routine activity for the Gallo Familia, so it didn’t raise any suspicions or unusual feelings among the onlookers. They arrived at the secret base within twenty minutes. Shortly after, a sleek sports car entered the compound.
As the sleek sports car glided into the compound, Tiger elbowed Lion lightly. “He’s here,” Tiger said, his voice low but filled with respect.
Lion gave a quick nod. “Let’s go meet him.”
Not far behind, Jose and Vlad noticed the familiar car as well and followed suit. When Lucas stepped out, all four of them greeted him in unison, “Welcome, Big Boss.”
Lucas gave a slight nod, his expression calm and collected. “Good to see everyone.”
The rest of the group watched with silent curiosity. To them, Lucas didn’t stand out much-he looked like any successful businessman, sharply dressed, with a quiet confidence in his stride. But there was something about him that made them uneasy.
Don Giovanni observed Lucas with a sharp, calculating eye. ‘So, this is the Tyrant Boss,’ he thought. ‘He may appear ordinary, but the way his men act around him says otherwise. It’s as if they’re standing in front of death itself.’
Lucas, fully aware of the attention he was receiving, remained poised. He knew the weight of their stares-some filled with curiosity, others with doubt. But that didn’t faze him. He had long mastered the art of commanding a room with his presence alone.
As Lucas strolled casually toward them, he nodded at the four. “Gather everyone in front of me,” he instructed calmly.
Lion, without hesitation, responded, “Right away, Boss.” He quickly turned to relay the order, his voice firm but respectful.
As Lion moved to gather the others, a few men exchanged glances. While they clearly respected Lucas, their deference seemed stronger toward Lion and Tiger. Most of them had assumed Lucas was just a strategist in the shadows-a wealthy backer who stayed behind the scenes while Lion and Tiger handled the real work.
“Why’s the strategist calling the shots all of a sudden?” one of the men muttered quietly to another, eyeing Lucas curiously.
“Don’t know,” his companion whispered back. “But if Lion and Tiger follow him without question, there’s gotta be more to him than we think.”
As Lucas stood in the center, he noticed the skeptical glances from some of the members, including the Iron Wolves, Marco, and Carlo, who were among the most skilled in the group. Lucas smiled, then spoke in a calm yet chilling tone, “It seems some of you don’t take me seriously.”
He unbuttoned his suit jacket and walked to the open courtyard. “Lion, Tiger, bring forward the strongest you’ve trained. I want to test them.”