Roger furrowed his brow, skepticism evident in his eyes. “Can I trust you?” he asked Lucas.
Lucas smiled, “Can you trust me? Think about whether you want to free yourself from the Sicilians or remain their cash cow for life.”
Roger pondered for a moment, glancing at Greg, who stood silently nearby. Lucas noticed Roger’s hesitation and added, “By the way, Tyrone has been freed from the Costa Familia. If you look at his casino now, it’s more stable, and his assets have increased compared to last month.”
Roger thought for a moment, recalling the changes. He looked at Lucas, seeking confirmation. “You were the one who freed him from the Costa Familia’s chains?”
Lucas shrugged, offering no direct answer. Roger considered his options, then sighed and laughed, placing his hands on the two beautiful women beside him. “Alright, alright, I’ll trust you this once, Mr. Lucas.”
Lucas smiled, acknowledging Roger’s decision.
…..
….
…
Roger resided in the elegant Villa Serene, a place known for its understated luxury. The villa was adorned with tasteful decor, featuring soft, neutral tones and minimalist furnishings that exuded sophistication. Large windows allowed natural light to flood the rooms, highlighting the carefully curated art pieces and lush indoor plants.
Inside, Roger, Greg, Lucas, and One Eye were seated comfortably. The two women accompanying Roger stood nearby, watching the group with interest.
Roger placed a ledger on the table, ready to explain. “This is-” he began, but Lucas raised his hand, signaling him to stop. Roger looked confused, unsure of what was happening. Ignoring Roger’s puzzled expression, Lucas stood up and walked behind Roger’s. Pretending to whisper, Lucas discreetly removed a small device attached to Roger’s collar. Smiling, Lucas throw the tiny device on the table but did not return to his seat.
Everyone stared at the device in confusion. “What is this?” Roger asked, frowning as he examined the object on the table.
“A bug,” Lucas replied.
“A bug?” Roger repeated, bewildered.
Lucas nodded. “Someone wanted to listen in on our conversation.”
Roger thought for a moment, puzzled about when the spying device could have been planted on him. “I can’t think of anyone who would do this,” he said.
Lucas smiled, “Think about who you’ve been with recently. They might be connected to the bug,” he suggested, glancing at the two women standing nearby.
Roger looked incredulous as he followed Lucas’s gaze. “That’s unlikely, Mr. Lucas,” he said. “I’ve known them for a long time.”
“You’ll find out if you crush the device in your hand,” Lucas advised.
Roger frowned but quickly smashed the device on the floor. Immediately, one of the women accompanying him removed something from her ear and threw it to the ground, a pained expression crossing her face.
Lucas smirked as he observed the scene unfold. He walked over to where the woman had thrown the object, picked it up, and examined it. “An earpiece,” he noted with a grin. “What does this mean? Can you explain?” he asked the woman who had discarded it.
The woman bit her lip, trying to come up with an excuse. “I was listening to music, and then it suddenly malfunctioned, so I threw it away,” she said.
“Listening to music?” Lucas chuckled. “Do we look like we’re about to hold a concert for you to be listening to music during our conversation?”
The woman hesitated, then tried to defend herself. “I just like having background music, it helps me focus.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Focus? On what exactly? Our riveting discussion about business strategies?”
She stammered, “Well, sometimes I just need to drown out the noise.”
Lucas laughed softly, “Noise? In a quiet villa like this? You must have very sensitive ears.”
The woman, flustered, attempted another excuse. “I thought it was a podcast, something educational.”
Lucas shook his head, still smiling. “Educational, you say? I suppose you were hoping to learn about the intricacies of our dealings?”
Her face turned red as she realized her excuses were becoming increasingly absurd. “No, no, it was just a mistake,” she insisted.
Lucas leaned in slightly, his tone teasing yet firm. “Mistakes happen, but this one seems a bit too convenient, don’t you think?”
The woman, clearly flustered, tried to regain her composure. “You see, I often listen to language lessons. I thought it would be a good time to practice while you were talking.”
Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. “Language lessons? During a private meeting? You must be quite the multitasker.”
She nodded eagerly, grasping at straws. “Yes, exactly! I believe in making the most of my time.”
Lucas leaned back, crossing his arms. “And what language were you hoping to learn from our conversation? The language of business intrigue, perhaps?”
The woman hesitated, then blurted out, “I thought it was a meditation guide. I must have mixed up my playlists.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the exchange. “Meditation? In the middle of a discussion about serious matters? You must have a very unique way of finding inner peace.”
Desperate, she added, “I just wanted to stay calm and centered, you know, to be present in the moment.”
Lucas smirked, “Present in the moment, yet you seemed quite distracted by your ‘music.'”
She sighed, realizing her excuses were only digging her deeper. “I just… I didn’t mean any harm.”
Lucas nodded, his expression softening slightly but still firm. “Perhaps not, but it’s important to be honest, especially in situations like these.”
The woman took a deep breath, her mind racing for another excuse but finding none. Suddenly, her demeanor shifted, her gaze turning sharp and deadly. “I didn’t want to do this,” she said, her voice low and dangerous, “but you forced my hand.” With that, she drew a dagger from behind her back and lunged at Lucas.
Lucas smirked, as if he had anticipated this turn of events. With a casual grace, he sidestepped her attack, moving just out of reach. “Is that the best you can do?” he taunted, his voice light and teasing. “You move like a child throwing a tantrum.”
The woman, undeterred, swung the dagger again, her movements quick and precise. But Lucas was faster, dodging each strike with ease. “Come on now,” he chided, “surely you can do better than that.”
She growled in frustration, her attacks becoming more frantic. Lucas danced around her, his movements fluid and effortless. “You’re going to have to try harder if you want to catch me,” he teased, as if they were playing a simple game of tag.
The woman lunged once more, but Lucas spun away, leaving her grasping at air. “Almost had me that time,” he chuckled, clearly enjoying the chase.
Despite her best efforts, the woman couldn’t land a single blow. Lucas’s taunts only seemed to fuel her anger, but he remained unfazed, his confidence unshaken. “It’s been fun,” he said with a grin, “but I think it’s time to end this little dance.”
With a swift, decisive move, Lucas disarmed her, the dagger clattering harmlessly to the floor.