At a certain airport phone calls were swiftly exchanged with someone who bore an alien accent giving strict instructions. His voice was a hoarse and surprisingly cool, nevertheless intimidating. He sounded disturbed and thoroughly infuriated. Due to the immense anger that his rough voice was coated in, he made some dangerous threats that the person who was apparently standing infront of a line of cars stuttered as he spoke and kept mumbling faint apologies. In the background of the latter sounds of weak furniture were heard. But they seemed to fall with a heavy thud.

" fucking give those drugs to only and only my son, RYXEL GRANDE BLACK. Give them to any useless lowlife and I will lower you into a grave alive."

"Yes, sir!" Came a humble but loud response.

"And do deliver my personal message to Mr. Ryxel Grande Black." He said the 'Mr' with extreme pride and confidence.

"Yes, Boss."

"Not Boss, Damien. But father." The person on the other side of the line said in a blissful tone that anyone would be fooled and fall for it. Damien knew his boss well enough. Yes he regarded his men as family but he didn't consider that when it came to business. And however fell for it was a weak hearted person who he would get rid of immediately. He had no room for family in business except for one person, Ryxel Grande Black.

"Boss!"

On hearing, Damien address him as Boss even after he had told him to call him father made his insides boil with power and full authority. He felt his ego being worshipped with respect.

"Damien!" He called with full command.

"Yes, boss."

"I suppose you didn't let anyone who isn't Ryxel see our private airport."

"No, Boss. We were at a public airport, when the man turned up."

"Smart!"

"Thank you, Boss."

"First get the work properly done and then you will get my full praise. That was only a reflex."

"I will Boss."

"Joder!" (Fuck) Fucking move from there right now! Now, Damien!" The man roared.

The man who had been giving the instructions hang up with bitterness and unease. But a second later, he was composed. He looked at the fallen bodies tied to furniture and without delay, he shot right through their skulls. The four bodies lay lifeless in front of him. With the support of his royal walking stick, he squatted to their level and pulled out a blade and cut across one of the necks of the dead bodies. With his, index finger, he dug deep in the open throat and collected blood. He licked it and savoured on it like it was chocolate ice cream.

"The blood of a traitor tastes as good as a prostitute's fuck!"

And then his evil laughter echoed in the dead silent and dark room. When his laughter came to an end a gloomy expression wore his face.

"Ryxel, my son. I hope you are seven times a copy of me. That would make me more proud than I am right now."

And then the diabolic laughter resumed.

-------------__________----------

Six black cars parked in the spacious hanger. Three at either opposite side of the mammoth airport. The private land had several private jets paraded in a row. And a bunch of men in black were all over the place. At every corner was a man who seemed to unconcerned about what was taking place but in reality, they were observing everything.

From the cars packed in the North, a man of good looks came out of first car with eleven men accompanying him. All fully armed.

The vehicles parked in the South let out ten men who stood with their heads up straight. Four men each from two separate cars and two from one car.

The good looking man from the North side looked on with urge to see if someone else was to come out of the car but no one did. His features scented anxiety and tension. "What will I tell Boss, now? Ryxel did not turn up. He sent his men again."

As he was still stressing about what to tell his Boss, the door of the vehicle that had had only two men was opened by one of the men standing in front of it and the American Mafia emerged. A wave of relief washed over the man's face. He wouldn't have to explain anything to his Boss.

When Ryxel moved a step forward, all the men bowed their heads in respect. From both sides, heads hung low just by the aura of authority he gave off.

"Mr. Ryxel Grande Black." A man of similar height, good looks but slightly squishy nose extended his hand.

On recognition, Ryxel returned the gesture.

"Damien, how are you?"

"Am okay, Ryxel, bro." They hugged.

"That's great. How's father?"

"Quadral A is doing just fine. He misses his "son" though." Damien said emphasising the son with visual courts in the air using his first two fingers after the thumb to make them. Ryxel looked at his act of jealousy and ignored. Damien had always envied Ryxel right from the start when Alexi Alexander Alexander Ardenne had brought him home. Ryxel had found Damien there and they were just the same age. Damien always did even the least expected from a child just to acquire Ardenne's attention but Ryxel was just always a step ahead of him. And the effort Ryxel put in made Damien's look weaker than weak. They both were determined but Ryxel was more strong willed. They both had goals but Grande Black had a deeper passion attached to it hence making him committed without even the desire of earning his guardian's attention. He would devotedly do the hardest of things due to the heavy weight of his loss on his heart. His parents demons haunted him and pressed hard on his button of devotion. That's how he became the Gangster's interest to refine. Alexi picked keen interest in Ryxel and chose to make him better in the ways he thought were right. His open minded nature made the gang man love him more. He was ready to learn and accept new things. That way, he unknowingly dropped Damien and focused on Ryxel. But Damien didn't tire, he still struggled to get in his good books and it wasn't in vain. Ardenne gave him a position just after that of Ryxel's. They were all sons but Ryxel was a beloved one. He got the right to command in Ardenne's name. Damien was just treated like every other subject. Only that he was given top most trust but that too after Mr. Black. Damien didn't like it. He wanted nothing less than the position of being Ardenne's son. He wanted what Ryxel had, Ardenne's favour. Regardless, he loves Ryxel like a brother. But he cannot hide the jealousy.

"He hopes you could come visit him in Italy, real soon, bro."

"Italy?"

"Yes, Italy. We had moved our business to Russia and that's where we were supposed to settle down but his adorable daughter refused to move to Russia. She insisted on staying in Italy. And you know how much he loves her. He always wants her presence around him. So he chose to move back."

"Annika..." Ryxel exhaled letting out a cool but worried breathe as he pinched the part between his knitted brows.

"Ryxel, Annika is becoming so unruly."

"Has she always been like this or is it only of recent?" Ryxel worriedly asked.

"Ryxel, ever since you left home, she doesn't treat the people around her right. Not even talk to them well. She talks without thinking. She behaves like a psycho. She drinks and smokes like a bitch addict. She's a waste. A total---"

"Fucking watch the way you talk about Nnika, Damien!" Ryxel angrily spoke.

"Why, Ryxel? Is she only your friend?" Leo said and pushed Ryxel by the shoulder hence provoking him.

Ryxel's expression turned sour as he swang his fist and crashed it in Damien's nose. The line between the two narrow holes broke with a slight crack and a crimson liquid oozed out.

Damien staggered a bit but a while after; he was back to his full standing height. His handsome face was winced in pain and it had a reddish shed added to it.

"What the fuck, man!" Damien growled and attempted to punch Ryxel back.

Before he could do anything. Ryxel's pistol was on his forehead. When everyone else saw this, they immediately rose their guns to Damien.

Damien looked on in horror. Even his own companions were against him all for Ryxel.

"What the fuck!" Damien cursed in anguish.

"Fucking behave yourself, Damien!"

"Behave myself, Huh, Ryxel! Behave myself Huh? Fuck it!" With those words he also rose his gun to Ryxel's head.

One of the men from Ryxel's side shot in the air but none of the boys dropped the guns from each other's head.

Their escorts further moved their guns forward to Damien's structure.

"Damien, Quadral A wouldn't like this. His boys fighting, no it would not be a good site to him."

"His boys? Not his boys but you Ryxel. You are all he cares about. Don't act like you don't know that. Ryxel even the men I came with are against me all for your sake. Am sure because they also know how precious you are to that man." Damien overwhelmingly stated.

"But what haven't I done for Boss not to love me like he does to you Ryxel?" With defeat evident in his voice, he dropped his weapon.

"I am sorry, brother." Damien said and hugged Ryxel who dropped his gun as well and let him hug him.

Then all the people around them followed suit. They put their weapons back in hiding.

"Give him time, Damien. He will eventually see your efforts." Ryxel comforted.

"Sure." Damien said and signalled one of his men to bring forth the purpose of their gathering.

"Hey Carlos, bring that treasure over here!" He said in a cheerful voice.

The stiff stationed man nodded and headed to the last car in their row. He opened the car door and in the back seat sat four black briefcases embroidered with silver linings. He only pulled out one and handed it to Damien.

Who pressed a certain code and the case opened.

Before Ryxel he presented eight kilogrammes of Krokodil. The strongest and most illegal drug on the whole globe.

"Interesting!"

"I know right. Does Ardenne's baby wanna taste?" Damien mocked.

"Fuck! No!"

Ryxel had been in the Mafia business all his life associated with bloodshed, violence, crime name it but never drugs. Ardenne had taught his son everything but failed on the drug part. Ryxel just couldn't take drugs. This annoyed his tutor to an extent that he hit Ryxel but it was all in vain. Damien took advantage of the situation and learnt how to take drugs in order to please his Boss. In the long run, he displeased him instead. His body was never strong enough to handle the hard stuff so he ended up messing up everything. Ardenne feared to let his son go to waste because of a bunch of deadly stuff and let him skip that training on drugs. He let him concentrate on other things that he thought were more needed other than stuffy drugs. To Damien that was childish. So he used it as mockery against Ryxel. Whenever drugs were in place, he often said, "Don't let Ardenne's baby touch the dirty stuff."

"Ryxel, you are of my own making. I believe you will accustom to the hard stuff one day. I trust your body is strong enough for it. Every blood that runs through you is commanded by my training and partly my perspective. I know you will bring me pride one day. You will take the strongest drug and it will be do you know harm for I have trained you for the toughest, drugs are nothing, my son." Ardenne always spoke when he had Damien taunt Ryxel.

"I will, father. I will." Ryxel always replied his response so stern.

"Carlos bring the other bags too." Damien ordered.

He handed the first bag to Ryxel and whispered something in his ear.

"The code is 2.0.2.1 and they are weather-"

"Sensitive. I know, Damien. Just because I don't take drugs doesn't mean I am an illiterate when it comes to them. Okay?" Ryxel said a bit angry his features reflecting frazzleness.

"Okay, bro."

"Smart. Now get your men to give my package to Leo over here."

"Snappy, Carlos." Damien snapped his fingers and his comrade sped up.

He handed two cases to Leo and others to another man.

"Leo!"

"Yes, Boss."

"Settle the accounts of this trade."

Another man brought forth a silver briefcase which he handed over to Leo and took the ones with the illegal item from him."

"Sixty million net, Mr. Damien. "

"Thank you, Ryxel."

"Pleasure is all mine. Doing business with my own family is quite pleasant." Ryxel said and shook hands with Damien.

"A good day, Mr. Grande Black."

"Same goes for you, Damien. Tell Nnika her elder brother looks forward to a better report."

___________________________

"Welcome back, sir." Diana rushed in as Ryxel walked into the living room.

"Where is Caramel, Diana."

"Living Room, sir."

"Leo, head straight to my office and place the item on my table."

"Right away, Boss."

As Leo left for Ryxel's office, Diana left for the kitchen.

Ryxel walked to the sitting room and his eyes fell right on the sleeping beauty.

She lay on the couch her hands folded up in the embrace of her chest and her left leg placed on top of her right one pushing out her right hip and curving her body in an innocent but seductive way. Ryxel loved the view of it. He looked on. His eyes trailed her body in admiration.

She shifted a bit due to some discomfort and her small nose scrunched in detest. Her lashes flashed a bit as if she was going to wake up but she didn't. She continued moving her body to find a suitable position and when she did, a small smile crept on her slumber filled face. Ryxel stared on and unknowingly a smile spread across his lips. But he didn't seem content with her sleeping on something less spacious.

Dropping his coat on the chair, he picked up, Caramel. With absolute gentleness and worry not to wake her up, he carried her bridal style and placed her in bed. He placed the covers over her body and his softly kissed her on the forehead. She must have felt the contact of something soft on her skin. Her eyebrows rose and fell in relaxation. Then she fully went into sleep mode. Ryxel sat beside her for the next one hour. Doing nothing but staring at her. He watched her as she faintly snored and turned a few times.

He picked up a dialler on the nightstand and dialled something, called for Diana and went back to looking at the lass before him.

A knock on the door interrupted his glare on the princess that lay before him.

"Come in."

Diana walked in.

"Yes, sir." Diana humbly inquired with her head hang low.

"Did she have dinner?"

"Not even, lunch, sir."

"Oh!" He said and went back to examining Caramel.

"Yes, sir."

"And why is that?" He said placing the back part of his palm on her head.

"Miss. Karmale said that she didn't feel like having anything."

"Why?" Ryxel asked in a single word but with a death glare attached to it.

"Well..."

"Well, what?"

"She said she wasn't hungry at all."

"And?"

"And, she didn't have appetite at all."

"Then she added?"

"She added that she was not going to eat till you returned her phone and let her go to work."

"Hmmmn. How can someone be so stubborn?" Ryxel mumbled to himself.

"You can go." He said to Diana.

He moved in to where the damsel slept. With his thumb, he brushed on her cheek and said, "Why are you so stubborn, Caramel?"

He sat in her room for the next two hours and left to have a bath in his own room and probably rest after.

He stood under the shower and the cold water flowed onto his body relaxing his tired nerves.

He stepped out of the bathroom and wrapped a white towel around his torso.

Knock Knock.

"Come in."

"Sir, dinner is ready." A certain maid informed him.

"I have heard." He dismissed the maid.

He dressed in sweats and a white t-shirt and immediately got lost in the monitor of his laptop.

A few seconds later, his phone buzzed.

"Video call, Ryxel."- message from Nnika.

"And when did my little sister start asking, Huh? Just take over my laptop screen, am waiting." -Reply from Ryxel.

"On it." Nnika replied with a smiley emoji.

"Hi, Ryxel." She smiled in Ryxel's laptop screen.

"How are you, Nnika?"

Annika was a blonde girl in her early twenties. She wore a pretty smile but her face looked much tired. She had hazel eyes and a slender body similar to that of a model. Same went for her height. She had a beautiful smile but her tired face made it dull somewhat.

"Am okay, Ryxel."

"Doesn't seem so to me. You look rather sleep deprived."

"Not really."

"Then what is it? Are you taking something unhealthy I may not approve of?"

"No, Ryxel."

"You of all people should know better than lie to me, Annika."

Annika exhaled and spoke the truth just like Damien had told Ryxel earlier on in the day.

"Come on, Nnika!"

"Am sorry, Ryxel." She apologized with all the sweetness she could fathom.

The conversation continued as the two childhood mates talked about random stuff.

As the interaction got more and more interesting, faint steps were heard in Ryxel's background.

He immediately retorted.

"Whose running, Ryxel? Another victim of yours?"

"Nnika, I will get back to you in a while."

"Okay, Ryxel but who is that running in your house?"

Ryxel didn't answer that. He just hang up the video call and run out of his room.

#MADAMLAWYER

That's Ryxel's family.

Alexi Alexander Alexander Ardenne -his mentor and father figure

Damien his brother in upbringing (not a biological son to Ardenne) just like Ryxel, Ardenne just took him in. The difference is that Ryxel has his biological family but Damien doesn't

Annika a.k.a Nnika is Ardenne's biological daughter.

The three grew up together, Ryxel, Damien and Annika.

So, we'll see them more often in the future chapters.

Thanks for reading....

How did you love it????

Have a great day/night

Andria 💋