Danny Torent's POV

Left, Right, Left, Left.

I shake my head once more to clear the sweat dripping down my face and send an upward kick to the punching bag before me. A left hook followed by a roundhouse kick has the bag shaking more vigorously, but I wasn't done yet.

Usually, I would fuck my frustration out on a redhead or Charlie. Since that's out of the question, boxing would have to suffice for now.

Peyton called earlier and asked for a rundown of my findings so far. And honestly, if I think about it, my stay so far has been entertaining.

It's been a few days; I spend most of my time with Rae Jean in her office digging more into Kasie and Valentía. Occasionally Carlos and I walk around the Mafia. I hear more stories of a past that should have burned to ashes long ago.

Then there is Raimundo. Since the awful dinner, I've hardly seen him, but that might change just about now.

I heard a dry cough from behind me but continued boxing. The person kept coughing, and we all know I'm not keen on disturbances.

"Ever heard of cough syrups?" I retort as I stop punching the bag.

"Says the person that has problems with his ears," The accent and tone were still bitter, and I felt myself frown.

I hold the bag in place before turning around to see Raimundo. He looks more put together than when I last saw him; he has a small woman in a nurse's outfit behind him who looks like she would rather be anywhere else than here.

My bet is on Raimundo being a carbon copy of his Carlos while Rae Jean was of her mom. His inky dark hair was put into a small man bun making his hollow cheekbones more visible and his overall scrawny look. You wouldn't notice unless you took a good look at him. I could have sworn that Carlos took his health and well-being more seriously than his own.

"What do you want, Raimundo?" I grunt and take a seat on the bench press.

I school my feature because this man acts like he's on the brink of his sanity.

Raimundo raises his arm towards the nurse, "Déjanos ."

Translation: Leave us

When the nurse left, Raimundo rolled his wheelchair closer to me so we wouldn't have to talk too loudly to avoid eavesdroppers.

I remind myself that this is a Mafia; there are cameras at every corner. And I tilt my head to the side and see a small blinking light by the handle of his wheelchair.

"You know I never did get your name, stranger." He says and rubs his chin. "So what is it?"

I survey him and conclude his harmlessness. The only damage that I think he could do was to try and pluck my eyes out of my head with his hand. I'll play along with whatever his game is.

"Danny," I reply curtly. "And yours?"

A snide smile lit up his face, "You mean to say that my Hermana and Padre didn't say anything about me?" He put his hand on his chest and feigned pain.

So that's what his motive is.

"Meddling in family feuds is not my forte."

I'm not sure he got the message because he continued the conversation.

"My name is Raimundo, and I came to ask you for a friendship." He had on a toothy smile now.

He reminded me of old, bitter women whose face didn't match their words.

"And why would I want to be friends with you?" I rest my elbows on my knees and get up in his face to scare him off, but the man has a backbone.

The smile grows wider. "I want to piss what's left of my family the fuck off."

Completely losing it.

"And why would you want to force the hands that feed you to put a bullet between your eyes?" I raised a brow.

Or in Rae Jean's case, a knife to the heart.

"Cause they have nothing to offer me, and the only person I cared about is dead. So you figure it out."

I could see his expression crumbling, his pupils kept moving around the room as if he was looking for something, but he kept his composure in place.

"If these people don't like you, Carlos would have sold you off to the highest bidder, and Rae Jean would have used you as a target for her knife-throwing practice." I sigh.

And I thought the Griffins had family issues.

I stand up from the bench press and make my way towards the door, but I stop myself from leaving the room without telling him my parting words.

"I'd pick my battles carefully if I were you."

"What makes you think that I can't fight this battle?" I heard the wheels of his chair turn, and I knew he was facing my back.

"Because you're no longer the King of the chess game we are being forced to play."

-

The setting sun casts a glow on the old architecture around me. Carlos decided that now was the perfect time for him and me to take another stroll around his land.

"Do you know about the history of this place?" He asked while playing with his beard as we walked around.

"Yes. The French were oppressing you guys; they wanted this land because of how tobacco flourished here. You lot stood together to fight for the one thing you had in common; your homeland." I say as if reading it out of a book.

Carlos nods his head in approval and hums, "You know the British Empire came to our aid, but it came at the price of a deal."

"Well, whoever it was won't be Griffin if he didn't make one then," I say.

"But ever since my wife passed away, I've felt like the Mafia has been crumbling slowly but surely." His tone had taken a sad note. I'm not sure I like where this conversation is going.

"Between my two kids, I don't even know who's saner."

I humoured him, "Trust me, my money is on Rae Jean."

He cracked a smile at the mention of his daughter, "The only reason I haven't stepped down completely is that she needs to be married."

With a groan, I looked to the heavens. "What is with your generation of leaders, on the case of your successors having a permanent partner in bed?"

"It has always been a norm from the old days." He grins, "And I want to rest peacefully in my grave knowing that when the Mafia decides to get on her case, she's got a damn good man that can keep her sane."

At least his heart is in a good place.

I look to the side and frown, "You're right about one thing."

"What's that?"

"This place will surely land her in the nut house."

We were currently on a high ledge of the walkway that led to a bridge. Underneath the bridge was some sort of training ground with many weapons and equipment. A familiar pale figure with knives stole the whole attention of the rest of the people who were there to train.

A small circle formed around two people who circled each other, waiting for their opponent to attack first.

Rae Jean decided to act first as she sent a knife to the person's shoulder, causing the man in front of her to drop his weapon.

Words were being exchanged between the two, but it was hard to hear with the Spanish curse words flying everywhere.

"Are you going to step in?" I ask the man beside me.

He tilted his head, "I'd rather step in when it's necessary. She might be a strong and feisty leader, but she's still a woman. The world is yet to accept that a woman can lead just as much and good as a man."

"But women have ruled this Mafia before?" I mean, it's on the records back in the empire that this place has been ruled by women the most compared to the remaining places I read about.

"Not without a fight."

I direct my attention back to the fight; it seems Rae Jean now has the man on his knees, a knife to his throat and a deadly look on her features.

I'm assuming the fight wasn't the only thing that had her pissed.

Her cloak was torn on the hood, and blood matted her forehead and dripped down her chin. Her clothes were dusted in dirt, and some parts were torn. My eyes hone in on the growing blood stain on the lower part of her abdomen.

Everywhere was quiet as the people watched their Doña hold the knife closer to his throat.

"Sé que no tengo polla ni barba. Sé que muchas cosas han cambiado, pero ustedes no parecen darse cuenta de que todavía los guiaré hasta mi último aliento. Venga la lluvia y venga el sol, romperé toda oposición y me aseguraré de que ninguna mujer después de mí se enfrente a tal falta de respeto."

Translation: I know I don't have a dick or a beard. I know a lot has changed, but you people don't seem to realise I will still lead you till my last breath. Come rain and come sunshine, I will break every opposition and make sure that no woman after me will be faced with such disrespect.

"It was nice fighting with you, Caporegime. I'm giving you one last time out. Apologise and relinquish your title like a man, or I'll allow you to join your father as a lousy piece of shit." She says in a quiet yet menacing tone to the man she has at knifepoint.

He spat out blood, "Sobre mi cadaver."

Translation: Over my dead body.

Rea Jean rolled her eyes, "That can be arranged."

In one swift swing of her hand, she slashed his throat and dropped his bleeding form onto the ground. She stood up and dusted herself. She looked at the crowd with a wicked smile.

"Clean this up and get me a new Caporegime." Those were her parting words as she walked towards the exit of the grounds.

I turn my attention to Carlos, "How often does this happen?"

"Seldomly, I have a deal for you, Danny." He sighs and looks at me.

I recognised the look he was giving me. It was the same look I read off from Raimundo earlier.

"I know my family is hanging on the seams, but if you can help me get Rae Jean in a stable mindset, I'll owe you a favour." He declared.

"I need no mind reader to know that if you get your hands on Kasie, you'll need to keep her minion under lock and key. That way, she can stop spreading havoc around."

"So, in exchange to reconstruct your family, you'll owe me a favour?"

I won't lie if I say this deal wasn't tempting, but I'm a Dealer by upbringing, and it's very obvious that this deal has more work for me on my end.

"Raimundo is kind of a bonus, but my main priority is Rae Jean; one insane kid at a time." He said with a small laugh.

"For someone who was lamenting about him just yesterday, you're very nonchalant. What changed?" I inquired.

He looked down at the training grounds, "Let's just say that many things can happen in twenty-four hours." He answered cryptically.

"Carlos, if I do this, you'll help me find Lola and bring her home."

I might as well fix what's left of the Griffin's while I'm at it. I cash in my favour.

Carlos held out his, and I gripped it firmly in a handshake as we both said, "Deal."

So anyone up for some popcorn or pizza so we can keep the drama going?