🪦 Chapter one 🪦

Mavuto's pov

Standing over my father's grave, I was engulfed with emotions. The wind blew, making the collar of my cloak flap against my cheeks, and I welcome the chill that seeps through to my bones. From the first day Dad told me of his diagnosis, I knew this day would come. It had been delayed because of many good doctors and by the grace of the most high God. He was a good father and he lived a full life despite the dangers that came with being the leader of the underworld, a life of ensuring justice for the underworld people and a pain to those who dares to go against him. I already miss him.

If it wasn't for Aliyah going about and seeking information about me, no one would know as yet that the great underworld leader actually has a son who had already taken his reins. They would still be contemplating what was going to happen, and the lower leaders would still be arguing and fighting each other for the rulership. My father had kept me safely hidden for this very reason, and I love being anonymous, I will remain that way. The least the world knows about my existence, the better it is for me to survive in this world of corruption, hate, and greed.

When Dad had called me to the house three months ago, he knew he was on his last days. He knew I would be sad if I didn't see him before he died, and he wanted his wife and others close to him to know who was in charge. They have no idea that I've been fully in charge for the past five years and that most of their unnecessary expenditures have been stopped by me. They'll not get the opportunity to live overly lavish anymore unless they go and work for it themselves, and they'll have to attend to the duties Dad has assigned them to that they have disregarded.

I turned and walked to the entrance of the right wing of the house with my ten bodyguards following me. Leon, my right-hand man, took out a bunch of keys and opened the grill. He then opened the beautifully designed double doors and stepped aside, allowing me to enter. I've only been here secretly twice, I came once during the construction, and after it was completed to know the codes and familiarize myself with the place. Malia and Mommy will be moving here to live permanently with a few of our other relatives because it's no longer safe for them where we had lived now that people know who we are. I'll only come and stay if my whereabouts are threatened by danger.

Disregarding the elevator, I climbed the carpeted stairs to the third floor where my personal apartment was situated. It was the only furnished floor, clean, untouched, and seemed like a new place for rent. I smiled sadly. It has always been Dad's desire that we all live together, but Mom had always refused. Both of them do things to spite each other all the time until they finally stop and come to an agreement. Mom, who wanted to work and be independent, was safe working where he didn't have to worry if she'd be harmed and that was right in his house. At fifteen years old, when I had understood their estranged relationship to an extent, I had asked them both why and was surprised by their responses.

"Sir, your mother, sister, grandparents, Aunt Melissa, and her three children have arrived." Leon enters through the open doorway and informs me.

Without looking at him, I respond. "See that they get settled properly and inform everyone that this floor is off limits."

"Yes, sir." He answered curtly and went away quietly just as he had come.

Languidly, I walked over to the office and sat down on the gorgeous high back leather chair behind the purple mahogany desk. Everything was neatly arranged by Leon from six months ago, when my Dad felt that he had reached his limit and didn't want any important document (s) misplaced. He was a shrewd man, careful in all his dealings, ruthless and formidable. He had patiently taught me everything about the business, which generates millions annually. There is nothing normal about our line of work. We offer protection, settle disputes, provide assistance in certain situations, make some individuals disappear who doesn't cooperate, and send to the morgue them that commit heinous crimes against anyone.

My phone rang, and I took it out of my pants pocket and answered Neymar. "Yeah?"

I heard Aliyah's voice yelling through the phone above his. "Miss. Aliyah demands to speak to you, sir."

"I'll be down in a minute." I tell him and end the call.

It's time to put her in her place and let her know what time it is. I jogged down the stairs and passed through the wide hallway, seeing the handy men carrying large bags and furniture hither and thither. Several guards stood blocking the entrance when I opened the large double doors, and they stepped aside, giving me a clear path to walk. I gave the leader of Aliyah's assigned bodyguards a deadly stare before telling him. "If I so much as hear that Aliyah has set foot back at this door without my permission, you and everyone under your command will be facing serious consequences."

He looked at Aliyah who then turned to me and began to speak in an authoritative voice. "I'm Mistress. Crobalo, the woman of this house, and I lay down all the orders."

"Go and lay them down in the left wing of this mansion, and do not trespass here." I tell her calmly while she overlooks me in the bright lights of the overhead bulbs.

"What kind of brother are you? And do you think you can just come and take over just like this?" Adel asks, planting her hands on her hips.

Seeing that my other sisters were trying hard to look at me, I walked closer to them and took off my felt hat that I've gotten so used to wearing that I sometimes forget I'm wearing one. I chuckled without smiling seeing their astonished faces, Aliyah leaned forward to take a better look, but I replaced my hat and walked away out to where the black sedans were parked. I got in the one with the gold crest on the front and drove around to the main entrance gate, which opened as I neared it, and I drove through them.

"He, he, he, he, he, he, heeee," I laughed.

Malia and I are the only ones born to Dad with his green eyes, which has made his parents do DNA tests on all four of Aliyah's daughters. I drove through the gates of my humble suburban home nestled high in the hills away from everyone and parked inside the single vehicle garage. I don't like crowds, and I always prefer that no one knows where I am. I trust no one, I was born into the dangerous lifestyle of my Dad, which kept us fed and well educated. Though it wasn't good in the eyes of them who didn't understand, it set a balance on the economy.

After changing into more comfortable clothes, I go inside my kitchen to prepare a full meal. My phone beeped with a notification, and I checked it. •The man named Keeble is still asking for protection and wanting a response asap. We still haven't located where the lotto tickets are being paid out, and he sounds desperate over the phone. We are proceeding with caution as it's clear someone has tapped his phone.•

Some people are so desperate for better lives that they are willing to take dangerous risks by gambling, knowing them and their families' lives could be at stake. •Have some men do a thorough check of all the underground payout locations. There must be a loophole. Whether or not something turns up, send and collect him and his family before noon.• I texted back.

No one will interfere with him or his family, knowing he has managed to contact us for protection. However, with so much money involved, they may still try to obtain a portion by whatever means they can. Most likely, it is the same people from the illegal lottery business, trying to get back some of what they've paid out or scaring him so he wouldn't go to collect the rest. It's okay to try, I would too. But after securing my family and myself. He must have been in doubt of winning or didn't think carefully before venturing that route of gambling.

•Mister Keeble Dacosta has offered his sister as his collateral.•

I stared at the text for a minute or so before responding. •Okay. When you get them, find out her profession and assign her to a befitting job over by the orphanage.•

I shook my head, Mister Keeble probably hasn't gotten any of his winnings yet, but he is probably being threatened. One of these days, I'm going to lock down those damn illegal lottery dens. They're annoying and have become a nuisance over the years, causing a lot of people to be misplaced and living in fear. "Tsk." I hissed, opting for a sandwich instead of cooking.

To be continued...