Kingpin's Gambit: Shadows of the Syndicate

A servant appeared at the entrance of Tessa’s door; she knocked and entered. “Your presence is required sir, ma. The policemen have arrived and they are waiting”

“Alright Mina. Please stay back and look after Tessa” Kiera spoke instead with James glaring and fixed a sturdy eye on Mina, making her uncomfortable.

“If what Tessa said is true, I’m beginning to lack trust in these staff” he blurted out, his eyes still fixed on Mina. The latter shuffled her feet backwards and lowered her head.

“I….I….I will do as you have said ma’am” Mina stuttered.

Kiera noticed the tension and decided to ease the environment; she was uneasy as well but didn’t want to show it. “Common babe, we have to get freshened up. We don’t want to keep them waiting; we also need lots of rest. Besides, I’m also exhausted” she pulled James out of the room and went in the direction of theirs.

One could see the servant cleaning one spot or the other; there were the security personnel were inside as well, inspecting the manor and giving reports. The policemen were still kept outside waiting on the owner to carry out their investigation.

This was becoming a norm as the country was plunged into a state of unrest. For decades, the country has experienced one form of terrorists’ attacks from unknown sources or groups.

In previous times, the country was declared the safest in the continent. Even when there were attacks, the armed forces always solved the case and caught whoever was behind it; no case was too insurmountable or mysterious to them.

Then all of a sudden, mysterious attacks were taking place, there was nothing that could be used as a lead or evidence. Both poor and rich all suffered the blow, so no suspect was found among the citizens.

It became disturbing for so long, the detectives who they had placed their hope and safety on had failed them. They had unfortunately acclimatized to their new fate, the policemen and detectives went to every crime scene religiously with no hopes of solving the case.

Soon, James and his wife joined the policemen outside to give their statement. They belonged to a wealthy class and didn’t need to go to the station to drop their statement; it was brought to their doorstep.

The couple gave every detail of the incident and managed to stay calm in the midst of the numerous paparazzi and journalists throwing multiple questions at them all at once. They would be on the news headlines as quickly as possible and they would have to lay low till another story makes the headline.

After the charade, everywhere was still and calm. Tessa was beginning to stir in her sleep; she was getting disturbed by the dream displayed in her mind.

“No, no, no, not my mom. Please don’t kill her, don’t shoot her. Help! Help me!” She yelled and turned in her bed uncontrollably, shaking her head vigorously and sobbing.

Alarmed, Mina ran downstairs to inform Kiera and James. They quickly rushed up to Tessa’s room.

“I hope this incident doesn’t traumatize my baby. She’s all I have” Kiera said with worry masking her face, they were lines etching on her face.

“If anything should go wrong to Tessa, you all will have yourselves to blame! I’ll make sure you all rot in the depths of jail and hell!” he yelled to no one in particular. He was skidding while his heart thumped in his chest.

When they got there, Tessa had jumped out of bed crying hysterically running towards her parents. To her relief, she finds them whole as much as she was.

“Daddy! I’m so scared”

“Everything is fine darling. You’re safe now” James said while comforting his baby girl.

“Sir, Master Draco is here to see you” a servant informed him and left. His heartbeat stopped and the world was as if it was at a standstill. Master Draco was a childhood friend and now business partner.

He eyes twitched, his hands faltered behind Tessa’s back, his body trembled, and he tried to shake off the nagging feeling he was having. He wondered why Draco was here to see him at a time as this.

Surely he must have heard the news but his friend was not a person to make such hasty visits.

“Darling, let me take Tessa to her room. I’ll come down to greet Draco later”. Kiera spoke, breaking James out of his reverie.

“Alright” he mumbled. Reluctantly, he shuffled his feet downstairs with sweat breaking out of his skin. Although his heart thumped in his chest, he refused to show fear.

“Ah! The old master of the house of Draco” James hailed, “What brings you to my crib at an hour as this?”

Draco or Master Draco as he was known amongst his peers and business partners was a fat, stout man who had a humorous face but there was nothing humorous about him. His name made people’s skin crawl and instill fear in their hearts.

It was worse for those he had dealings with, he was a terror. He was their worst nightmare.

“I heard the news, you know how stories fly and nothing goes by me without my hearing even before it’s on the news” Draco said smirking. “I came to check on the family”.

“Sure” James mused, his facial expression carrying disbelief.

“But that’s not why I’m here fare dama” he lowered his voice, his Spanish accent more visible than before.

James gulped inwardly.

“Master Draco” Kiera’s voice rang out “It’s a pleasure to have you here”

“The pleasure is all mine, mi ama” he took Kiera’s hands and kissed it lightly making James sick with fury. But there was nothing he could do. “How is our little princess doing? I hope this incident hasn’t troubled her so” he wondered.

“It shook her to her bones. I worry for her health” Kiera responded, her voice laced with worry.

“Take it easy mi ama. She will definitely get better” He consoled.

“I hope so”

James stood there fidgeting; his wife Kiera and his daughter Tessa loved Draco while he was wary of him. He hated having Draco around but he was completely hopeless.

“Babe, I’ll have to see Master Draco personally. Business calls” he laughed nervously hoping Kiera wouldn’t suspect anything fishy. But she was a sensitive person and she hid her suspicion well.

“Why don’t we talk in my study?” He turned to Draco.

She let out a small smile and turned around to leave. “See you some other time master Draco”

“Most definitely mi ama”

Kiera waited till they were behind closed doors to sneak and eavesdrop, what she heard was more than unbelievable. All she knew about her husband was that he is an honest businessman; she didn’t expect him to con and murder people to get to the top.

“You didn’t do what I asked of you” Draco said as they were out of earshot; or so they thought.

“I did what I had to do. Not in your way” James protested.

“You just did the legal takeover. Who did you think came for you today?” his eyes widened as Draco spilled.

“Exactly, it was Miles. You think he’d let you take control over his company just like that?”

“How dare he attack me and my family?” James curled his fist and bellowed in anger.

“You’ve really gone soft, fare dama. If you don’t take action now, you might lose something precious to you”

“Not on my watch! I’ll do as you have suggested Draco” James boomed with solid determination.

“I’m leaving everything in your care, you know what to do” Draco tapped his shoulders, his footsteps fading into the hall. “Remember my business and that of the gang are in your hands”

Dinner was quiet and cautious. The family ate as though another attack was to begin; the afternoon event was bound to shape their lives for a long time if not forever.

At night, while everyone has retired to bed, Kiera sat James down for a chat. She was known to spill whatever seemed to bother her, to her; it saved her from a lot of things.

“Do you belong to any shady group?” she went straight to the point.

“What do you mean?” James raised an eyebrow.

“I happened to pass through the hallway of the study and what I heard was alarming”

“Where you eavesdropping on my conversation?” his anger was gradually brewing.

“I am sorry but it isn’t what you think” she heaved “I just want to be sure of your standings. I your wife and the man I married is a honest man, I want to know if you were coerced into anything illegal”

“You have nothing to worry about. I am still the man you’ve always known, and I promise to stand by you and our baby girl without compromising my status and integrity”

James was many things, but an honest man? He had given up integrity when he vowed to change his financial status as a younger. Now, he has dined with the devil.

Kiera looked at him unconvinced, she was still waiting for more explanation. Seeing there was none forthcoming, she spoke up

“I heard Draco talking about killing your other business partner, your competitor” she persisted.

James blood boiled.

“That is not what he meant, although he suggested it. You know I would never engage in such. Wait” he paused, “are you suspecting me of murder and fraud?” he accused.

Kiera’s attitude was beginning to infuriate him. All thanks to Draco, she might begin her endless suspicion.

“No babe, I trust you. But there are times we can be tempted to do things that do not speak well of us, I don’t want what happened the last time to occur. And this might be worse” she confessed.

He remembers the incident that played years ago when they were waiting for a child. Kiera saw him with his secretary; he was so close to cheating on her in a bid attempt to try his luck outside for a child.

Tessa’s birth put ended that episode and made him dedicate so much time to his family.

If he had done what he was asked to, there wouldn’t be an attack at his house neither would Draco visit him with such urgency, and would give no chance for his wife a reason to doubt his honesty.

I should have killed that fool when I had the chance, he gritted inwardly.

“I know what you are talking about and I understand your fears. For the sake of you and Tessa I would never do anything to jeopardize our future” he took her hand in his and assured confidently.

“I believe you. Sorry for doubting your capabilities” she chuckled.

“I think it is time we go to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a long day” whatever intention Kiera had to engage him in a conversation was killed by his lack of enthusiasm.

“Yeah, good night babe”

“Good night my love” he said and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

The night was young and long, but James thoughts were longer. Killing Mr. Binder would be a hassle, but he was willing to take chances.

And for his wife, he would apply an extreme form of caution. Although Kiera was a celebrity, she stood strongly in good values and norms. She would never relent when speaking the truth or doing the right thing, even if it means jailing any of her loved one.

He tiptoed to his study when he found out she was fully asleep, sending an encrypted text to Draco. A call comes in immediately.

“You will have to handle that yourself or else no one is to be blamed for whatever befalls her” Draco’s voice boomed immediately.

“Leave her to me. And please whatever happens, protect my wife and daughter. Please” James whispered.

“I can’t make such promises. But I’ve got your back fare dama”

“We strike at dawn”

“Listo” Draco commented.

Kiera’s phone chimed, signaling a text notification. That text was the beginning of a whole new discovery.