Chapter 4

Myra

The sleek black limousine pulled out of the suburbs of Naples and drove along the coastline towards the north of the city. I stared out of the window absent-mindedly viewing the Santa Lucia coastline while sipping a cup of tea. Leon seemed lost in his thoughts.

It was a shame I didn’t like the bitter brew called coffee. The stuff was abominable, but it did serve to wake up the body and settle the mind. What I did not need today was a relaxer, though, nor something that woke up my body yet muddled my mind.

I needed to be focused even if I was a bit antsy and excited. My legs shook slightly, bobbing in time with the vehicle's vibration.

I tried not to move too much so as not to bother Leon, who sat across from me. I didn’t really focus on anything specifically as I sipped my tea. I knew Leon watched me slightly, warily and kindly, but Ander, a wolf-like Spanish man with beautiful bronze skin and enviable strong muscles was in the vehicle with us.

He was my stepfather’s stunning bodyguard.was in the vehicle with us.

Not only was Ander a gorgeous specimen of a human, but he was also my teacher. He taught me swordsmanship, knife throwing, gunmanship, and my favorite, archery.

I glanced over at him and crossed my legs. His lips lifted subtly in a smirk. Not only was Ander my teacher, but he was also my friend to some degree. In a moment of weakness, I confided in him that I always wanted to have sex.

It was a baseless act to some, but he did not seem to mind my peculiarities and was always there for me.

I smiled a little lost in my thoughts and buried desires that were once again surfacing.

Ander lit Leon’s cigar and handed him the newspaper, probably to distract him from my obvious fidgeting. A large black-and-white picture covered nearly an entire page catching my attention.

Ander’s smooth chocolatey voice cut through my curiosity.

“Boss, this is the morning news. Yesterday at midnight, a preacher was killed in our territory along with his porn star lover. The murderer has not yet been caught, but this is more than likely the work of the Godling family. You’ve just come to Naples and such a thing happened. I think they are declaring war on us.”

My eyebrows drew together as I puzzled this mystery.

Ander continued, “His uncle just recently met with the elders of the Godling family negotiating the jurisdiction for Naples and now he has been killed. I find this behavior rash, don’t you? And just to think he is a preacher…”

I cut in unable to hold my peace anymore, “What was his name?”

“The preacher?”

“Yes.”

“His name is Gilio Hug. His lover’s name is Jenny Boston, a stripper who often performs in our Siren Casino near Porto Poli.”

“Ah, I know them both. He is a gambler who has a knack for losing next to never. Jenny is also a favorite.” I was truly saying it to myself even if I did have an audience.

“It seems that you have done a lot of homework on the background of the members of the Naples division. Very good, Myra, I am very pleased.” Ander praised.

Leon’s eyes raked over my body as he silently puffed some cigar smoke. He tapped the cigar against the crystal ashtray his eyes never leaving my face. His jasper ring glistened under the glow of the sun.

The red hue made it look as if it called out for blood. He looked like he was searching for something, yet what it was, I could not say.

“I'll leave this matter to you, Myra to investigate, and let Ander and Sisser assist you. This is your first assignment. I will assess how you handle this before I allow you to officially take over the position and the authority I'm going to give you.” Leon spoke slowly and almost leisurely.

I was shocked by this statement, but I did not want to give it away, so I cast my gaze downward as I gathered my composure. I could not imagine why he would want to charge me with an investigative task as my first sort of initiation, but I would never back away from a challenge. “Okay. I will not let you down.”

After a moment of silence, I finished, “I promise.”

Leon did not grace me with a response. He only lifted his wine goblet holding it up for me to bump my cup of tea against it in a silent cheers. We traveled the rest of the way in silence. It wasn’t until our arrival at Siren that Leon spoke again. “If you can not find out what happened, there will be punishment.”

With that, he stepped out of the vehicle while the driver held open the door leaving me in a state of shock and anxiety. Punishment? What kind of punishment did he have in mind?