Chapter Thirty-Nine

Zach

Yesterday was a black day. After the breakfast where he shared the news about his father, everyone went their separate ways. He gave everyone, including himself, some time to process the news.

It gave him some time to think over the things that kept him awake at night. In the afternoon, they all came together to take Julian to his final resting place. It was hard.

He had prepared a speech, but nothing he had written down could make up for the guilt he was feeling; it just wasn’t good enough. He still felt like a failure.

Today, Zachary had planned a meeting with the leading staff, some members of the council, and his brothers. Maybe even boss Vance could join them. They needed to investigate and take some action.

He also urgently needed to talk to Irene. He had a feeling she didn’t feel like staying away from Rockdale for too long. Even though they seemed to have bonded a little more yesterday, he still felt she was hesitant to trust him.

And the things she saw during the fight didn’t help with that. He really hoped she would give him a chance to show her that he wasn’t just a violent mobster; that he was so much more, and that he could give her so much more.

Zach sighed and got up from his daydreaming. It was time to call everyone together.

Zachary walked into the conference room together with his brothers, his leading staff, and some of the family council. Boss Vance was also present.

“Take a seat, everyone. We have important matters to discuss,” he said, and everyone took a seat.

“I think we all know why we are here.” Zach sat at the head of the table and leaned forward onto his elbows, his fingertips touching. He looked down at his fingers for a second and took a deep breath.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Zach. I feel like you blame yourself for this whole situation,” one of the council members said.

“I was the one responsible for anything that happened after the guards told me that my father passed away,” Zach said, still looking down.

“How could you have known that he was still alive? How could you have known what to do? You had hardly any experience. You were just a boy.” Boss Vance joined the conversation.

“I had plenty of experience. I have been trained ever since I was a little kid. I was more than ready to take over at any time.” Zach hit the table with his fist.

“But you couldn’t have been prepared to take over in a situation like that, no one is prepared for that.” Jackson didn’t let go.

“Still, I was responsible, I was the one who didn’t order a search party to look for my father.” Zach looked up.

“I’m not going to go into this discussion about whether or not I am responsible for the situation we’re in now. I need to talk to you about multiple things, which seem to be connected.”

Zach looked around the table, and everyone looked at him with stern faces.

“There’s the intruders. We have captured the boss, Angelo Romero. He is working together with a businessman called Mr. Mercer.

“Yesterday morning I found out that Mercer and Romero are related; they are father and son. Mercer has pressured me into a deal with him. He threatened me openly.

“If I wouldn’t agree to that deal, I would have to face the consequences. One of our family members happened to be a mole who poisoned me, commissioned by Mercer.

“On top of that, Romero has assaulted my destined within her own home.” Zach gritted his teeth when he thought back to it.

“Then there is the situation with my father. My father, who was thought to be killed in a fight with a neighboring family. Now we all know that my father is still alive.

“The letter I received was real. The postage stamp on it was from two days ago, and I recognized my father’s own handwriting. My father said in his letter that it was not a legitimate neighboring family that attacked us, but this group of criminals and thugs.”

Zach got up from his seat and paced back and forth.

“Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but I feel like these two cases are somehow connected. It is all too much of a coincidence that in both of the cases these people are involved, right?”

“You think the same people who took your father are now threatening you?” Ethan leaned forward.

“I do.” Zach stood still, right in front of the table, and looked around.

“Then this Romero you have captured should know more about your father,” Jackson joined in. “And Mr. Mercer is the one who is now keeping your father captured.”

“That’s what I thought too. Now the only thing we need to find out is where they’ve hidden my father. And we need to take out Mr. Mercer.

“I’ve found a way so that I don’t need his deal and his services, so I’m not depending on him anymore.”

“Did you get ahold of the man in charge of taking over the nature reserve?” Jackson asked curiously.

“I did get in touch with the man who is in control of the nature reserve neighboring our family lands. He was incredibly happy that someone who’s from around here is interested in the job.

“He’s helped me to get in touch with the right people and promised to put in a good word for me.

“Next week someone is coming and is going to see what’s going on around here and hopefully, we can persuade him or her to sign the contract at once.”

Jackson frowned. “What is this all about? I can’t follow anything you’re saying.”

“You know I am looking for another way of income, instead of the big company in the city. Jackson here gave me the idea of taking over the nature reserve that is next to our family lands to the west.

“With the whole family, we would be conserving the woods around here. Keeping the amount of wildlife in balance, making sure trees and plants stay healthy, etcetera. The things we already are doing right here on our own family land.

“The only difference is that we would get paid for it. Every single family member that works in the forests will be officially registered as an employee. On top of that, as the conservator, I will earn an extra bonus.

“All of that will be more than enough to sustain us.”

Jackson looked surprised. “Wow, that’s actually a very good idea.” He looked at Jackson. “Thank you, Boss Vance. Thank you very much!”

Jackson smiled. “You’re welcome, son. I’m glad I could help.”

“Now, back on topic.” Zachary looked around. “I think it’s time for some action. Ethan and Jackson, I’d like you to work together on this.

“Take your men and figure out where Mercer is hiding. Maybe start at the warehouse that Lara led us to. Do whatever you have to do. If you come across another family’s land, enter the right way.

“Ask for permission and avoid problems. Adrian and Jackson, maybe you can do the same, but start in the vicinity of your family lands. I will do the same together with Ron, but we’ll start where the attack on my father took place.

“I have some allies in the city. I’ll have them on the lookout for a hiding spot over there. There’s a lot of ground to cover, so we have to be fast but thorough.

“We need to find his hiding place before we can make a plan of attack.”

They all nodded. “So, we just look for the hiding place? We don’t do anything else?” Ethan asked.

“No. Chances are high Mercer is not alone. If you go in on your own, you might be overpowered, and we can’t let that happen right now.

“Before I forget”—Zach looked at his advisor—“Darian, you stay here, keep an eye on everything. I need to be sure the family is always safe.

“All higher ranks will be gone, so the heavy task of protecting everyone, including my destined, is yours. Now”—Zach clapped his hands—“let’s get to work. Everyone, dismissed.”