Tea and Chess

The time ticked away, it was already more than twenty-four hours that the queen of the empire was gone in the hands of the enemies and there was nothing done in the name of the attempt of rescue. The word was spread around like wildfire which turned out to be call upon calls sending condolence and consolation regarding the incident making a record in the life of the crime lord

King was, of course, aware of the sincere and insincere messages he received from his acquaintances, allies and others. The crime lord was smart and knew his way better to differentiate the actual concerns from the fake ones. He answered all of them the same though, feigning worry and discomfort but remaining alert, knowing well how these power games worked in the world of Mafia and how other people were always ready to pounce given the chance.

That's how their world worked.

It was painstakingly long and torturing but King dealt through the unnecessary calls of concern regarding the matter, which he believed would rest in the history of his family forever to remember, with gritted teeth and made sure to cut certain people off from his empire who came forward with their true colours.

Alongside all this chaos, the talks, the abduction, the plan and the monitoring was another fact that had caught the attention of the crime lord which was irksome and somewhat amusing for King.

The disappearance of little Mago and his right-hand man Lucca surprisingly had the most effect over Jayce Ashford, the man started to support a new language of silence regardless of wherever he was or whatever he was doing. It wasn't surprising in the least, given the lovable, adorable personality Mago had, but then again the portrayal of the unusual behaviour of Jayce had King thinking deeply.

Jayce's silent behaviour had also caught the attention of his very loving husband Mr Xavier as well.

The former lord found his husband losing his sleep and lost most of the time since the kidnap of the queen. He, being aware of Jayce's growing fondness and care towards the boy and perhaps the unborn child, decided to address the matter with the other to provide him some comfort and support.

And so, he found Jayce at the patio, in the evening, where the latter walked slowly from one end to the other with the backdrop of light rain thrumming against the floor. The man seemed so lost in occupying thoughts that he didn't even turn to look in Mr Xavier's direction when the older stepped onto the patio as well.

The former lord chuckled as he shook his head before he slowly made his way to his overly-thinking husband.

Jayce flinched with a gasp when Mr Xavier placed a warm hand over his shoulder, he turned around and sighed seeing a charmingly smiling old man..... a man king would resemble perfectly when he was the age of his father.

"What is wrong my love? Why are you here and not at your shopping adventure you were so excited about earlier?" Mr Xavier asked politely, he caressed his long fingers against Jayce's face gently and the latter leaned into the touch.

"I am no more excited about it Rowan. It was all because I wanted to make Mago's favourite food and dessert cups he usually eats for dinner. He was so enthusiastic about this new invention of mixing three unique flavours and then turning them into muffins for our chess and tea time.....but....." Jayce almost babbled out with a frown on his beautiful face but then he stopped when Mr Xavier chuckled darkly at him as his features hardened. The older man had a smile on his face but he didn't seem amused at all by what he heard as he bore his gaze at his husband.

Jayce gulped nervously.

"you talk like he is dead or something, darling......" Mr Xavier laughed a little but it came out as a scoff-filled mock which made Jayce avert his eyes down. "......it's not like he isn't coming back now, is it? You can still go for the plan and hope for the best?" the older asked with a smile that Jayce knew was in no way friendly.

He looked away.

"I am just worried about what's going to happen to him Rowan, that's it. I didn't mean anything like that." Jayce whispered and heard Mr Xavier sighing near his forehead but he didn't raise his eyes to see. Then came a sweet kiss over his temple and the man melted right in the older's arms. Thinking he might have said something wrong, he pressed his face in Mr Xavier's chest and inhaled deeply, taking in his manly scent, while the latter circled his arms around Jayce protectively.

Mr Xavier was a kind man, he was loving and comforting whenever Jayce needed him.....hell he was supportive enough to marry him. But the former lord of the biggest empire was very observant, unpredictable and unforgiving at the same time, and if anything that Jayce had learned about the man he loved and married were those very facts.

"of course, you didn't darling...... I know that" he mumbled in Jayce's hair making him smile against Mr Xavier's chest.

"I just wish for things to fall back into the right places and for Mago to come back. He is innocent in all this mess of power and control over empire.........but still, he is getting the heat" Jayce mumbled against Mr Xavier and the older listened attentively, he caressed Jayce's locks and continued doing it softly.

"I understand my love.... but you don't have to worry for the boy....." Mr Xavier said as he pulled away gently and lifted Jayce's chin with his index finger for him to look up at the older. The couple locked eyes and Jayce found himself arrested without his consent as he stared deep into Mr Xavier's eyes when the older started again with a deep voice and a straight face.

"He is ours now...... one of us........and I believe you are aware of the vengeance of the Xavier's if anyone messes with us now aren't you?". Mr Xavier asked and smiled charmingly at the end.

Both kept the stare intact as Jayce nodded a yes silently.

"So,....I suggest you relax and don't stray from your adorable mission of arranging what Mago needs as his tea-time snack. King is my pride and he will bring back my boy and my grandchild..... but not before breaking a hell over those who decided to mess with him" Mr Xavier menaced as he looked in Jayce's eyes.

The other stared back.

"I just worry too much for my family Rowan, but I understand.......and I hope King doesn't fail in any of your expectations." Jayce delivered, a little dismissively like he didn't believe or care about anything related to King, as he leaned into Mr Xavier's chest before the older could respond to his comment. He sighed and closed his eyes, nuzzling under Mr Xavier's neck feeling the older's fingers running through his hair.

The sound of rain increased in the background and so did the storm inside the ones standing at a distance.

What the couple wasn't aware of was the fact that the crime lord in discussion and his right-hand man Charlton stood by the door of the patio, listening to the whole thing the former lord and his husband were speaking about.

And the crime lord didn't like the sound of what he heard.

....

King was on his way to his office when he found his father and Jayce talking outside on the patio however, to his utter displeasure, the whole conversation he heard turned out to be a mood sourer which had King fuming by the end of it as he stormed to his office with Charlton hot on his heels.

Once inside, the furious man heaved through his flaring nose as he looked around his office room like a wild beast. With face turning red like a tomato, it wasn't a farfetched idea when King growled angrily and swiped at the long stylish vase on the decorative table by the door, hurling the mantelpiece to the floor and crashing it into millions of pieces.

Good lord!!

Charlton stood by King silently, he watched with his dark eyes how his king tried to cater his anger by clenching his fists by his sides and lips sealed in control of impulse. It was about time, since the arrival of Jayce and Garry Ashford, that king had that sort of outburst....it was a long wait but it was eventual.

The crime lord was mad, too mad.

"his damned voice rings in my ear for fucking days whenever I hear him talk...." King roared in anger as he tried to regulate his breathing while Charlton remained calm, listening to his king.

Charlton wasn't only the right-hand man to King who was good at filling orders, he had become a friend over a period of time too whom which King could trust with his life. He was aware of King's suffering for the longest of time, had known the bond King shared with his father and how Jayce and Mr Xavier's marriage had tormented King inside and so he was always there whenever King couldn't bear the pressure.

King wasn't the one to lose his temper so easily, just like his father, but that trait of his seemed to be missing the spot at the moment.

"he talks to father like he is the only fucking one who is concerned about my, MY family" he groused, emphasizing the word 'my' as he said. Running a hand through his hair, King took several long breaths but the anger bubbling inside him didn't subside even a little.

"And that freaky brother of his?.....he is been out of scene long enough. I am sure that bastard is up to something as well. I just know it" King spat disgustingly, he marched towards his large desk and rested his both hands over the glass and lowered his head to calm his breathing.

Charlton seemed to notice the shake of King's hands and his rocketing anger and his mind quickly went to the little queen of their lives, who was able to bring back king from any sort of mood to the one suitable to his own taste, and wished that Mago was with them.

But now that he wasn't, Charlton missed his buddy more.

"Should we send someone after him?" Charlton asked trying to engage King in some conversation so his mind would get distracted from constant anger.

"No.....don't waste your trusty men on that scum when every fucker is corrupt here and you are already short on them. He will be in our claws when his boss's ass will be busted" the crime lord stated roughly, unknowingly speaking Mago's language, and Charlton nodded. He smiled secretly in relief when King rubbed at his temple in an attempt to calm his nerves and proceeded to fish out a cigarette from his case.

"what's the status of Mickey and Father?" he asked as he lit the stick, taking a long drag felt relaxing and King closed his eyes for a small second, exhaling through his nose, while Charlton braced himself for some work.

"The boy has been with Mr Grey a few hours earlier. Chris hasn't been contacted directly yet but apparently, other calls have been made. The rest will be followed accordingly." Charlton stated flipping through his tab folders and delivering the updates to his king.

The crime lord only hummed.

"Garnie and Alex are active and are on high alert but they are unapproachable," Charlton said with a sassy roll of eyes and King chuckled with his eyes closed well knowing where Charlton was coming from. Garnie and Alex were the closest men of Mr Xavier, they worked like a shadow to the former lord however, both the men were smug in their nature and had really mocking personalities according to Charlton.

He really wished for them to meet Mago in their life for once and then come talk to him.

"they must be on the same track as us....but as usual are refraining from sharing. Forget them for now and focus on our tasks." King said thoughtfully, he stubbed the burning stick in the ashtray and cracked his neck before rounding the table for his chair.

"report me as soon as Chris is dealt with and Mickey is okay and unharmed. Bring that pest to the basement until Mago comes back and then we will see the rest from there" King sat down on the chair and stretched his hand to pick at the blue pencil with a giant yellow pom pom dangling on the head of it.

It was of course Mago's.

"Also, send the word out to our men and try to get in contact with Lucca. I don't know if he can reply back yet but try it and see" King ordered and Charlton nodded but then he nibbled at his lower lip consciously.

"Uh...about the final signal......shouldn't we wait?" Charlton asked with hesitation, he wasn't sure if he should point out the plan they had discussed with Mago but then again he needed clarity before any proceeding.

But King was already waiting for the question.

"Matters had gone already past my patience Charlton. Wasting more time will mean putting Mago and Lucca in danger.... besides, the plan had flipped the moment Lucca was captured with my boy." King started with a straight face.

"Mago's hunch was right, he did get kidnapped and many of the traitors are exposed. The boss might be not too far...... but I cannot take any more chances. He is safe now but not for forever" He continued as he twirled the pencil between his fingers subconsciously.

Charlton frowned in question.

"we will only proceed when Mago sends the final signal because I want to honour his order to wait until he says but till that happens.......let's do some traditional planning," King explained with his signature commanding style. Just as he said those words, Charlton understood everything without words. He quickly took his seat and opened up his tab to fill in the necessary commands given by King.

"Send our men out and secure the location Lucca had sent us......but from afar and from all sides. I want each and every corner covered and monitored, every person that enters or exits the location.......I want details. Kill anyone who comes in the way but discreetly, no noise, no suspicion" King dictated firmly, the right-hand man nodded his head obediently.

"same goes for here. Every corner of the mansion gets under the radar......anyone suspicious enough to be in the odd place? just take him out without a word." The crime lord continued as he ordered. He placed the pencil down and picked up his wine bottle before he poured a glass for himself.

"And you know what to do about him?" he asked after he sipped and Charlton looked up.

"of course king. I have my eyes on him all the time. Everything seems normal.....no suspicious activity so far" the right-hand man muttered but King shook his head in denial. He placed the glass back and rested his head against the chair, the sullenness was coming back as King sighed tiredly.

"Normal is the problem Charlton.....he is so normal, it's disturbing" King mumbled under his breath but Charlton heard it clearly considering the room was quiet.

Why was King stuck on him?

"Anyway, let's deal this matter our way from now on because I want my boy and my trustworthy man back as soon as we can" King said while looking at nothing in particular and Charlton watched him with interest.

"Be ready and be on guard Charlton......it's just a matter of time before we strike" King announced thinking deeply and the right-hand man nodded once again.

......

Sayonara~~~~