The Alpha Mafia King
Chapter 48

Alonzo had just finished meeting with the werewolves King to discuss how best to move forward with the man’s political career. After that, Piccolo met with him to join him for a ride into town.

They were driven down to the Swift Hotel and Bar by Alonzo’s driver. They waited for Mariyanna inside the cozy area. While they were at it, Alonzo decided to make a few calls.

“Hello, Lady Tanya,” he said.

“Hey, it’s been forever!” Lady Tanya said. “Can you at least get Taleela and Mazza to get back home even if you are not planning on coming back soon?”

“So you miss them and not me, eh?”

“I miss everyone, but I know you are also quite the businessman whenever you replace yourself in Russia. Besides, I know you wouldn not want them around for too long; they will get in your way.”

“Ah, you know me too well, Lady Tanya. Anyway, I’m sending Taleela home at first light.”

“Great, I will be delighted to have her back!”

From the way she was speaking, Alonzo figured that she was in the dark about things that had taken precedence in Russia since their arrival. Their one-week planned trip had been cut short. Their plan to visit different places had become void arrangements.

“Yeah, I need to tell you a few things about Taleela.”

“What could you possibly tell me that I do not already know?”

“Well, for starters, she is the daughter of Ivan.”

Alonzo expected a reaction after he dropped the news, but Lady Tanya seemed pretty calm; even her breathing remained steady.

“Ah, I see; that explains the accent. What else do you have for me?”

“They’ve tried to kill her twice in the last forty-eight hours.”

Lady Tanya chuckled, “Ha! Well, it’s a shame they can’t. I imagine you were at the forefront of this, and I have you to thank for saving her.”

“No, I tried to be, but the credits belong to Jamie, who saved her from ingesting a poisoned drink, and Nestor, who saved her from a bullet that grazed her neck.”

“Gosh,” Lady Tanya said, letting out a long sigh. “It must feel like doomsday in Russia. How are you taking the discovery?”

“I was angry at first, but-“

“Yeah?” Lady Tanya said, wondering what made him stop talking.

“None of us chooses our parents, right? I mean, look at Carlo; he is different from Vladimir. Antonio is just the same, so I think Taleela is a victim here. Her father and I may have been enemies, but that’s as far as my hate goes.”

“Ah, you are full of surprises, Don Alonzo. How is Taleela taking the discovery? Has she remembered who she is?”

“Barely enough, she’s still having snippets of the past, but that’s it. I’m sending her back because she could use a break from the overwhelming circumstances. I confessed to killing her father.”

“No problem, boss, I will be there for her and tell her nice things about you. You probably did not know that you would end up with Ivan’s daughter.”

“I didn’t ask for help,” said Alonzo, waiting for the bartender to pour his drink. “Anyway, thank you. Keep a close eye on her. She might handle the news of me killing her father differently once she starts to remember more of him. I don’t want surprises.”

“Okay, I will do my best.”

“That will be all for now,” Alonzo said. “Piccolo, give me another minute. I need to speak with my secretary.”

“Go ahead,” Piccolo said, smiling. Alonzo wanted to ask why he was smiling, but the secretary wasted no time answering the phone.

“It seems like you were expecting my call!” Alonzo said.

“At this hour? Not likely, but thank heavens you called. The Wisconsin brothers are tired of meeting your absence. They threaten to take the deal elsewhere if you don’t grant them your audience.”

“I’ve told you to tell them to go f**k themselves.”

“But sir-“

“Shh, no buts. They are irrelevant.”

“Aye, sir,” she replied. “The immigration boss is asking for a bribe to settle his men so they could turn a blind eye to our smuggling activities in Nigeria.”

“What a rip-off; get the account manager to make them a deal.”

Alonzo regretted calling as the secretary kept bringing in more issues from one to another.

“Thank you, Miss Vera, for your due diligence. I have to run now; we will talk later.”

“But I still haven’t discussed the-“

Alonzo ended the call without letting her finish.

He turned to Piccolo and said, “Unbelievable! She could go on forever, that Vera girl.”

“I’m not saying you are the worst boss alive, but if I was that Vera girl, I would have handed you my resignation letter after one week.”

Alonzo’s face contorted in apparent confusion, “You are not saying, but you just implied it.”

“Who’s teaching you English?”

“F**k you,” Alonzo cussed softly. “Well, I think she needs a promotion.”

“Then promote her,” Piccolo said, hesitating to bring the drink closer to his mouth.

“But she’s been perfect at being my secretary,” Alonzo said, exhaling sharply. “I think I’m understaffed.”

“Great, when your business is done in Russia, put out a notice for the various positions you need to fill.”

Alonzo nodded and said, “What the hell is taking Mariyanna so long?”

“Told you we could be walking into a trap,” Piccolo said jokingly.

“Ah, there she is!” Alonzo announced. Piccolo turned a sharp angle to see Mariyanna approaching. She looked rather ravishing, he thought.

“She is a fine lady,” Piccolo muttered and whistled softly. “Just who did Ivan f**k because I did not expect such a man to produce this kind of beauty.”

Even though Alonzo did not appreciate Piccolo’s mannerisms, he wondered about Ivans’s wife. He knew he was a divorcee, but then there was nothing more. No one knew what became of the woman who divorced Ivan. There was no time left to wonder. He rose to greet Mariyanna, taking her hand with his palms.

“Mariyanna, glad you could make it!” he said. “I was starting to think that you stood me up.”

“I will never do that,” she said, and Alonzo nodded.

“Please, meet my consigliere,” Alonzo said, and Mariyanna smiled softly at Piccolo. She didn’t see why he should be here, but of course, Consiglieres had that rare privilege to be anywhere with the boss.

“Hey, I’m Piccolo, Pico for short!” he said, “it’s nice to meet you in person, finally. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Hmm, I didn’t know I made an interesting topic,” Mariyanna said.

“Given all that’s happened, it will be hard not to mention your name!” Piccolo said, and he earned a scowl from Mariyanna.

“Please sit,” Alonzo said, pulling out a chair for her.

“Thanks,” Mariyanna said, sitting. Her face went back to smiling.

Piccolo almost choked at the gesture of Alonzo pulling out a chair for a lady. He couldn’t wait for the next time he was standing by the car’s door. He would be waiting for Alonzo to open it up so he could get in next time. Piccolo wondered why Alonzo would fall among those men who felt they needed to treat women in a unique manner syndrome. He wondered why men insist on treating women with such niceties. For him, it was pointless to help a woman whose limbs are functioning pretty well to pull out her chair for her.

Mariyanna reached for her handbag and spread some photos across the table. Alonzo took some time to study the images without touching any of them. They looked like evidence from a crime scene that he needed gloves to handle.

“This is proof that I have no hand in Alyona’s assassination,” Mariyanna said. “While we are out here drinking with your consigliere, I’m thinking of honoring mine with a befitting burial.”

“I’m so sorry,” Alonzo said.

“She knew I was coming to get her, and she blew herself up with a grenade.”

“Do all members of the Makarov family carry grenades around?” Piccolo asked in a bid to lighten the mood.

“I’m not sure why she had one, but I think it is just her,” Mariyanna said, gathering the pictures.

“What about the agent?” Alonzo said, exhaling noisily.

“He got away, but I’ve put out enough men to comb through the area.”

“How long has his trail gone cold?” Piccolo asked.

“A couple of hours or so,” Mariyanna said.

“That’s a relatively long period; he can be on his way to anywhere in the world now.”

“F**k! And to think I had the son of a bitch just a while back!” Alonzo said.

“How did you lose him?” Mariyanna asked, pouring a glass of ethanol.

“I let him escape thinking I could track him down to whoever sent him,” Alonzo said.

“Well, that worked out just fine!” Mariyanna said. “We’ve established who he was working with on the mission. How’s my sister?”

“She’s holding up well,” Alonzo said.

“I can’t tell you how glad I am that you took care of her,” Mariyanna said. “I’m sorry for not saying anything earlier, but she seems so happy with her current life. You don’t know her; if you know Alyona’s past, you will understand why I kept mute. She’s a better person now that she doesn’t remember who she was.”

Alonzo was dying to know more about Alyona’s past and what made Mariyanna seem so sure she was better off without her memory. Mariyanna looked like she was ready to divulge anything, so he would not shy away from asking.