The Alpha Mafia King
Chapter 72

“Alonzo, as you’ve seen, that was the least of things I can have done to your mate,” Callisto said. “You see, I’m going to make you suffer miserably by making it very frustrating trying to locate me. I will give you clues about where I am, but nothing too apt. Relax, I’m sure you’ll figure it out. And let me remind you that you are to come alone. I’ll think twice if I was you before you consider going against me a second time. The longer it takes to replace me, the more prolonged Alyona’s suffering becomes. I promise not to kill her until you’ve located me– unless you don’t come alone as instructed, I will have to kill her much quicker for your disobedience. You will get the first clue tomorrow morning, if I remember. Otherwise, it will be whenever I remember.”

That had been Callisto’s message to Alonzo on the videotape he sent. Alonzo had men checking all over Russia for Alyona, but it could take days, if not weeks or months, to replace her.

It angered Alonzo how Callisto intended to make a mockery of him by offering him insubstantial clues to replace his mate. Alonzo was worried sick for Alyona and the yet unborn child.

He wished he had marked her as soon as he had accepted her in his heart as his mate. If only he had unveiled his secret to her, turned her into a werewolf, and trained her to fight, but he hadn’t done any of those things. Now, she was being abused by her captors, and he couldn’t even sense where she was because he had not marked her, and she had no mating bond to draw him to her like a beacon.

Vincenzo and Piccolo were neck-deep in the waters with the Russian authorities. They tried to sever whatever ties the casino might have had to their mob dealings before the police did an extensive investigation. They had already spoken to a few of their associates in the police department, including the chief of Police, and he had assured them that sooner than later, they would come up with a legit story to cover up the bombing.

Already, the news was a sensation all over town. Stories of the famed casino charred overnight flooded the news station. A few concerned parties had called Alonzo to ask him if he was going through any troubles that he couldn’t handle on his own, but he thanked them, saying he had it under control.

There was a knock on his door, and his grandfather let himself into the room.

“Hey, son, how are you holding up?” Mazza said, sitting in a chair.

“It’s a nightmare, granddad,” Alonzo said. “Why would Callisto wait all this while before launching an attack on me? He claims he wanted it to be a fair fight, but in what universe is any of this fair? Coming after my mate and yet unborn child!”

“I can’t say I’m surprised, though,” Mazza said. “Ever since the fallout between your father and Callisto, he had always wanted to claim the Marcovic blueprint for himself. The battle for vengeance has long ended. This battle is one for power. Your father was everything Callisto ever dreamed of, and he never could measure up to him, not even one bit.”

“I’m the one with the Marcovic blueprint. Why go after Bianco’s mate, the innocent lives at the Casino, and Alyona? Is all that just out of spite?”

“It’s not just spite,” Mazza said. “This is a tactic. All the shakedowns are to show those around you your competence. You realize that with enough terrorism, your werewolves can start to doubt that you can protect them, and then they might submit to a higher power.”

“I know my men; they will never join Callisto’s pack!” Alonzo roared.

“Plausible, but have you thought about how they could leave your side for good?”

Alonzo shook his head. “They are loyal men.”

“Indeed, but even loyalty has its boundaries. Take Bianco, for instance; he has served you well; wouldn’t it be tragic to learn that his mate died because she was somewhat part of the De Sina pack? Would you blame him if he knew the truth and decided to abandon the pack?”

“Now, what good would that do for him, eh? He wouldn’t abandon me. We would take down Callisto together.”

“Well, of course, but just make sure you’re holding the pack together, and they are still confident in you.”

“Fine, but I can’t even let myself think of my men’s disloyalty at this point. Look at me; don’t I already have enough to be worried about?”

“All I’m just saying is have a contingency plan if it should ever come to that,” Mazza said. “I, too, doubt that anyone could fallout from our pack, but if there’s anything life has taught me is never to be too sure about those around you.”

“Noted,” Alonzo said.

“Any call from Callisto?”

“Granddad, there’s something I need to show you,” Alonzo said. “I never can understand why mother wanted me to show this monster mercy, but now I know Callisto is beyond redemption. I will kill him the instant I lay my eyes on him, along with anyone who tries to come between us.”

Mazza waited ten seconds, staring at a blank screen, before seeing what had gotten his grandson so riled up. Unlike Alonzo, Mazza couldn’t watch it to the end, so Alonzo skipped to the end, where Callisto left him a message.

“That was gruesome,” Mazza said.

“I shouldn’t be in here,” Alonzo said. “I should be looking for her. Each second I waste, she is being molested and abused. Did you see what they were doing to my poor Alyona?”

“We already have a search party combing through Russia for her,” Mazza said, trying to ease Alonzo’s tension. “Callisto would call you for the clue, but from watching that video, I think he has gotten sloppy already.”

“What do you mean?” Alonzo shot his grandfather a startled gaze.

“Well, what do you notice from watching the video? Where are they keeping her?”

“In a room?”

“Not just any room, Alonzo; they have her in a cabin. Also, do you hear the birds? It’s not the kind of bird found in the major city.”

“So, you think she’s being held captive in a forest?”

“Exactly, and how many forests have cabins? We could locate Alyona before the end of tomorrow night.”

“I can’t wait for that long,” Alonzo said, about to ride the impulse to go and search the forests alone.

“Sit down,” Mazza said, pushing him back down on the bed. “You will be dead if you thought you could replace Callisto and take him down all by yourself.”

“Granddad, the hell I would! I’ve defeated him once, and I was only a boy; I can defeat him again.”

Mazza chuckled, still holding Alonzo down so he could remain seated. “You thought you defeated Callisto? Callisto was vulnerable back then, and even now, he still has a vulnerability that only you can help take away. If you were to say, battle him now, you would be meat for him, and if Callisto kills you, then he would become truly unstoppable.”

“What do you mean by vulnerable?”

“Not unless you can conjure up a b***d moon; I will advise you to train with me if you are to go up against Callisto. The night you encountered your powers was a b***d moon, and every alpha, the true ones, got powered up that night. You don’t remember?”

Alonzo couldn’t remember what color the moon was that night. If there was ever a red moon in the sky, then he must not have noticed it. All he remembered was that he was on the brink of death, and he suddenly became stronger.

“I don’t remember, but where can we spar?” Alonzo said.

“Since you’re so eager to go to the woods, I’d say we go there now! And since we still have hours until Callisto’s next call, we better hurry.”

Alonzo, in theory, wanted to test his grandfather’s strength against his. A particular realization struck him when he couldn’t pull himself to get up as his grandfather pinned him down to remain seated. Also, since he had gotten his werewolf powers, he had never fought anyone.

The nocturnal owl was hooting in the forest. Alonzo stood before his grandfather, ready to fight.

“Granddad, are you sure about this? I don’t want to hurt you!” Alonzo said.

“You can try, but it will be worthless,” Mazza bragged.

“Alright, thank God you heal,” Alonzo said.

Alonzo launched himself forward, attempting to knock out Mazza in one punch, but Mazza quickly sidestepped him. “Pathetic. Is that all you’ve got?”

It surprised Alonzo to see Mazza so far from him. He diverted to where his grandfather now stood and attempted to land several blows at once, but Mazza dodged them as if he had the foresight of his moves. Mazza stopped avoiding Alonzo’s attack. Instead, he blocked Alonzo’s punch with his palm and kicked him. The kick sent Alonzo flying, and he broke his fall when he collided with a tree.