The minor families revolving around the Constantine family gathered into one table. Their homes were made far away from Caius on the West, East and the South. Throughout history whenever the major family was at a risk, the minor branches were bound by a blood oath to send men and fight for them. Today however, the reason for their gathering was different...
"Our way of living seems like a curse to me now!" Paul Greco, the head of the East branch sighed.
"This meeting is held to find an answer for that...hopefully his next step would be something more than a small explosion." This time it was a woman - Gieda Vieri the head of the West branch.
"Thank you for gathering at this table in short notice." The entrance tiled with grey marble was over shadowed by the presence of a tall figure. Nathaniel. His eyes were void of emotion although he carried a light smile. It was gentle and bright. No one knew how much venom it could spit out.
"Sit." He urged the others. The room was large and spacious with a long mahogany table in the corner. They circled around whilst guards roamed around for threats and maids served wine and cheese.
"Mr. Romano." Luca Marino lieutenant of the West branch spoke up. He carried a scar across his face which was a result of the former battle with the current heir of Constantine. "Our people strongly believe that its time to stop the hierarchy and live without being overshadowed by Caius."
Sipping a glass of white wine Nathaniel nodded. His mind was a storm. He was never given permission to enter the Constantine mansion after that day. He longed to see Odette and his constant worry was whether she was safe and happy.
"The explosion was a simple threat." He smiled at the leaders. "I assure you not even Caius will be able to stop us with the next move I have in mind."
"What type of move are you thinking?" It was the mistress of the West this time.
"Why not use one of his own murder ideas." Uttering these words naturally came with a low chuckle. Nathaniel watched each and everyone dim their expressions.
"You mean..." Timothy Palma, his own family's deputy arsenal piped in. "The massacre ten years ago?"
"Yes." The head of the table nodded. "Why not give him a taste of his own medicine? Aren't we tired? Our children will live on to this slavery and inferior life? We don't want that now do we?"
What Nathaniel said made sense. The question was how could they recreate or launch an attacked which is on par with the massacre?
"I still remember." Luca said, "how I heard screams from the basement dungeon. How all our recruits died." He whispered. "When we marched in..." fear drowned him. "The way he had killed them all. Pieces of their ripped bodies scattered on the floor! Some missing eyes... some with their jaws broken ripped apart."
"The poor maids and butlers who served old master Constantine..." Timothy winced. "What disgrace to be left lifeless like that. Shot, some of them had fought him and was stabbed... eyes gouged out."
"Do you really think we can be on par with that amount of murderous behavior?"
Nathaniel sighed. "We don't have to kill innocent souls. We have to find the right timing." He ushered his men to bring a list of names. Every person present in the meeting received a copy.
"He will be hosting a gathering the next month to expand his business and at the same day he will host another gathering with his underground connections."
"We can attack then." Paul added in. This earned a satisfactory smile from Nathaniel. He pointed at the list and uttered to himself. "There's more than fifty people here."
"How are we going to attack them? Are we going to kill everyone there?"
"The way he massacred his entire bloodline, including his own father and his bride... that is inhumane. We don't have to go all in at the first try itself Luca."
"First attack is a silent attack."
Paul watched as young master Romano placed a bowl of white powder in front of them. "When added to water it does not have any effect but, when mixed with meat it can be lethal enough to halter one's health for some time." He could see the clear glint of revenge within the eyes of the younger.
Gieda hummed. "You have thought it through. "
Nathaniel nodded. "When he is weakened by this, we will launch our attack first on the men within the four directions of the mansion. Then we will personally handle Caius and every person who will attend that gathering."
The minor families were made through a blood oath of their ancestors who swore to protect the major family. The East mainly provided strategies and advice whereas the West gave shelter to enforcers and soldiers working for the Constantine family. The South and the most prominent of the three were to act as the right hand of the family
Nathaniel had watched how his own father and mother had to die on that massacre that day. If Caius did not act in such a manner he would still have his parents around. This time... he will take what is his and drag Caius to the bottomless pit of grief that he lived through the past few years.
Back in the Constantine family, Caius read the list of guests he will be inviting next month. His mind however was stuck on the last week... not leaving the kitchen where he and Odette was. He reminisced how her heated breath fell on his face but...
"Mama." Gideon walked in. His innocent eyes watched. Confused and head tilting. "Are you both playing with flour?" Giggling.
That was when she hurriedly pushed him and got down from the counter. She kissed Gideon on his forehead and stuttered- " y-yeah baby we were just playing." Her eyes staring back one last time before they both left.
"Sir." Daniel spoke from the other end of the office. Caius looked up as if he was woken up from a trance.
"Hm?"
"You seem unwell." His guard drew closer. "Do you perhaps need any herbal tea or ..."
"I look unwell?" Questioning his appearance, Caius brought his phone and stared at the black screen. Indeed his ears were red and he had sweated more.
"I can arrange some herbal tea for you."
"How is Gideon and..." Even the thought of her brought giddiness to his heart. Before he finished his sentence Daniel answered with a brief smile.
"They are in the front garden. Young miss is enjoying the flowers and young master is running around and playing with the kids of our maids in the kitchen." Some color to this mansion... some love to this cursed family. Finally he was lucky enough to hear words that were so heart warming rather than news about death and conflict.
"Inform the maids that I will have tea with her now." He smiled gently to himself.
Daniel Bowed. "Yes sir."
"Wait-" Caius remembered last time. Would she not want to see him? He feared that he might have scared her away.
"Also ask Odette whether it is alright if I joined her in the garden."
This way of asking before he acted was new to the guard. He could not believe that this man had a gentle heart to stop and be humble enough to ask before doing anything. Today was the day Daniel felt goosebumps run up his hands.