The sound and smell of death were not new to him. He had lived around dying people all his life.
So, today was just business as usual.
"No, Don, let me live and I will..."
Bang!
One loud blast echoed in the tiny, dark room, silencing everything around him.
He stared at the floor as thick, red liquid spread across the dusty surface. Taking the white cloth his man handed him, he wiped his hand and gun clean.
A man who would sell his boss for money was not someone he could ever trust. If he had betrayed the man who fed him, then what would stop him from selling him out to the next highest bidder?
"Double-check the information he gave us." He instructed one of his Capos, who stood behind him.
The loss of a notorious murderer, a violent junkie, a sex offender, and people who betrayed their family was not something he would lose any sleep over.
In fact, he was more than happy to get rid of those scumbags who made no positive contribution to society.
"And Maddox, find who his boss is working with." He ordered, glancing at the lifeless body one last time.
Since his father's retirement and his takeover, various rumors have spread within the organization. But one particular one immediately caught his attention.
An uprising in the ranks. It seemed someone wanted to take him down and steal his position.
Of course, he had to get to the bottom of the truth and find whoever was causing destabilization in the Iron Hand Cartel.
It was an underground organization established by his grandfather, ruled with strict discipline and a firm hand. It started with smuggling and gambling.
At the moment, the Morton family ran a legitimate Casino and hotel chain, while the cartel operated the biggest illegal shipments of guns.
It was no surprise that someone would want all that power.
Thinking that he was soft, compared to his grandfather and father, whoever was behind this plot against him thought he was an easy target. But they would prove them wrong.
"Yes, Don." Maddox nodded, securing and putting his gun away.
Maddox had been a high-ranking member of his father's underground operations. When Maximus handed him the position, Maddox had pledged his loyalty to him.
The six-foot, pure muscles swore to take a bullet for him if it was necessary. But he had to do it first before he actually believed him.
In truth, in this business, he only fully trusted himself and his dearest friend, Jacob, when it came to his life. Because in this world, money and power could easily buy loyalty. And the people who surround him could easily turn their backs on him.
Not caring if he still had a few blood spills on his skin and clothes, he adjusted his tie and grabbed his coat that hung on an old table by the entrance, and then left.
"Sir, are we going back home or to the office?" Ray asked him once he had settled in the backseat of his car.
"No, I'm going to the hospital." He replied without looking at his assistant. His gaze fixed on the view outside his window, but his mind was already somewhere else.
There was a point in the past when he had run away from this life. He honestly thought he could escape his birthright. His fate.
Back in college, he didn't care if his father disowned him. He just wanted to forge his own path, build his own legacy, and break free from the family business, away from his father's control.
Taking on his mother's name, Oliver Lambert, he finished college through a football scholarship. Found a job through his own merit.
Everything was moving according to his plan until Amelia ruined it all.
"As you wish, Don." Ray signaled to the driver, and the car quickly pulled away from the abandoned house in the middle of nowhere. Then, his assistant quickly pulled out a wet disposable cloth and a new pair of fresh, clean shirt, tie, and coat.
About half an hour later, the car pulled to a stop in front of the hospital. Not a minute later, he walked along the busy, white corridor where the doctors and nurses were running around, while the sound of an alarm buzzed through the long hallway.
Again, the sound and smell of death surround him, but this time, it felt different.
Hearing the cry of pain of an innocent baby or watching a young child's last breath was something he would never get used to.
"Dad, have you found her?" His son immediately ran to him as soon as he saw him enter his private room. "Have you found Mom?" He asked impatiently as if he could not wait to see her again.
Caleb was about to undergo another series of examinations, but all his son could think about was that woman.
What spell did that woman cast upon his son?
Since Hazel left him, Caleb had never wanted another woman in his life. He had opposed all the women who proposed to be his mother. Instead, his son had retreated into his little world, refusing to show his feelings.
Except for Dianne and Rosita, nobody could get close to his son, not even him.
But for someone he had briefly met in the elevator, his son seemed to have warmed up to this woman that easily. Effortlessly.
Why?
What did Caleb see in her?
"Don't worry, Champ." He looked down at his son. "I'm working on it." Hugging his son's fragile form.
Although he had already found her, he was not about to tell his son yet, not when he hardly knew anything much about that woman.
Sophia could turn out to be a spy from a rival company, such as the Sinclairs. Or she could be a thief, wanting to steal something from him or his company.
That woman could also be a gold-digger or a social climber who wished to exploit his son's naivety, kindness, and generosity.
No! He could not risk it. Not when it was his son's life on the line.
"Remember... you promised to make her my Mom." Caleb reminded him.
How could he forget when his word was as strong as a blood pact? He was bound to honor his promise. Unless he could find a valid reason not to.
"Of course, but you also have to keep your promise." He told Caleb. "You have to be brave for your next operation." He could tell that it had not been easy for his son, going through all these medicines and operations.
But hopefully, with the success of this latest procedure, his son could finally live a normal life, just like the other kids.
If only his body could go through the operations to spare Caleb from the pain. But it was not as easy as taking a bullet for him to keep him alive.
"You promise me that you'll take me to Disneyland once I recover. But this time, I want Mommy to go with us." Caleb said, excitedly.
For the first time, he saw a different spark in his son's eyes. His smile was brighter than anything he had ever seen on his face.
Caleb had never looked this happy before, not even when he was with his grandparents, his nanny, or especially not with his mother, Hazel.
"Of course, you know I don't break my promise." He was a man of his word.
For someone who had all the money and influence to change people's lives, he was powerless when it came to his son.
A few hours later, the tests were over.
The doctors would evaluate all the results. Then, they would update him about the schedule of his son's operation.
"Dad, where are we going?" Caleb asked once they were back in his car. "Why do I have to wear this? Are we going to a party?"
His eyes turned to the young version of himself, looking as dashing as he, in his matching tuxedo. Even if he had not done a DNA test, he knew without an ounce of doubt that he was his son.
But his father insisted on the DNA test. "I'm not about to make him a successor if he doesn't carry our blood."
Of course, Hazel had proven that it was mine. She insisted that it happen that one night.
It happened only once.
But as they said, all it needed was once.
Nonetheless, watching his young boy grow into a young man was all he wanted.
Hazel might not be the ideal wife and mother, but at least she gave him a son. He might have regretted marrying her, but he could never regret sleeping with her since she gave him a wonderful boy.
A son. A mini version of him.