The Devil's Clause

The Asylum Den is like a rendezvous; A meeting point for all members of the inner circle.

They have their meetings at least thrice a week if there are no problems on ground to solve.

Cooper drove into the underground park, and Lorenzo carried himself powerfully, walking into the Den which is surrounded with trained guards.

Cooper followed him into the secured building where they met the three other members waiting already in the dark-walled room.

There are black couches surrounding a long glass table like a conference setting.

“Look who's here” Apollo boomed, pouring himself a glass of vodka.

He's shirtless, the tattoos on his skin looking ruggedly ominous.

Apollo is carefree and at the same time a hardtack member of the circle. His Salvatore family owns the hospital, which is why it was so easy to get Emily treated there.

“Still can't believe he actually snatched her” Valérie said beside him, mounting her legs on each other.

She's a tall beautiful woman, who has a strict badass look, and of course she's strict. She's Apollo's step sister with the same father.

Lorenzo sat beside the third member who is usually the most quiet but stern, and Cooper stood behind him.

“I believe we are here to talk about The Rocco, not my substitute wife. Get the talk on the table” Lorenzo spoke straight to the point.

“Were you paid to always ruin my fun?” Apollo groaned.

“Go with Lorenzo's order, Apollo” Valérie spoke in all strictness, dropping her wine glass.

“I spoke with The Rocco family last night as arranged, and their boss has agreed to meet here next week” Colby finally spoke, his voice devoid.

Colby Reagan is the only American in the circle, and his unhinged aura is close to Lorenzo's.

Colby is actually a crazy man who covers his craziness with sternness, but he is a great strategist, together with Lorenzo.

Every plan they made together has always resulted in victory.

“It's somewhat suspicious. The Rocco boss agreed to meet just like that? The fact that he'll also be the one to fly down here is not to be overlooked” Lorenzo said.

“Your trust issues is still intact, Lorenzo” Apollo said.

“Not taking enough precautions led to the bombing last year, are you all willing to do that shit again?” Lorenzo spoke rigidly.

No doubt, the bombing left scars on everyone to be remembered for a lifetime. Not only did Lorenzo lose Laura, both Colby lost both his parents too.

Valérie lost her mother, and the father she shared with Apollo too.

The memories are still fresh, still lingering and haunting.

Back then, they were all still careless folks, who knew close to nothing about how the Asylum worked, but the bitter occurrence forced them to take over the circle with hearts thirsty for revenge.

The Gambino enemies planned the bombing, and they eliminated every single member of the gang except their boss, who is still hiding, still wanted and will soon be caught and slaughtered.

“Run more investigation on the Rocco, and dig out everything there is to know before we meet” Lorenzo said.

“Yes boss” Cooper replied behind him.

“I'll do some diggings too” Valérie spoke”

“Good” Lorenzo stood.

“A drink with us wouldn't take your head, Lorenzo” Apollo stood too, placing one hand on his shoulder.

“Or at least with me alone” he said.

With a plain glare, Lorenzo shook Apollo's hand off and left with Cooper.

“You have a substitute wife now, no time to drink with us anymore! I'll meet her one of these days and trick her, send her out of the country secretly so we'd have our Lorenzo back” Apollo shouted after him.

“Aren't you too obsessed with Lorenzo?” Colby said indifferently.

“Zip it up, Colby. You're just as obsessed as I am, you only mask yours” Apollo pointed at him.

“Whatever makes you sleep at night” Colby said casually, and Valerie smiled, leaning forward on her chair.

“I badly want to meet this new Mrs. Vasquez. I love hardheads”

“I'm all here for the games, those twins are too witty to be deceived” Apollo grinned.

~~~

[Vasquez Estate]

“Do you think they would like it?” Emily asked, unsure of what to expect.

She just finished making waffles and beet juice with Maggie. Though, Maggie just watched her.

Emily refused to let her help with anything. Waffles and beet juice are one of the things she read on the tab at the hospital. And thankfully, it wasn't hard to learn.

She's a fast learner, making things easier. Honing her skills wouldn't take time at all.

“Trust me, they can't look away from waffles” Maggie assured, and Emily calmed before going upstairs with a tray containing the delicacy.

She stopped in front of their door, giving it a soft knock.

“Babies, I made your favorite snack” she said waiting for a minute before speaking again.

“I know I left for a year without a goodbye, but trust me, the circumstances were beyond my control. It wasn't my plan to leave you two, it just happened. I missed you both, and I'm still missing you right now. Please open the door and let's eat this together over chats like we did” she said, fighting back her emotional tears.

She needs a medal at this rate, this acting is too raw.

The door opened and she sniffed as Cora showed up without Cole.

“What mission did you go for?” She questioned with an unfriendly look.

“It's for the Aslyum…”

“The Empire is more important than us?” Cora interrupted shaply, and before Emily could talk further, Cora knocked the tray away from her palm, wasting the juice and waffles on the ground.

The glasses broke on Emily's feet, but she didn't wince till Cora went back into the room and slammed the door on her face.

“Cora!” Emily hit the door again, despite her bleeding feet.

“Cora!”

At the base of the stairs, Lorenzo stood.

He has been watching since Cora came out of the room. He actually arrived few minutes ago.

He turned around, walking out of the living room.

Emily saw him and quickly rushed after him, following him to the balcony.

At the same time, Copper entered the balcony.

“Boss, the bodyguard who raped a teenager in a club last night got caught” he reported.

“Waterboard him and hang him upside down. Leave a little life in him, I'll take it in one hour” Lorenzo ordered in all mercilessness.

Cooper left to carry out the order, and Maggie entered the balcony with a tray containing a cigar pack and a lighter.

Lorenzo took both, and Maggie left.

He lightened a stick, ignoring Emily's presence totally.

Before he could start smoking, Emily spoke up.

“Your kids are too much to handle”

“You think?” He faced her, the smokes from the cigar clouding her face.

He looks mad, and it seems all directed at her.

“What do you mean?” she frowned, her hazel eyes shrinking.

“They are too much for you to handle because you're not her. You're nothing like her. You're failing, and at this rate they will find out within twenty four hours. If that happens, I'll fucking hand you over to the cops myself” he said, meaning every word.

Despite the burning fire in his eyes, Emily went closer, eating the remaining space between them and calling out her bravado before speaking bodly.

“Are you threatening me? Lorenzo?”