Taken By The Mafia Lord

"Aww, that was so loud," Marcel looked down at the chihuahua and then back at Gabriel whose eyes were red with emotion, and said, "You scared Redhead. Lower your voice please, animals are sensitive to noise."

"What do you think you're doing?!" Gabriel fired at him, angered by his nonchalance. Does he take him for a fool?

"What do you think I'm doing? I'm a bit lost here, can you remind me a little?" Marcel pretended to be oblivious to what he was talking about.

He glared at him, "Don't play games with me, Marcel!"

"Oh, is it about the war? You don't need to worry about that, after all, your father volunteered you to lead the way."

Gabriel looked at his father and the man opened his mouth to defend himself yet ended up stammering instead because of the tension,

"N-no… it's not… that… I - I "

Marcel continued, "And did I forget to mention that your family would be recognized for taking an active stance in this war we are preparing to embark with the Draven Family,"

"That is not right! My father did not promise you anything!" Gabriel retorted and Marcel faked a dramatic gasp.

"Is that so? Had I been misquoting his words all along?" He reminded him of his father's words, "The war may be long and gory but it would restore our family's glory that your great-grandfather Fergus strove to build,"

He didn't miss a word.

"Aren't you confident of leading this war or are you just being a coward about it?" Marcel repeated the same words that Benjamin used on him moments ago and that was when everyone realized what was going on.

They had thought that Marcel had swallowed up the insult, but that doesn't seem to be the case. This was Marcel having his revenge on them. And Camille who had been quietly watching the drama threw her head back and burst into boisterous laughter.

Daniel should have been here to see his protégé in action. Her stupid brother thought that his son was weak and unworthy of his reputation, but he was wrong. Marcel was slyer and possessed the empathy his father lacked.

At this point, not even Gabriel could speak against Marcel because he just tricked them into a position where they couldn't even go back on their words and be shamed.

"Also," Marcel told him, "As much as you are older than me, I am still the boss here and I would love that you address me with respect next time."

Gabriel swallowed when he saw the cold dark look in Marcel's eyes and he found himself nodding his head and sitting his ass back down on the seat without being told to do so. Marcel looked like he was going to murder him.

"Now, where were we?" His dark expression vanished away and was replaced with a friendlier expression, "Oh, about the war."

The moment Benjamin heard about the war, his heart began to pound hard in his chest. They can't go to war! That bastard Marcel tricked him! His son can't be the one leading the war. He was going to lose his only remaining son, no!

"I don't think that I'm in support of that war?" Camille said and Benjamin released the breath that he had been holding in. It wasn't over yet, but it was something.

"If Eric Draven can offer us something substantial that can develop our family business rather than the setback that a war brings, then I am all in." Camille raised her hand in a vote expecting the others to follow suit and when they didn't, her narrowed, warning gaze

flickered towards them one after the other.

In no time, hands were lifted in the air one after the other until it was left for Robert and Benjamin, and their family. As expected, it wasn't surprising to anyone when Benjamin was the first to bite the bullet.

"I think I might have been a bit hasty in making a decision earlier. But thanks to Camille for opening my eyes," He chuckled nervously, using the excuse to cover his shame.

However, Camille merely snorted at his pathetic attempt of changing his mind, after all, they all knew that Benjamin had a fickle royalty and could never be trusted.

With Benjamin raising his hand in support, Gabriel and his wife had no choice but to follow his gesture and Robert glared at him intensely.

That pathetic bastard! If only he had held on, then he could have turned the tide in their favor. But now, all eyes were on him and waiting for his decision.

"And what about Daniel?" Robert brought that up, "He's the leader of the committee and should -"

"Daniel already nullified his vote by being absent in this meeting and even if he was here, the number of hands in the air is greater as you can see," Marcel stopped him right there.

Robert scanned the number of hands in the air and it was as Marcel had said; he was red with embarrassment.

Marcel arched a brow at him, "So?"

He was defeated.

Seeing that he had no other choice, Robert lifted his hand reluctantly and his sons followed his direction. In the end, the call for trial of Elijah Draven was ruled and a more amicable negotiation was accepted.

"Thanks for your attendance today, the meeting is dismissed." Marcel added, "Although you could stay back for some refreshment…." He was still saying when Robert's chair was the first to be pushed back with a squeak and he stormed out of the place, followed by his wife and sons.

"I guess no refreshment then," Marcel wasn't even surprised by the outcome and relaxed into his seat, stroking Redhead leisurely.

The chihuahua had fallen asleep throughout the chaos and now Marcel hoped that none of them wakes the sleeping dog.

But then, his aunt was standing in front of him the next minute. Camille stared at Marcel and shook her head.

"I hope that is not the child you intend to present to Daniel nine months," She hinted at the lie he had told Daniel about Arianna being pregnant.

However, Marcel was not worried, after all, he was going to meet Redhead's mother tonight.