CHAPTER 01
Teodoro eased his average build down into his desk chair. He leaned back to lite a cigar Kasen gave him. Both men had black hair with dark eyes and wore solid dark suits and matching ties. It was how they felt businessmen should look. Kasen sat his medium build on the sofa near the desk, smoking a cigar. Kasen was expecting his twin daughters, Torri, and Jade before they went to the theater to help their mother. They were waiting for them in the den. Dari arrived before they did. He pulled in front of the brick mansion in his black sports car with the top down. He was in a good mood. Being he graduated from technical school to be a mechanic and do auto body repair, he wanted to show his Uncle Teodoro the sports car he rebuilt. There was something else he couldn’t wait to show his Uncle Teodoro. Luce saw Dari walking toward the door. He quickly walked his lanky build out the door to stop Dari. Luce was one of Teodoro’s employees.” You’ll have to make an appointment to see the boss. You can’t just show up and waltz in. I can’t let you in,” Luce firmly said.” I am his nephew. I don’t need an appointment. I’m going in and you can’t stop me,” Dari snapped. He gave Luce a shove to the side to walk into the front door. Luce followed him to the den. Dari went bouncing in the den smiling.
“Good afternoon, Uncle Teodoro!” He boisterously said. Dari was Teodoro’s nephew by his sister, Gia. Teodoro disliked Dari’s arrogant attitude. Another thing Teodoro couldn’t stand about Dari was his lack of respect for traditions. Dari liked to wear flashy colorful suits with gold chains and rings on his fingers. His coal-black hair was slicked back with gel. The cologne he wore had a stench that anyone could smell before they have seen him. The shoes he wore matched his suits. Teodoro told his sister repeatedly Dari was an embarrassment to the family. She ignored his request to teach him the proper dress and conduct. Teodoro looked at Dari’s tan face. He placed his cigar in the ashtray to stand up. Kasen noticed Dari’s face. He stood up, too. Teodoro’s harsh tone of voice made a person cringe with fear.” Dari, mustaches are forbidden. You cannot be a part of the family with that thing on your face. You know the rules. If you do not shave it off this instant, I’ll have it removed for you. You got three seconds to decide,” Teodoro coldly said. Kasen motioned for several men to come into the den. Teodoro went into the bathroom to get a straight razor and mirror. He laid them on the desk for Dari to use. Dari felt he was above the rules.” Traditions are meant to be broken. Uncle Teodoro, you need to relax and liven up a little. You’re too stiff. We need to change some things. You need to let me run things. I can liven this family up a notch or two. By the way, I am not shaving my mustache off. It took a year to get it this thick and nice around my upper lip. I happened to like it. You can’t do anything about it because I’m your nephew,” he smugly said. Dari started to giggle like a schoolboy in the principal’s office. He thought it was funny Uncle Teodoro wanted him to shave his mustache off. Teodoro became irritated his nephew defied him. A nod was given to his men by Teodoro to grab Dari. They forced him into an overstuffed chair. Dari started to become frightened. He didn’t know what to expect when the one muscular dark-haired man pushed his head back.” Tomas, shave it off, dry. Perhaps he’ll learn the rules will be followed or pay the price,” Teodoro harshly responded. Tomas gripped Dari’s forehead,” Do not move or I’ll slice your throat,” he growled. Teodoro gave Tomas the straight razor. The men held him tightly. Tomas put his knee on Dari’s chest to keep him from moving. Dari knew then his mustache was coming off. A towel was placed over Tomas’s arm to wipe the razor blade. Dari felt the blade glide across his lip. He felt his mustache being removed with each swipe of the blade. This made Dari bitter. When they finished, they slowly released him. Dari stood up. He took a swing at Teodoro, but Tomas threw him across the room as though he was a rag doll. Dari staggered onto his feet,” You’ll pay for this. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll make sure you pay,” he bitterly said. As Tomas punched Dari in the mouth causing his lip to bleed,” You threaten the boss again and I’ll put you in the body bag myself,” Tomas snarled. They escorted Dari out the door. Dari stood outside by his car staring at Luce who was standing in front of the mansion’s entrance door.
Luce was waiting for Torri and Jade. Dari watched Torri and Jade arrive in their father’s white limousine. Their protectors Razor and Gunny got out first. Razor’s real name was Kane Montero. Razor was lethal with a knife. He could walk up to a person and stab before the person realize what happened. The victim would drop dead instantly. He knew how to stab a person that prevent them from screaming out. He liked to wear t-shirts, blazers, and jeans over his bronze athletic build with short mahogany brown hair and eyes. Gunny’s real name was Jace Larant. Gunny was more for the gun with burlap over the head. He had a sunny disposition whereas Razor was more serious and quieter. He liked to dress casually. He eased his chunky build with brown hair and eyes that always were watching when he saw the twins get out of the limo. They enjoyed protecting them. Torri and Jade stepped their tall slender build with long raven hair they kept back in a barrette out of the limo behind Gunny and Razor. They learned from both parents to work hard and the importance of family. They wore business pants suits to show their father they could run the family business by following his examples. They adored their father. They wanted more than anything to be like him.
Their father taught them business savvy. He told them if a competitor refused an offer to buy them out, then have them eliminated. They knew some things about their father’s illegal activities, but not everything. He did his best to keep them at a certain distance, however, he taught them to use force when necessary to get a deal done. He taught them how to use a handgun for their protection, but only if they were forced to protect their life or each other. They became expert marksmen in pistol and riffle. They carried a pistol in a shoulder holster underneath their suit jackets. Their father introduced them to the gun dealer he dealt with to purchase guns. Luce gave Torri and Jade a wave. They noticed Dari standing by his car. They exchanged hellos in a muffled voice. The feeling of dislike for each other was mutual. The twins were civil toward Dari out of respect for their father. They knew he was Teodoro’s nephew. They proceeded to walk up to Luce who greeted them with a smile on his tan face. He opened the door to escort them to the den. Dari watched them enter the mansion. He was still brewing over his mustache. He was thinking about revenge. When he saw the twins, his anger increased. They were always treated better than him. He decided the Sunday lunch would be a perfect time. Everyone would be there. He could eliminate them all at once. Smiling, he left in his sports car. He zoomed out of sight.
Dari went to meet his girlfriend, Natasha, secretly at Willow Park. Her father, Abrasha Borya didn’t like him. Abrasha Borya was a boss for the Tetavich family. Martelli and Tetavich were rivals. They were constantly quarreling with each other. Dari remained neutral between them. Dari drove his car to the gazebo. He saw Natasha standing in the gazebo. After parking his car underneath the trees, he happily got out of his car. He quickly walked up to her. Her long chestnut hair flowed over her shoulders. Her captivating brown eyes looked at him. He noticed a look of sadness on her face. Her ruby lips formed a slight smile. He softly kissed her lips. She didn’t like keeping their relationship a secret, especially from her father. She knew her father would become angry if he saw them together. Running away wasn’t the answer. They would be founded and brought back to her father. Before Dari could speak, he heard a voice with a Russian accent growl,” I warned you before to stay away from my daughter. Now you’ll pay the price.” Dari turned around to see Abrasha standing there with pliers in his right hand. Abrasha’s husky build with salt-n-pepper hair and a neatly trimmed beard leaned toward Dari. Three brute men with short, cropped hair grabbed Dari. They roughly shoved him to the floor. He didn’t have the strength to resist them. Abrasha ordered Natasha to the car. Abrasha coldly said,” Victor, take my daughter home, now.” She didn’t want to leave. Victor picked her up, then pushed her into the car’s backseat. Tears were streaming down her face as Victor slid into the driver’s seat. Dari watched helplessly as Victor drove away with Natasha. Once they were out of sight, Abrasha grabbed Dari’s left hand. He used the pliers to break Dari’s pinky causing him to scream in pain.” Let this be a reminder to never see my daughter again. If you still try to see her, I’ll shoot you myself,” Abrasha harshly said. They left him on the floor holding his hand. Dari slowly stood up. He watched them leave in their cars. He wrapped a handkerchief around his pinky. He decided to go to the medical clinic that didn’t ask questions.
Torri and Jade walked into Teodoro’s den. Their father, Kasen stood up to hug them. They knew to be respectful to Teodoro who allowed them to call him Uncle Teo. He regarded them as his nieces. Teodoro enjoyed seeing them. He wished Dari were more like them. They chatted about the play the theater was doing. Torri and Jade left a few minutes later to meet their mother at the theater.
Their mother, Adelina was the make-up artist for the theater. They met her at the backstage door. Adelina was a petite build with long black curly hair pulled back with a ribbon. Her dark eyes danced with excitement to see her daughters. They quickly went to their mother’s private room to change into jeans and t-shirts. Their guns were locked in the cabinet. When they left the room, the door was locked. Gunny and Razor stayed out of the way by sitting in the over-stuff chairs near the make-up tables. They were observers. They knew the regulars and the regulars knew them. A mutual hello exchange between them. Adelina would change the actors/actress’s appearances for the characters they were playing. She taught her daughters to help her during busy times. While the actor was in the chair to get make-up done, another was getting a costume ready to wear. Everything had to be done quickly to prevent delays. The chatter was a happy sound.
Torri was busy preparing an actress for the scene to be an elderly woman. A twenty-year-old would suddenly become ninety with the finishing touch of a white wig and old clothes. Her daughters enjoyed doing the make-up, especially on each other. Practicing on each other made it easier to do the staff. They were as good as their mother. They enjoyed working at the theater with their mother. They helped the actors with costumes, hair, and make-up. Jade prepared various wigs of colors, shapes, and styles for the actors to switch when cued.
