THE TEMPEST

"Now, gentlemen, what do we do about our situation with the Esposito family. Clearly, it has reached a boiling point, and I can no longer tolerate their insolence" The Baron said steepling his fingers.

He was in a much happier mood. The girl who was just carried away had done a wonderful job at pleasing him and helping him reach ecstasy. Not many could do that in just one attempt. She might just be his new favorite… that's if she manages to wake up.

He couldn't really place why he enjoyed her, perhaps it was the defiance in her eyes or the how she had obeyed and restrained herself. The other girls lose themselves in the pleasure and forget all their training, seeking to amass some pleasure for themselves. But her… she had obeyed and controlled herself till the end.

It was 7am and light filtered through spaces even though the blinds were still shut. The fire crackled, and the room remained dimly lit. Luca "The Bull" Bianchi, the Baron's underboss has returned to his position at the Baron's side. The other members of the Consiglieri remained seated, their glasses still in their hands. The Baron watched El'Marco Rossi, El'Carlos Dominic, El'Roberto Paolo, his uncles and the heads of the founding families of the Falcone empire as they brooded on what to do about their opposition. They were the reason why his father got into power, stayed in power and got the reds to the top.

The 'El' before their names represents their rank as Elders of the empire. He tried to be careful with them while also reminding them that they may have placed his father in power, but he was not his father. Getting pleased and beheading a girl in front of them was a ploy to show them that he could do anything he wanted and still get away with it, their status be damned.

For long he had been tolerating their whispers and murmurs about him being weak, it was time they realized that he's The Tempest and not The Warlord.

The last member of the Consiglieri was Signor Enzo Pedro, the Majordomo. He was like a steward, but he also manages the Baron's finances.

"We should teach them a lesson, Baron. Show them the true meaning of power." Luca said gritting his teeth.

" And how many times already have we tried that? These people don't learn and they always manage to counter our every move. I suggest we try a more diplomatic approach. Let's say, we trick them into an alliance and then we cripple them from behind"

"Enzo, as much as your contributions are valued, you should stick to balancing the books. How can you even suggest that we the reds, the almighty Scarlet Brotherhood, form an alliance with a faction that just surfaced years ago. Maybe if the Baron had listened to his elders, we wouldn't be in this situation"

Of all the Elders, the Baron hated El'Roberto the most. He hated the man's guts. How he flaunts his wealth and believe that because of it, he's untouchable. He would have to do something about him sooner than he planned, lest he begins to plot how to usurp him from power. Afterall, they backed his father from the shadows, betraying their own Baron to place an underboss on the position. Who's to say they won't do it again?

Calming himself, he replied, "Uncle, I know I should have listened to you, but then we couldn't risk another war not when the other factions were eager to get back at us. Sure, we would've annihilated the Greys with casualties of course, but what would we do when any of the other factions decide to strike immediately?"

"When you look at it strategically, you would agree that war wasn't an option. I may not be a Warlord like my father, but I'm a strategist and that's how we've remained on top even with enemies surrounding us"

He called them Uncles not because they were actual family, but by allying with his father and backing him, they now were. And as much as he would like nothing else, but to behead them before they come for his, he still had to respect them.

They knew he was right, but they would never acknowledge that, so they exchanged glances and sipped from their glasses.

"My Baron, two days ago my spy told me, he's close to discovering the location of their secret farm and uhm… no offense to you My Lord and the My Consiglieri. Like I was saying, and why their Hype has more quality than ours"

"Speak such lies again and you'll lose your tongue! Who knows you might be a more competent underboss if you were mute. Andreas may have been a thief, but at least he was competent" El'Marco finished throwing a glare at Luca.

"Uncle, I truly respect you, but you know I hate hearing about that… canaglia. He…"

The Baron had wanted to say more, but to his surprise, El'Carlos, the oldest of the Elders and most reserved, cut him off.

"Isn't that what you've been saying yet his wife and son remains alive. Today, the boy becomes a man and no one knows what he has been planning or are you foolish enough to think he has forgotten how you murdered his papa right in front of him? I don't know about the Espositos, but as silent and compliant as that boy has been, I think we may need to deal with the enemy within first before those without"

Anger simmered within the Baron and before he could retort, El'Roberto took up from where his counterpart left off.

"I agree with you, El'Carlos. Who knows if that boy is the one who has been secretly feeding the Greys with information and it's really suspicious that he hasn't made any attempt at you for as long as he has been here. Like they say "I quieti sono i più pericolosi"(The quiet ones are the most dangerous)"

They were really getting on his nerves, never had the thought of slicing their heads off with Kaze no Kami felt more blissful. But he still needed them, at least until they did something about the Greys.

Taking a deep breath and masking a smile, he spoke,

"My uncles, you know I have Andre under control, besides if he tries anything, I would snuff him out like I did his father. Now can we get back to the issue at hand"

"If by having it under control, you mean keeping his mother hostage then let me remind you that his father played us all for years before we discovered about his dealings, so don't underestimate the son of a man that cocky. You even tried using your daughter, Isa to keep an eye on him, but he charmed her into falling in love with him. And I really don't blame her, the boy is the son of his parents. I wouldn't even mind keeping him as one of my pleasers." El'Marco ended, licking his lips and touching his cock.

Even as an Elder and in his late sixties, El'Marco still toyed and played around. He never married because he preferred dirk to crevice. Rumor has it that the same way the Baron had an unlimited supply of girls, the same way he had an unlimited supply of men and even boys young enough to be his grandsons. His dressing was also different, where others had red ties, he had on a scarlet scarf tied around his neck and a drop of gold gleamed in his burr.

It was already bad enough that the Baron couldn't stomach his preferences, now he was openly undermining his authority and did he really have to mention Isa.

That was it, the saw that severed his cool, the blade that cut through his calm. He had been rippling, but after hearing that, it was time they got a taste of The Tempest.

"Enough!" He bellowed, slamming the desk with enough force to rattle the painting and glass case on the wall.

Standing and still simmering with rage, he continued, "I won't allow these bickering of yours, if you think it's easy why put my father in power? why allow me take over after his death or don't you want a taste of it? To be called 'My Lord' and have the Baron title attached to your name. Let me remind you if you have forgotten, I am The Baron. I wield the power. I am the authority. I am The Tempest and I have gotten us this far, never forget that"

Satisfied by how, they all backed away and reclined in their seats in cower. He sat down, drumming his fingers on the desk in an attempt to keep his anger on check and said in a tone laced with chill and coated with ice,

"Forgive my outburst, my wise Elders and my Consiglieri. I, sometimes lose it"

smiling at them, he went on, "my anger often gets a hold of me and I say or do things I will regret later, like now. My apologies, once again."

Before any of them could speak, he clapped his hands and said,

"Now read us the accounts, Enzo, I still have a breakfast I will like to attend to and the welcome party for my dear Isa still needs some approvals and corrections here and there".

Nobody dared speak again until Enzo was done and he dismissed them.