Chapter Twenty Four

"I don't know man. I swear I don't know! We were just following orders. The only thing I know was taking out Leonardo. I don't know anything else." The thug mumbled, stammering and clearly terrified. 

Lucas's expression changed, his patients running out. Hearing his father's name only fueled his rage yet remains composed. He nodded at Brook, who stepped forward and slammed his boot into the thug's chest, knocking him to the ground. The thug groaned in pain gasping for breath as he tried to crawl backward.

"Wrong answer. Try again." Brook snarling at him with a no play, kind of look.

"Dominic's dead, and you're next unless you start talking. Who else is involved? Who's giving the orders now?" Lucas leaning in closer, his voice low and menacing.

The thug's eyes flickered with fear, and he hesitated for a moment. Then, finally he cracked.

"Alright, alright! Santoro, okay? Santoro's pulling the strings now! But there's someone else. Someone bigger. We have been taking orders from guy for months. I don't know his name, but he's not just part of the Mafia. He's connections in politics, in business. He's untouchable." The thug mumbled, continued his confession.

Lucas's jaw tightene. This was more than he had anticipate. Santoro was a known enem, but if someone else was orchestrating these moves from the dark, it means the war is far from over.

Lucas smirked, glancing at him, trying hard to get something out that will fuel Matteo to send him after Santoro and the Mysterious man "They is no one as untouchable. Get that to your head. And do not try to skip nothing. So what about the attempt on Matteo's son? Was that not Santoro, or was this mysterious Man involved?"

The thug hesitated again, his eyes pleading for mercy. "Please he will kill me. Have told you all I know."

"Are you afraid of the one you can leave here and escape later, or let's say you are not afraid of the ones that can end it all for you now. Jim smirked running out of patience.

"Santoro ordered it. But it's because of pressure from this other guy. I swear, I don't know more! That's all I've got!" Thug nervously uttered.

Lucas stared down at the man for a long moment, then gave a single nod. Kally who had been leaning against the wall, stepped forward and raised his gun. The thug's eyes widened in terror.

"No please I told you everything!" Thug screams in fear.

But the shot rang out before he could finish his sentence. The thug slumped to the floor, lifeless. 

"He wasn't going to give us anything else." Kally coldly says, responding to the glances he's getting from his mate.

"That's the last of Dominic's men. But this other guy? We've got a bigger problem than we thought." Jim muttering, checking the other bodies.

Lucas stood silent for a moment, processing the new information, thought to himself. 'Whoever this mysterious figure is. He was the key to everything. Leonardo's death, the attacks on Matteo, and the power struggle within the mafia.' 

Lucas mumbled, with a new fire burning in his eyes. "Santoro's just a pawn. We need to find out who's really pulling the strings."

The next day, Lucas stood in Matteo's office, the sun streaming in through the large windows as Mr. Matteo sat behind his desk, his fingers steepled, as he listened to the report. Brook, Kally, and Jim stood nearby, but the room was tense as Lucas recounted the information they have extracted.

"Santoro. And now someone else. Someone bigger. I should have known there was more to this than just some puffy old bastard." Matteo coldly intoned with a dangerous voice.

Lucas nodded, his face set in determination. With only one thing in mind revenge.

Lucas quietly intoned. " We have a name now. This figure, whoever he is, has his hands in everything. He's using Santoro to destabilize your power, and he is the one behind Leonardo's death." 

Matteo's face darkened, his fingers tightening into a fist, on the desk.

"This bastard thinks he can come after my family? After my empire? No one touches what's mine and lives to tell the tale." Matteo furiously growls, standing up in full rage.