Chapter 8

• On the outskirts of town, an abandoned warehouse stood silent against the night. Michael's footsteps echoed ominously as he entered, hands tucked coolly into his pockets, eyes like frozen steel.
• "Sir, he's in the basement," Luca said, falling into step beside his boss.
• Michael gave a nod, heading straight for the makeshift prison cells below. Before they descended the stairs, Luca handed him an intricate dragon mask - Michael's notorious calling card in the underworld.
• He slipped the carved wooden disguise over his face, becoming the dreaded "Dragon" that criminals spoke of in hushed whispers. Michael disappeared, leaving only the darkness and foreboding presence behind the mask.
• In the dank cell, a man sat bound to a chair, trembling at the arrival of the infamous Dragon. As soon as Michael entered, the captive whimpered, "Dragon, I'm so sorry...I didn't mean to..."
• Silence answered him as Michael dragged over a chair to sit directly across from the quivering man. At last, the distorted voice rasped from behind the mask, "Now, now...calm down. Tell me who informed you about the shipment."
• "I swear, Dragon, we figured it out ourselves!" the man babbled desperately.
• Michael was unconvinced. "Low-life criminal wannabes like you tracking and managing to disrupt my operations? I find that very hard to believe."
• "It's the truth!"
• Luca's gruff voice came from the shadows. "Listen buddy, we don't have all day. Master Dragon has other things to do with his time."
• "Since you don't wish to tell me," Michael stated, leaning forward to expose the snarling dragon mask, "I suppose I'll have to dig the truth out of you then."
• The man's eyes widened in sheer terror. Across the underground, whispers of the Dragon's sadistic torture methods were enough to chill the blood.
• "Okay! Okay, I'll talk!" he wailed frantically.
• Luca chuckled darkly. "See? That wasn't so hard now, was it?"
• As the sniveling captive launched into his confession, Michael sat back, unmoved behind his merciless dragonic guise. He didn't flinch at cracking whoever he needed to maintain his empire's superiority. The Dragon always got what he wanted - through any means necessary.
• The man's eyes widened further as he sensed a glimmer of hope. "We received a note! An anonymous note sent to our address with all the details of the shipment. It didn't state the goods belonged to you, Master Dragon. If we had known, we would never have dared to interfere!"
• Michael went still behind the snarling dragon mask. "A note, you say?"
• The captive nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes! We saw an opportunity to make some money, so we went there without realizing it was your operation. I swear it on my life!"
• For a long moment, Michael simply stared at the trembling man, considering. Finally, he spoke in that same rasping distortion, "Very well...I believe you."
• Palpable relief flooded the captive's face. "Thank you, Master Dragon! It's the absolute truth. We respect you too much to ever intentionally cross you."
• "I know you wouldn't dare," Michael stated flatly, rising from his chair abruptly. He turned to Luca, lingering in the shadows. "Get rid of him...but make it less painful."
• The man's eyes widened in shock. "What? No, please! You said you believed me!"
• Ignoring his pleas, Michael addressed him one last time. "You're in luck. I'm in a relatively good mood after getting married today."
• "M-married?" The man sputtered in confusion before panic set in fully. "No, please don't kill me! I've told you everything!"
• But Michael was already walking away, unmoved. "You know the consequences for interfering with my operations, intentional or not."
• "Master Dragon, please! I'm begging you!"
• Michael didn't look back, Luca falling into step behind him as they left the screams echoing in the dank cell.
• "What now, sir?" Luca asked as they mounted the stairs into the warehouse office.
• Removing his dragon mask, Michael met his consigliere's eyes flatly. "Find out who sent that note. I want to know which arrogant fool thought they could challenge me."
• Luca gave a nod, recognizing the cold fury simmering behind Michael's unreadable gaze. "Consider it done."
• No one threatened the Dragon's operations and lived - whoever was responsible had just signed their death warrant. Michael would make them pay dearly for their insolence.
• Back in the lavish penthouse that served as his home office, Michael settled into a high-backed leather chair, steepling his fingers as he slipped into deep thought. Luca knew better than to disturb his boss when that flinty look entered his eye.
• After several tense minutes, Michael finally spoke in a low, dangerous tone. "This anonymous note...it reeks of someone looking to test me, Luca. To undermine my authority."
• Luca gave a solemn nod. "I agree, sir. It was no amateur move, that's for certain. Too precisely executed."
• "Precisely." Michael's mouth curved in a wolfish smile, devoid of any mirth. "Which means we're looking at someone from the inside...someone unhappy with the way I run my operations."
• A skeptical snort left Luca's throat. "With all due respect, Don Donovan, that's laughable. You've brought this family greater power and wealth than anyone before you. Who would be fool enough to question your leadership?"
• The barest flicker crossed Michael's eyes. "You'd be surprised, my friend. Success breeds envy...and envy breeds betrayal from the most unlikely rats in the lair."
• Unconsciously, Michael's hand strayed to his collar, tracing the faint puckered scar that curved along the side of his neck. A brutal reminder that even those closest could turn, given the chance.
• "Oh, I'm well aware of backstabbers in the ranks," Luca said darkly, no doubt recalling his own litany of past betrayals. "The question is - who would be arrogant enough this time?"
• Michael was silent for a long moment, gaze becoming unfocused as his mind parsed through the array of potential turncoats. Rivals, underbosses, bratva captains, rival dons...any number of snakes could be writing anonymous notes.
• "I want to know every single person who was aware of the details on that shipment," he said at last, jaw tightening. "Associates, middle managers, security...no one is above suspicion until we find the mole."
• Luca nodded grimly. "Consider it done, boss. I'll put my best men on it immediately."
• "Good..." A muscle ticked in Michael's cheek as he leaned back, the very picture of deadly calm before a storm. "Because whoever it is, they're going to wish they never stepped out of the shadows to betray me."
• When Michael "The Dragon" Donovan sniffed out a traitor, there was no limit to the fiery vengeance he would unleash upon them. Charring their entire world to ashes was the kindest fate they could hope for once he hunted them down.