Meeting

The vibration from his phone woke him up from his nap, and for a moment, he thought about rejecting the call until he saw the name on the screen.

"You were about to ignore my call, weren't you?" Before Mason replied, Ty continued, not needing confirmation. "There's an official meeting at HQ tomorrow, and your attendance is mandatory."

There weren't many times when Mason was speechless; his line of work didn't allow it since a simple silence could mean death, but this was one of those times. It took him extra seconds to process what Ty had just told him.

"At HQ?"

"Yes," Ty answered with a tinge of a smile in his voice.

"Me?"

"At nine sharp. No need for formal dressing."

“Official meeting?” Doubt sprouted from each letter as his voice became slightly higher at the end.

“The one and only,” Ty said with a chuckle.

"What the hell, Ty. Why am I being called to a meeting?" The hairs on the back of Mason's nape stood, and a shiver ran through him.

The list of people he could honestly thank for helping him through the hard times and for the life he had now was very short, and at the top of the list was Ty. He trusted him and had never been disappointed in doing so. However, he had never been officially called to HQ.

"I'm just in the dark as you," said Ty with a sigh. “No one knows what is going on and why we are being called.”

"Don't you dare say that. You're the Boss's right-hand, if anyone knows anything about it is you."

Mason was affiliated with the family, but he had never pledged his loyalty to them. Either Ty called him for a job, or he was asked to meet the Boss, but there was never an official meeting. Ever.

"See you tomorrow, Macy," said Ty, and Mason could hear the exhaustion in his voice before he hung up. Mason stared at his phone for a long time, pondering running away, but he couldn’t do that, not after all the help he received from them.

He was about eight years old, struggling to keep up in school, when he met Ty, who was in college while hiding the fact that he was a runt for the local mafia family. It was thanks to Ty that Mason began doing better in school and was able to complete his studies.

The next morning, Mason arrived at the HQ at eight, but not because he liked to be on time. He wanted to surveil the family's mansion from an advantageous point. He had barely slept, thinking about the meeting, not knowing what it was for, was killing him.

Other than the staff, there wasn't much movement until a few minutes before nine, when expensive cars and expensive-looking people began arriving. Mason recognised most of them since they were high enough in the family hierarchy to be known. The thought of running away crossed his mind again until his phone vibrated.

– Stop hiding and come in. Everyone is here.

Ty knew him too well. Just before nine, Mason walked through the main gate and was taken to the large study room where the others were. They all eyed him suspiciously, and some even glared, but Mason didn't spare the attention.

A few minutes passed before the Boss walked into the room, followed by Ty and Simon, the secretary, unofficially called the Boss's left-hand. "Thank you all for coming today," started the Boss, sitting down on an armchair in the middle of the room. "I know it was a sudden request, but I'm glad you could attend." They all stood in line in front of the head of the family, and Mason followed along. "The reason I gathered you all here in such a rush is that I have a task of utmost urgency and importance."

Including Mason, eight people in total had been called for the task, but unlike him, most of them showed their eagerness to contribute. "What you are about to see and hear cannot leave this room. Whoever is selected will fulfil the task in secrecy and won't share any details with anyone. Inability to comply with this will result in grave consequences. Is that understood?"

The Boss paused for a moment, eyeing all the men and women standing in front of him. If Mason were to refuse, now would be the time, and with that in mind, he was about to lift his hand. However, the Boss looked straight at him like he did so many times when Mason was about to do something he shouldn't. While growing up, Mason really thought the Boss could read his mind, and at times like these, that thought still popped up in his head. With no way out, his only other option would be to sabotage himself.

"This task may take a few days or even a few weeks, during which you won't contact us or come here unless it's a life or death situation. There will be a good reward once this is resolved. That I can promise."

The more his peers straightened their backs and increased their charm, the more Mason inched away. After a long pause, the Boss gave Ty a nod, and a second later, Ty went back the way they had come in, closing the door behind him.

No one dared make a sound. Everyone focused on that door, waiting for whatever it was behind it. Minutes passed until the door opened again, and Ty emerged from the shadows. As he crossed the threshold, light shone on him and what he was holding. A small child walked next to him, pacifier in its mouth, big bright green eyes, with chubby arms and legs. No one dared speak and break that moment, but their eyes jumped from the child to Ty until they settled back on the Boss.

"This child's real name will not be disclosed, however, you can call him Nico."