Chapter 78 - The Leadership (4)
Stefan and his men arrived and saw Bernardo's cars parked at the front gate. He immediately ordered his subordinates to ambush the rear fence.
"We go to the back door. Hurry!"
After the order, his men drove to the back of the pub. Bruno's pub was outside the city on its private property. The pub was not created to raise money from drinkers and travelers. But the real purpose was to be a meeting place for customers who trade goods with Bruno ... something like drugs for example!
Stefan was sure that Bruno had built secret rooms or secret paths at many points around this pub to be the escape way when got raised by police.
The orange flame burst from the front door causing everyone to halt. It was burning from the inside out. Stefan was thinking that Bernardo might be burning the pub for revenge. The voice of people running and speaking but he couldn't catch what they said.
"James, you go and see what happening the front!"
Stefan ordered his close man who quickly ran to the front again. The light from the burning fire made the scene visible, James saw Bernardo's followers supporting each other to get into the cars and left.
Murphy and Tyson signaled their men to drive out, Taking the injured fellows home.
"The boss is still there. I'll go back and look for him. You have the engine running waiting for us. "
Murphy said to Tyson, his companion. Tyson nodded with a serious expression. They were worried about the boss.
Murphy spoke into the communication device.
"Boss, sir ... How are you?! ... I'm going in to help."
Murphy's voice was anxious. The grizzly voice of the communication jammed up and made a cracking sound before hearing Bernardo.
"You don't have to come in. I'm going out now."
Bernardo answered back. In fact, he was still unable to find the exit. Bernardo was currently looking for a way out, there was no way he would let Murphy risk the death, die one better than die two if he couldn't get out.
The back door was firmly locked, indicating that they hadn't come out this way. The fire spread so fast and chased after him, approaching almost everywhere!
Stefan received a report from James that Bernardo's henchman got injured and started to leave the place. James also heard that Bernardo was still inside the burning pub.
Stefan frowned immediately. What a stupid man the jackass was! Why was he still in there? The bastard sent out all his men. Stefan looked at the blaze, it had gone high up the sky and the smoke covered everwhere.
What about Bruno? Before arriving, he received a report that Bruno was still in the pub and still alive. And now Stefan didn't have a clue what had happened. So far the information he gathered was Bernardo was still inside the pub with Bruno.
Stefan knew that his number one enemy was tough. Stefan guessed the daredevil jackass wanted to get Bruno that's why he wasn't coming out until he caught his enemy.
Suddenly, at the dim far corner of the fence, the ground was split widely out! Stefan's men raised up their guns to get ready. The dim hole opened and suddenly Bruno and two women running out.
Stefan ordered his subordinates to snap Bruno right away. Bruno was immediately pale when he saw who it was standing in front of him!
"Stefan!"
Bruno let out the shocked voice before he could gather himself.
"Oh, wow. Here you are! Coming to help your lover, huh?"
Bruno lashed out and asked to cover up his fear. When confronted with someone whom he should not be particularly involved with. Stefan narrowed his eyes.
"who?"
"Bernardo! Now he must be as black as charcoal. Ha Ha Ha."
Bruno laughed madly, tried to get away from Stefan's men's hold but he couldn't. Stefan strode to him and pulled Bruno's collar until he floated off the ground.
"Asshole!"
He swore and threw a heavy fist into Bruno's chin. The man's eyes widened and he swayed and was knocked unconsciously right in the air. Stefan's henchmen tied Bruno with a rope and threw him into the back of the car, drove out immediately, taking the bastard back to the safe house. They let the two women flee into the darkness.
Five of Bruno's followers ran out of secret ways to see their boss being knocked out in the air and thrown into the car. So they fired the guns at Stefan and his men. Stefan dodged and his people fired the bullets in a defensive response. In a matter of minutes, the enemies dropped to the ground, the smell of the blood mixed with the smell of smoke creating the unpleasant scene.
"Tell our men to leave now before the police come. Ben, you started the car engine and wait for me here. I will go inside. "
Stefan guessed the situation that Bernardo couldn't get out the front door and probably was looking for a way out. Saw his number one enemy sent out all his subordinates, but only the foolish man himself still inside to be burned to death.
Even though the bastard was his enemy but a man like Bernardo shouldn't die by being burned to death. It was shameful for a big mafia to be killed in the fire. Death without dignity was unacceptable. Also, he and Bernardo still hadn't finished the talking yet.
"Don't go in, boss. The fire has spread a lot now. It's dangerous. "
James disagreed immediately with concern.
"I will be fine. Give me two masks and fire protection blankets." Stefan ordered.
James shook his head but quickly opened the car back, picked up protective masks and blankets for the boss. Stefan grabbed them. He put the mask on, cover himself with a blanket and held the other then the tall figure rushed into the secret path underground!
When opening the connecting door between the secret path and the back office, among the smoke, he saw Bernardo searching through Bruno's desk.
"Damn! Are you fucking crazy?! ... What are you playing? Your fucking daddy is coming."
Stefan yelled at Bernardo. They heard the siren sound, meaning the police, firefighters, and the ambulance was coming.
Bernardo turned to look when hearing Stephan's voice. He raised his eyebrow up in a surprise to see his enemy standing at the door that he saw it was a bathroom. Looking at Stefan now Bernardo knew immediately there was another door hidden in there, the door to outside!
"What are you doing here? The asshole Bruno isn't it here."
Bernardo said while his hands opening draws quickly. When he ran in here, his eyes suddenly saw a glimpse of some documents and when he had a look it was about Bruno's underground business, human trafficking, and war weapons! The document being carelessly scattered on the table. Bruno was reckless and the bastard probably thought he would burn all the evidence of his secret business at the same time as burning Bernardo.
Stefan threw the mask over. Bernardo hurried to receive it. Then put on the mask immediately.
"Get out, Stefan. Quick!"
The voice said through the mask because Bernardo thought that Stefan came in to find Bruno. The big hands quickly collected all the paper, stuffed into the chest of his shirt. Stefan saw the ceiling was about to fall. He hurriedly jumped in and pushed Bernardo to the ground.
The sound of steel hit the floor loud and made other burned material crumbled down near the legs of Bernado and Stefan.
"Damn it! you are going to cause me to die, fucking idiot!"
Stefan was yelling before quickly rebounded and then reaching out to Bernardo to help him up. Bernardo got Stefan's hand and sprang up quickly. Then suddenly another piece of the ceiling was falling, this time Bernardo pushed Stefan off the way. The material was missed his shoulders by inches.
The sound of the objects began to fall with a bang, approaching with the heat of the flame. Stefan moved to the door.
"I am getting out now. If you want to die in here, it's up to you, but I am not going to hell with you for sure!"
Stefan shouted and threw a fireproof blanket to Bernardo and ran to the secret tunnel door. Bernardo swiftly looked at what would be more interesting to keep before his tall body ran after Stefan. Just in time to get away from the large piece of metal that had fallen near his head!
In the middle of the tunnel, James and Murphy ran in. When they saw two tall bodies running their way, all of them then rushed back out of the secret exit. The tunnel began to collapse behind them closely. When they up above the underground, they ran out of the back gate. Ben had the car ready for Stefan and Tyson had the car ready for Bernardo.
"Bruno must have run out of this way. You got him, right? "
Bernardo looked back to see the fire bursting into the sky, he was able to read the story instantly. Stefan's cool gesture telling him that he already got Bruno.
Two tall figures pulled off the mask. Bernardo threw it back to Stefan. The tiger and the lion met each other eyes for a moment.
"Thanks, man."
Bernardo said briefly. He sent a hand out in front. Stefan stared for a moment before shrugging his shoulder and snapped Bernardo's hand and shook briefly then released.
"No need, I didn't mean to help you."
The harsh voice said. Bernardo nodded a little, lifted a corner of his mouth. The bastard seemed to be a bad person in people's eyes.
"Yeah, I know you just went in to see with your own eyes to make sure that I was burned to death, peacefully."
Bernardo replied. Stefan raised his shoulder again.
"Give Bruno to me, Stefan. The son of a bitch is my direct enemy, nothing to do with you."
Bernardo said in a smooth voice.
"He messed with me first. I got him, so he is mine. Let's go, James."
Stefan gave the last speech then he strode to the car. James hurried to open the back door for his boss and then the bodyguard jumped on the front seat. Ben drove off and disappear in the dark.
Bernardo shook his head. Murphy opened the car door waiting so the tall figure jumped in. Tyson stepped on the gas and drove away quick when hearing the police and firefighter trucks arrived.