A/N: I'm really sorry to disappear from this app for a while, there were so many things to do and I kind of really needed a break to gather up my thoughts. So inorder to make up for it, I will make this chapter extra long🍷Enjoy!

○ Location _Falcon Headquarters, Seoul, SK._

The hall was lit by dim chandeliers that casted a dull gold lustre all across the room. The main wall was decorated with a bronze falcon in flight, its wings carved into burning flames of victory. Although the richly drapped room boasted all this fine luxury, the 6 figures that was seated around the high mahogany table seemed to glance uneasily at each other. Among them, Sofia Esteben and Sergei Ivenko who were sitting at the far end glanced at each other knowingly.

The great ox-blood chair which stood at the head of the table was still vaccant, expecting the esteemed leader of the falcon Circle to occupy it in a short while. The rest didn't utter a word, nor did all the head commanders who stood quietly awaiting their orders.

Suddenly, the gold outlined double doors were swung open by the falcon guards posted outside. Everyone on the table hurriedly got on to their feet, expectant and fearful looks blooming across their faces.

"About time he turned up" whispered Sergei in Sofia's ear and she smiled. It had almost become a Maranzano family tradition to arrive late to any meeting of utmost importance.

The falcons instantly melted into sides, allowing a clear path across the black and white check-tiled floor. The lights seemed to flicker ominously as Jake Maranzano walked across the room, his steel blue eyes taking in every object and every person standing in undivided attention.

Behind him walked Luca. A cold blooded assassin who was loyal to the Maranzano family until death; and who took Jake's lightest commands without question. Luca's eyes travelled everywhere. Unlike his master's, he was focused on every nook and cranny that could hold trackers.. or invisible enemy.

Without any indication that he'd acknowledged the turning up of the 6 loyal disciples, Jake sat down at his designated place, staring coldly at each of them. All the seats were filled except for the lack of one occupant who was missing from the eight power positions as before. And everyone knew who that was.

The woman who sat immediately to his right twirled her champagne flute as she regarded him with hooded eyes.

"The Falcons will be doomed at this rate" she mused at Jake.

Jake merely glanced at her.

"All this time that bitch had been working for the other side and we knew nothing!! We've been played like a pack of cards Maranzano! We are concerned about the way things are being operated" She hissed, slamming down her glass. The others muttered their assent lowering their heads.

They all suddenly jerked up when they heard a sharp sniffle from the woman, who had her eyes wide open and her chest heaving.

"One more word from you I will sink you like a fucking ship you heard me?" Snarled Luca, pressing the gun to the back of her head. She nodded, tight lipped.

"Is that what you all think?" Asked Hyukjae, looking at the shadowy figures who sat all around him, his voice was barely audible, but it carried well across the hall, like a hostile electric wave...

No one dared to speak up.

Jake slammed his fist on the table. It was so loud that the sound reverberated across the room... making everyone jump.

"I asked a fucking question and I expect an answer" said Jake, his voice slow but powerful enough to send fear pounding through their spines.

Hyukjae tried not to grin. It never mattered what they thought of him. What really mattered was what would happen if they ever dared to disobey him... and Jake dearly hoped they knew the risks.

"Il mio signore!!!" Spluttered one disciple, almost throwing himself on the table inorder to plead. "My family will always be loyal to the falcon Circle!"

"Indeed" smirked Jake, examining the glass of vodka that had been placed for him, "or you know where you'll be going"

"So what are we going to do now sir?" asked Choi Tae Joon bowing his head respectfully. He had been the only one who had been gazing silently into the distance.

Jake glanced at him... Choi had been one of his father's most trusted lieutenants. At 65, he looked like an elderly grandfather more than a key member of Falcons. But if anyone had ever really trusted him, it was none other than this old man...

"Our priority is to drag Laverè out of her little hiding place" said Jake, his eyes hardening at the fate awaiting her. "And I will personally deal with her"

There was a collective sharp intake of breath all around him. All except for Mr. Choi who just listened to him with an expressionless face. After a few seconds of staring at Jake, he gave a single curt nod.

"As you all know, my sources confirmed that she had been working towards Cosa Nostra with Ventura since some time back" went on Jake looking at his watch.

"Avian" commanded Hyukjae, standing up, "pull out the files of Ventura"

A plasma screen slid down from the ceiling, stopping in the middle of the table. The screem lit up with a revolving 3D print of Ventura, every detail about him popping up besides the semi transparent image.

"He is one of our side targets" said Jake, pressing his hands on the surface of the table. "Though both of them are intelligent enough to keep out of our radars"

"So how are we going to catch him?" Asked another man who was seated next the woman.

Jake smiled. "He is not that important to us though we are going to draw both Laverè and him out at the same time. I do have something the Laverè is dying to get her hands on"

Everyone looked at him expectantly.

Jake grinned. "The Jade pendant that my grandfather aquired" he said, "it belongs to the Lucianos"

Gasps greeted him from all around.

"But I am against the idea of setting a trap against Laverè" said the man who had spoken before, "this bargain would end up badly on us, you might say Laverè would be caught, but she is a clever tigeress who knows how to hide her claws!"

Jake could literally see the woman next to him tugging his arm to stop the man from talking. She was wearing a desperate look on her face and Jake almost felt pitty for her.

"Very well" he said; and the crowd tensed at this unexpected peaceful reaction from their leader, "lets have a vote on this"

They knew they were trapped.

"Those in favour for master Maranzano's plan?" Barked Luca, glaring at them all.

Slowly, one by one, the disciples placed there gold Falcon token infront of them on the table, voting their loyalty to Jake. They all looked wary, but Choi deftly put out his token, his calm, confident eyes finding Jake's sea grey ones.

Luca glanced at the little gold birds placed across the table. Everybody had voted except for the woman and the man.

"Out voted!" Cried the man jubilently thumping his fist on the table, "you need all the council votes to carry out such a mission!"

Jake merely shrugged, a tentative smile playing on his lips.

"Regrettably, your votes doesn't matter at this council" mused Jake, picking up his glass of vodka, "I just wanted to see who would dare to question me"

There was an audible bang, and the man crashed back on to the table, a thin line of blood trailing from corner of his mouth. Luca calmly reloaded his gun.

Jake turned to the woman who sat stunned next to the fallen man, holding her with a steely gaze.

"I'll give you one chance Kai" whispered Jake, his inherent personality stopping him from ruthlessly shooting down a woman.

Kai bowed her head in shame, placing her small token next to the others.

"With all due respect master Maranzano," said a feeble croak from the other end of the table. Sergei Ivenko smiled at Jake with a very intrested stare.

'A little too intrested' thought Jake, eyeing the elderly man before inclinning his head for the man to go on

"About the Alexi Luciano's son," twittered the old man "Aiden... did you find him?"

Jake was just about to answer when every head at the main table snapped back towards the entrance...

The boy looked extremely wealthy, perhaps matching to Jake Maranzano's own blood status. With his silky brown hair swept to the side, the young boy wore a spotless dark zegna suit. The disciples gazed at his startlingly handsome face in utmost awe, not for once realizing that this had been Jake Maranzano's personal bodyguard.

As he slowly started walking towards them, the boy appeared every bit as confident about his own charm and swagger, while his eyes radiated power and demanded total control. And without realizing, Just like for the leader of the Falcon Circle, the guards started to give way for him to walk closer to the desciples unchallenged.

The whole room which had been silent as a graveyard burst with occasional startled whispers expressing disbelief and sharp intake of breaths among the Falcon commandos, who could no longer deny the ressemblance of this boy to their late General Alexi Luciano. With everyone staring at him as if drawn to an invisible pull, some of the deciples actually stood up to get a good look at him

Hyukaje surveyed the desciples sitting around the table with satisfaction. Sergie Ivenko and Sofia Esteben had their jaws open and was gapping at Donghae. Even Choi Tae Joon looked like he was struggling to believe what he was seeing...

"Dios mio" inhaled Sofia Esteben, clutching a black glowed hand to her chest, "it is him!"

Donghae looked at Jake from the other end of the table

"Count my vote in too Jake" said Donghae in his usual calm voice. And to everyone's utter astonishment, he placed a little gold falcon on the table...

♧

Donghae found his heart trying to burst through his throat as he walked through the path of Falcon commandos. He tried hard not to show that he was scared as he heard what they were whispering about him.

An uneasy feeling tugged him, because this plan could go horribly wrong in a matter of seconds. Donghae saw Luca growling at him from behind Jake; and his heart sank.

Even After two weeks of finding out who he truly was, Jake's attitude towards him hadn't changed much, but there was a definite steely edge to his voice that made Donghae believe that he'd never really forgiven him for the lie. At least.. not yet.

He had been sitting on his bed, having no idea how to face Jake again for the rest of his life... but some part of him was finnaly happy that he was free from the guilt, and he was torn between the two emotions.

Suddenly the door was slammed open by Luca who had strode in purposefully. Donghae gazed at him warily.

"You are wanted by master Maranzano" growled the man, giving Donghae a mild evil glare. "And you will meet him immediately"

With these words, Luca slammed the door with a bang. Donghae pondered for a moment. Luca looked like he'd been arguing with Jake, and it did nothing to help lighten his nerve-knotted stomach.

Jake was in the conference hall when Donghae had finally found him. He was flicking through some files and hardly glanced up as Donghae walked in meekly.

"We need a plan" said Hyukjae, indicating him to sit down. Donghae obeyed this wordless command at once.

"Thanks" he whispered and Jake ignored it.

"I promised Hisui that I'd exchange Tanaka if he handed over the Jade pendant"

Donghae nodded mutedly, it fascinated him to see Jake finally being on speaking terms with him...

"And we also need a plan to wean out Laverè and Ventura" continued Jake as if he was talking to a wall.

"How?" Asked Donghae, his eyes wide as sauces. "Isn't Laverè appearing on the radars?"

Jake shook his head and glanced at his watch.

"I do have a plan" said Jake finally, sounding slightly frustrated, "But Luca thinks its going to be suicidal"

'So that's what they've been arguing about!' Thought Donghae, suddenly glad that he hadn't been anywhere near the scene.

"But I told him only half of it" revealed Jake with a slight smile.

Donghae couldn't help himself, laughter gushed out of him like first sunlight after days of rain

"If he's that mad after hearing only half of your plan, what will he do when he hears the rest of it?" Laughed Donghae, but Jake didn't join in.

He gazed at Donghae, with his bright sea grey-eyes looking conflicted,

"I didn't want Luca killing you" he said Donghae immediately felt alert,

"Believe me" said Donghae quietly, suddenly serious "he tried"

"I know" whispered Jake and Donghae gaped at him... how the hell did he know?

"Don't think I never noticed you looking like a beat up scarecrow" shot Jake raising an eyebrow, "I felt you wincing that day when we-"

"Anyways" brushed Donghae hastily, "what's our plan?"

With a slight smile, Jake waved his hand towards the laptop,

"I hacked into Clara Brown's firewall" said Jake, his fingers running throught the keyboard, "Avian says they're both there"

Donghae suddenly kept his hand over Jake's fingers, stopping him from typing further. For a fraction of a second, the corner of Jake's mouth twitched upwards with a ghost of a smile before promptly looking at Donghae,

"What?"

"Before you destroy their privacy" snapped Donghae, "I need to know the plan Jake"

Jake sighed

"I'm going to talk to Jade. We discuss the place and time for the exchange and I ask him to plant an explosive to the Jade pendant" stoped Jake, looking at him

Donghae could quite clearly see where this was going. He wanted to congratulate Luca on arguing with Jake in the first place...

"And?" He said warily

"And the rest of the plan lies with your willingness"

"You know I'd do anything for you" he didn't realise he'd said it out loud, but he saw Jake's eyes soften for a second

Jake took a deep breath, " I want you to tell everything to Laverè, the loccation, time... that way you can appear loyal to the cosa Nostra and you will be able to control their guards"

"Luca's right" said Donghae getting up, "this is suicide Jake!"

"Thats not for certain" stated Jake, attempting to brush away the risks.

"That is for certain!" Shouted Donghae, he didn't know where his anger bubbled up from, "you don't know how powerful Cosa Nostra is Jake! I've seen it with my own eyes! They listen to Laverè like she's their queen! And my mother loathes the Falcons on top of it!She'll be glad to destroy you for nothing! If you think I care about a stupid Jade pendant over you, think again! Because I'd rather lose a hundred Jade pendants than losing you!"

Jake stared at him. His stormy blue eyes motionless as he processed what Donghae had said... after an awkward pause, in which Donghae had been turning steadily red with embarrassment, Jake sighed an looked away.

"Its the only way donghae" he wispered and Donghae nodded tiredly. He didn't know why he had argued in the first place, Jake always did what he wanted.

"Besides, dont worry" said Jake, "the whole falcon council will get to know who you are by then, I suspect that some of them have already guessed who you really are"

Donghae gulped, how is he going to convince the whole council? And what warrant did he have to win their trust?

Without waiting for his reply, Jake resumed typing away in his laptop...

"I'm gonna send them a prior message through Avian" announced Jake after a few more taps, "hopefully they'll hear it"

"You are evil!" muttered Donghae, shaking his head

'Connection accepted' drawled the smooth tech-y voice of Avian and Jake looked back at Donghae's disapproving face as if to implore that he is being highly ethical about this...

Jake's screen went total black for a second before a glitching image replaced it. A pretty girl was holding a cup of coffee in her hands, and sitting right next to her was Hisui Tanaka himself. Donghae could also see the impish figure of Apollo in a far off corner.

The girl glanced randomly at her laptop and gave a small startled scream, almost spilling the coffee on her dress. Donghae kind of understood the turmoil she was feeling at the moment: how many people found random creepy strangers staring through their laptop screens in the middle of having a peaceful lunch?

Hisui glared through the screen, "Maranzano!!" He yelled, his voice sounding revealed but also defensive at the same time. Apollo came running towards them and hurtled next to Clara on a chair. All three of them crammed together inorder to fit in the frame.

"Missed me?" Smirked Jake, leaning back comfortably on his chair, ignoring the fuming Donghae next to him

"Yes! I-I mean no!" Blurted Apollo but he shut his mouth after receiving a stern stare from Jade.

"I was waiting for you to contact me" said Hisui, scooting closer towards the laptop's webcam. Meanwhile, the girl appeared not very impressed with this way of meeting. She frowned at them all as if thinking 'Men..'

"This is just rude!" She finally said, "and may I ask how the hell you hacked into my laptop Maranzano? Maybe you didn't know that hacking into people's personal devices is considered a very rude thing to do?"

Jake never wavered, infact, he joined the arguing match with equal delight, "And maybe you should've known that having a strong firewall can help protect your environment" he countered smiling, "Maybe no one's ever taught you that"

"It is a matter about ethics!" Snapped Clara

"Which is why I clearly sent you a message before hacking into your laptop"

"Good lord!" Exclaimed Clara throwing up her hands, "what a life saver"

"An ethical one" released Jake evily

Jade, Apollo and Donghae watched helplessly as the other two bickered away. Donghae couldn't believe what he was seeing... since when did Jake started arguing with girls? Apollo looked simply delighted with the drama

"Both of you!" Thundered Hisui finally, "calm down will you?"

"I am calm" came Jake's breezy voice through the speakers making Hisui growl

"Where is my father Maranzano?" Counted Hisui

"Ahh" said Jake with flourish, "thats what I wanted to talk to you about"

"I dont see him anywhere" said Jade sarcastically, raising an eyebrow

"Nor do I see the Jade pendant"

They both glared at eachother, the battle of wills taking place

"So whats your plan then big head?" Asked Hisui fuming and Jake smiled.

"Simple as fuck" said Jake cheerily, "where's Kenz? I need to talk to her"

"Who's Kenz?" Whispered Donghae wapishly, but Jake just gave a casual guilty shrug which suggested a certain history between the two of them

There was a sharp intake of breath from the other end,

"What do you want from Kenz?" Asked Hisui defensively

Out of the corner of the screen, an extremely good looking Japanese girl appeared to be asking Clara about something. Suddenly she noticed Jake and her whole body went rigid,

"Oh.my.god!" She breathed, "Maranzano!"

"Long time no see" acknowledged Jake, slightly bowing his head, "I require your admirable services again"

As if waking up from a dream, Kenz shuddered and met his steel blue eyes with a cold back stare,