Chapter 116 - A tense phone call

It required half of a minute for Alexandre to realize what was pulling him out of his sleep. That nasty melody that belonged to that particular number. Groaning, he tried to open his eyes, wide enough to see something. The sleep was still weighing heavily on his bones. He leaned sluggishly on his elbows. Automatically his eyes fell on Lily, who had buried herself whimpering under the pillows. Her body was tightly nestled against his. A smile slipped on his lips before he finally found the ringing troublemaker and let himself fall back into the pillow. "Do you know what time it is?!" He mumbled into his cell phone. It was still dark outside. Alexandre's gaze swept to the watch. Suddenly, the vein at his temple began to throb.

"Yes! I thought you would want the information immediately. After all, it's about your wife." Claudio snorted loudly.

Alert, Alexandre sat up and pulled Lily closer. "What's wrong?" He barked and casually stroked a few strands from his groaning wife's face. Her cheek had turned slightly pink, no longer the intense red of the previous evening. Despite the intensive treatment with ointment and coolness, a slight swelling was still visible.

"Are you sitting?" Asked the deep voice from the other side of the line.

"I'm in bed! Other people! Normal people are asleep at this hour!" He heard a muffled laughter resounding through the wire. Alexandre rubbed his face. "What do you want!" He urged him.

At the other end his friend took a deep breath. "Just a moment ago, someone offered a hit for a million dollars. The target is your wife, Lillian de Valois."

"What!" Alexandre gasped for breath. His grip on the phone became tighter, as if he could strangle the responsible persons.

"You heard right. One million dollars bounty was offered for the head of your lovely wife. No one has yet sealed the deal. However, given the sum involved, I'm sure someone will be willing to go along with the deal."

"Merde!" Alexandre cursed. It was hard to swallow. Several other obscene curses burned on his tongue. "Can you find out who put up the bounty?" In a tense mood, Alexandre stepped out of the bedroom and closed the door behind him as quiet as a mouse.

"I thought you'd pay me well. I put some of my men on it. Any guesses?"

"I can think of several!"

"Be prepared that the price may double or triple depending on who is behind it."

Alexandre closed his eyes, rubbing his middle and ring finger across his stiff temples. He had hoped to finally get some rest, but everything became even more complicated.

"Where did you get the information?"

Claudio Morgatti's bitter laughter echoed through the loudspeakers. "My little Caligula was the first one given this job. Who knows who else got the same offer."

"The fact that you call your best man 'my little Caligula' doesn't exactly speak for you."

Laughter rang out next to Alexandre's ear. "He is sometimes worse than a diva. The name is deserved." His voice turned serious again. "Especially the part of Caligula. He's efficient in his job. You better keep your sweetie save. It wasn't easy for me to track her down. I'd really regret it if my work was a pain in the ass from the start."

"Has Caligula accepted the commission?"

Claudio snorted. "You're like a brother to me. The Morgatti Clan will not accept it. I don't know how long the client will keep quiet. There are enough other Mafia clans."

The noose around his neck tightened more and more. He now had the money and the power. But time ran like sand through his fingers. Damn it! He leaned against the door, exhausted. "I see." Alexandre was about to hang up, but paused at his friend's next words.

"I have an offer for you. A special deal for a friend, of course."

"I understand." He vigilantly agreed.

"Good! Caligula is doing very well as a bodyguard. I can testify it. I'll be seeing you." A click. Claudio had hung up. Only the loud beeping of the busy signal was left on the line.