Love Wins Over Lust novel Chapter 15

"This is your first meeting as the boss of the Vancouver crime family to the mafia commission, Liam. Show everyone on the table that you are better than every single one of them. The chair of head of the commission will be yours, it will add another feather in your crown apart from being the youngest mafia boss of all time."

Liam nodded at his father and wore the ring that represents his designation now, the same rings his father used to wear as the boss. But now their designations have changed.

"Thomas? Is he coming to the commission?" He didn't want Thomas to come but knew the man enough to make a wild guess about his thoughts, he would attend the meeting to show that the Churchill crime family was still stronger than the other families.

Ryan shook his head. "That's your biggest test today, son. You have to show everyone on that table that you stand beside Thomas in his tough time. Thomas will not let anyone see Churchill as a weak counterpart. No, he will show strength and you have to support him. If you have two more families with you the chair will be yours. I have talked to the other two families, they will agree to your chairmanship but of course, they would want some kind of favour in return. I am only worried about Joel West. The man was not less than a Chamaeleon who changed its colour wherever he saw its benefit. Ethan's power and position have kept things right but the man, I don't trust him, Ethan never trusted him. In the last meeting when he shared Juan's location but Ethan returned empty-handed."

Liam nodded. He was aware of the greediness of Joel West, his father was right, the man could not be trusted even on his deathbed. "I know how to handle Chameleons Dad."

Ryan smiled proudly. "I know you will," he said, patting his son's hand. "Thomas is worried about Aurora if he asks to meet her…"

Liam raised his hand, stopping his father from talking any further. "She is now my wife, my concern. Business is one thing but I will not allow anyone and that includes you to interfere in my marriage, father." He said in a tone that reflected the precise hints of warning. A Clean and clear warning!

Liam once again nodded at his father and walked out of the office, his brother Ralph following him.

"Getting the chair will not be as easy as father believed it to be, everyone knows about the attack on our ships. It's getting dirty day after day."

Liam knew that every word from his brother's mouth was true. Things are not a piece of cake anymore. The attack on Ethan Knight had changed a lot of things.

"I know how to stand out of the dirt, Ralph. I just do not want Thomas to attend the commission."

Ralph glanced at his brother "because of Aurora?"

He didn't bother with a reply and settled inside the car with Ralph. The ride was in utter silence, neither Liam said a word during the ride nor Ralph.

It took them around an hour to reach the destination of the commission meeting. The three mafia heads had already arrived when Liam reached there and took his seat, his brother stood behind him, eyeing three heads Joel West, Kanye Brown and Cody Nixon with a hint of doubt. Ralph Knight believes in the saying of 'precautions is better than cure.' He eyes the

"Congratulations on your marriage to Ethan's daughter, Mr Knight," Kanye Brown said, Liam understood him. He might be the boss of a crime family but he was a businessman who didn't believe in spreading blood unless he needed to show power for his hidden greed.

The man was twisted but didn't show it. He would support Liam. He could see it in his eyes but what he would demand in exchange for it, that was the major question.

Thomas entered the meeting wearing a formal suit just like everyone but with a hat, the two guards stood behind him. Liam nodded at Thomas acknowledging him with respect as they were not only the counterparts to each other but relatives too even though Liam didn't want him here but still, he had to present a show.

"We heard about the attack on Ethan, it shows no one is safe anymore. Ethan was not easy to kill but now that he is no…"

Thomas raised his finger to stop Joel, "my boss is still very much alive and waiting for his return. It's not easy to kill Ethan Knight. I think you know that Joel!" Thomas challenged him and then looked at the other four family heads with a look of authority as the chair of commission head was under Churchill since last year.

"It's time to choose the new head of the commission. We don't want the trade to suffer, the routes to import and export goods are getting costly, it's not easy to control the authorities anymore. We have to stand united, not as the divided mafia heads but as a unified Mafia force."

"I agree and that's why I declare myself as one of the candidates for the chairmanship of the commission," Joel West said. "Anyone who wants to fight me for the chair?"

Liam fisted his hand. He was right, the chameleon changed his colour once again. "You don't have to look at others, Joel. I am sitting in front of you."

Joel raised his brows. "You?" He chuckled at that. "Grow up first, son."

Liam knight raised his eyes and settled them on his. "This talk shows who needs to grow up, Joel. I am not here to play a kids game," he glanced at other members. "I declare myself as one of the candidates for the head of this commission."

There was complete silence on the commission table, the members were looking at one another, every single one of them was aware that the meeting could be turned into a bloody meeting.

The guards standing behind their bosses tensed. Ralph was on high alert too, he was ready to pull out his gun even at the slightest movement.

"We will choose the next head but first as the representative of the current head, Ethan Knight, I need information," Thomas deliberately glanced at Joel, "and I don't want any buffer information this time which questions the credibility of a man's message because in our world. The words matter more than the life of man," he said looking at Joel.

Joel became defensive. "I shared the information I had, if it was false then not my fault, Friend!"

Thomas nodded. "One should check the details before sharing it with another," he turned his eyes to the other members. "Liam and my source have information that Juan and the Masked man are working closely, together. They are showing their strength. We need to show them our strength."

He said in a sharp and authoritative voice, "The outsiders want to take our territories from us. Churchill had joined hands with Vancouver to discard them from our territories. We have united not only professionally but personally too and in this commission, as per the orders of my boss, Ethan Knight, I support Liam Knight for the chair of this Commission head."

Liam was impressed by the strong words of Thomas. He eyed Kanye Brown, the man who was assessing the whole situation in his mind. Pros and Cons of choosing Liam over Joel. "I support Liam Knight."

All eyes were set on Cody Nixon, his vote was going to decide the next head of the commission. Liam smirked inwardly. Cody would never cross him because he knew if he did it, his trade routes would be having trouble.

According to the rules of the commission, the defeated party couldn't take out its aggression over the others, that's the rule of this commission. If he favoured Joel over him, Liam wouldn't show it but he was going to trouble Cody, even if he had hoax attacks on him.

Cody inhaled sharply before raising his hand in the air. "I support Liam Knight."

Joel slapped the table hard. "This man has connections with the outsiders, he works with the Russians. How can you choose a man who works opposite to the rules of this commission? It's nothing but a mockery to this chair."

Liam sharpened his gaze. "I do but that Russian would never interfere in my territory, we do business with other Mafia heads in the world too, Joel. Business is one thing but getting involved in the territory is another. That Russian is aware of his boundaries," he said in a composed tone, telling Joel without raising his voice that he was the boss now.

Kanye and Cody were assessing Liam. They might have supported him but if it came to choosing between their necks and Liam, they would choose their necks anytime. Planned murders were common, after all.

Liam stood up and went to the seat on which Thomas was sitting upon. Thomas understood what he was asking him to do, he nodded and stood up, giving his chair to Liam. Today, Liam knight got what he wanted, for what he did all the drama of a lover boy.

Liam Knight had the reign of the Canadian Mafia in his hands and he was going to rule over it, till the end of his life. He was not going to give up the chair of the head in the near future, the rules of the commission could go to hell. It was his chair now. "The chair is mine now. I know the responsibilities as the head but first I need support in cleaning out Mexicans and the Masked man from our territory. The business will grow but no outsider will enter our streets again."

Joel eyed the other members, he knew that using violence now was not the solution. But he was going to make Liam Knight pay for it. He would never accept a thirty-year-old newcomer to rule over his head. He screwed the rules of the commission which they all started twenty years ago and now, he was not going to let Liam rule over it even if he had to send him to hell for that. He would do that.

Joel nodded. "I accept your chairmanship. It is after all a fight against the outsiders. We are the Canadian mafia and only we have the right to rule over your territory."

The next two hours were spent in discussing the details of the information regarding the Mexicans. Liam was once again disappointed with the information he received, which was none!

Once the meeting was over and other members left, Thomas came to Liam. "How is Aurora doing?" He asked casually, but Liam could read the warning in his tone. He was trying to read his expression. "She is doing good."

Thomas nodded. "I have not talked to her, only chatted through messages. She didn't seem fine to me. I hope you are taking care of her."

Liam frowned. "Thomas, it's my marriage, she is my wife now and according to the deal, not Ethan nor you will interfere in my marriage. I know how to handle my married life and my wife."

"The marriage happened under different circumstances. It's normal for me to feel protective towards my niece."

"There is no need to feel like that, I am enough for her to be protective. You should be focusing on Juan, not on Aurora."

Thomas fisted his hands. "Don't worry about Juan. He will be dead soon," he gritted and then glanced into Liam's eyes. "Take care of Aurora. Tell her I will call her, it's been a week I have not heard her voice."

"I would rather you don't call her Thomas. I am trying to distract her mind from her father. That's the only reason I didn't allow her to call anyone and kept her busy with our marital bliss."

Thomas knew that what Liam was saying was true but he wanted to talk to her. There was no time for him to meet her, it was not safe yet. Not when he could be dead anytime. The war with Mexicans had taken a savage turnover now. Thomas nodded at Liam before walking away with his men.

Liam gritted his jaw in anger. "Fucking mess!" But then he calmed when a thought came to his mind. "Let's see how much you want my love, Aurora. It's your test tonight!"