Chapter 26 (His little prey)

                                    

                                          
Leila stared at the enormous and gorgeous mansion that stood proudly in front of her eyes. She looked towards her brothers just to be sure that it was a right destination and judging the casual,  blank looks on their faces, it seemed they didn't make mistake in the address. 
"Let's get going and get the fuck over it." Surprisingly, it was Vincent who murmured this under his breath. It came out as a little surprise for her. He usually preferred not to curse.
As soon as they stepped inside the 'familiar yet unfamiliar' boundary, they were under the watchful yet weary eye of the guards and security. 
Leila like always was hidden between the invisible walls of her brothers.
As they entered through the front door, the oldest members of King family, Gilbert and Helena appeared in front of them, in a thin air.
Gilbert looked emotionless like always.. His facial expressions were more rough and filled with extra arrogance, but Helena's presumably sweet smile on her face showed nothing like 'sweetness'.
Leila noticed that her oldest brother showed a mere twitch of his brow as Gilbert and him shook hands. Well they said; fake it till you make it.
"Oh my dears. We welcome you in our home. I hope you all didn't feel any problem arriving here." Helena's honey like tone chimed in.
Leila barely held herself from cringing as her eyes made contact with her, if anything, her eyes just bore into her with a superiority of massive age-difference between them.
She grinned, showing her sparkly teeth.
"Aish! A new look. You look absolutely hot." She said, moving forward and breaking through her brothers' invisible protective walls.
Helena stood in front of her, still grinning like a cherish cat.
"You don't seem like failing everyone's expectations, judging the way you are growing up so perfectly." She put her hands on Leila's shoulders and gave them a small squeeze.
"Let's head inside. The party's about to get started."
Leila wasn't surprised to find Silas family present there. But only Aurelio, Jennet and Ace were present.
Ace although showed no special interest in conversation between their family but Jennet kept trying to talk to her in a sweet and motherly way.
Although, her attempts felt pretty much real unlike Helena.
As the Silas family's patriarch's eyes fell on Leila for the first time in this evening, he sent a warm smile in her direction which automatically managed to calm most of her nerves.
And, apparently the couple were her god-parents. Maybe that's the reason, she was feeling slight ease in their company.
Leila noticed that her brothers had parted off from the whole group to group of two's and three's.
Xavier, Carlo and Leila stayed with Silas family while Angelo, Vincent and Luciano went together to venture off for some reason. It was surprising, since Angelo always stuck with Leila but today it was different.
Anthony and Zach, 'the trouble duo' vanished in some second. She had somewhat idea that they were still present here but in some unseen part of the hall.
Leila refused to take any drinks offered and just silently listened to Jennet's talk who was telling her about her mother.
She had vast collection of pictures with Leila's mother and it included the pictures of everyone growing up starting from Xavier. She was inviting Leila to stop by their residence someday.
Before Leila could say anything in return, Gilbert's voice in speakers cut through.
He was standing on a stage and holding a microphone in his hand.
He welcomed the guests, surprisingly, in a humble tone. In the next second, he announced that he was stepping down. It arose a loud protest from the guests but even Leila, the most oblivious person present there could tell they were faking it.
It was totally normal for him to step down at his age but they were probably trained to make it a big deal. Leila shook her head, people were just so fake.
Then her eyes, for the first time in this evening, met Alexander. They made eye-contact for a mere second and she could see a flicker of surprise in his eyes at the change in her appearance.
But he wise-fully looked away as he felt Carlo's eyes boring into his soul with somewhat threatening intent.
Then Gilbert announced that the next in line, Francesco was going to lead his family and business. 
For the first time in this party, Leila looked at Francesco when he stepped up on the stage, standing beside his father with same towering height.
Leila couldn't help but feel like he had undergone some massive change since the time she saw him at Jones's party.
His whole appearance looked rugged. His eyes were much colder and sharper. His father wasn't joking when he said that Francesco was trained enough to lead.
Next Francesco took the microphone, appreciating everyone's support. But he sounded rather cold and harsh.. He didn't intend to but it was his new personality trait.
Leila stiffened not only her but also Angelo who joined her in some early minute, tensed slightly beside her as Francesco mentioned their family's name.
He spoke about 'peace'. Something that the both families avoided since a long time. Leila couldn't judge Gilbert and her brothers' expressions at this. It was hard to tell what they were thinking under their emotionless facades.
A moment later, he left his audience in stilled silence with a loud proclaim of peace treaty. He wanted to have a talk with Xavier in private about this matter. Eyes fell over the respective person. Xavier nodded, earning a slight twitch of Francesco's lips as it curled up for a faint second.
Next Carlo, Xavier, the King family, Ace and Aurelio went to some private area for the meeting that was announced suddenly.
Three hours, complete three hours later, they came back. The guests were waiting anxiously. Even Leila was on alert. She relaxed a little when Francesco announced the good news. 
The peace offering worked actually.
Leila blinked as Xavier and him shook hands in front of everyone, sealing their words and deal.
"Geez. I just hope that this is a good idea." She heard Zach muttering something like these words under his breath.
Alexander stared at Leila from the shadows. A menacing grin formed on his lips as he made eye-contact with Francesco. Francesco offered no kind of smile in return but Alexander knew better.
From inside, his older brother just like his whole family must be throwing another party.
The first step was complete and successful. His first step in the ambition to destroy the whole Lambordi family. Especially, his favorite prey, Leila Lambordi.