Chapter 5. Lord Ercole is back!

CHAPTER 5.

LORD ERCOLE IS BACK.

Luca narrowed his eyes as he wondered what someone as wealthy as George was doing. The old man wasn't just kneeling; tears of joy were also cascading down his cheeks, leaving wet trails on his face.

He blinked his eyes continuously as he tried to figure out what was happening. Why was the man who had just tried to throw him out of his residence now kneeling and calling him lord? Was he psychotic or perhaps suffering from some tumor problem and his medication wasn't close by?

"Lord, welcome back home. We have all been waiting for you for over a decade. I am blessed to be in your presence at this moment," George said. Luca's eyes widened at how someone as wealthy as George knew him.

He realized that something wasn't right. Something about his past wasn't right. No one was willing to explain his childhood days to him or how he ended up in the orphanage when he was barely twelve years old. Every time he asked, they gave him the same lame answer over and over again. And he didn't remember anything either; it seemed like he had lost all of his memory.

"Where have you been all this time?" George rose from the floor, his face filled with smiles.

"For the past twenty years, we have been looking for you. We have raided everywhere in search of you, Lord Ercole! I never would have dreamt that I would meet you today. Finally, I have found the successor of Ercole!" George grabbed one of Luca's arms possessively before asking, "You must be the former Ercole's son. Did your father tell you about us?"

Luca raised his skeptical eyebrows, wondering who the "us" George was referring to. He gulped and asked with a confused stare, "Did you just say I have a father?"

"Of course you do. Your father was our master, Lord Ercole of the Viceroys mafia group," George explained, deepening Luca's confusion.

Luca furrowed his brows, trying to make sense of the jumbled thoughts in his mind. He scratched his head perplexedly, and George quickly noticed. He stood up and walked over to one of the cupboards while Luca sat there, watching him search for God knows what.

After a few moments, George emerged with an old album of photos. He looked at Luca and instructed, "Son, come forward. So, no one told you about your roots or who your father was?"

Luca nodded dismissively.

"Your father, Rio, is the leader of the Viceroy mafia group. It was founded by myself, your father Rio, and Angelo, along with one of the biggest business empires named Marco Empire. It was named after your father because he was the backbone, and he lifted us all up from the hood. Spanning over four decades, Marco has soared to stardom! We have been waiting for you to come and take over it." George flipped the album cover and cleared his throat.

"That's Rio Marco!" He pointed at one photo. Luca looked at the picture for a few moments. The man was indeed his father. He was wearing the exact same necklace and pendant that Luca was now wearing. He looked so much like him, with the dark hazel eyes, straight hairline, and a visibly toned physique.

George's expression turned grim. "There is a spy inside the Viceroy mafia group, and I'm sorry it took your father's life. It was all my fault," he blamed himself as he wiped away his tears. "If only that bitch didn't try to cut off my dick, Lord Ercole wouldn't have come out of the house!"

Luca didn't understand what he was saying. Instead, he immersed himself in the album. From all the pictures, he could easily recognize George. He hadn't changed much since then, but one thing was missing in all of these... his mother!

"Where's my mother?" he asked, raising his eyebrows, curious about George's answer.

George drew nearer to him, and his voice lowered. "I'm sorry, but your mother died trying to save you after the attack on your dad. She sacrificed her life for you.”

Luca gnashed his teeth angrily upon hearing that his mother had died trying to save him. Now he couldn't remember anything. Was it the shock? Or perhaps he wasn't the person George thought he was?

"Where have you been all these years?" George asked coldly.

"I was told that I was dumped in an orphanage inside a bag that they had to burn to open, and that they knew nothing about my roots. I had to work my way to feed myself after I left there," Luca answered, pain evident in his eyes.

"That's over now. I'll have to inform Edmund about this. Everyone would be very excited to have you back!" George rose and made his way to get his phone, but Luca interrupted quickly. "Who is Edmund?"

"Yes, Edmund is the eldest son of Angelo, who also died a few years after your dad died. Edmund took over when we couldn't find you, but now that you're here, he will step down so you can take your rightful position as the boss of the Viceroy mafia group and heir to the Marco Empire!" George explained with a faint smile.

Luca's mind was filled with thoughts. Didn't George just say there was a spy who had snitched and killed his father? And for over a decade now, they still hadn't been able to catch the spy, which simply implies that the spy could be anybody and would be ready to kill him. Of course, he was the offspring of his former target.

"I don't want to see Edmund," Luca said plainly, making George flash him a surprised look.

"Why?" 

"The spy is still lurking around, and he will surely strike once I ascend as Lord Ercole. Keep my identity a secret until the spy is fished out," he explained.

"Good idea!" George supported happily. "That sounds less risky since Edmund is also being watched 24/7. If you see him, you'll be implicated."

Luca heaved a deep sigh, as if a heavy burden had just been lifted off his chest. He needed time to think it all over. From being a mafia lord to also being an heir to the richest empire with the most successful conglomerates in the world. He stared blankly at the table for a few moments before turning to George.

"What if Edmund is the spy?" His words struck George with surprise, and his facial expression said it all. He didn't expect such words from Ercole.

He quickly cautioned, "No, Ercole, Edmund can't be. He has been holding it down and risking his life for you for over ten years now!"

Luca wasn't pleased. From the name alone, he just didn't like whoever it would be, and most of his nightmares were about brothers snitching on each other. Maybe his mind was getting clouded with it. Luca's whole body vibrated with anger as he thought about who could have aided in his parents' death.

George stood up and moved to his locker room. A few moments later, he returned and placed a plain paper in front of Luca. This made Luca furrow his brows and raise them curiously. "What is this?”

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