He was also called “The Ogre” by the majority of the city’s populace…

At least, that was the name given to him by those who were aware of the private army he led and operated. Of course, he was also aware that this dreaded nickname of his was due to the constant mispronunciation of his highly feared organization’s name and not because he chose it.

Well, he didn’t mind…

As long as they remained a threat to their enemies and their dreadful reputation remained strong in their territories, then he would keep such a tag. After all, it was the people who had given him that frightening label, and if it worked to him and his men’s advantage, then so be it.

Besides, he would rather have his real name remain a secret.

And speaking of secrets, though it was an “open secret” that his mafia-like band of around 100 or so men was actually owned by the governor himself, there was still no solid evidence or proof that these allegations were true. Due to this, he was considered the leader of this group of untouchables, because they were really yet to be proven truly guilty of any illegal actions.

It was quite simple, really…

If one of their members was caught doing a crime, they were either disavowed by The Argerlich and its members who were called the Argers. And to the death, these men would never speak of their fellow Argers - which many have mistakenly called ogres - since they knew that they would suffer repercussions and these would be on their friends and family. However, if they were worthy of being saved, The Ogre would pull several strings to get them out of their predicament, release them from jail, and be reabsorbed by their organization.

But then again, there was The Assassin who he considered like a brother.

His co-leader's recent death at the hands of his own group mates was their more recent statement and warning to anyone who would go against The Argerlich. It truly helped their reputation that the man they had targeted was actually one of the organization’s superiors.

And now the continuous concern of their highest “sponsor” and biggest “investor” at the loss of his favored Assassin was slowly becoming a problem for The Ogre. To deal with this situation, he had called in favors from his third-party contacts and secret partners to ensure that everything proceeded according to plan.

As a matter of fact, he’s now talking to one of his latest acquired connections over his mobile, while he was patiently waiting in a five-star hotel lounge for another similar contact…

Unfortunately for him, he wasn’t sure if what he was hearing over his phone was good or bad news.

“Yep, your hunch is right. The Detective just passed by here and was asking for The Right Hand’s case file. Said there might be evidence there that can connect the Argers to his death.”

The Ogre’s lips twisted as he pulled on his black suit to keep it looking neat and creaseless. “There really is no need for that. We’ve already paid the police to look the other way since this is an ‘internal problem’ and won’t need to be investigated any further. As a matter of fact, our dear little snitch is the first one to have received his ‘gift’ from the governor himself. It’s got to be a personal mission.”

“Hehe, seems like. And he’s got the money for it, too,” the boyish voice replied from the other end of the call. “He gave quite a huge ‘gift of gratitude’ for his request. Better watch out, Ogre. Looks like your little boy is turning traitor.”

“Well, that can be easily solved by you, I’m sure. After all, what would be the best counter to him but another little boy, too?”

“Haha! Speaking of which, I think I will be giving you more info on your snitch pretty soon. I’ll tell you more when I’m not in the precinct. It’s already risky calling you like this even if I’m alone here in the evidence room but I really like our face-to-face talks.”

“Anytime, boy. Just remember to text me a few days in advance so I can cancel appointments for you,” the Argerlich leader reminded me as he drank fragrant and robust Barako coffee from a gold-trimmed porcelain cup.

“Awww, you’re making me feel sooo important, Ogre. Bad move, hehe! Kidding… see you soon!”

“Yes, see you, and thanks. Expect a bonus from me later.”

“Damn, you guys are spoiling me,” the caller said while clicking his tongue. “But I ain’t saying no, haha! Later, there’s someone about to enter the room.”

The phone call abruptly ended. The call’s recipient put away his hi-tech phone inside his suit’s inner chest pocket, just as another broad-shouldered man in an expensive dark blue suit took his seat at the opposite end of the classy circular cafe table.

“Was that who I think it is?” asked the dirty blond newcomer as he rubbed his thinly bearded face with his hand.

“No, brother, it’s not. He doesn’t call me; I call him but only after we’ve exchanged text messages. Don’t worry, he’s safe. And I’m glad you didn’t arrive too late for our meeting.”

“Yeah, good thing I used the company helicopter. I think I’m replacing my limo with that in the near future, especially if the traffic doesn’t improve in this city. I can’t imagine how we will manage to travel here from our place regularly when we set up our branch here,” the new arrival said, while a waiter instantly served him the compulsory coffee in a China cup that’s automatically offered to anyone who sat at the massive hotel lounge.

“Well, it’s a comfort to know that we aren’t the biggest problem in the metropolis. Traffic is still number one in the latest survey while The Argerlich is not even mentioned in the top twenty.” The Ogre chuckled as he continued to drink from his coffee cup.

“Maybe it’s rigged by your precious sponsor,” the blond businessman answered while stirring his java with the stainless-steel spoon that the Ogre had requested the hotel to replace their normal silverware with even before he was seated.

“Hmmm… that never occurred to me. But at the rate that man is getting involved with his territories, I wouldn’t put it past him.”

“I agree. I’m just glad he approved our business license to operate here. Seems like he had already forgiven my father for turning down his request years ago when he was still living up in the mountains.”

“Forgiven, yes. Forgotten, most likely not. Knowing how he operates; he probably knows that you’re the head of the company now and not your father. Expect to be approached any time soon about a request. Do take his ‘suggestions’ with a grain of salt.”

“I’ll negotiate if it’s too extreme. After all, it’s required that we set up shop here in your area for our plans to work,” the dirty blond contact said as he finally drank his coffee.

“Yes, and in the end, that’s what’s truly important at this point, or we might lose the people we consider important in our lives. And I’m not willing to risk that. I’ve stopped him before without being found out. Twice with two people I treasure. I’m not risking any more beyond them.”

The newcomer paused a bit, a lump in his throat swiftly forming at the words “two people” and it took him a while to finally respond…

“I just want to tell you, bro, how grateful we are that you helped HIM. We are in debt to you for that.”

“He’s still not safe, though. However, it would help a lot if the WE you’re mentioning included your father.”

The blue-eyed one with the matching blue suit stayed silent. It wasn’t the answer the dark-haired man with the matching black suit wanted to receive.

“He still has issues with his youngest son, I see?” The Ogre said in a low voice.

“As far as my father is concerned, his second son is dead. When I said ‘we’, it would mean me and my wife. And I believe my brother is still contacting her, but she’s not confirming nor denying this.”

“Well, considering what happened back then when he left you all, I can’t blame her, but no worries. You can easily get your updates about him from me. And that’s another thing we need to talk about in detail. Because if we play this right, him being there will be a double-edged sword that we can use against his former boss.”

“Alright, let me hear your proposals. I’m all ears…” the business owner and eldest brother replied with a determined look and firm nod. “Especially since there are more precious lives that we need to protect now.”

The dark brown eyes of the Arger leader clouded for a moment as he suddenly remembered his mate, laughing joyously as she was playing with two lovely children at a backyard garden in a faraway place. His jaw tightened and his teeth clenched at the thought of them in any kind of danger.

“Yes, we need to be very sure of our plans, brother... for their sake.”

+++

“Diwa, this mushroom soup is great!” one of the guys around her, spoon in his mouth, told her, complimenting her food that definitely deserved it.

“The pastries are perfect, Di, I love them,” another one said, his face full of crumbles.

From one of her sides, Eron looked at her dreamily, feeling even more proud than if he had made an achievement himself. And he wasn’t fully conscious of what he was feeling, or noticing how he was lost looking at her.

“I can’t believe how good this pasta smells, Miss Di,” one of the younger workers said. “I can barely stop myself from eating it now instead of at lunch! So tempting!”

Meanwhile, Jack thought and wondered what had happened today with the craziest of the guys that worked for him.

“Where the hell did this man go, seriously? In the two years that he has been supervisor here, he has been late twice, and both times he at least texted me.”

“Hey, Jack, why so serious? What happened?” Eron asked, seeing the worry on his boss’s face.

The foreman’s attention was taken abruptly from his thoughts again. He then intently looked at the former city boy, who was chomping on a coconut caramel rice cake.

“I was just thinking… that you’re my man!” Jack replied joyfully while still staring at Eron and putting an arm around his new hire’s shoulders.

“Bro…” Eron laughed. “First the thing about staying with you, and now you’re saying I’m your man? Haven’t I told you that you’re not my type already?” he joked while chuckling.

“Is it possible that you stop your mind from misinterpreting everything that I say in THAT way?” Jack said with a short guffaw. “What the heck! Seriously, you need a girlfriend, bro, and I hope you get one soon!”

Eron’s thoughts: “Yeah, sure… my mind? Bro, I really still think that, since yesterday, you’re trying to get me hooked up on something that’s more than what I signed for! Ok, I better hear him out now since he’s already explaining what he meant…”

“Anyway, listen, there’s one of the guys that apparently didn’t come to work, so I will need you to work on the first sawmill today, instead of out here. Do you think you could cover for him? It’s easy work, you just need to be focused and careful. I’ll teach you how to use the tool, I mean machine… and, if you’re not comfortable with it, I’ll have you change positions,” Jack said innocently, while Eron tried not to laugh at all he said.

“Damn… teach me to use the ‘tool’? Change positions? And then I’m the one who’s taking things the wrong way? Sheesh…” Eron said to himself.

However, he easily answered “Yes, boss,” aloud and with a sardonic smile.

“Ok, follow me. I’ll show you where you’ll work today,” Jack replied as he started walking towards a large piece of machinery at one corner of the open space.

Diwana was still surrounded by buyers, but even as busy as she was, she suddenly felt that something - or someone - was missing from around her when he left.

Eron could just look back for a moment, feeling as if she was searching for him, and then follow his boss.

“Don’t worry, Eron, she’s busy and will not even notice… after all, what are you so worried about?” he tried to convince himself while walking right behind Jack. “Luckily, it’s not that far. I can even see her from here if I want to… And oh, I do want to.”

Eron kept his mind trained on her, thinking of her, and then scolding himself. His focus would then, unconsciously, go back to looking at her, and focusing on her, and then yelling at himself to stop it because he couldn’t have her, and she deserved better…

“So you see, it’s pretty easy. What you need is just to be very careful, like I said before. Understand, Eron? Eron?”

“Understood, boss,” Eron answered distractedly, as he looked at the “tool” his boss was showing him. It was actually a large machine that had a glass and metal booth with a long platform with trenches on it and a large circular saw in the middle.

“What is it with everybody today? He was very attentive to me when I was giving instructions to him yesterday but now… Damn, suddenly I feel like I woke up in a different reality…” Jack whispered to himself.

“Pardon me?” Eron said, finally looking back at Jack. “So uh… can you run by that last thing you told me again?”

“Oh, hello! Well, I was talking to myself, so it’s really funny that you are paying attention now…”

Jack repeated his whole instructional speech just to be sure Eron got it all by the end of it. By the way, the newbie was touching the panel, knobs, and rods, he knew the guy had already understood everything he heard.

“Anyway, give it a try, and see if you’re comfortable,” Jack said as he ended his talk. “Remember that those control handles are kinda hard, so you need to push and pull with a little more force than usual. Give it a good thrust to get it into position, but be sure to handle everything with care…”

“Daaaaamn… the things he’s saying… Maybe I really do need a girlfriend,” Eron thought with a smirk that his boss understood, and just let go…

“How can this guy have such a dirty mind? Are all the people from where he used to live and work in so lusty? Damn bro, and this is at work, too! I’m sorry for your hand, but maybe you had a lot of willing females to ‘relieve’ you of your heat,” Jack thought, trying to remain serious while supervising Eron’s work.

The Charmer carefully pulled the handle, activating the machine that started with a whirring noise. Then, slowly, he pulled another lever that would get the machine to pass and push the larger pieces of wood loaded on its upper levels through the marked lines so it gets sawed off into the right sizes.

Jack looked happily at his new employee, who seemed to be able to do whatever he asked of him. Well, as long as he wasn’t distracted from looking at a certain busty and tanned lady at the other end of the area.

“Good work, bro. I’ll leave you at that. Just be careful and stay alert, ok? And again, if you need anything, just let me know.”

“Thanks for the trust, man. I’ll do my best. And yeah, will be careful too,” Eron said with a smile and a short wave.

The former assassin was so thankful that he had mastered the skill of mimicking his mentors. All he needed was to be taught only once with a short demo and he’d swiftly and perfectly learn what he had to do.

His memory was one of the skills that was first honed in his pack life. Afterward, his assassin assignments had polished his expertise even more. He continuously improved on this skill to this day, making it difficult for him to miss any important detail and info.

He even joked that his memory was so neatly organized that they were in mental boxes with labels on them. Due to this, it was easy for him to retrieve from these storage bins whatever information he had seen, heard, done, or passed through any of his senses.

And Eron found this skill very useful now when he’s trying to start a new life doing a job that he’s never done before.

Meanwhile, Mad Max, who was still in hiding, angrily looked at Diwana. The way she seemed so comfortable and happy just the day he wasn’t openly around was getting on his nerves.

“I’m sure she knows that I’m always taking care of her, even if she hasn’t come forward and told me about her feelings… Argh, those games of hers that I can’t understand! Anyway, the pretty boy doesn’t know what is coming his way. You’ve been warned, ‘bro’ so this is all on you…” Max whispered from his secret hiding place.

From the sawmill’s glass cubby, Eron had been smelling the dead squirrel’s creeper stink even from the time when Diwa and he left his campsite. He knew Mad Max meant trouble and was planning to do something against him. Why would the bully even go near his camp in the first place, if it wasn’t due to that?

However, our new lumberjack star was soon completely focused on his work and was now expertly flipping the rods and levers of the sawmill. It was then that he noticed “the mad one” walking towards him and getting closer.

What Eron didn’t see was how Max had taken a piece of hard rock, just big enough to fit his hand, before the lumberyard team leader started walking up to the sawmill…