The White family has been around for generations, and their business has always been a major player. Their main business is heavy construction equipment and cargo ships, but, like a lot of mafia families, they also have ties to the underground world.
Their "business" is importing illegal drugs on their own ships. They come up with designs for the ships, and then build them to hide a lot of illegal drugs. They're basically the go-to for drug dealers. They've got everyone using their services, and it looks like no one can stop them.
Things were going well for the company. But then their 16-year-old kid was killed in a gang fight over drug sales in the neighborhood.
The loss of their young son was a huge hit for the White family, as Amari was just five at the time. They had to shut down their whole underground operation, and they didn't start dealing drugs again.
His parents always had dinner on the anniversary of his brother's death, and Amari was required to be there. Like tonight, though, he was still pretty shocked by what he got in the company lobby.
His car made it into the main gate and then stopped in the parking lot near the main house. Amari came over and gave the place a brief once-over. His parents got more security after he began receiving a lot of death threats.
"Young master, you've arrived." A maid greeted him and let him into the house. Amari went a short way down the hallway before finally stopping in a room.
His parents were there, smiling big smiles, when he walked in.
"You got started a little later than planned. Was there something that came up?" His Omega father, Jesse, gave him a smile from where he was sitting.
Amari moved to a seat in front of his mom.
"What's wrong?" His mom, Ashleen, looked him straight in the eye.
The maids set out plates of food and put them on the table while the small family talked to each other. They took out each plate and left the dining room. Just the three of them and a couple of guards in the corner were there.
"You're getting something again?" Jesse asked, looking like he had it figured out.
"I got a package at the office, but it wasn't what I thought it was. It was a threat."
Jesse covered his mouth with his hands, and Ashleen shook her head, looking upset. She put her hand on her forehead. They were pretty much in the dark. The reports they'd given to the police didn't reveal anything new.
Ashleen took a look at the letter Amari gave her. She was pretty worried about it.
Amari's been on the warpath ever since he got back from Australia. He moved to Australia after graduating from college and worked for a company not related to his parents. Amari came back two years ago, because his parents asked him to.
He came back to take charge of the company again. The White family was the only one in the know about the preparations. No one outside the family had any idea that Amari was already back and planning to take over the company.
The terror hit first as Amari started making preparations.
"The guns that were here when the party started and the bullets we found at the party yesterday are the same. The Campbell family was the one who manufactured it." Ashleen looked over at Amari, who was now just sitting there.
"Hey Amari, didn't you meet the Dhurudatta family's youngest son at the party?" Jesse asked, turning to Amari and taking his son's hand.
"I know the guns and bullets found were made by the Campbell family, but just because the Dhurudatta family sold them doesn't mean they're after me. Dad, Mom, anyone can be a suspect. It's just that I think they bought the guns from the Dhurudatta family."
Ashleen looked over at Jesse, who was still holding Amari's hand. The two locked eyes, trying to figure out how Amari was trying to make them not suspect the Dhurudatta family. As parents, they knew what was going through Amari's mind.
"You can ask the Dhurudatta family about it next week."
Amari looked at Ashleen and was like, "What's the point?"
"You can talk to him, if you can get access to the names of the people buying the guns they're selling."
"Mom!"
"Amari..." He squeezed Amari's hand and said, "We're just worried. This isn't just a threat anymore. They're really after you after what happened at the party. We can't rely on the police. We need to take action."
That was pretty much the gist of the conversation. His parents couldn't get in touch with the underground anymore because they hadn't been there for a while, and they weren't in communication with them anymore either. They've transitioned their business to solely cargo ships and heavy construction equipment.
It was hard for them to ask for help directly for Amari's protection. They brought in a lot of guards, but Amari wasn't completely safe.
When Amari got to his room, he decided not to go back to his condo. He'd spend the night at his parents' place. It had been ages since he had slept in his own room in this house.
After his older brother passed away, his parents were a little possessive of him. Ever since Amari was a kid, he's had a bunch of guards around him. And because of the threats he's been getting recently, his parents decided to hire even more guards.
He let out a sigh and took his phone out of his pocket again, staring at Joshua's number.
He should reach out to Joshua.
The first threats came with a gun that had the initials "CB". The Campbells and the Dhurudatta family became in-laws when their daughter Sarah Campbell married Cross, the Dhurudatta family's eldest son. They got married because both families wanted to grow their businesses.
"Gruvv's husband also comes from the Sherburne family, and they tied the knot with people who have a lot of influence in this country and foreign countries. That's why there are so many dominant members in their family." Amari muttered and sighed.
Amari jumped when his phone rang and looked at the screen for a long time before picking up.
So you didn't go back to your place, then?
He heard the male voice on the other end of the line, the voice he knew so well.
"Nope, I'm just staying at my parents' place. Are you back?"
Yeah, I bounced from the office early today. I was planning to swing by your place, but my secretary said you hadn't returned home yet.
Amari let out a sigh, and his eyebrows came together, "Hey, you don't even try to hide the fact that you've been stalking me lately."
I wasn't stalking, I just wanted to know where my fiancé was.
"Damn it, stop saying those things."
The man on the other end of the line laughed loudly,
You should've already accepted this relationship. We've already been fiancées for two years. Our two families will be making an official announcement after your ceremony, so keep an eye out for that.
"...."
Amari... I get that you don't have feelings for me, but let's just say you're doing your parents a favor. At the end of the day, this marriage is about both our families.
"Jude, why don't you say no?"
The person on the other end of the line didn't say anything when Amari asked that question, and just chuckled a little.
Just so you know, I'm sticking to my parents' words. After all, we've known each other for so long, I don't mind marrying you. I'd think you'd feel the same way, even though I'm not really your type.
"Never mind, you can come by my house tomorrow night if that works better."
Should I pick you up?
"Nah, you'll make my parents happy if you pick me up from work tomorrow."
The call was cut off when Amari heard his 'fiancee' laughter.
Amari wasn't too keen on the idea of getting engaged, but when he went back to his parents' place two years ago and saw how messed up his parents were, he couldn't really think straight. When his dad asked him to take over the company and his mom said he should get engaged to Jude Fothergill, the only son of the Fothergill family, who own FOTHER PHARMA, he agreed.
Amari knew his folks wouldn't be around much longer. Their illness was so long-lasting that he was able to do this for them after his brother passed away.
But the harder he tries to make everyone happy, the more uncomfortable he gets. After meeting with Joshua, he was absolutely certain that he didn't like Jude. Jude was more like an older brother to him. He had felt this way about Joshua for such a long time, and then he saw him last month. The guy was pretty much the same as he was when they last met.
Amari closed his eyes.
He had no idea that his parents would go out of their way to arrange his life this way. He'd always hoped for some freedom, but his parents basically locked him in a golden cage that he couldn't open, not even from the inside.
"Ah, I'm tired." He murmured.
He covered his eyes with his hands, and he felt like his chest was tight. He didn't want to do anything, and he didn't want to go to work. He wanted to do something else instead of taking over the family business, but he didn't really have a choice.
Amari was still closing his eyes when he heard his phone ringing.
"Jude, you call me so much that I get bored." He muttered as he picked up the call, he pressed the answer button before seeing who was calling.
"Are you ever going to stop calling me?" He asked.
Huh? I just gave you a call because you didn't call me back after I gave you my number.
????
Amari jumped outta bed. He sat up quick and stared at his phone. His eyes were on the screen. He was reading the name 'Joshua Dhurudata'. Shit.