Chapter 100: The Trap Is Set
There was a knock on the door, startling him out of his thoughts. He shouldn\'t have been caught off guard like that. He should always be alert, even in his own domain. He listened for a heartbeat. Finding one, he quickly called up his chameleon, layering a dark brown over his eyes. "Come in." He commanded.
The door creaked open, and Garth, Malachi\'s trusted proxy, stepped inside. His face was tight with tension, his usual confident demeanor overshadowed by the weight of whatever news he was bringing. Whatever ot was, it wasn\'t good. He walked briskly to the desk, pausing a moment to collect his thoughts.
"Malachi," Garth began, his voice low and urgent, "we have a situation."
Malachi looked up, his deep voice resonating in the stillness of the room. "What is it, Garth?"
Garth took a deep breath, his eyes locking with Malachi\'s. "Ezra, the boogeyman, approached me. He made an offer for the Red Orphans. He\'s making a final push. He wants control of the gang and gave me an ultimatum. Hand it over, or face the consequences."
Malachi\'s expression lightened up and he began to laugh. Garth watched in confusion. Who knew that the man he was looking to kill would present himself to him. Heastered himself quickly and his face darkened, his gaze growing more intense. "And what did you tell him?"
"I told him I\'d consider it," Garth replied quickly, "but I knew you\'d want to handle this yourself. He\'s too confident, Malachi. He thinks he can just walk in and take what\'s ours."
Malachi\'s lips curled into a sinister smile, his mind already racing with possibilities. "Good. We can use his arrogance against him. This is our chance to eliminate him once and for all."
Garth nodded, a sense of relief evident in his stance. "What\'s the plan, boss?"
Malachi leaned back, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk as he considered their options. "We\'ll set a trap. Make it seem like you\'re willing to negotiate. When he shows up, we\'ll ambush him."
Garth listened intently. "Where should we do it?"
Malachi\'s eyes glinted with a calculating gleam. "The old docks. It\'s isolated, and we can control the environment. Make sure our best fighters are in position. We need to cover all possible exits. Ezra won\'t know what hit him."
Garth\'s mind raced with logistics, mapping out the steps they needed to take. "I\'ll get on it right away. We\'ll be ready."
Malachi stood, his short stature belied by the power he exuded. His voice, deep and commanding, filled the room. "This is our chance to rid ourselves of a significant threat. Ensure everything is in place. Failure is not an option. Send in my assistant."
As Garth left to execute the plan, Malachi felt a sense of satisfaction. The thought of outmaneuvering Ezra and securing their position brought a rare smile to his face. He knew Ezra was powerful, made strong by the relic, but overconfidence could be his downfall.
His wife walked in. "You called for me?" She asked, smiling at him.
"Get ready." He told her. "I\'ll be needing your sound dampening tonight."
Malachi spent the next hour meticulously planning the ambush, considering every possible variable. Through Garth, he instructed his top lieutenants, ensuring they understood the importance of their roles.
The old docks, with their maze of warehouses and narrow alleyways, provided the perfect setting for their trap. Malachi visualized the encounter, every move and counter-move, ensuring there would be no room for error. Not when Count Solomon was counting on him.
Later that night, Malachi stood, hidden, on the rooftop of one of the warehouses, overlooking the docks. The moon cast a silvery glow over the water, and the distant sounds of the city seemed muted, as if the world held its breath for what was to come. He could see his men taking their positions, shadows flitting from building to building, securing the perimeter.
His wives were in place, their power blanketing the place, unnoted by the human grunts.
Garth approached him quietly, his presence almost a whisper against the backdrop of the night. "Everything is set, Malachi. Our men are in place, and all exits are covered."
Malachi nodded, his eyes never leaving the scene below. "Good. Ezra will come thinking he has the upper hand. Let\'s make sure he leaves knowing he was wrong."
As the night deepened, the docks grew eerily silent. Malachi\'s confidence in his plan grew with each passing minute. He had faced many enemies, but Ezra was different. Cunning, powerful, and dangerous. But tonight, Malachi was determined to prove that even the Boogeyman could be brought down.
The sound of footsteps echoed faintly, drawing Malachi\'s attention. He peered into the darkness, spotting a lone figure approaching. Ezra moved with a vampire\'s predatory grace, his dark coat billowing slightly in the wind. Malachi felt a surge of adrenaline. The moment of truth had arrived.
He watched as Ezra approached the designated meeting spot, his movements cautious yet confident. Garth stood waiting, playing his part to perfection. Malachi could feel the tension in the air, the anticipation of the imminent clash.
As Ezra reached the center of the docks, Malachi gave the signal. His men moved in, their presence revealed by the sudden flurry of activity. Ezra reacted instantly, his instincts sharp, but Malachi was ready for him.
The trap was sprung, and the ambush began. He walked forward to meet Ezra. "Ezra, you should have known better than to come here alone."