Pretending to Be an Untouchable Crime Boss-Chapter 26: Next Move.

As the car turned into the driveway, James was immediately taken aback by the security.

He had instructed them to double the guards, but what he saw was far beyond that.

Vehicles blocked the entrance, armed men stood at every corner with rifles in hand, and the entire property looked more like the stronghold of a true kingpin than a home.

For a moment, his instincts flared, but the soft sound of Charlotte's cute snoring beside him eased his tension.

Gently, he unbuckled her seatbelt, scooped her up in his arms, and stepped out of the car.

She stirred slightly, mumbling something incoherent before nuzzling against his chest. James walked towards the house, where another surprise greeted him inside.

Seated at the dining table, comfortably eating sandwiches with his mother, were Hector, Ferucci, and Bella. They looked completely at ease, as if they belonged there, as if this was just another normal family dinner.

But as he wanted to say something Charlotte woke up and blinked sleepily.

"Are we home... daddy?" She mumbled, looking around.

Silence fell over the room. Everyone stopped chewing, their attention snapping to James and Charlotte as if they had misheard.

"Dadddddyy?" Bella stood up, her face flushing. "Then... then I am the moooommy?"

"No! There is no mommy and daddy!" James said firmly, stepping toward his mother, who looked just as stunned as everyone else.

"Can you take her to sleep?"

She stared at him for a moment before nodding. "Of course. Come here, darling." She gently took Charlotte in her arms and carried her upstairs.

Hector chuckled as took a last bite. "It's only noon, and you're already a father. You are truly a man, James."

"Yeah..." James sighed and sat down.

But Bella's sharp eyes caught the gleaming ring on his finger.

"I think you forgot something..." She said with a smirk, though her eyes were serious.James tilted his hand, confused. "But I can wait..." she murmured, blushing.

James, however, had no idea what she was referring to.

"So, the girl is staying with you?" Ferucci asked.

"That was Lucian's plan from the beginning. He used me and now I'm going to adopt her."

Hector nearly choked on his drink. "You said what?!"

"I adopted her."

"I really... a mommy..." Bella launched herself at James, hugging him tightly.

"Hmm, yes, yes," She bounced slightly in excitement, pressing herself against James, causing an awkward moment as her chest unintentionally smothered his face.

James quickly grabbed Bella's waist and gently pushed her away to avoid being suffocated by her watermelons. "I see you're awake, Bella..." He said, blushing.

But Bella was lost in her own world. "But we need children who share our blood... but I... I'm young. I want to wait until I'm 28... but if you want, I can..." She shivered, her hands resting on her stomach.

"Calm down, you succubus, and let us hear James." Hector said.

"That's the second time you've called me that name...." Bella muttered, barely glancing at him. "I'm going to castrate you if you keep that filthy mouth..."

"Stop." James interrupted her. "Don't threaten anyone in my house." His eyes were firm.

"I'm sorry, darling." Bella quickly sat down. "And sorry to you, insect..."

"So, what now, James? Who knows how many shipments are on the way? How much money does she own now? People are going to need answers." Hector asked.

"Well, if I adopt her, that means she's my daughter technically, so all the assets, money, and business he had are mine until she's old enough to handle it."

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Hector and Ferucci shared a glance. "Then we need to eliminate everyone who wants a share."

Yeah, I feared this... more blood to my name.

"Is it necessary?" He asked.

"There's nobody with real influence now." Hector replied. "But we need to show them that the two families have merged into one. And as for the ISB, they're like jackals, they want a piece of the money."

James leaned back, looking at the chandelier.

So there's no other way.

"Then do it. Finish all the trades that were in progress, sell every bit of the drugs they had, sell the houses, all the assets, cars, jewelry, everything."

"I'll do my best." Hector assured him.

"What about the Circle?" Ferucci asked.

"They're fucking nobodies. We don't need to worry about the." Hector said, laughing.

Fuck this... You're probably laughing, aren't you, Lucian?

"Anything else, James?" Hector eyed him.

"Yeah, did you get any information?"

"Zero. I called twenty people and no one has any idea."

"Me too. It's like it was completely under the radar." Ferucci added.

Even the government doesn't know about it?

"Well then, do what I said and be careful. I need to bury that fucker."

"That's going to be a shitshow too." Ferucci said.

"Why?"

"Well, it's going to be full of gangsters, which means a lot of agents too—lurking around, taking photos every second." Hector explained.

"Oh, that's right. For a moment, I forgot who he was..."

Even after your death, you're bringing trouble.

"But before burying him, you need to see his body." Bella said.

They all turned to look at her.

"Are you into dead bodies?" Hector teased, to which she hissed in response before turning to James.

"You said he knew he was going to die, and there's a chance he had something that could give us clues, like personal belongings or something. Maybe a tattoo on his body with some meaning."

"Yeah, like that anime with the treasure map on prisoners backs." Ferucci added with a smirk. "Maybe we need to skin him.."

"Or cut him to pieces, maybe he has a chip in his body." Bella added with a smile.

For a good minute I forget you all psychopaths.

"And Charlotte needs to see him too. She's his last relative. She needs to confirm with her own eyes and get the paperwork." Bella finished now with her first sentence that made sense.

"So before all that we talked about, I need to officially adopt her, don't I?"

"Yeah, but one call and it's done." Hector replied.

"Wow, you have quite the influential guys in your pocket." Ferucci laughed.

"Well, I just prepare for every scenario." Hector laughed but in a split second he was looking serious and so on the other.

"So, you're really adopting her?" His mother's voice came from behind.

"Yeah, her father died, and she has nobody who can raise her." James said not hesitating a bit.

His mother's eyes softened, and a warm smile spread across her face.

"Oh, James, that's wonderful news!" She said, stepping forward and cupping his face with her hands. "I always knew you had a good heart, but this... this makes me so proud of you."

James blinked, a little taken aback by her reaction. "You really think so?"

"Of course!" she beamed, her excitement growing. "Oh, I can't wait to take her shopping, cook her favorite meals!" She clasped her hands together, already making plans in her head.

Bella chuckled. "Looks like someone's more excited than James himself."

His mother turned to Bella with a bright expression.

"Of course I am! A child needs love, and if James is willing to give that to her, then she's already part of this family." Then, her expression shifted slightly as a new thought crossed her mind. "But, James... are you really ready for this? Raising a child is a huge responsibility. One day, it's about bedtime stories, and the next, it's school, friends, lessons... everything."

James took a deep breath, nodding.

She need to know...

"Well, you need to know something, before all that."

"Yeah, what?"

"Her full name is Augustus Charlotte."

As James spoke, his mother's expression shifted from happiness to concern.

"Huh?" She let out a hysterical laugh. "The same Augustus that—"

"Yeah, she's Augustus Lucian's daughter."

She took a step back before suddenly.

"I don't care!" She shouted, startling everyone. "She's just a child! Even if her father was a horrible person, she's still a broken child....a child who needs help and love. And I am here for it!"

James barely had time to react before his mother pulled him into a tight hug, squeezing him so hard he almost lost his breath.

"You silly boy!" She huffed, ruffling his hair like she used to when he was younger. "You had me worried for a second!"

James blinked. "Wait... so you're not mad?"

His mother pulled back, placing her hands on her hips with a smile. "Mad? James, she's a child! And if she's in your life now, then she's in mine too." Her mind was already racing with ideas. "Has she eaten? Oh, I should cook something special for her—what does she like?"

His mother's energy was unstoppable when she set her heart on something, and right now, it was clear, she had already decided Augustus Charlotte was family.

James felt a lump form in his throat. He hadn't been sure how his mother would react, but somehow, this felt exactly right.

"Come on." She said, dragging him toward the kitchen. "Help me cook something special for her! We'll make her feel safe here."

Augustus Charlotte had no idea what she was in for.

She had just gained the most loving, unstoppable mother in the world.

"Well then we are going to...work yeah to work." Hector said looking at James and they all stood up going out.

"Careful guys and where are you going Bella?"

She stopped looking back. "Home?"

"This is your home."

Fuck this was to much to say—

She needed no other words.

She launched herself at James now kissing his cheek like a maniac, then turned around "Go home you slave it's my house!" She shouted at them.

Hector laughed at Bella but turned around "James before I go that ISB agent who stopped you, what does he looked like?"

"Well he had a scar on his face, across his eyes."

"Ohh"

"Ohh?" James blinked at Hector's expression.

"Nothing." He turned around quickly.

He knew exactly who James was talking about, the same man who had tried to take a bite from their money.