Taming the Devil

Chapter one

ELENA'S POINT OF VIEW

KIDNAPPED.

The rhythmic pounding of my heels against the cracked sidewalk echoed like war drums. My breath hitched as fear coiled tight in my gut, suffocating the adrenaline rushing through my veins, as the city lights blurred past me, vivid streaks against the darkening sky.

Victory in court today should have felt triumphant, but all I could feel was dread. I was taking on the city’s most powerful crime syndicate and that had marked me as a target.

A sudden screech of tires shattered the quiet, and my instincts screamed at me to run. I whipped around, just in time to see a black SUV jump the curb. Masked men spilled out like shadows and panic erupted inside me, as I bolted down the street, my legs burning as I pushed myself harder. Just then, a strong hand snagged my arm, yanking me back with brutal force.

"Let go!" I screamed, kicking back viciously, my heel connecting with a shin. A grunt of pain followed from the man as he let me go. Just as I tried to run out of there, another pair of hands grabbed me, much more rougher than the previous. I found myself clawing at them, desperate to break free, but a hard fist collided with my stomach, and I doubled over, choking on pain as the air rushed from my lungs.

Before I could catch my breath, a coarse bag was shoved over my head, suffocating me with its musty stench.

"Stop fighting, or I'll blow your brains out," a cold voice snarled, and I froze as something metallic pressed against my ribs. Trembling, I swallowed back my terror, forcing myself to stay still. My wrists were bound behind me before I was shoved into the back of the SUV, my body hitting the floor hard. The engine roared to life, and we sped off, vibrations rattling my bones.

My mind raced, fighting the suffocating panic clawing at my throat. This had to be Dante Moretti’s doing. Only he would have the audacity to abduct me in broad daylight. The man ruled the city’s underworld with an iron grip, and I had threatened that by taking on his syndicate in court.

When the vehicle finally screeched to a halt, rough hands yanked me upright and dragged me out. The bag was ripped from my head, and I blinked against the sudden brightness, struggling to focus. I was in front of a sprawling mansion with towering iron gates standing like sentinels guarding the Devil’s lair. I barely registered the grandeur before being hauled inside, my knees crashing against cold marble as they forced me down.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching, until Dante Moretti loomed over me. His presence was suffocating, darkly intimidating, and coldly calculating. He crouched down, grasping my chin roughly, forcing my head up.

"You really thought you could dismantle my empire?" he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. His dark eyes glinted with cruel amusement, like a cat toying with a wounded mouse.

Summoning every ounce of defiance left in me, I glared at him, hatred burning in my gaze. "Go to hell," I hissed, spitting at his polished shoe.

He didn’t even flinch, just pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the spit away with infuriating calm. "You’ve got guts, Castillo. Too bad they won’t save you."

His men snickered behind him, and fury churned in my stomach. Dante straightened, looking down at me with a hint of something sinister dancing in his eyes. "Take her to the dungeon," he ordered coldly.

Two men seized me by the arms, practically dragging me through winding corridors before shoving me into a dark, damp cell. The door slammed shut, and I sank to the floor, my body aching and bruised from the rough handling. For a moment, I just sat there, breathing heavily, trying to process what had just happened.

Then, a slow, hysterical laugh bubbled from my throat, filling the oppressive silence. Dante Moretti, the most vicious and ruthless Mafia boss, wanted by the law, was so dumb... he had walked straight into my trap.

With a triumphant smirk, I pulled out a tiny device from my pocket—a small spherical object disguised as a button. Tapping the red button, the device unfolded into a ball-shaped object. I exhaled sharply, forcing my aching limbs to move as I climbed up the prison wall to the AC vent. Pushing it open, I tossed the device inside, praying it would work.

I crossed my fingers, knowing I could die from my actions, but this was my only shot. Almost immediately, the vent erupted in flames, and smoke billowed out, filling the cell. I coughed violently, tossing more of the tiny explosives through the gap as Dante’s mansion caught fire.

Screams and chaos erupted outside my cell as fire alarms blared and men rushed to contain the inferno. A twisted smile curved my lips, satisfaction warming my chest. My plan had worked.

But soon, the smoke grew thicker, filling the cell with suffocating heat. Panic clawed at my chest as I banged on the door, yelling for help. My vision blurred, and oxygen became scarce. I screamed until my voice cracked, but no one came.

The fire grew closer, the heat singeing my skin, my body weakening, as black spots danced in my vision. Collapsing onto the floor, I felt consciousness slip away, my mind spinning with regret and defiance. If this was the end, at least I had burned his world down with me.

__________________________________

Grogginess clung to my mind like a suffocating fog as I stirred awake. My head pounded, and the faint, sterile scent of antiseptic invaded my senses, as I blinked against the harsh lighting, confusion clawing at me. This wasn’t the cold, damp cell where I’d passed out.

I forced myself upright, wincing as pain lanced through my shoulder, and realized I was lying on a plush, king-sized bed in an ornate bedroom. Black dominated the room’s design, every inch of it screaming luxury and danger. An IV drip was taped to my arm, the needle embedded in my skin.

Someone must have saved me. I felt my teeth gritting, thinking about the fact that Dante might have saved me. Without thinking twice, I yanked the IV out, not wanting to feel even the smallest hint of Dante’s twisted care.

Before I could gather my thoughts, muffled shouting from beyond the door drew my attention. My heart hammered as I approached the door cautiously, pressing my ear against the heavy wood. Dante’s voice rang out like a clap of thunder, furious and merciless.

“Who the f**k did it?” he roared. All he got in response was silence, deafening and thick.

With trembling hands, I cracked the door open just enough to peer through. Downstairs in the grand parlor, a line of men stood rigid, faces pale and eyes averting Dante's own. Dante paced in front of them, his gun glinting menacingly in his grip. My stomach twisted as I watched him aim at one of the guards who couldn’t meet his gaze.

“You had one job,” Dante hissed. Without warning, he pulled the trigger, as a deafening crack echoed through the mansion, and the man crumpled to the floor, blood pooling around his shattered skull.

I slapped a hand over my mouth, muffling the gasp threatening to break free. Horror rooted me to the spot as Dante continued, his icy voice slicing through the air.

“If none of you are going to talk,” he growled, “then you’re useless to me.”

One of the guards stammered out something incoherent, and Dante didn’t even hesitate before he clicked the trigger and another shot rang out, as another body hit the marble floor. My knees threatened to give way, bile rising in my throat. He was slaughtering them like they were nothing but disposable tools.

My hands shook as I pulled back from the door, the fear wrapping around me like a vice.

What had I done? I had tried to burn his empire down to get myself out of the cell, so I could use the time to search his house, find some more evidence and expose his corruption, but now I was watching men die for my actions. Guilt twisted inside me, but I couldn’t let it paralyze me. I had to think…find a way to stop him from killing every single person just to make a point. I wasn’t heartless, no matter how much I wanted Dante’s syndicate to crumble.

Gunshots continued to punctuate the air, each one making me flinch. I couldn’t take it anymore. I bolted out of the room and rushed down the stairs, planting myself in Dante’s line of sight.

“I did it,” I said, forcing my voice to remain steady despite the terror clawing at my insides. His gaze snapped to me, slowly, he raised the gun, the barrel now pointed directly at my forehead.

“You?” His voice was low, almost amused. “You did it?”

“Yes,” I bit out. “I tried to burn your mansion down…Your whole empire and I don’t regret it.”

A smirk danced across his lips, but there was no humor in it. He pressed the barrel against my temple, his hand steady and unwavering. “You’re either brave or suicidal, sweetheart.”

I swallowed hard watching his hand pull the trigger downward, and immediately shut my eyes tight…was this how I was gonna end…someone save me!

Just then, I heard tiny feet rush in and a small voice interrupted. “Daddy?”

Dante froze, his expression hardening. Slowly opening my eyes, I looked past him to see a little girl standing in the doorway, her wide eyes flicking between her father and the bloody scene before her. Dante lowered the gun, his jaw ticking with irritation.

“I told you to stay home,” he snapped, voice harsh and cold. “Who brought you here?”

The girl hesitated before pointing at an older guard standing by the door. Dante slowly trodden toward the door, and then, he raised the gun and fired at the old man, who collapsed immediately in a heap, dead!.

I couldn’t help the scream that tore from my throat, my hands trembling uncontrollably. The girl didn’t even cry…she just stared at her father with hollow acceptance.

Dante plucked the keys from the dead man’s pocket, shoving them into the girl’s hands. “Drive yourself home. Don’t make me say it twice.”

Her small hands shook as she clutched the keys, nodding numbly before hurrying out. Rage boiled in my veins, cutting through the fear like a knife.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I shouted, forcing his gaze back to me. “She’s a child! How the f**k do you expect her to drive herself home? Are you insane?”

His eyes darkened, and before I could blink, he shot me in the left arm. Pain exploded through me, and I staggered back, clutching the wound as hot blood seeped between my fingers.

“I don’t remember asking for your opinion,” he said coldly. “And that was me being lenient.”

Gritting my teeth against the pain, I glared at him, refusing to show weakness. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. The girl disappeared through the door, and Dante motioned for one of the remaining guards to approach.

“Get me a woman to f**k the frustration out of my system,” he ordered, running a hand through his hair. The guard nodded and turned to leave, but Dante stopped him, his gaze locking onto mine. A slow, cruel smile curled his lips.