CHAPTER THREE
1621 Words
Hazel ran inside her house, she was panicking as she climbed the stairs to Icelynn’s room.
She got to her room and barged in to see Nathan, Icelynn’s Nanny Maria and Icelynn on Icelynn’s bed. Nathan hugged her as she quivered with fear.
Hazel scanned her body with her eyes from the door where she stood, she heaved a sigh of relief when she didn't see any scars on her body.
“Mummy,” Icelynn called when she saw Hazel at the door.
“Princesa,” Hazel called her in Spanish, Nathan let Icelynn go as she hugged her mother.
“What happened?”
“ I was calling you Mummy, you didn't pick up,” Icelynn whined.
“I’m sorry Mi Amor, Mummy was busy, my phone wasn't on,” Hazel said.
“Ma’am someone broke into her room. Thank God I came quickly before anything could happen, the person ran away before I could get a hold of him.” Maria said.
Icelynn nodded. “Since you didn't pick up I called Nathan, I know grand ma and grand pa would be busy.”
Hazel walked to the bed with Icelynn and sat down, she exhaled deeply.
“We’ll leave you both to speak, I'll be downstairs,” Nathan said.
Hazel nodded.
“Good night Nathan,” Icelynn said.
“Good night Ice.” He smiled and left.
“Hope he didn't hurt you.”
“No Mummy, I couldn't see his face. He was masked.” Icelynn responded.
“Thank God you're okay. I need to tighten the security here, so you can be safe.” Hazel said.
“Mummy,”
“Yes, love.”
“ He called Daddy’s name. He said he was a friend of Daddy.” Icelynn said.
Hazel was surprised but she didn't express it. She cleared her throat.
“It's fine, he was just lying. Daddy’s friends are good people okay? Let's go to bed now, sleep once I freshen up I'll come and sleep with you okay?”
Icelynn nodded.
“Good girl. Mummy loves you, Princessa.”
“I love you too Mummy.”
Hazel stood up from the bed and left. She walked into her room and turned on the light, she jerked in shock when she saw Nathan standing by her window.
“I thought you were downstairs.”
He shook his head and walked towards her.
“Thank you for being there for Ice,” Hazel said, she avoided his gaze.
“Look at me.” He ordered.
She inhaled and looked at him but not for long.
“You don't like what we did because of the promise we made.” He stated.
She shook her head negatively.
“No, I do, it's just….”She trailed off.
“Just Sebastian.” He completed.
She stared at him innocently.
He walked closer and stared into her eyes, he held her cheeks, she shut her eyes longing for his lips to collide with hers, rather, he kissed her forehead and whispered, “Be careful.” and exited.
******
The underground headquarters beneath The Illusion was nothing like the glamorous world above it.
The moment the hidden elevator doors slid open, cold silence filled the air. Dim amber lights reflected against black marble floors, casting long shadows across the massive underground hall. Armed guards dressed in dark suits stood motionless at every corner, their sharp eyes following every movement with quiet suspicion.
The air smelled of expensive cigars, whiskey, and danger.
Rows of surveillance screens covered the entire walls, displaying different parts of the city, secret entrances, and live security footage from inside the arena above. Low voices echoed through the room as men moved carefully between hallways, discussing shipments, money, and unfinished business.
In the centre of the headquarters a long black conference table surrounded by some of the most feared men in the city. Nobody used real names there. Inside those underground walls, identities disappeared.
“Kingpin is already waiting.”
“Cobra handled the situation.”
“Ghost wants permission to move tonight.”
The coded names carried more fear than real ones ever could.
At the end of the room stood a large glass office overlooking the underground hall like a king watching over his empire. The room was dark, elegant, and intimidating, with floor-to-ceiling windows, shelves of expensive liquor, and city maps spread across a large desk.
Everything about the headquarters radiated power, secrecy, and control.
Above them, music played and people danced beneath the glittering lights of The Illusion.
Below them, a criminal empire thrived in silence.
“Cobra, I believe you took care of Raven’s mess,” Kingpin said.
“Yes, I did,” Cobra answered.
Kingpin nodded. He was calm but very dangerous.
“The child?”
“Safe,” Cobra answered.
“Did you hurt her?”
“No.”
Kingpin stared at him, and he avoided Kingpin’s gaze.
“Such a good boy, unlike your brother.” Kingpin chuckled and stared at Raven who had scars all over his face, from the beating he had been receiving all through the night.
“I’m sorry.” Raven managed to talk, he felt pains everywhere.
Kingpin frowned at his weakness.
“Viper, take him back to the torture room, I see he hasn't learnt anything,” Kingpin ordered.
“Please, brother please talk to father,” Raven screamed in agony.
Cobra looked away.
“That's why your brother will run the mafia, you are a f*****g weakling.” Kingpin spat, he signalled Viper to take Raven out to the torture room.
“I know you can never be like him. Keep an eye on them.” Kingpin said. He picked up a cigar and lit it up. He inhaled the smoke and gave Cobra. Cobra took it, inhaled and exhaled the smoke and passed it back to Kingpin.
“I’ll leave now.” He said
Kingpin nodded and smiled at Cobra while he left.
Cobra walked down the dark hallway, he paused in his tracks as he held the Raven’s screams.
He turned to the torture room and walked in.
“Release him.” He ordered.
“The boss asked us to torture him.”
“I said, release him now. I won't say it again.” Cobra said coldly.
They quickly released Raven and tossed him to the ground.
“Thank you,” Raven muttered faintly.
“Too weak.”Cobra smirked, “Call the maids to clean him well, call the doctors to treat his wounds, he should be able to speak before I get back.” Cobra ordered.
They nodded.
“He’s becoming weak like his brother too.” One of the boys whispered, Cobra heard it, and he turned sharply and stared at him.
“Repeat it.”
“Nothing.” The boy said in fear.
“I said f*****g repeat it.” He yelled and threw a little blade towards him but it touched the wall just behind the boy’s ear.
“Repeat it, else he’d kill you.” The other boy whispered.
The boy went on his knees and repeated what he said.
“Do you want to see how strong I am?” He walked up to the boy who knelt before him.
“Viper, Reaper, chain him,” Cobra instructed.
They nodded and carried the boy, they placed him on a cold steel bench and tied him up in chains.
“Please.”The boy pleaded.
“Too weak.” Cobra laughed.
He picked up an iron whip from the table and walked towards him.
“ I wonder how this would feel on your body, let's see…” Cobra laughed and hit him with the whip.
His voice echoed in the hallway.
*****
“Sebastian owed the Russian mafia, he took the debt in my name,” Kingpin yelled.
“Boss.”
“How did it happen? Cobra, you told me he was good, I trusted you and him.” Kingpin said.
“I did too. But he didn't take that money alone, one of us here helped him.” Cobra said.
“True.” Kingpin nodded.
“Raven is not stupid enough to do that.” Ghost said.
Cobra and Kingpin nodded.
“It’s been five years since he died, how come the Russians are coming for their money after five years?” Cobra asked.
“Vladimir is back,” Kingpin announced.
“That scum.” Ghost whispered.
“He wants his money. I can pay back but Sebastian’s family will pay for it with their lives.” Kingpin stated.
“They are innocent.” Ghost blotted out.
Kingpin stared at him fiercely.
“But they are innocent,” Cobra added.
“Shut up, both of you, Kingpin yelled, his veins popping out. “Thats the only way I'll feel satisfied, next time, he shouldn't take what doesn't belong to him. His family will have to pay, his father, mother, Hazel, oh pretty Hazel and his daughter Icelynn.” Kingpin chuckled, he shut his eyes as he imagined the face of Hazel.
“She’s pretty, what if I take her as my wife? Hazel, I mean.”Kingpin smiled.
Cobra and Ghost secretly clenched their fists in anger.
“Sebastian is dead. Taking revenge on his family is of no use.” Cobra said.
“At least they’ll all meet in hell. He messed with the wrong person. That's final. No more words, Ghost and Cobra. Leave everyone.” Kingpin commanded.
Everyone walked out of the room to focus on their various assignments.
Kingpin stared at Hazel’s picture on the wall, he gave a sinister smile, pulled the cigar from his mouth and placed it on the ashtray.
“Soon.” He laughed.
- Writer
