love or revenge

the watcher and the artist

Chapter 2

“No, it is not,” I said after I managed to regain my composure, trying my best to appear cool as she sat down.

“I wanted to thank you for helping me carry my things,” she said as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

“It was the least I could do after barging into you. There is no need to thank me,” I protested, fighting the urge to leer at her.

“Can I tell you a secret?” she asked, leaning forward ever so slightly.

“Sure, why not?” I replied.

“I was actually struggling to carry everything, so you kind of helped me,” she replied.

I laughed, a genuine laugh, that echoed through the café something I don't normally do.

There was an awkward silence after the laugh. I had to break the silence.

“What would you like to have?” I asked her.

She hesitated but replied, “I would like a cup of coffee and a muffin.”

I nodded in acknowledgement and called the waiter over.

“I would like two cups of coffee, a muffin, and a grilled sandwich and two apples,” I requested.

The warm aroma of roasted coffee beans filled the room.

While the waiter went, I checked my phone. There was a message from Lord Grenzo. It read:

“Luca, trust you are on the job. Remember, do not engage and report to me before 3:30. I have another job for you.”

I put my phone back into my pocket and focused on her. That's when I realized that I did not know her name.

“Umm… I don’t remember you telling me your name,” I casually asked.

“Me neither, probably because we haven’t introduced ourselves yet,” she chuckled. Her voice sounded so sweet like… like honey.

I loved her sense of humour.

“My name is Isabella Hernandez. Yours?” she continued, as she extended her hand out for a handshake.

“Nice to meet you, Isabella. My name is Luca del Toro,” I replied and accepted her handshake.

Her hands were so soft, her touch was so unique.

Again, an awkward silence followed, but the waiter bailed me out.

The scent of the chocolate-chip muffin and the grilled sandwich announced the arrival of the meal.

“Thanks,” I nodded to the waiter.

We ate quietly, punctuated by the buzzing of both our phones, which we ignored.

I was still eating, but the constant buzzing of my phone was disturbing. I checked my phone to try and silence the notification. My eyes caught sight of the time damn, it was already 3:20 PM. I had to meet Lord Grenzo in ten minutes. I asked for the bill, quickly paid, and excused myself from the table.

I ran, mostly, as I tried to get to my car. I got there and took off, the wind blowing against my face, objects moving past my window so fast I doubted if they were real. The stares from pedestrians told me all I needed to know about my speed.

I made it just in time. I met Lord Grenzo at the doorway to the Brimain estate.

I kneeled down in front of him and said, “You had another mission for me?”

“Get up, Luca. Remember look me in the eyes. Never bow to anyone,” Lord Grenzo reinforced.

“I need you to complete a job. A man has been caught spying on one of our warehouses. He has been captured by Gonzalo. I want you to extract information from him.”

“Yes, boss,” I said.

“Once you extract the information, send him home so he can tell his group and spread terror.”

I left there and made my way to the warehouse. I moved quickly and got there within 10 minutes.

I walked into the warehouse. I was greeted first by an odour. It wasn't foul-smelling just different.

The smell of hot metal, oil, and blood mixed together to form a strange odour.

“Gonzalo, where is the spy?” I asked.

“In there,” was the reply I got.

“Get me a bottle of whiskey and a stick of cigarette, ASAP.”

Moving into the room, I could see the man was frail but still had eyes that portrayed no fear. He was bruised nothing more.

I lit my cigarette, the smoke mixing with the already stale scent.

I told him calmly, “Answer all my questions honestly and quickly.”

“Who sent you? Which cartel are you working for?” I paused. Silence engulfed the warehouse.

He said nothing.

I sighed, terrified of what I might do to this man. I warned him.

I drew my knife, the metal gleamed in the light of the bulb. I began cutting into him across his face and stomach. Blood streamed out, oozing everywhere.

“Bring me salt,” I ordered.

Gonzalo handed it over to me. Without hesitating, I began pouring the salt grains into his open wounds.

The effect was almost immediate.

The warehouse erupted with his screams so raw and primal, they reverberated off the walls. I stood still, unmoved, watching it all unfold.

His screams eventually died down as the effects of the salt faded, but he still revealed nothing.

I moved closer to him.

“Who sent you? Which cartel are you working for?”

Again silence, only the sound of his blood hitting the wooden floorboards.

I lost my patience. If he could be stubborn, I could be even worse.

This time I shoved my knife into his right eye. His scream filled the room as blood sprayed everywhere.

His right eyeball rolled to a stop at the door. I repeated the same action for his left eye.

Now he was not only battered, he was also blind. But still stubborn.

I asked one more time,

“Who sent you? Which cartel are you working for?”

Still no answer. This fool is still resisting.

If there is one thing I'm good at, it's breaking willpower.

I will break him.

I pulled my gun out, pressing the barrel hard against his head. My hand hovered around the trigger.

I was ready to pull it.

I heard his shaky gasp followed by

“I am working for Los Manor Rajos,” his voice hoarse from all the screaming.

“I was sent here to gather intel… because plans are being made to infiltrate your cartel.”

“Now was that so hard?” I asked coldly.

“Now tell me when the attack is going to happen and how.”

“A week from today… and the plan is a simple surround and conquer,” he answered, still shaking.

I looked thoughtfully at him. I studied his face for a while. Something still felt off.

“Thank you for your cooperation,” I said.

“But why do I feel like you are still keeping something from me?”

“I promise… I have told you all I know. Please, just let me go,” he pleaded.

“It’s a shame,” I muttered, shaking my head.

Without another word, I pulled my whiskey bottle from a table. I doused his battered body with it.

He stiffened but couldn’t fight back; he was far too weak.

I flipped the lighter. That was all it took.

His body went up in flames. His final scream pierced throughout the warehouse like a banshee’s cry, it was so otherworldly.

I watched without flinching. The fire was so satisfying, painting hellish shadows in my mind and on the wall.

I turned to leave.

“Clean up the body when it is done,” I said as I left.

Without even a reply, I got into my car and drove off. I was headed to the Brimain estate… ready to brief Lord Grenzo.

As I pulled up to the driveway of the estate, my mind drifted back to Isabella.

I met Lord Grenzo in his personal room.

“My lord, I am back and ready to brief you on today’s activities,” I slowly said, searching for the right words.

“Yes, go ahead.”

“I staked out the studio just like you told me, and I found out they are planning a robbery in about two weeks when everything was planned and mapped out,” I told him.

“So basically nothing is going to happen for about two weeks, but just to be on the safe side, I will need you to keep visiting that studio for two weeks. And about the spy?” he replied.

“I got information from the spy that Los Manor Rajos plan on infiltrating the warehouse, but my only concern now is what could they need it for,” I said with uncertainty.

“I will need you to find out. Remember, do not engage without my permission. You may leave,” Lord Grenzo said.

I turned to leave, but Lord Grenzo stopped me.

“Wait. What happened to the spy?”

“There was a problem, and I had to get rid of him,” I calmly replied.

Lord Grenzo just sat there, eyes betraying no emotion.

“Go rest up. You are still on mission.”

I went straight to my room. Today was a long day. I had to relax.

My mind drifted back to Isabella.