Cruel Haven

Chapter 2 a change in power

Enzo's POV

Italy, Milan

2:00 am

The cold, ruthless wind of the night swept through the dimly lit alleyways of the city as we drove towards it. I could hear it hissing from a distance. I just got off the plane and this was my first visit to the city after a very long time. My arrival has been shrouded in secrecy. A calculated move to make sure no one saw it coming. It was my idea. I love to take people by surprise. They were bound to make mistakes and I would be right there to witness it.

The car suddenly slowed down signalling that we had arrived. It halted to a stop but before I could open the door, someone bit me to it.

"Jefe! (Boss!)" they all called out loudly before I stepped down. The room was filled with faces I had only seen in photographs, men who had been running the family's operations in my absence. It was time to put names on those faces. The air was thick with anticipation as I got out.

"Good evening Jefe. We are sorry for the poor preparation. We weren't aware you would be coming. Your papá suddenly informed us..."

"So I'm to blame for your mistakes. Is that what you meant to say, Antonio?" I asked looking down at the bald little man in front of me. I've heard of him and seen his photos. He was the one in charge of running the casino whenever my papà was out for business.

"No, of course not. That wasn't what I meant. Forgive me if you got that impression," he said without meeting my gaze.

"Look up at me," I ordered. His position was a very important role and I wanted to be sure he was fit for that role. He was the face of the Bernadi casino whenever people came to visit. He couldn't just be an ordinary man. He slowly raised his head to look into my eyes. At first, he met my gaze head-on but I noticed his hands trembling because he was nervous. People called me a calculative killing machine disguised as a human and I never corrected them because they were right. He hurriedly looked down again.

"If you will permit me Jefe, I will give you a tour around the casino," he said trying to hide his fright.

"After you," I curtly replied. I was going to get rid of him as well as others who aren't fit to work here. As I made my way into the casino, my leather-clad footsteps echoed off the cobblestone streets, a stark contrast to the shadows that clung to the corners. This city had been ruled by my family for generations, but it was time for a change, a new era under my command.

"Here we have..."

"No need to explain anything. I can see for myself," I said cutting him off. I had already seen all this in the photos sent to me and it didn't look any different in person.

"O..of course, Jefe," he replied anxiously.

"Call everyone here for a meeting," I ordered taking a sit on one of the couches. The casino was closed today due to my arrival. He scurried away. I brought out a cigarette from my pocket and lit it. I waited for a while before the workers all began to gather. The casino was one of the cleanest businesses we had and it helped in stopping the police from raiding our establishment. The workers needed serious training. If this continues, our business will go down in no time.

I surveyed the room, my icy blue eyes looking into each of them in turn. "You all know why I'm here and I'm not convinced with what I can see. Things are going to change around here," my voice that was as cold and unfeeling as the sharp edge of a knife cut through the silence. They exchanged uneasy glances. The tension in the room was palpable. It was exactly the reaction I had expected. I blew out smoke from my mouth and nostrils. Fear was a powerful motivator and I intended on making that as useful as possible.

"As of now, loyalty is the only thing that matters. Those who are willing to serve without question will be rewarded and those who betray that trust by being a rat....I'm sure I don't need to finish that sentence," They already knew how I dealt with traitors. A slow and painful death without mercy. I could see the fear in their eyes, the realization that they were no longer dealing with the old regime. They had heard the stories, and seen the headlines, but now they were face to face with the man they called ruthless. I had no intention of proving them wrong.

Emotions were a liability, weaknesses that could be exploited. I had none, and I intended to make sure they followed suit. I stood up on my feet to head out when I suddenly heard screams of a woman protesting. I frowned wondering who it was as the screams got louder.

"Déjame ir! (Let me go!)" she continued to scream. Everyone began to murmur loudly. A bouncer came in with a struggling and screaming woman slung over his back.

"Antonio, this slut tried to escape," the bouncer said throwing her on the floor like a rag doll.

"Es tu madre la que es una puta! (It is your mother that is a slut!)" she retorted. I raised a brow at her leaning back on my chair and smoking my cigarette with ease.

"What did you just say?" Antonio asked walking closer to the girl.

"I caught her trying to run away through the back door. She had some cash with her," the bouncer replied dropping stacks of cash on the table.

"Not only did you try to escape, you also stole my money?" Antonio snarled furiously grabbing her hair and tilting her head backwards. She met his gaze.

"I did not steal your money. I saved all the tips given to me. You said we could keep the tips didn't you?" she retorted fearlessly.

"The money you got from working as a slut," he replied.

"I said I'm not a slut! I would never have been here if not for you," she responded. He grabbed her hair and slapped her hard across the face repeatedly. She spat on his face taking us all including Antonio by surprise. I chuckled in amusement. Finally some real show. I haven't seen anything remotely funny since I arrived. The last fun moment I had in Rome was when I used my new tools to skin a bastard who had dared to steal something from me alive.

"You b***h!" he yelled giving her another slap across the face that made her fall backward. He was given a towel which he wiped his face with. I dumped my cigarette on the ashtray and lit another one. I thought it was finally over and she would give up but she suddenly got up on her feet and bolted towards the door. She barely made it halfway when she was caught and thrown back on the floor.

"Déjame ir hijos de puta! (Let me go motherfuckers!)" she yelled as she continued to struggle. In the process of struggling, the flimsy pants and bra she was wearing got torn. Her body caught my attention. Her milky white skin, round ass, and perky t**s. My c**k twitched in excitement as my eyes trailed over her body. She was a sight to behold. Although I couldn't see her face clearly due to dim lighting, I knew it wouldn't be disappointing. Her body wasn't the only exciting thing. She was also fierce and bold, I hardly get intrigued by anyone but this fierce lady caught my attention and I was willing to watch her all through the night.

"I said shut up! Have you no shame? You are completely naked in front of hundreds of men. Are you going to run into the streets like this? Have you lost it?" Antonio queried. She let out a slow taunting and cold laugh.

"Shame? Did you just stand there and tell me about shame? After pimping me to so many men, I can barely keep count. Maybe I have gone crazy, so just let me go!" she screamed at him.

"That's your job and you are getting paid for it. Quit complaining and get used to it because you are never getting out of this place," he replied.

"I never asked for this job. I was living my life quietly and peacefully when you dragged me..."

"Take her away and for f**k's sake, give her some clothes," he ordered cutting her off. I frowned, she was saying something about being dragged here.

The bouncer that had brought her in, picked her up again and slung her over his shoulders.

"I never wanted this life! You kidnapped me and forced me to do this! Pray I never get my hands on you because that would be the last day you will ever see the sunset!" she threatened as he led her out. What was she talking about? We've never forced girls to work here against their will so what was this?

"Déjame ir!" she continued to scream as her voice faded out of the background, I smiled knowing fully well I might have just found something new that had gotten my interest.