Cruel Haven

Chapter 3 the proposal

Enzo's POV

I stared at the door where she was just dragged through.

"Jefe, I'm sorry for the intrusion. Please continue with what you were saying," Antonio apologized.

"Is this how you've been running the casino?" I asked coldly. He glanced at the other staff looking confused by my question.

"Pardon me Jefe?" he inquired.

"I finished the meeting long ago and I was on my way out before your little show. Do you have short memory loss?" I asked.

He bowed his head and shook it vehemently. "I don't Jefe. I'm sorry. I got distracted by that girl."

I hummed. "Who is she?"

"Who..," he started. I gave him an icy glare that cut him off immediately.

"She's one of the pole dancers Jefe," he replied politely. My fingers twitched. I felt like grabbing my gun and putting a bullet between his eyes. How did Father employ someone as slow as him?

"Everyone knows what all girls here do. I'm asking for her name," I declared.

"She's Dante Andrea. If I may ask Jefe, why are you curious about her? She's nothing but a w***e who's just playing games thinking we would increase her pay. Are you worried she might cause you trouble?" he asked. I stood up on my feet abruptly. He jolted nervously.

"The meeting is over," I said to the rest of the staff.

"Yes Jefe!" they replied loudly and began to troop out.

"D..did I say something wrong Jefe?" Antonio stuttered when he noticed my eyes were on him. I walked towards him.

"Have you heard of what happened to the curious cat?" I asked in a calm tone. My eyes caught sight of the sweat on his forehead even though the air conditioner was on full blast.

"I haven't Jefe," he replied gulping hard.

"You should find out. We wouldn't want the same to happen to you right?" I asked rhetorically strolling out of the casino.

"Buesnas noches Jefe!" he called out after me in a loud tone. Immediately my bodyguards saw me coming, one got the door for me while the other started the car.

"Drive to the main house," I ordered. He inputted the address on the GPS and we sped off. I needed to ask my papá a very important question. What the girl said earlier still made me ponder deeply wondering if it was a lie or the truth. Forcing girls to work at the casino has never occurred before. But she wouldn't lie so blatantly in front of so many people no matter how fearless she was.

She must have worked at the casino long enough to know we weren't people that could be messed with. And no one including Antonio berated her so it couldn't be entirely false. The only person who would be able to provide the accurate information I needed was none other than papá.

The guard stopped the car in the spacious compound and I got down. It's almost been ten to eleven years since I was last in this house. I glanced at the magnificent mansion in front of me. Even though it was more than a hundred years old, it still stood tall like it hadn't aged past a day. It was built by my great grandfather who started the business. The house and the business have both been handed down through generations ever since then.

"Good evening sir," the maids greeted with a bow when I stepped in. I headed into the living room without a word. I met papá sitting on the couch and watching the news.

"Hijo! (Son!)" he called out to me with a hearty laugh.

"Papá," I replied walking towards the couch opposite where he was seated. I took a seat in front of him.

"When did you get back? You never said a word," he asked.

"I got back hours ago. I stopped by the casino before coming over," I replied.

"Hijo, always full of surprises. How was the casino? Was it to your liking?" he inquired. A maid came over and served us drinks.

"It was a mess," I replied bluntly. He laughed out loud, his voice echoing through the living room.

"Well, not that you are here, I trust you will improve it to your liking," he replied.

"About the casino, I met a young girl today. Dante Andrea. Does the name ring a bell?" I asked staring at him.

"Not at all," he said taking a sip of his drink.

"She claimed to have been kidnapped and made to work in the casino. Is it true?" I asked.

"Oh, you were talking about that girl. It's true. She was forced to work for us. Although, I've heard she's quite stubborn and audacious," he replied. There was no lie in his last statement.

"But why would you order them to kidnap a girl when we have lots of girls working for us and others who would kill to have this job? It was never the Bernadi way to abduct a girl. You know how whores can be. She might get us in trouble. When did this start?" I asked seriously.

"Relax hijo. Everything is under control. I know it's unusual but we only took this decision because this was the only way out. That girl's father was a regular at the casino. He gambled every day till his debts accumulated. There was no torture rule in the book that we didn't follow but he was completely penniless. He told us the only asset he had was his daughter and she would fetch us good money," he explained.

"So you kidnapped her?" I asked.

"Yes. Her father ran away. At first, we never thought she would be anything beneficial to us but over the last few months, she has gotten more famous than most of the workers there. So you see, it's all business," he responded. I nodded in understanding.

"How did you meet her when it's just your first day?" he inquired.

"She tends to leave quite an impression," I responded. He hummed in response. I grabbed the drink and gulped it down.

"I have to leave now," I said.

"Already?" he asked in surprise. I nodded.

"Won't you eat before you leave? I'm sure you haven't eaten anything," he said.

"I will eat later. I just came to inform you of my arrival in person," I replied standing up on my feet.

"Alright. Be safe and stay low," he advised.

"Buesnas noches papá," I bid him goodnight turning around to leave.

"Buesnas noches Hijo," he replied. I walked towards the car and the guards immediately got into position.

"Drive to the casino," I ordered. He started the ignition and we zoomed off. We arrived at the casino and I headed inside. The sight before me made me halt. One of the s*x workers was sucking Antonio's d**k off.

"Jefe!" he exclaimed in surprise hurriedly pushing her away.

"Take me to the girl," I said in a calm tone. I was going to deal with what I saw some other time.

"Right away Jefe," he said hurriedly putting his trousers back on and buckling them. He led me towards a locked room where he opened his keys. I got in and I met her sitting in the corner of the room. Mouth gagged and hands tied together. As soon as she saw us, she began to struggle and mumble incoherent things.

"Leave us," I said to him.

"W..what?" he stuttered glancing between us.

"Did I stutter?" I asked harshly. He shook his head and scurried away. I walked towards her and she stared at me. Her eyes followed my every movement.

"Hola hermosa (hi beautiful)" I said to her. She was wearing a white shirt now but it was transparent and did nothing to hide her voluptuous body. She possessed long, luscious, curly hair that cascaded gracefully down her back, framing her heart-shaped face. Her captivating black doe eyes held a mysterious allure, drawing you in with their depth and intensity. Her plump lips, like a delicate rosebud, offer a subtle invitation. The gag between her mouth helped out. She had fair, flawless skin. Above those enchanting eyes, her full eyebrows frame her gaze with an elegant arch, adding character to her beauty. Something as beautiful as this can't be left here to waste. I have a better and more useful place for her to be at.

"I heard all that you said earlier. You must be frustrated with your life right?" I asked gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. She pulled back immediately.

"That is why I have a proposal for you. Instead of working here, how about you work for only me? You can put all what you've learned into good use. Be my mistress," I said. Her mouth moved but all I could hear were muffled sounds.

"I forgot you were gagged," I said removing the piece of cloth from her mouth.

"You were saying?" I asked.

"Je kaci kanka! (Go f**k yourself!)" she spat with so much anger.