Chapter3
1220 Words
Alessandro's POV
“Please…”
His voice cracked into something weak and broken.
Blood dripped from his mouth, sliding down his chin and staining the front of his shirt.
He was shaking now. Not from pain.
From fear.
I loved the look in his eyes.
The room smelled of metal and sweat. Thick. Suffocating. The single light hanging from the ceiling swung slightly above us, casting shifting shadows across the concrete walls.
I stood in front of him, rolling the steel rod slowly between my fingers.
“Please forgive me, sir,” he whispered. “It won’t happen again.”
I crouched in front of him. Slowly.
Calmly.
The ropes tied around his wrists creaked as he tried to pull away from the chair.
“You still don’t understand your mistake.”
My voice stayed quiet. Controlled.
I pressed the metal against his knee.
Lightly at first.
He froze.
His eyes widened.
Then I twisted.
A scream ripped through the room.
Sharp. Desperate.
His body jerked violently against the chair.
Blood soaked through his torn trousers.
I watched him carefully.
Bastards like him always broke differently.
Some cried.
Some begged.
Some lied until the very end.
“You sold information.”
He shook his head quickly. Too quickly.
“No—no, I swear—”
I twisted harder.
Another scream.
Louder this time.
He sobbed openly now.
Pathetic.
“You thought I wouldn’t find out.” You bloody fool.
I leaned closer until he had no choice but to look at me.
Tears mixed with sweat on his face.
“I have children…” His lips trembled.
I let out a low chuckle.
“Then you should’ve thought about them before betraying me.”
I stood slowly still looking down at him.
Men like him were predictable.
They think they can mess with me. But once they get caught, they always try to beg their way out.
I reached for the gun resting on the table beside me.
The sound of metal clicking echoed loudly.
He started crying harder.
Begging.
Words blurred together.
None of it mattered.
I stepped forward and pressed the barrel against his forehead.
His eyes locked onto mine.
“One thing you should know about me,” I said quietly.
“I can forgive many things.”
I tilted my head slightly.
“But never betrayal.”
I pulled the trigger.
The gunshot exploded through the room.
His body went limp instantly.
Blood splashed the floor beneath him.
Silence followed.
Calm. Familiar silence.
I lowered the gun and glanced toward my men.
None of them moved.
None of them spoke.
None of them had the guts to look at me.
“Clean this up.”
I handed the gun to Mark and walked toward the door like nothing had happened.
Looks like Mr Sam wants to do business with you. Mark said as he walked behind me.
“What the f**k does he want.” I said as I walked into mansion heading towards my study.
The silence of my office felt almost peaceful after the screams earlier.
“Protection. Expansion.” Mark replied.
I sat on the chair. I leaned back slightly.
A small smile tugged on my lips.
“Of course he does.” They always did.
“And what is he offering?”
“A percentage. Access to his network.” Mark said.
I tapped my fingers lightly against the table. Slightly lifted my eyebrows.
“I'm not interested in his business. I don't need anyone leeching over me.”
“I'll inform him then,” Mark replied.
“Tell him I might consider if he comes up with an offer I can't resist. Leave.” I ordered.
Mark stood still like he wanted to say something.
“Spill it.” I said flipping through my files.
“Chris and his daughter will be visiting today, remember?”
Fuck
I almost forgot. I'm getting married.
“Ava, that's her name?” I spoke coldly.
“Yes Boss.”
Hmmm.
Chris trusted me with his daughter.
Even after what happened.
Even after that night.
Some men would have put a bullet in my head.
I, Alessandro De Luca, am a man of my word. I promised I would marry his daughter. It looked like the time to fulfill that promise had come.
“What time are they arriving?” I asked Mark.
“In two hours.”
“And the wedding.”
“Simple, and strictly by invitation.” He said.
Good?
The last thing I want is news spreading. I wanted it done as soon as possible. This marriage will surely cause me a hell of a problem if the media dug their filthy hands.
Especially the Moretti clan.
“Let me know when they arrive,” I grabbed my coat as I stood up leaving the office.
“Yes, Boss.”
………………
“They're here.”
I'll be down in five minutes.”I turned to Mark.
He quietly nodded and left the room.
The room fell silent as I entered, but I didn’t miss the way Ava stiffened the second she saw me. She was trembling, barely noticeable, but I could see it in the way her posture straightened, her shoulders tightened.
She looked completely out of place in my world.
Too innocent.
Too soft.
Too alive.
Her father, Chris, stood by the fireplace, his hands clasped in front of him, waiting. But it was Ava who caught my attention.
She was standing near the couch, her hands folded awkwardly in front of her. Her eyes didn’t meet mine. Instead, she focused on a spot on the floor, as if the sight of me might burn her.
I studied her for a second — the way her chest rose and fell with every breath, the way her lips pressed together tightly like she was fighting the urge to speak out.
She wasn’t going to make this easy.
Our eyes met for a second but she rolled her eyes at me
I chuckled, taking a step closer.
“What's your name?”I asked. my eyes never leaving her.
She kept quiet, ignoring my question
Her father gave her a serious look.
“Words, you will answer me when I talk to you.” I commanded.
“Ava,” She forced her chin up meeting my gaze, trying to sound firm
But I could sense it in her voice.
Fear.
Chris excused himself as he got an important call.
Ava tried sitting down avoiding my gaze.
“I don't remember telling you to sit,”I spoke coldly.
She fidgeted as she stood, her palms rubbing together.
“Let me get straight to the point. I assume your father has told you everything, about the marriage.”
“You're part of this family now.”
I took a step closer as my hand went straight to her cheek.
“And mine too,” I whispered.
She knocked my hand away as she frowned.
“I'm not yours,” she shot back.
My jaw tightened slightly. Not anger.
Interest.
No one had ever spoken back to me before, the last fool that tried lost an arm.
I stared at her for a long moment.
Ava Romano had no intention of becoming my wife.
And I had no intention of letting her go.
- Writer
