Ravenous Revenge

Chapter Two -Ares

I'm bored to tears, sipping my coffee in the vast conference room, listening to this bald old stronzo drone on about stocks and how we can supposedly improve the business. As if I'm some i***t who doesn't already know the score. Unfortunately, here I sit, stuck, pretending to care.

It's not like the legal side of things matters much anyway—what matters is making sure the businesses stay afloat enough to keep laundering money through them. So I have to sit through this circus and act like I'm interested in what these board members have to say. Their thoughts, their feelings—it's all just noise.

Without the board members, we'd be exposed. Our other businesses would suffer, and we'd have to scramble to keep the money flowing. I try not to think about it too much, though. Instead, I let my mind wander... to the fantasies I've learned to push away.

I imagine walking over to his spot at the table, the old fool blabbering on about profits, completely oblivious. I picture the knife in my hand, quick and clean across his neck—blood pumping, staining the mahogany and the ash-grey carpet. His face would change—first confusion, then terror, then nothing as his life fades away.

I smile to myself, shaking off the image. Yeah, I'm messed up—but then again, what would you expect from someone who's been torturing and killing since I was fourteen? Technically, it started before that. But my father made it official when I was fourteen.

"Mr. Rossi, care to share with the board members what is so funny?"

The old bastard had the nerve to call me out, like I wouldn't m******e every board member in this room and have them replaced before dinner. My nostrils flared as I glared at him, every ounce of disdain I felt reflected in my stare.

He stood three seats down, looking at me with that condescending tilt of his head. His s**t-brown eyes practically oozed arrogance, but I saw the beads of sweat forming along his temple, sliding down his shiny bald scalp. He was an ugly creature—the closest thing to a rat man I'd ever seen.

We locked eyes, a silent battle brewing between us. My gaze burned into him, unrelenting, daring him to hold his ground. Seconds dragged into what felt like hours, and finally, the cracks began to show. His eyes flickered, the confidence slipping, replaced by something more cautious.

When he dropped his gaze, side-glancing at me warily, I felt a bitter surge of satisfaction. Coward.

I took a moment to survey the room. Most of the members looked like they were ready to bolt for the door. It was clear—we weren't going to get anything else done today.

Clearing my throat, I brought all eight pairs of eyes back to me.

"Nothing that concerns you," I said sharply. "This meeting is adjourned. Anything not covered today, email it to my secretary. I'll address it based on priority. Whatever's left can wait until the next board meeting. Thank you. That will be all."

Without waiting for a response, I stood, my movements deliberately casual, and strolled out of the room. The tension of their stares followed me as I made a beeline for my office, craving some semblance of peace.

The moment I collapsed into my desk chair, I closed my eyes and exhaled. Why couldn't I just delegate these damn meetings? I'd much rather be in the torture rooms.

Lately, we'd been dealing with the Russians—their mob sniffing around where they shouldn't. I f*****g hated the Russians. They never knew when to leave well enough alone. After years of peace, why now? Why were they suddenly sticking their noses into our business?

And by wanting answers, I meant extracting them. Teeth. Fingers. Whatever it took. My hands itched for violence, but there was too much work piling up—work I couldn't pawn off on anyone else.

Grudgingly, I glanced at my computer and started slogging through emails and proposals. I was almost done when my phone buzzed, the sound cutting through the silence like a blade.

My father.

Fuck.

What did he want now?

"Father," I answer through clenched teeth, already dreading whatever comes next.

"Son, a little birdie told me you've been scaring off board members," he grumbles, disdain dripping through the line. He doesn't want to be having this conversation any more than I do.

"Well, maybe your board members should learn to be good little lapdogs and not challenge me," I snap back. I already know who called him. That rat bastard. When I get my hands on him, I'll scalp his shiny bald head myself.

"They're just doing their jobs, as you should be. I didn't hand you the empire so you could destroy my legitimate business. Do you have any idea what's at stake if this company goes under?"

Here it comes—the lecture. Rolling my eyes, I hit mute and let out a loud groan. I'm thirty-five years old, not some kid who needs a lecture about responsibility. I know damn well what's at stake. I don't need him barking at me to keep it afloat.

Fuck, I need to kill someone. Or get laid. Maybe both.

"Did you hear me?" my father bellows, his voice sharp enough to cut through my thoughts.

"Sure," I say snidely, unmuting the phone. "Listen, I just wrapped up work here at the office. Next, I'm heading down to the warehouse to... persuade the Russians for information."

"You will not!" he snaps. "You know as well as I do that you need to stay away from those rooms. It's not good for your health."

The irony of him acting like he cares about my health makes me laugh bitterly. This is the man who let me get taken by those filthy animals. The man who didn't protect me when I needed it most. All I am to him is the heir—a pawn.

"Big words from the man responsible for my 'ill health,'" I spit. "Let's cut the s**t where you pretend to care. I'll do what I want, when I want, however I want. If I feel like eviscerating a man and forcing him to watch while I keep him alive, I f*****g will. Now, do us both a favor and SHUT THE f**k UP."

The call ends with a satisfying crunch as I smash my phone onto the desk before hurling it at the wall. Pieces scatter, but it doesn't calm the vibrating rage in my chest. My breath comes in heavy bursts, and the edges of my vision blur red.

I yank open my desk drawer and grab the meds I'm supposed to take to "keep the beast at bay." Staring at the label, I hesitate before deciding I don't need them. Not anymore. The monster inside me isn't a curse—it's a weapon. One I trust more than any pill.

Marching to the bathroom, I dump the pills into the toilet and flush. Good riddance.

When I return to my desk, I freeze. Someone's sitting on the navy-blue couch. My best friend, my right-hand man, my brother—not by blood, but by bond—Leo Rossi.

If I'm the darkness, Leo's the light. My father adopted him after saving me from my captors. The son of a rival boss, Leo, was spared because he was a child. In our world, we don't kill kids. My father saw potential in him, and we've been inseparable ever since.

Leo grins widely, mischief sparkling in his eyes. "Hello, brother!" he says, his voice brimming with excitement.

"Please tell me that look in your eye means we get to kill someone," I respond flatly.

His grin falters for a split second before he narrows his eyes playfully. "Uh, no. You're not supposed to be killing anyone. It might, you know, trigger you."

I scoff, rolling my eyes. "Yeah, whatever. What's got you so excited, then?"

As he starts talking, I try to focus, but my head's pounding. The start of a migraine. I reach for the painkillers I keep in the same drawer as my meds. These, at least, should help.

"-So, what do you think? Want to go?" Leo's voice snaps me back to the conversation.

"Wait, what? Sorry, I wasn't listening. Go where?"

"f*****g asshole," he laughs, shaking his head. "Do you ever listen? Our new club downtown is opening tonight. Go home, get some rest, and we're partying tonight!"

He stands and playfully raises his arms like he's 'raising the roof.' Only Leo could goof around like this and still be the same man capable of matching my brutality in the torture rooms.

"That sounds perfect," I admit, the tension in my chest easing slightly. "I was just thinking I needed to get laid. I'll go home, nap, and meet you there around nine."

We leave the office together, but I've got a few errands to run first—starting with buying a new phone. Then it's home for a quick nap. I can only hope the nightmares don't disturb me.

By tonight, I'll be ready to party—and find a beautiful woman to sink my teeth into. Maybe that will finally tame the beast.