Marked by The Devil Don

CHAPTER THREE

Salazar's POV

I sat in a dark room referred to as my office when two of my men walked in. The room was thick with clouds of cigar smoke and an aura that felt dark. At my two sides were young ladies dressed in sultry pieces, gently caressing my body.

The men approached me and bowed.

“What is it, Rafael?” I asked, my tone cold and distant.

Rafael, one of my men with a rigid expression and a scar on his neck, came forward and displayed another bow.

“He was around tonight,” he said to me.

I raised his brow.

“Who?”

“Vescari and his men.” Rafael answered.

Silence filled the room.

Despite the fact that Dante was nowhere near the territory, the mention of his name still brought about a heavy atmosphere.

I leaned back in my chair, putting a pause to the ladies before me.

“And?” I questioned.

“They did not make a scene. They just…” Rafael hesitated, “...they ordered her.”

Another wave of silence spread through the room, the words still hanging in the air. I was aware that Dante never ordered for anyone. He would only present himself, but he never for once asked for anyone.

Elena.

My gaze sharpened slightly.

Why her?

Then I let out a slight smile.

“Interesting. He made it easier.”

“Boss, Elena is in the hands of our enemy. Do you think we can trust her enough to deliver?” Marco, the second man asked me.

I shot a glance at the man's rogue looking face and smirked. Then I stood up from my seat, approaching the duo.

How dare he showcase a wave of doubt?

“Do you doubt her loyalty to me?” I questioned, directing it at Marco.

“I doubt everyone's loyalty when a man like Dante is involved. Besides, you once said she possesses fire.”

I raised a brow.

“What are you trying to say?”

“There is a saying that fire burns whoever holds it too.” Marco managed to say amidst the pressure.

On hearing this, I nodded slowly. Marco was really thinking outside the box, but that wasn't what I wanted. I had my own plans.

“Did they hurt her?” I asked after moments of silence.

“That is unknown to us, boss.” Rafael chirped in.

I heard Marco cursing under his breath.

“That is worse,” he said, “If she is still breathing, she is talking and I know Dante to be strict if she gets caught. He could order for her death immediately.”

I stared hard at Marco, tilting my head slightly to observe the man's composure. I noticed there was something different about him. He looked rouge, but I could literally see him shaking.

Dante Vescari.

I hated that name. It was like a plague to me.

However, that does not change the fact that he was a top mafia leader and the most notorious man alive, while I, Victor Salazar, was a secret survivor, building my empire from sweat after having everything taken from me.

Dante Vescari.

That man had reduced me to nothing, putting me in a situation where I had to rise without help. It was the same man who had crushed me, throwing me away like a pest.

And yet, in his absence, my men shook at the mention of his name. Dante was commanding fear even when he was miles away.

That was why I liked Elena. She was not the fearful type, or one someone could thread upon easily.

At least, I had hope in her to deliver.

“Elena is not loyal,” I told the men, “she is bound. Bound by consequences and determination. She knows what she wants and she will not stop till she gets it.”

My gaze flicked from Rafael to Marco

“Fear is not always weakness. Sometimes it is a leash, but Elena understands who holds that leash.”

“And if Dante cuts that leash?” Marco asked.

I shot him a look.

How daring?!

The man quickly bowed in apology.

“If he does that, we will cut him.” I told them.

Then there was silence.

“Elena knows the outcome if she spills a word, so I doubt she would want that to happen.” I said as I walked back to my seat between the ladies.

They began caressing me again as I sipped the whiskey in my glass.

Rafael and Marco had nothing else to say, they only nodded in silence. I knew they were not convinced yet. But nothing could be said.

At least, for now.

***

Elena's POV

I felt one of the guards push me into a dark room. Then I heard the gates slam shut behind me, my heart beating fast as the chains rattle with each move.

When I took two steps forward, my gaze caught sight of two pairs of feral eyes staring back at me. Then I heard a low growl as they emerged from the darkness.

I could not tell what they were since the only light that seeped into the room came from the high window. But I could feel them approaching me, their steps slow, calculated and intentional.

Just then, I caught sight of what they were as they entered the light. My eyes widened in shock and my heart widened in shock and my heart began to pound within my chest.

They were dogs! Not the usual pet type. These were the kind I had heard about, the same one that feeds on the flesh of all of Dante's captives.

The first dog stepped closer, inhaling deeply.

I held my breath.

The dogs could smell me, worse still, they could sense my fear.

Just as I was trying to get myself together, the second dog came near, circling me slowly. I could feel my pulse betraying me and the adrenaline flooding violently through my veins.

The first dog barked and I suddenly flinched.

There was a pause between the two dogs. Then they stepped closer, their teeth bared.

I darted my eyes around, but there was nowhere to run to. Even if I had to run, it would only trigger the dog's chase.

What do I do now?

While I was still thinking, the first dog snapped its jaws just inches away from my face.

My heart jumped.

The dogs reacted to fear, but I struggled to control it. My breath was now becoming too fast and sweat had already started to perspire around my forehead.

Soon, the first second dog inched closer, I could feel its hot breath on my legs.

I closed my eyes.

Was this how I was going to die?

I was just one inch away from death and by the look of it, I wasn't sure I would survive it.

Suddenly, a thought came into my mind. I had figured that if I suppress my fear, the dogs might actually let me be.

It was all about fear, nothing else.

So I tried the next hard thing to do.

Steadying my breath.

I took the first one. And exhaled. I took another one, deeper. Then exhaled.

Slowly, I could feel my pulse coming back to normal.

“I will survive.” I whispered to myself. “I will survive.”

The dogs growled, this time, softly. The second one brushed its nose on my legs, but I was bent on being calm. That was my only way to survive.

When the dogs circled me with a sniff, I froze instantly.

Seconds passed, and so did minutes.

Just then the first barked again and I closed my eyes, letting out a deep breath. When I opened them again, I saw it sitting on the ground, observing my next move.

Then I felt my body calm down.

Well, not until the second one walked towards me and stopped just in front of me. After some minutes, I watched as it lowered itself to the ground with its eyes still on me.

They were deciding. But for now, I figured they had seen that I was not worth an attack.

I moved backwards slowly until I stopped at a wall, then I slid down to the ground, resting my back against the cold stone wall.

The dogs did not react aggressively, they only watched me through half-closed eyes. And when one of the dogs shifted closer to me, I could feel the warmth exuding from its body. I wanted to touch it, to feel its fur, but I did not dare to test my luck.

It was clear that if I crossed my boundary, I would not live to see the next day. I had only survived by stillness and mastering the emotion they were trained to consume.

Fear.

Hours later, bright light seeped in through the window. I took a deep breath even though I had barely slept. I looked at where the dogs were, but they were lying still with their eyes closed.

I knew I had survived the night.

Just then a thought occurred to me: since I had survived a night in the beasts den, then it was possible to survive him too. After all, he was not any different from them.

Just then, I heard footsteps approaching the den. Suddenly, the dog's eyes shot open. Their eyes were red and thirsty for blood.

As they got up, I could hear the chains unlocking. I looked back at the dogs with fear now building up in me as I observed their deadly look.

It was at that moment I knew my life was so done.

Before I could think about anything, the gates opened. Unfortunately, one of the dogs lunged towards me.

It was at that instant, I knew I was going to be handed to Dante,

Dead.