Craving Mr. Architect

Chapter II

Home, sweet f*****g home. Well, at least I suppose it still counts as home.

Ten years have bled by since I last set foot in Davao City. I was twenty when I turned my back on Dante and Leo, naively hoping that separating myself from the family would cure the pathological restlessness that had systematically ruined every other city I ever inhabited. Lately, the boredom has been agonizing. The old thrills that once fed my cravings have slowly lost their potency, leaving a suffocating cloud hanging over my existence. Nothing holds my interest anymore. So, after wrapping up my contract with a standard, shady maritime security outfit over in Malaysia, my feet grew itchy once more. I needed to return to the birthplace of my taste for high-stakes criminality.

And honestly? I missed Dante and Leo. They know exactly how to enjoy themselves while letting the blood of those who wrong them flow. When I’m with them, I don’t have to wear the suffocating mask of a "normal, respectable citizen"—but that’s a story for another day.

I leaned back into the rear seat of the premium ride conveying me up toward the Alcantara compound, watching the towering city buildings give way to thick, lush jungle as we ascended. I rolled down the window, letting the humid, tropical wind whip through my hair. Even the heavy, suffocating heat of Davao seemed to breathe a sick kind of life back into my lungs. I missed this heat. The unapologetic way the tropical air sticks to your skin, forcing you to remain hyper-aware of your own pulse.

Clutching my designer black leather tote to my side, I let myself drown in the dark memories of our youth. We were just teenagers, left to fend for ourselves because our worthless parents had utterly collapsed. They dragged us into the family empire when we were just children, promising a life of untouchable luxury, but abandonment was the only destination. We had no choice but to step up as the Alcantaras' premier enforcers and traffickers. And I wasn’t resentful of that. Some people have a holy calling in life; I found mine the moment I began working alongside the brothers. Violence, dominance, and absolute control. Fulfilling punishment in the name of consequences, living by a rigid bloodline structure, and above all else—undying loyalty.

When I left, I thought it was a calculated choice, but looking back, it was nothing more than youthful stupidity. My restlessness drove me across borders, searching for anything that could satisfy the dark inclinations of my heart. The lust for psychological control, for the taste of power, for a life where I was the predator. But in the end, I was the one who got scammed. It is exhausting pretending to be a functioning member of polite society, even within the illicit underworld circles I frequented abroad. So, I’ve come full circle. I am returning to the family calling. Here, I can finally unleash the true monster inside me, and I can't f*****g wait.

The car ground to a halt in front of a colossal, heavily guarded gate safeguarding a massive contemporary mansion. The estate reeked of ungodly wealth—a breathtaking spectacle hidden away in a secluded pocket of Shrine Hills. The driver was just about to roll down his window to speak into the high-tech intercom when the gates swung open on their own, and we cruised slowly up the winding driveway. I hadn’t seen this specific property yet, and I was eager to see how the bastards had squandered their money. They had swallowed the region's power whole over the last ten years, and I was ready to stake my claim right alongside them.

I paid the driver and stepped out, leaving him to handle my luggage. The car was just pulling away when the mansion's massive, monolithic front doors swung open. Dante walked out—wearing that same signature, lethal scowl.

“You’re early,” Dante said, standing at the apex of the marble steps. A thin, forced smile traced his lips while his cold, calculating eyes scanned me.

“Thought I’d catch an earlier flight. Look at you, cousin. Nice to see your suits finally match the size of your ego,” I said, flashing him a wicked grin. Our old banter returned as naturally as breathing, utterly erasing the decade that had kept us apart.

“f**k off, Ysabella. At least my posture doesn’t look stiff from trying too hard to look tough.”

“Don’t be jealous, Dante. You know being intimidating comes naturally to me. But I’ll take the compliment.”

Dante chuckled, shaking his head. I could practically see him already regretting their decision to let me come back.

“Come on, psycho. Let’s get caught up,” he said, gesturing with his head for me to follow him inside.

I let out a low whistle, my gaze sweeping across the opulent foyer. Everything was a masterpiece of black-and-white Italian marble—sharp, aggressive architectural details where clearly no expense had been spared. I looked up at a colossal, modern crystal chandelier suspended from the vaulted ceiling before turning my attention back to Dante. He was watching me, obviously waiting for a sharp remark or a critique.

“You’ve done well, Dante. You and Leo. Who would’ve thought ten years ago that we’d be ruling the entire region from a fortress like this?”

“Yeah, we’ve done alright. We paid for this place in blood and sweat. It would’ve been better if you’d been here to help build it.”

“You know I had to leave. The boredom here was killing me.”

“And now?”

“Still looking for something to keep me entertained.”

“You have too much dark energy, Ysa. Don’t worry, we have plenty of work to get your hands dirty again.”

Dante turned, and I followed him down a long, echoing corridor into his private office. I sank into a fiercely expensive, plush leather chair directly across from his imposing executive desk.

“Isn’t our cartel money a bit too flagrant?” I asked, making myself comfortable.

“Why should I hide it? Displaying wealth sends a clear message to our enemies that we excel at what we do. Besides, who doesn’t love luxury?”

“Leo. Unless he’s undergone a complete personality transplant since I left, I’m shocked he tolerates living in a palace.”

“He still complains about it being flashy, but he likes the security.”

“Where is he, anyway?”

“On his way back from the venues. We have a high-end burlesque lounge in Victoria Plaza called Starlight, which I run, and Leo handles the exclusive gents' club, Desire.”

“Perfect. And when do I get to meet your wife?”

Dante’s eyes narrowed instantly. “Soon. And I’m warning you right now, Ysabella—no f*****g mind games with her.”

“Ooh, so she’s precious. Never thought I’d see the day a man like you would get whipped. But I nearly had a heart attack when you texted that Leo was in a serious relationship too. Now *that* is terrifying.”

“Yeah, but when you meet his woman, you’ll see she’s no ordinary girl. She’s just as unhinged as Leo is.”

“And what about Jonathan?”

“He’s around. But stay away from his woman, too.”

“Wait, what? I thought that man was entirely asexual. Have you turned the whole inner circle into hopeless romantics?”

“I don’t know what happened, but he’s with Kaye now. Kaye’s a new asset. Jonathan's step-niece.”

“He’s sleeping with his niece?”

“Step-niece. There's no blood relation.”

“I don’t give a s**t. Wow. Good for him. Are there any other pretty toys on the payroll I can amuse myself with?”

Dante muttered something under his breath, massaging his temples. “I see your predatory streak is still in full swing.”

“Always. It dies when I do.”

“You’re out of your mind. But to answer your question, we have a chief head of security, Santi.”

“Available?”

“Who knows. With everything that’s happened this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s harboring his own dark secrets. God, it’s like there’s something in the water here in Davao.”

“If there is, we should bottle it and sell it.”

“I’m going to regret bringing you back into the fold, aren't I? You really haven't changed.”

A slow, dangerous smile crept across my face. He was entirely right. I hadn't changed.

I had only gotten much, much worse.