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1644 Words
Ryker Talaverra's POV
They say home is where the heart is. But my home holds no hearts. Not mine, not my father's nor the lineage of brute faced Talaverra's whose faces tormented the hallways of the building.
My home is a haunted place. I used to be scared of it, scared of its darkness and sins. But now I walk through it knowing that I'm the devil and this is my hell.
I run this s**t.
Guards bowed their heads slightly as they opened the double doors that led to the entrance living room of the Talaverra's Household.
A group of two suited bodyguards and a young chubby man standing beside an elderly man sitting with his legs crossed.
A low growl escaped my throat as I watched the pot bellied old man sit relaxingly with his legs on my table.
Sylvia rushed from behind me, forcing a smile at the guest as she struggled to catch her breath.
“Boss, these are the Scottdales family, leader of the Wolfgang confraternity.” She said, and then turned her gaze to the pot bellied man. “And Sir, this is my Boss. Mr.Ryker Talaverra. The head of the—”
The man lifted his hand to hush her up. “You don't need to introduce Ryker to us. His reputation speaks for himself.” The old man cackled out, his voice raspy and cracked. The young man beside him who I assumed was his son watched his father laugh and copied his actions.
I bared my teeth as I kept my irritation hidden, my face remaining a blank canvas void of emotion.
His first offense was daring to sit down without asking and the next was putting his legs on my table. Those two offenses were enough to register him on death's daily roster but when I heard he runs the Wolfgang confraternity, a bitter taste rested on my tongue.
“You must be his son?” I asked, my eyes darting over the chubby young man who looked like he was going to pee in his pants if a dog barked too loud.
He nodded his head frantically and puffed out his chest in a practiced manner.
“I was happy to hear you're back in town.” Mr. Scottsdale announced, drawing my attention from his son. “Finally, the true heir of the Talaverra's is back to grab the balls of our underground operations.”
I watched his eyes glint with excitement, knowing fully well that I knew that those underground operations included trafficking of teenagers and women.
He probably thought I was just as my father. But while I had gotten father's cold heart, I wasn't a beast who would turn a blind eye to such heinous crimes.
“A true son of your father.” He added, his eyes glinting with admiration as he stared at me.
Sylvia was beaming from ear to ear as she watched the old man ramble more and more praises.
“We have a gift for you.” He said, motioning to his bodyguard. He handed over a wrapped gift and slowly unfolded it. There was a red velvet box.
I tilted my head slightly, signaling to Sylvie to go get the box.
The man smiled, peeking at her cleavage as she leaned forward to get the box.
Sylvie was sexy but I knew he had a taste for younger ones. He and his pedophilic confraternity members ran an illegal club housing trafficked teenagers.
The bitterness on my tongue became worse by the second, until it felt like I was chewing gall.
Sylvie brought the box to me and slowly lifted the lid, revealing a diamond necklace.
She gasped, her eyes widened and her jaws fell open.
Seeing her reaction, the old man broke out into laughter. His son followed in the queue.
Laugh one more time and I will rip your throat out, I thought.
“That necklace is over 200 carats of natural diamond.” His arrogance poured out with every word he spoke.
It was a fine piece. The cut was perfect and even though I rarely saw the worth in gems and rich people's toys, I was impressed.
“We heard you'll be in need of a wife soon.”
I shot a glare at his son who turned his gaze to the floor.
His father cleared his throat, smiling awkwardly to ease the tension in the air. “It's just silly rumors about it being in your father's will demands.”
A smirk stretched from my mouth before I turned around and walked to the bar.
I poured myself raw scotch and then my other hand went under a hidden compartment at the bar, drawing out a gun. From the weight on it, I could tell it was loaded.
I tucked it in my pants and walked back to the bunch.
“It's true.” I said and both father and son applauded, laughing out merrily.
“Then it will be perfect for your wife.”
I nodded, looking away as I was getting sick of their presence.
“It must have cost a lot.”
He nodded and smiled. “It did. But it means nothing compared to what we'll gain from being allies.”
I walked to the old man and handed him the leftovers of my scotch. He accepted it and stared at the cup for a second.
Did he think I was a coward who'd kill him by poison? That was beneath me.
Smiling awkwardly, he took a sip and then proceeded to drink steadily.
“How does it feel to get so much money from other people's pain?”
He choked on his drink, the glass nearly falling from his hands. “Excuse me.”
“Don't act coy.” I sighed, closing the distance between us until our shoes were touching. “I know how you bully poor people In Ravenport. You force them to sell their homes and lands for pennies, and then make it your own.”
The smile melted from his face. “But your father understood the business.”
“I'm not my father!”
Fear crept onto his face like a shadow. No arrogance, no pride. Just fear.
“Come on, Ryker. You're like a son to me.” He voiced out, trying to conceal his quivering by speaking loudly and posing as a father-figure. “You're Mafia Lord. You get your hands dirty all the time. No one's Messiah here.” He cackled out and stopped when he noticed not even a c***k of a smile was on my face.
“I hurt nobody that didn't deserve it!” He yelled out, panic waltzing through his veins.
“What about the teenage girls you take advantage of just so they can keep their homes?” The words felt like fire on my tongue but I had to let it out.
His pupils dilated and darkened. He shook his head and looked back at his son who was nearly having a convulsion. “They meant nothing to me. Just play things, okay?”
My response was a low resonant growl.
“I did nothing wrong.” He said defensively. “I never broke any of your father's rules.”
I sighed and then took the glass from his hand. The bodyguards were on alert but they dared move as they both had countless snipers aimed at them.
Tilting the glass, I let the scotch pour and wet his shoes.
“I guess the rules have changed.”
My hands went to my tucked gun and before he could shout ‘no’, a bullet hole was in the middle of his cranium.
His son stood still. Frozen to the ground with his eyes fixed on the bloody sight of his father.
“Mr Scottsdale?”
Those tortured eyes looked up at me with tears pouring out.
“Yes.” He whispered shakily.
“Do you mind running your family's business without stealing homes and engaging in trafficking?”
He shook his head frantically, breaking into a sob.
“Great!”
The door swung open and a guard walked in hurriedly. His jacket button was undone and the material ruffled. It was clear to me that he had been struggling with something outside.
“Sir?” He saluted.
Sylvia hissed at him. “Get away from here and back to your post.”
“But—” He bit down his tongue and nodded obediently at her command. His eyes lingered a second on the dead body before he made his way back to the door.
“Wait!” I was at the bar, pouring more scotch for myself while listening to the uneven rhythm of Mr. Scottsdale sobs.
The guard stopped and watched me motion for him to speak before he relayed his message.
“There is a lady at the gate demanding to see you.”
Sylvia's eyes darted to me at once. “Are you expecting visitors?”
I shook my head while sipping more scotch.
“Let the lady in!” I ordered.
“But sir—” Sylvia started but my lifted hand shut her up.
She swallowed in her concerns and remained mute until the guard left and came back.
“Here she is.” He said as he opened the door.
From the moment I smelled rose oil, I knew who it was.
She stumbled in, pushing against the guard who tugged at her arm violently.
“Let me go!” She fought back his arm until her eyes caught sight of the dead body and blood everywhere.
“Ahh!” She shrieked, falling to the floor and backing away from the body.
My grin widened and a wave of heat settled in my chest.
“Hello love.” I said. “Perfect timing.”
- Writer
