Chapter 15
1335 Words
Alessandro's POV
I hate lies.
I hate betrayal.
And I refuse to ever feel that knife in my back again.
The first time it happened, I was 17. Someone I trusted sold out my father. Half our men died that night. The second was with Natasha. Since then, I made one rule: trust no one. Especially not with a pretty face and soft eyes.
So when the footage showed Alice in my office at 2:14 AM. When the flash drive was found under her mattress. When Lucas swore he saw her...
I had no choice.
But goddamn.
One lash after another on her skin and with every strike, something in me twisted. It didn’t feel like justice. It felt like I was hurting the wrong person.
But I couldn’t afford to think like that. Feelings cloud judgment. And judgment keeps me alive.
My sister June had been warning me for weeks. "Brother, you’re too soft on the new staff. You need to make an example."
Maybe she was right. Maybe I should apologize to her for ignoring her.
Hah. Apologize.
I’m Alessandro De Luca. Head of the De Luca family. Saying sorry feels like cutting off my own hand.
The rage surged again. I raised the belt one more time and brought it down.
She didn’t scream. She just went limp.
She fainted.
And still, I wasn’t satisfied.
“Pathetic,” I muttered.
I cut the ropes from her wrists. Her body dropped to the cold floor with a dull thud. Bloody. Torn clothes. Hair stuck to her face with sweat.
She looked broken.
I don’t need to feel guilt. She brought this on herself.
But why did her face keep flashing in my head? Why did she look so... innocent even while bleeding?
By the time I’m done with her, that doubt will be gone. I’ll make sure of it.
I threw the belt to the floor with a clatter.
“Filthy.”
In the corner was a scrap of paper. I picked it up, dipped the edge in the blood on the floor, and wrote in jagged red letters:
“I AM NOT DONE WITH YOU YET.”
Let that scare the wits out of her when she wakes up.
I stepped out of the punishment room and slammed the door.
Dimitri was waiting in the hallway. My right-hand man. The only person who dares to talk back to me.
“Alessandro,” he said, falling into step beside me. “I think you need to investigate this more before unleashing all your anger.”
I stopped walking and turned to him.
“She was in the secret footage, Dimitri. The drive was in her room. Tell me. What other reason do I need to punish her?”
He didn’t flinch. “No. But you need to be careful not to hurt her too much.”
Something about the way he said it made my jaw tighten.
“Why? What’s with you and her?”
I stepped closer. He stepped back, but only half a step.
“Are you in love with her?”
His eyes widened in shock. “What? No.”
Typical Dimitri. Too loyal to lie, too smart to tell the truth.
“You better not be,” I said coldly, then brushed past him toward the East Wing.
“Wait, man,” he caught up. “I’m just looking out for you. I don’t want you waking up tomorrow with that feeling of guilt after landing horrible tortures on an innocent girl.”
I looked at him.
For half a second, something in me agreed.
But I shoved it down. Weakness.
“I won’t feel guilt,” I said. “Assemble my brothers in my study in twenty minutes.”
With that, I strode off to my room to clean the blood off my hands.
***
Twenty minutes later, I pushed open the heavy doors to my study.
My brothers were already there, and of course, they were fighting.
“No, I scored first!” Adrian slammed his hand on the table. “You’re just trying to steal my goal, as usual.”
“Look at this maniac,” Zain shot back, leaning back in the chair like he owned the place. “Always making everything about football.”
“Oh, you dare call me that?” Adrian stood up. “Come here. I’ll break that skull for you.”
They were about to go at it when Adrian caught sight of me.
He immediately straightened. “Hey, big bro.”
Zain just sighed and sat down properly. “You called for us?”
I walked to the head of the desk and sat. The leather chair creaked under me.
“Bro,” Adrian started, then hesitated. “You... you have to take it easy with her. With Alice. I have this feeling she’s not guilty.”
I looked at him.
Why is everyone saying this?
First Dimitri. Now Adrian.
Did they all go soft while I wasn’t looking?
“I made up my mind,” I said flatly. “Don’t bring her up again until I say so. I will not be fooled by a wicked heart behind a pretty face. Not again.”
Adrian looked away and exchanged a glance with Zain.
“So,” I continued, shifting topics. “Here’s what’s happening. We have a problem, and her name is Alice. She’s either the culprit, or she was sent by one of our rivals. Either way, when I find out who’s pulling the strings, I’m going to teach both the puppet and the owner a lesson they won’t forget.”
Zain crossed his arms over his chest. “What do you need us to do?”
“You,” I pointed at Zain. “Head to Club Underground tonight. Check the new arms shipment. Report back on quality and quantity. And keep your eyes open. If the Russians are there, I want to know.”
Zain groaned. “Club Underground? Again? Fine. Maybe I’ll find someone to take my mind off this war shit.”
“And you,” I turned to Adrian. “Help me prep the men. Dimitri got intel that the Red Banner gang is planning to make a move tonight near the docks. We hit them first.”
Adrian’s eyes lit up. Finally, action. “Good. I’ve been itching for a fight.”
Zain hates war. He was born into this life but he’d rather be running the business side, counting money, not spilling blood. But he’s a De Luca. He doesn’t get a choice.
“Dismissed,” I said. “Be ready by 11 PM.”
They filed out, still bickering under their breaths.
The room fell silent.
And immediately, the image of Alice came back.
Her crying. Her begging. The way she looked at me like I was a monster.
Maybe I am.
I couldn’t sit still. I picked up the house phone on my desk.
It rang twice before a shaky voice answered.
“Hello, this is Nena, the house help speaking.”
“Nena,” I said. “Take some water to Alice. And food. Something light.”
There was a pause. “...Yes, Sir.”
I hung up before she could ask questions.
Would Alice thank me? Or would she think this was another trick? Another way to break her?
I didn’t know. And I hated that I cared.
I poured myself a drink. Whiskey. No ice.
Dimitri’s words echoed in my head: “I don’t want you waking up with guilt.”
Too late.
The guilt was already there. Coiled in my chest like a snake.
But I couldn’t show it. Not to my brothers. Not to my enemies.
A Mafia boss doesn’t get to doubt.
I downed the drink in one go.
Tonight we’d deal with the Red Banner.
Tomorrow... tomorrow I’d deal with the truth about Alice.
And if she was innocent?
Then God help me, because I was the one who’d hurt her.
- Writer
