Too fragile for the beast

Too Fragile for the Beast An eerie silence echoed through the basement, each brick absorbing the weight of the darkness. The air was thick with dust and the faint, metallic scent of blood. In the far corner, a man was tied to a chair, his torn shirt and bloodied body evidence of severe torture. Though conscious, he kept his eyes shut, lacking the energy to open them. Breathing was a monumental task after three days without food or water. His heartbeat was the only sound he could register, pounding rapidly within his ribcage as he sensed his end approaching. The screeching of a steel door signaled that his time was running out. Two men in uniform stood at the entrance, guns in hand. Strong footsteps echoed through the basement, growing louder with each passing second. The man in the chair trembled in fear. The footsteps halted in front of him, and he felt the overwhelming presence of the devil himself. Another man placed a chair facing the trembling prisoner. “Boss, he’s not talking. We’ve tried everything,” Afzal, his most trusted man, spoke anxiously. The devil sat down, exuding power and dominance. “Who is behind all of this?” he asked authoritatively. Silence. “It seems whoever sent you to spy on my family is more important than your own.” The man’s eyes shot open, meeting the dangerous amber gaze that stole his breath away. “N-not my family, please. I was forced to do this. Please, forgive me,” he pleaded. In the next moment, the devil grabbed his hair, yanking his face forward to land a punch on his jaw. The man, still tied to the chair, fell over from the force, groaning in pain. The amber-eyed man signaled to Afzal, who dialed a number and put it on speaker. “Give the phone to his daughter.” “Dad? What’s going on? Where are you? Why are these men with guns in our home?” a girl’s anxious voice came through before Afzal disconnected the call. “I’ll tell you everything. Please, leave my family alone,” the man shivered, tears streaming from his sleepless eyes. “I don’t have time for your nonsense. Spill the truth, or your house will burn to ashes along with your family,” the devil warned, rolling up his sleeves. “It’s Simon Volkov. He paid me to spy on you and your family. He wants to know every detail about your family and your next shipment. That’s all I know. Please, forgive me…” BOOM. A gunshot rang out, silencing his pleas. His lifeless body remained tied to the chair, blood oozing from between his eyes. “Afzal, clean up this mess and take care of his family. I’ll deal with that motherfucker Simon soon,” the devil said, leaving the basement without a second glance. He is the most powerful man in the mafia world. Everyone fears him, but fear is foreign to him. Ruthless and unmatched in strength, no one dares to look him in the eye. He can burn his enemies with a mere stare. He loves his family deeply but doesn’t believe in love. To him, women are a man’s weakness. He is the embodiment of dominance and danger. This is Arsh Akthar. Leader of Cobra and CEO of Akthar Industries, a multinational company owned by the Akthar family. He elevated their business to new heights. At 15, he lost his father to health issues and took over both the business and the mafia world. His teenage years were spent training with weapons, becoming the most ruthless mafia boss. By 21, he was successful, cold, and had sealed his emotions. His heart was as hard as rock, impossible to break. But little did he know, someone was born to melt his heart with pure love and affection… After the basement encounter, he headed to the mansion to fulfill a promise to his beloved mother. She was the kindest woman he knew, never harming anyone. Since his father’s death, she became his everything, though his busy schedule kept them apart. It was her birthday, and he needed to buy her a gift before reaching the mansion. His family was small: his mother, his bubbly 20-year-old sister Zahra, and their uncle’s family, whom he tolerated only for his mother’s sake. To distance himself, he built a luxurious mansion where he lived alone, visiting his mother often as per her request. On the way home, he stopped his black Tesla near a mall to buy a gift. Three more cars followed, but he signaled his guards to stay put, preferring privacy for family matters. He headed straight to the ornaments section, knowing his mother’s hobby. A simple glass ornament of a mother penguin hugging her baby caught his eye. As he reached for it, a small hand grabbed it first. He looked up to see a beautiful girl holding it. Noticing his interest, she offered it to him, saying, “You can take it if you want,” before placing it back and walking away. He watched her leave with another girl, possibly her friend. She wore a white shalwar with a nude hijab, matching her outfit and securely covering her hair. Though he saw her face for only a few seconds, he was mesmerized. An unfamiliar feeling clutched his heart as he watched her walk away. Shaking off the new sensation, he bought gifts for his mother and left the mall. To be continued…