Vincenzo POV (Trigger warning some viewers may find uncomfortable in bold)
Blowing out smoke I look at the man standing in front of my desk. He stands upright shaking waiting for me to speak, I tilted my head blowing smoke in his face before straightening up. He looks as though he’s just seen a ghost. ‘I-I thought you died’ he gulped. I smirked shrugging ‘Yeah, well it didn’t stick’ I mocked him.
Leaning forward in my chair I stare the man down, examining his body language, such a shame they sent such an inexperienced assassin to kill me. ‘Who sent you?’ I smiled waiting for his response. He shook his head no and shut his mouth tight, I rolled my eyes at his strategy to stay silent. Staying quiet isn’t always the best move.
‘Silence? That’s a new one.’ I continued mocking him. This wasn’t the first time an attempt was made on my laugh and it won’t be the last. I oepen my drawer grabbing my knife, I chuckle looking down at the handle my thumb tracing over the engraving ‘V.K’
slowly I lift my head to look at the man my smile widening knowing my favourite part of interrogation was about to commence. ‘Your attempt to kill me was pathetic.” I stated leaning closer to him, my chair only balancing on two legs. ‘How about I show you how to do it.’ I whispered smirking at him ‘a live demonstration.’ I take one last drag from my cigarette and place it on the astray keeping an unsettling eye contact as I did so.
I straighten my posture and watch him, standing there shaking trying to anticipate my next move, watching me, trying to study me. I wasn’t easy to read always in a calm mental and physical state even if I was furious, it makes it hard to read and anticipate what is to come.
I stay calm and play with the knife in my hand tracing the sharp edge with my thumb. I couldn’t help the pleasure that was crawling all over my skin, my eyes subtly trailing his shaking body, his once blue are now slowly draining becoming hollow and empty.
All because of me, because of me I drained the life from his eyes without having to inflict any pain on him. Simply by standing her Infront of him his soul already vanished losing all hope. ‘How? How do you do it?’ He asked breathlessly like it took every bit of courage in him to speak. I lean against the desk and entertain his question.
He cleared his throat ‘how do you thrive off of darkness, how are you so numb’ he emphasises. I looked at him with a tilt of the head, darkness? I mentally questioned. “You understand the irnony in your statement right? You just tried to kill me, you trained for this job” I squinted at him, “yes but I wasn’t built for it the thought of taking a life drains me. So how?” he continued getting a bit courageous.
I nodded my head slowly answering him.
‘I like the darkness’ I spoke up, ‘there’s something to the feeling of not knowing your surroundings, not seeing the colour of the things as they appear, but as they truly are.’ I watched him absorb every word looking genuinely interested in my answer.
‘There’s something about the unknown, the quiet, the cold, the power it holds in its grasp. There’s something unspoken about the dark, something I can never quite put into words. It always helped me to see despite the obvious irony.’ I stood up ‘besides when you finally accept the darkness within you, it absorbs you allowing you to become one with it.’ I watched as his face shifted. I looked at him approaching slowly.
He flinched backwards looking all around the room trying to desperately find an escape. His sweat dripped from his forehead trailing down to his jaw, his heartbeat getting noticeably faster the longer I stood in front of him just watching him the more anxious and fearful he grew. He was staring death in the face, and he knew it.
‘Your tattoo of the X with the guns intertwined tells me you’re from the assassination camp in France. Now judging from your hesitation and lack of ruthlessness I’m going to take a wild guess that I was one of or if not your first assignment outside the training camps’ I took a second to examine his body language which was proving my statements true. “It;s easy to kill something that already dead or a doll. When you’re faced with a real human it takes much more to pull that trigger” I emphasis mimicking a gun begging shot with my hand.
‘Your commander would be disappointed in you. You were trained to shoot and kill with no second thought with no hesitation and always to kill! However, to be fair whoever sent you to kill me set you up.’
He cut me off trying to say something, opening his mouth to utter a desperate plea for his life. I put my knife up placing it on his lips silencing him immediately.
‘Listen I’m fair if you can prove yourself useful, I’ll spare you but!’ I move my knife down to his neck ‘If you prove to be useless, I’ll dispose of you as such’ I snapped my fingers demonstrating how fast I can get rid of him.
‘So, what will it be then?’ I whispered in a low unsettling tone, the hairs on his arms standing upright. He stood there pondering the question for what felt like hours, I am a man of the utmost patience, but today my patience was none-existent every year on this day I had no patience.
‘My patience is wearing thin boy!’ I warned him grabbing him by his throat pining him against the wall. ‘I-I-I’m s-s-s-sorry’ rolling my eyes. ‘My question was simple; I didn’t ask for an apology nor an essay.’ I looked at him. ‘I don’t like repeating myself’ I warned him. Letting him go he quickly moved away from me backing himself against the wall on the opposite side of the room.
He stared at me his body trembling, his colour fading slowly turning into a white ghost. I slammed my hand on the table frustrated, causing him to jump on impact shutting his eyes waiting for the blow.
I raised my eyebrows at him amused ‘Tsk tsk, open your eyes’ I laughed out, he opened his eyes so fast it made me let out another chuckle. ‘You’re proving yourself’ I toyed with him mockingly, he looked relieved, and I quickly shook my head waving my knife around ‘Oh don’t look so happy, you’re proving yourself to be useless’ I corrected.
‘Do you want to know what happens to people who try to kill me?’ I ask him a rhetorical question. ‘People who go against the Kings?’ I continue and start walking closer to him, I stabbed my knife on my desk and grabbed my cigarette from the ash tray. Taking in a drag I slowly blow the smoke out and lower my hand holding the cigarette in between my fingers, I stood in front of him and roughly grabbed his throat pinning him to the wall once again.
I placed the bud on his neck and pressed it in, he let out a grunt. My jaw tensing, I narrowed my eyes as my face remained expressionless. The sound of his skin sizzling at the touch of the cigarette sent a wave of pleasure down my spine.
I removed the bud from his neck and put it on his cheek, then his eye lid upon contact he let out a yell. ‘I’m going to keep doing this until you tell me something’ keeping my promise I kept burning his skin repeatedly. Until he finally shouted ‘SALVATORE! HE WANTED YOU DEAD! IT’S THE SALVATORES!’ unable to handle the small bud burning his skin I huffed pathetic. “You caught me on a day or mourning so I won’t kill you. Especially because the information you gave is useful to me” I explained moving back.
‘Salvatore?’ I thought aloud. It had been a while since we heard that name, I smirked I walked back to the desk grabbing my knife from the table and came back around to him. I pull him towards the desk by his hands kicking just behind his knee causing him to kneel. His hands on the desk, he begins screaming begging for mercy. ‘Misericordia?’ (mercy) I repeated his plea dumbfounded.
‘Trust me. This is me showing you mercy” I paused slightly watching all hope leaving his soul. “I promised not to kill you, but you will be punished for attempting an attack” Slowly accepting his fate he bowed his head down with one swift move my blade sliced through his fingers, his right hand now left with no fingers and full of blood.
The man’s scream filled my entire estate, he screamed so loud I was surprised the glass in my office didn’t shatter.
‘So, you don’t forget me’ I explained as I grabbed his arm stretching it out and craving V.K to remind him and show his ‘boss’ who’s the one in charge.
‘The next time you or your boss ever think your big enough to take me on. This will serve to be a reminder and keep in mind the next time I won’t be so polite Inteso?’ (got it?) I pushed him down. ‘Lorenzo’ I yelled out. The doors in my office flung open with two of my men.
‘Take this piccola cagna (little bitch) and dump him back where you found him, and Lorenzo get Gina to give me the supplies to clean the blood’ I ordered him, walking around my desk and taking a seat in my chair.
‘Boss you could just have Gina clean it’ he states the obvious. I wave my hand around ‘You know no one is allowed in my office, not even the maids.’ I grab another cigarette and light it up, inhaling the toxin. I felt my body slightly relax. ‘Vincenzo’ I looked at the door seeing the man who helped bring me into the world. ‘Giovani’ I greeted him back coldly.
‘Tell me how’s business, is every-‘ he cut himself off seeing the blood on my desk and the knife next to it. ‘You really love that knife, don’t you?’ he questioned, letting a smile take over my lips ‘The knife was a gift’ I answered offering him a cigarette getting uncomfortable that his in my office. I lit up another cigarette ‘you sure you want to have another’ he questioned looking me up and down. I turned to face him and starred at him expressionless. My silence was louder and more intimidating than anything I could’ve said my eyes boring into his.
My brother’s birthday was approaching, as was the anniversary of his death and I was never good during the approaching days. My parents have always been distant never caring about us except for when it came to the business and by business, I meant everything to do with the mafia, it all came down to power and that’s how I was raised.
From a young age that’s all I ever knew, I was raised and surround by death, guns, and more violence than you can imagine and from people you would think would never lay a hand on you. Usually, fathers want to shield their sons from the dangers of this world. I was raised watching them and trained to become one of the many dangers in the world.
It was my parent’s thirst for power that tore the entire family apart. I turned facing my window and sighed taking in the beautiful view, standing up and looking out to appreciate it more. Our estate wasn’t too excluded from the city, but it was enough to keep our location on a need to know.
I looked out my pool in view, my men taking a much-needed breather, but further out you could see the lights my city had to offer. My city! I took over New York, in my early years nothing happens without my knowledge. New York never belonged to anyone but now it’s the King’s … it’s mine.
The five families think I did it for them, to be accepted in the hierarchy to be one of the biggest threats but it wasn’t for that I did it for my family for my sister and brother, so no one dares touch or lay a finger on us again.
I watch my dad leave my office as Lexi walks in ‘Hey baby’ I cringe at her use of the word. ‘I’m not in the mood’ I blow out the last of my smoke before putting it out. She approaches me closer rubbing her tits on my chest ‘You sure?’ she teases. I roll my eyes “out” I ordered her, no one is allowed in here. She bit her bottom lip, “guest bedroom” I ordered her which she happily obliged running inside. My room and office were off limit’s to everyone.
Isabella’s POV
I stared at her with wide eyes, adrenaline-pumping throughout my body. ‘I’m serious we have the money on hand with us right now and we’re in a taxi and we won’t have to endure another day of beating’s or see his face. We also have nothing at home we need to bring with us. Plus who knows If we’ll make it out alive tomorrow, there’s nothing stopping us’ I looked at Maria absorbing everything she just said.
‘Excuse me, to the airport please,’ I told the taxi driver. Leaning back in my seat I looked at her with a relieved expression. ‘We’re doing this’ I thought aloud. After searching through the internet online, trying to find a somewhat decent apartment. We found one in Downtown Brooklyn. The apartment was decent, and only $1,000 a month.
Maria called the landlord while I looked for jobs available in the area.
x
‘I’ll go talk to the lady can you get us some food?’ Maria nodded and headed to the cafeteria while I approached the reception desk.
‘Next!’
‘Hi, how can I help you?’ She looked up from her computer with a smile. ‘I was wondering when the next available flight to New York is.’ She typed on her computer and looked back at me. ‘The next flight out to New York is in one hour, would you like a ticket?’ she politely asked.
‘Can I get two?’ she nodded and began to do whatever it was she doing before telling me the price. “Is the ticket one way or will you be returning’ she asked looking up at me, I scoffed ‘Never fucking coming back’ I muttered thinking I was said it quietly until I saw her shocked expression.
‘Oh no, I didn’t … one way please’ I cleared my throat. She let out a nervous laugh while giving me a sympathetic smile handing me the two tickets, we exchanged a few words, and she told me the directions to the plane.
I sat down in the waiting area, messaging Maria where I was. Then playing a few games to pass the time until she comes with the food. ‘What seats we get’ looking up from my phone I see Maria with McDonald’s my stomach growled ‘Big mac?’ I asked she nodded yes.
x
An hour passed and Maria was slowly falling asleep listening to whatever music she was blasting through her headphones. ‘Final boarding call for flight 291 to New York City’
I jolted up and nudged Maria ‘come on’ I muttered half asleep myself. Already feeling the exhaustion overtake my body along with a potential food coma. We settled in our seats barely able to keep our eyes open.
Maria fast asleep leaned her head on my shoulder holding onto my arm, I let out a sigh of relief resting my head on top of hers while I watched Tangled. ‘That Chameleon cracks me up’ I laugh to myself as he stuck his tongue in Flynn’s ear. The plane took off and I hugged my sister protectively falling asleep peacefully a common necessity many take for granted.
x
After the plane landed, we both felt nervous. Stepping into the unknown, Maria and I were the first to leave the plane, not having any luggage or carry-ons made us fly through customs.
I waited for Maria while she went to the bathroom leaving me standing alone in an unfamiliar airport. I sighed looking down at my phone getting the directions ready to go to our apartment. I felt an unwanted presence slowly start to creep up being me, ‘Hey gorgeous’ I smiled uncomfortably ‘I’m not interested’ I declined any further conversation and tried to turn and walk away.
When I turned around, I caught a glimpse of the most gorgeous man I have ever laid eyes on. I tried to turn away, but I couldn’t bring myself to tear my eyes off him. His demeanour was honey for the eyes. He was towering over someone who approached him, his jet-black hair looked neatly slicked back.
He moves his arms up brushing his hair back with his fingers highlighting his muscular figure and his sleeve lifted slightly revealing the ink that covered him. I bite my lip wondering if he had more in hidden areas. Scratching his scruffy bread like he was waiting for someone.
I bit my bottom lip feeling completely taken by this stranger. I snapped out of it hearing the guy still trying to get my attention gripping my forearm. I looked at his grip and slowly back up to him. ‘Let. Go’ I warned lowly.
Before he could respond a loud screech caught both our attention ‘who the fuck is she?’ A girl yelled out pointing at me disgusted, I looked her up and down and rolled my eyes. I rip my arm out of his grip turning around trying to walk away before I start my first day here in a blood bath.
‘I thought so keep walking’ I stopped dead in my tracks feeling my blood boiling, I spun on my heel and eyed her ‘believe me you’d be safer if I walked away’ I starred her down my eyes boring into hers daring her to say another thing. She looked taken back but quickly recovered.
She approached me and raised her eyebrow, ‘listen if I catch you flirting with my man, I’ll wipe that cocky smile off your face’ she tried threatening me, I cringed at her pathetic threat and rolled my eyes. I hummed amused ‘it’s cute you think that was threatening’ I smile a crowd beginning to form around us.
She looked visibly nervous avoiding eye contact but couldn’t walk away because of the crowd that now surrounded us. ‘You can either walk away like the little bitch I know you are, or you can stay and attempt to wipe the smile off my face and then get pounded like a little bitch.’ I smiled shrugging my shoulders, tilting my head to the side. ‘ Either way I win’ I winked sizing her up.
She lunged towards me, and I quickly stepped to the side, dodging her failed attempt to attack me. She falls on the floor hearing laughs and taunts from the crowd she quickly stood up on her feet flustered.
Letting out a frustrated groan she raced towards me going to punch me in the nose. I caught her fist midway, smirking I twisted it and bent it in an unnatural direction she yelped and kneeled trying to ease the pain. I twisted her arm jerking her to the side pining her arm behind her back. ‘You’re not even worth it’ I spat and pushed her to the floor.
‘HEY!’ her boyfriend yelled out, coming to her rescue I turned around and rolled my eyes ‘don’t touch her’ he yelled fist bawled I cocked my head to the side standing my ground waiting for him to come to me.
I felt a pair of eyes staring at me that made my body light up on fire, I turn to look to the side seeing the hot stranger staring at me intensely he licked his bottom lip keeping his tensed stature intact. We locked eyes for a minute before the man roughly gripped my throat, he didn’t squeeze just held me for a moment.
‘I would let go’ I warned him lowly, feeling my old habits starting to creep back up an all too familiar persona. ‘Or what?’ He spat; his cocky smirk was enough to get me to snap. ‘I like them tough’ he licked his lips going to lean in, I knee him in his groin he bends over in pain holding himself. Now I should have walked or ran away but my feet seemed to be glued to the floor as I happily watched him in pain.
He stands up after some time ‘you shouldn’t have done that’ he warned me, he raised his hand up ready to lay on a blow before someone gripped him arm mid-way. ‘You should never hit a woman’ my eyes go wide seeing sex on legs stand in between us.
His Italian accent sent an automatic shiver down my spine. ‘Go get your own whore’ He spat at him. My mouth dropped ready to say something, but the stranger punched the man square in his nose. I watched him intensely he repeatedly kept punching him in the face before eventually forcing him up by his neck. Where the fuck was security? I looked around no one dared utter a word and all the guards suddenly nowhere to be seen.
‘I think you owe the lady an apology’ He spoke in a low threatening voice, almost daring him to defy his order I raised my eyebrow, who is this guy? No one even blinked in his direction like no one dared to stand in his way.
Not even one minute in New York and I already managed to start it off with a bang. ‘Or what?’ he spat back at the gorgeous stranger. He smirked like he was waiting for him to ask that question the man simply whispered something that I couldn’t hear, but whatever it was the man was visibly terrified. ‘I- I- I’m sorry’ He stuttered out.
The man let go of his shirt and nodded in my direction “not to me to her” he looked over at me shaken up ‘I’m sorry’ he quickly spoke out. Looking back at the gorgeous stranger who motioned for him to leave and without hesitation, he ran leaving his girlfriend on the floor and the crowd around us quickly fled just as fast. “Some boyfriend” I huffed out looking how fast he left leaving his girlfriend behind.
‘Are you okay?’ the man spoke up I nodded my head, ‘Yeah … Uh’ I coughed nervously. My god why is he so intimidating ‘Thank you’ I smiled. He looked me up and down analysing me curiously. He was trying to read me to figure out who I was, and I’d lie if I said I wasn’t doing the same and maybe also checking him out in the process. I looked at his hand noticing a King’s crown tattoo, the man tucked his hand in his pocket catching me staring.
He nodded his head and without another word he walked off back towards the man who now arrived. Maria came back out and looked at me ‘Isabella?’ I shook my head and pried my eyes away from him and looked back at my sister. ‘Yeah’ I answered her ‘You, okay? Did I miss anything?’ She questioned looking in the direction I was staring in.
I smiled and shook my head ‘Oh nothing interesting’ I joked and linked arms as we walked out. I bit my lip looking over my shoulder trying to get one more peek at the gorgeous stranger. To my satisfaction, he was staring right back at me not even trying to be discreet before a crowd walked in front of him and he vanished along with them.
Biting my lip, I turned back around and headed out to find a taxi with Maria.
