chapter 3

Damian's POV

As I watched my men restrain the captive, I felt a surge of frustration. The man before me is a potential threat to my underground Empire and I knew he was sent by an enemy. I ran both legal and illegal business.

"Is he still refusing to talk?" I asked my voice tight with tension.

"Yes, Don," Landon, my most trusted bodyguard replied, his eyes avoiding direct contact with mine.

"He keeps insisting he doesn't know anything." My mind raced with possibilities.

I had built this empire on a foundation of trust and loyalty, but sometimes, extreme measures were necessary to maintain control. This was one of those times.

"Landon," I called, my voice carrying a mix of authority and underlying threat.

Landon swallowed nervously, understanding the implications of the upcoming conversation. "Yes, Don," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Remove his fingers, hit him more to the point of death and he begs to spare his life," I instructed, my tone firm and unwavering. I knew the severity of my command, but the stakes were too high to back down.

Landon hesitated for a moment, weighing the consequences, but he knew better than to question my orders. With a heavy heart, he relayed the command to the others, who moved to carry it out.

After what seemed like an eternity, Landon returned, his face pale and solemn. My gaze met his, waiting for the news.

"He still refuses to talk, Don," Landon admitted, his voice tinged with regret.

My jaw tightened, frustration boiling within me. I was supposed to visit my wife's grave today for her death anniversary and later spend the day with my kids but this motherfucker won't let it happen.

"Continue," I ordered due to frustration and anger, my voice colder than before.

"Keep removing his fingers, one by one, slowly. We'll see how long he can withstand the pain before he tells me where my documents are."

Landon swallowed hard, "Do you have something to say?" I asked Landon, who seems hesitant

"No don, nothing," he knew better than to voice his concerns.

The room was filled with an eerie silence, broken only by the muffled sounds of pain and anguish. I walked into the torture room.

"Boss, please spare me, I don't know anything," the captive pleaded.

"Stop," I ordered my boys to hold the torture.

"Maximilian Suarez, age 43, married to Mrs Scarlett Suarez age 39 has two beautiful daughters Ciara and Kiara, age 14 and 8, attend The prestigious school, follows the school bus every Monday and Wednesday, and daddy picks them up on Thursday and Tuesday while mummy picks them up on Friday," I briefed his life for him.

"Don please," he pleaded again, his voice trembling with fear. A family man fears putting his family in danger.

I bent down to his ear, "I also trade women," I whispered in his ear. He looked up, his eyes meeting mine.

I don't really trade women but I needed to threatened him, my underground business wasn't that dirty and I don't kill people just hurt them to make them talk.

"Not my wife and daughters," Maximilian said, challenging my words.

"Then where are my documents?" I raised my voice at him, filled with anger.

"I really do not know," Maximilian cried, still pleading for his life.

"Then suit yourself," I turned to Landon, "finish up and clean the message".

I was walking out of the room "he was in a mask," Maximilian's statement stopped me in my tracks.

I walked back inside the room, and sat on a chair next to him "Now we are talking," I smirked.

"I know who was behind the mask and who he works for," Maximilian said, still trembling.

"So what are you going to do?" I asked looking into his eyes,

"Eight days, just eight days," Maximilian said, coming closer to me. I turned to look at my boys. I burst into a fit of laughter, and the boys followed suit.

"He said eight days," I stopped laughing, and so did the boys.

"Four days," Maximilian said, looking extremely scared.

"Now we are heading somewhere," I tapped on his face gently and stood up.

"Thank you, Don," Maximilian shouted

"Clean up the place, Landon, I will be waiting in the car," I said to Landon and the boys.

I wrote them a cheque to spend for the night, "Thank you, Don," they all shouted, bowing their heads.

As I sat in the car, a mix of conflicting emotions flooded my mind. On one hand, I was angry about the bastard who I just dealt with and on the other hand, I was devastated because of my wife's death anniversary.

"Took you long enough," I said to Landon, he entered the car and sat in the passenger seat.

"Don, where are we heading?" Landon asked, trying to find out so he could instruct the driver.

"Just home so I can get changed," I sighed.

"Okay," Landon made gestures for the driver to drive.

"You must be exhausted too?" I asked, seemingly concerned for Landon who was looking extremely tired.

"Yes Don, but I'm okay" he replied out of respect.

"Stay over at my place tonight, I will have the workers look after you," I told him.

"Thank you, Don." Landon's tired eyes softened with gratitude as he nodded in acknowledgment.

Landon's presence in my life extended far beyond his role as a loyal right-hand man. He had been a constant pillar of support, a friend who stood by my side through the darkest moments of my life.

When I lost my beloved wife, the grief threatened to consume me. But Landon was there, offering a steady presence and a listening ear, and was willing to share the pain but pain can't be shared.

We arrived at my Villa and the lights were still on meaning my mother was around and she had given the worker a day off.

"Stay in any room okay," I patted Landon on his shoulder before entering the house to face anything that was going to come out of my mother's mouth tonight.

"My son is finally back from wherever and there is blood on his body, did you kill anybody?" Mom said as her eyes were fixed on the TV.

"Good evening ma'am," Landon greeted Mom and she flashed him a smile before Landon entered the house and went straight to the room.

"The blood is nothing, I don't kill people and can I get ready? I want to visit my wife's grave," I replied to my mother weakly.

"Who do you plan on leaving the kids with?" Mom raised her eyebrows.

"Aren't you home?" I asked her.

"No, I have an event to attend tonight," Mom put off the TV, stood up, and kept the remote in its appropriate place.

"Then why did you give the workers a day off if you aren't going to be around!" I swiped my hands through my hair, tugging to it out of frustration.

"Because the workers aren't their mothers and cannot always be there!" Motherfucker yelled back.

"Their mother is dead and nobody can be their mother, nobody can replace her," I said through gritted teeth.

"She has been dead for a long time now! I'm not saying anybody can replace her but these kids need a mother, especially your daughter, and I have told you to get married again," Mother held my hands looking into my eyes with a pleading look in her eyes.

"But it isn't easy to fall in love again," I bit my lips and shut my eyes.

"Then don't just get married to a woman who can care for you and the kids then later love will come," Mother gave my hand a light squeeze.

I'm deeply in love with my late wife and can't see myself getting married to another or seeing children call another mother but they do need a mother.

"I will leave the decision in your hands and marry whoever you choose for me but you must be honest and tell her everything about me," I removed my hands from mother's hands and a smile graced her face.

"I will choose the best and will not disappoint you, go get ready and I will call the kids favorite babysitter," the happiness in mother's face couldn't hide itself.

I had said that to my mother because I knew it wouldn't be easy to find a woman who is willing to marry a man who is still madly in love with his late wife and even have kids and worst off she isn't in love with him.

Good luck Mother finding such a woman, a smirk played on my lips as I got ready to visit my wife whom I love so much.