His Substitute Wife

      WHAT am I doing here, huh?

      That was the question running through Cameron's mind. His eyes scanned the dark and filthy place. Standing before him were two men who looked like they were ready to kill at any moment. Yet, despite that, he felt no fear. In fact, there was a strange sense of excitement brewing deep inside him.

     "Hey, kid. Don't even think about getting involved here. Go home!" one of the men sneered, trying to scare him away from the dark alley.

      Cameron grimaced. As if he would be scared by this guy. Fear had long been erased from his system. He wasn't born for that. Thanks to his father, that old man made him what he is today. Fearless and dangerous.

     "Looks like the kid wants to join in on what we're going to do to this girl," one of the men said, bursting into laughter.

     Cameron's gaze shifted to a young girl quietly sobbing while crouched on the dirty ground. Oh yes, this was the reason why he was here. Earlier, he had seen these two men dragging the girl off from the side of the road as he passed by in his car. He didn't know what came over him to follow them. He shouldn't care about what these two planned to do to the girl, but something deep inside urged him to save her, something that he cannot understand.

       "Help me," the girl whispered as she lifted her head and looked at him. For the first time, he got a full view of her face.

        She had a high nose bridge, a small, beautiful pair of lips, and hazel eyes that gave him a warm feeling. She was undeniably beautiful. No wonder these two men were so eager to do something vile to her.

      "What can I get in return if I help you?" He seriously asked.

       The girl's eyes widened at his response.

      "Seriously?!" she exclaimed, quickly standing up and wiping her tears. "We can talk about that later when we're both safe from these creeps!" She then cast a spiteful glare at the two goons.

      "Close your eyes then," Cameron ordered, his face expressionless.

       The girl obediently shut her eyes and prayed that her knight in shining armor would have the strength to handle tha two, or else they're dead.

       "You cocky little brat! Let's see how far your bravery takes you!" one of the men shouted angrily before the two of them charged at Cameron simultaneously.

       Cameron didn't even flinch from where he stood. There was no hint of fear or nervousness in him. It seemed like he was used to violence at such a young age. The two men didn't know that they were facing someone trained in close-combat techniques and martial arts, skills necessary for a Silvestre.

       It was almost too easy for Cameron to dodge and occasionally block the punches thrown by the two. They couldn't even land a proper hit, and he felt like laughing at the two fools. Even though Cameron was only in his early twenties, he had a tall, robust build.

      His vision darkened when one punch managed to graze him, hitting the side of his mouth and causing it to bleed. It didn't hurt much-after all, what could compare to the lashes he'd endured from his father before? Nothing.

The two men stopped their attack momentarily and smirked at him.

      "What now, kid? All you can do is dodge and block?" one of them taunted arrogantly.

       Cameron wiped the corner of his lip and smirked back at them. He noticed how they seemed to hesitate, as if they'd seen something in his eyes that scared them.

      "That was the first and last," he sneered. "It's my turn." He shifted into a Judo stance.

      The two charged again, with one pulling out a knife this time. But as Cameron had said earlier, that would be their first and last successful hit. A few moments later, the two men lay on the dirty ground, bloodied and defeated. Their bones, especially in their arms, seemed broken- Cameron had focused his blows there.

     "Hey, is it over? Can I open my eyes now?"

      Cameron's gaze turned to the girl crouched in the corner. Did he just save a life? That was the question running through his mind. Without a word, he walked away.

       WHEN all Charity could hear were faint groans and no more sounds of fighting, she slowly opened her eyes. She was obedient-she hadn't opened her eyes even once. Her knight in shining armor was gone when she opened them, leaving only the two men sprawled unconscious on the ground. To vent her frustration, she gave them each a kick before running to find her savior. But he was nowhere to be found. She stomped her foot in frustration.

       "I didn't even get to thank him, ugh..."

---

      "SHOULD I have them eliminated?"

       That was the first thing Servant Kim said as soon as Cameron climbed into the black Porsche. Servant Kim had been his personal driver since childhood.

      "Nah. Let them live and suffer."

      "Aren't you afraid your father will find out about this?" Servant Kim asked again.

      "He won't find out unless you tell him," Cameron snapped.

       Servant Kim didn't reply, merely smiling.

        Cameron promised himself this would be the first and last time he meddled in something like this. He knew his father wouldn't approve of what he'd done. It was laughable, wasn't it? Most fathers would be proud if their son did something heroic. But not his father. He was different. His father didn't want them meddling in anything they wouldn't benefit from. If there was anyone Cameron knew to be selfish and cruel, it was his father.

        For Cameron, his father was a monster, and he was slowly turning him into one, too. What else could he expect? He was a Silvestre. He was the son of a mafia boss, destined to become the Mafia Lord-a distant, cold, heartless Mafia Lord.

       In short, a monster.