Chapter 2

ENZO'S POV (24 hours before).

I rolled my neck to the side, groaning when it didn't give me any relief.

Last night's sessions went hard, but I was able to crack him. That's what I do. I get the job done fast and efficiently, but I also enjoy breaking them. 

You see fear is best understood when the person you are trying to break realizes that you enjoy hearing their screams. It's all just a game and they are the pawn, meant to be torn down for the sole purpose of entertainment

But I only punish those who rightly deserve it and have no qualms about torturing them the same way they do to others.

I smiled amused at my own thoughts, half listening to the business presentation holding at Skyframe Consortium on my tablet from my office. Sitting round a table of money hungry old men who would grovel only to gain more power wasn't really my thing.

It was a major deal , if closed it would become a multi-billion dollar project. 

The presentation was handed over to the next person to continue. My eyebrows flew up as a petite frame came into view. Women are not really favoured in this side of business or any business for that matter. Another stupid prejudice that needs to be purged from the world. 

Moving towards the centre of the boardroom, she carried on the presentation right on cue.

What really surprised me was how pleasant her voice was, light and soothing with a commanding edge. The sound wrapping around me and spreading tingles throughout my skin. The way she talked was slightly different but not foreign, like her accent has been watered down from its original version. I could tell she wasn't from around here.

She was beautiful, too beautiful. Honey brown skin, curly dark brown hair framing her cherry cheeks that swayed left and right anytime she moved. They were just perfect for wrapping my hands around.

Even in her plain office shirt and tweed skirt the outlines of her curves still remained prominent. Lush against the fabric, like they were begging to be released and I would have been more than thrilled to do the honours.

She wasn't doing anything but talking but it seems like she might be giving the board a hard time concentrating.

I ran my forefinger against my lower lips, the reaction almost instinctive.

Hell, it's hard for even me to concentrate.

I opened my cabinet, pulled out one of my strongest whiskey and poured it into the glass.

I took a sip of the liquor, letting it burn deliciously down my throat. It wasn't even ten in the fucking morning yet , but who made the rules about drinking anyway. 

But more importantly, just watching her woke up something primal in me. Like I should rip out the throats of all those disgusting old men ogling at her.

I continued to watch her, indulging in my new found obsession.

A ping from her phone stole her attention. The general rule of board presentations was that your phone must be on silent, meaning she outrightly just disobeyed company code.

 She retrieved her phone from her back pocket and answered the call without giving a damn about the presentation. My jaw dropped to the floor at how audacious she was being.

I watched as her face morphed into a horrified expression. The person on the other line must have delivered some bad news.

And just like that she bolted out of the room, leaving all them stunned.

The corners of my mouth rose until they hurt and turned into a full blown laugh. I can't remember the last time I was genuinely amused outside of stress relief sessions.

This woman might be the most interesting thing that has happened in my life for a while.

I pressed on the service line to my secretary, waiting for his response to come through and it came almost immediately.

“James, I need you to find out more about the lady that took the presentation.” I commanded him. 

“How much information do you need sir?”. He asked.

“Everything, from the day she was born down to what she fucking had for breakfast this morning, get me full dossier on her.” I ordered.

“Right away sir.” He responded immediately.

The door opened before I even hung up the call and Elijah stepped in, like he had been waiting outside.

I took another sip of my whiskey, rolling my head to the side to ease that stubborn ache at the back of my neck.

“Rough morning?” He quizzed. His arms folded behind his back in a formal posture, but his lips curved into a playful smirk.

“Don't ask.” I deadpanned, trying to focus on anything other than the woman invading my headspace. “Why are you here?”

“One of your toys is refusing to talk.” He informed me, any sign of amusement gone from his face.

This brought a smile to my lips, I just love when they resist. It makes it much more satisfying when I finally break them.

“Then I better go play and remind them who their master is.” My lips tugged up into a sinister smile.

This is going to be fun.

A FEW HOURS LATER.

A sharp jab was delivered to his face, the sound sickening while his jaw swung at an unnatural angle.

“Now tell me who it was that sent you.” I adjusted my gloved hands, blood staining the leather material.

“Fuck you Romano, just kill me already.” He winced, he was already a bloody mess tied to a foldable iron chair, ruining the cashmere carpet beneath us.

“Nah I'm gonna miss hearing you scream in pain.” I gripped his hair to keep his head up facing me. “Who.sent.you?” I enuanciated every world like he was a toddler that understood he would be in trouble if he didn't tell the truth.

He opened his mouth but instead of talking, he spat a mean amount of phlegm in my face.

I chuckled, the fucker has guts and loyalty I'll give him that.

I nodded once towards Elijah and without hesitation he shot him in the knee, before handing me a handkerchief to wipe the disgusting fluid off my face.

Standing up I forced two finger down the knee that was shot, wringing out a horrified scream from the man's throat, followed by a string of curses in his mother tongue.

“Ready to talk yet?” Using my pinky finger to clean my ears and ease the ringing from his insults. I'm gonna have a long life considering how much he's cursing me out.

He mumbled something that I couldn't hear.

“What did you say, louder please.” I placed my ears closer to him.

“It was … the M-moretti’s.” He stuttered, his face a mottled shade of red.

“Now we're getting somewhere.” I gave him a shit eating grin, while patting his head.

“Please, please spare me.” He pleaded, but I wasn't one to be merciful.

His unfocused eyes widened when he realised that I wasn't going to spare him. I didn't care because I had already gotten what I needed. With a swift motion towards Elijah, a bullet landed straight in his head, just between his eyebrows, ending his life.

My phone vibrated in my pocket as I walked away leaving Elijah to take care of the bloody corpse. I retrieved it from my suit jacket and saw that it was a message from James.

He had sent me the files I asked for this morning. I opened them and began to gloss over them, feeling my obsession growing.

Another message from James displayed on my phone and I read it.

“There were no documents on her before she turned 13." He informed me.

“None at all.” My curiosity slipping through

“No sir it was as if she didn't even exist before then.” James finished.

“Ok good job James.” I praised

“My pleasure sir.” He responded before I hung up.

Twirling my phone in my hand, my thoughts ran deep.

“Who are you, Ailani Hart?”