CHAPTER NINE

Xiomar POV

Lyla Russo.

She looked even better than what we had heard. Everyone had talked about her,she probably was clueless as to how much of a celebrity she was. I mean a powerful don daughter no one has ever seen? She was a golden egg.

I have touched Lyla Russo. Twice. To be honest, the first time, I was sane then. I was dedicated to my craft, and all I saw was a teenage girl that has so much issues and she wanted the exact tattoo my brother has on. She didn't know it was family insignia but yeah, somehow, we collectively agreed to mark this girl as a Draghi. I mean all she had to do was to brag to a few friends after about her cool fire breathing tat.

Today I touched her again. I ran my hands over my hair, gripping the steering of my Mercedes-AMG G 65 till my hands physically hurt.

I needed to let out this steam quickly.

Why did she have to be beautiful? Why did she have to look at me that way, and the sound that came out from her when I manhandled her?

I had already promised myself, no more women. No attachments, just sex. I could get rough and I knew it, but after Caroline, I swore off dating.

I mean, the bitch tried to kill my brothers.

I arrive at our underground gym, people came to work out here some times. Civilians that thought they were tough. Everyone knew what this place was famous for though.

I hosted fights here daily. The rules were simple, Fight to Die. It seemed crazy, insane but a lot of men suffered from bloodlust. The only way you could come out from one of my rings alive was if you conceded the fight and paid a small sum of three million dollars to the house for not giving the people what they wanted. Beta, money, sex went hand in hand with this business.

This was my domain. I loved being in the ring, letting my fists go loose on people's faces. Gianna, my little sidekick told me recently though that I couldn't participate in fights anymore. Something about protecting the owner.

I dare a man to kill me though.

“Hey, X” Sienna greeted as she passed me. Sienna was in charge of our tattoo parlour, and honestly, the only reason that place was still open was because I didn't want her going back to the shit hole I found her in. When she was drawing, she was focused.

“Sienna, how's the day going?”

“Pretty fine,” she said, chewing her gum loudly. We had issues about it before but I finally let it rest. “Customers trouping in and out you know, a lot of talks.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Really?” I said, sounding uninterested. This was the main reason I kept this place open. Gossip.

“Yeah, check this out, Julio comes in as usual, high off his rockers. He says the Russo and the Donovans were finally tying the knot you know,” she snickered. “And I'm like what? Those two bastards, drugs are going to fill up the streets again. And then guess what? He says three men shut it down.”

Interesting.

In our family, we had always tried to keep our faces under wraps. Achilles wa sthe front for our business, the CEO, the one that went to meetings, balls and all of that rubbish. He was the ruthless one and the most good looking too. The man just looked delicious in a suit.

Emilio, Emilio was our sweet baby brother. Till he got kidnapped and went off the rockers that is. Never got the same guy again. He was our crazy. The guy we send on when we need someone not afraid of flying bullets.

I was the muscle, the force. I skinned people with such precise cuts, you would think I was making a fucking sculpture with their flesh. I loved to torture men that thought they were smarter than us. Men that betrayed us.

The system worked wonderfully for us. The Draghi Brothers, whispers everywhere. My dragon tattoo over my shoulder represented my family. A few monsters we had worked with had the pleasure of actually seeing our faces, some didn't make it alive though. But the low life scum couldn't recognize us.

“Well, did Julio say he knew this people?”

Snitching was the worst thing a man could do. Even if it was to someone that want a cop. Julio wasn't exactly a tough guy, he just stole from innocent people on the street to buy heroin everyday, but he was still an important person in the syndicate.

The price of snitching was death.

“No. You know him. He said he was so high, he couldn't believe he didn't get grazed by a bullet,” she replied. I nod in response. “Well, I'm sure they'll be fine. They knew what they signed up for.”

Sienna pops her gum loudly. “That's not all, Check this out. The Russo's have put out a search for the bride. Apparently this men took her,” she said staring at me.

“Now, my question is, why did the Russo's put out a hit on Achilles?” I froze as she said that. They were quick. The Russo's didn't have any money and everyone knew that. Still for them to put out a hit on my brother. Had they seen our faces? We made sure to kill everyone that had seen us, except Lyla of course.

“They must be confused,” I tell her making a mental note to call Achilles the minute I go underground. Sienna snorts loudly, “I knew so. I actually laughed when I heard it. Achilles. If anyone of you were in the Mafia, I would have known.”

Yeah, we didn't discuss things with her to keep her safe. Still, the Russo's putting a target on my brother's back was a clear sign that something big would happen soon.

“Yeah, they are jokers.” I reply.

“Anyways, I'll catch you later. Going to get lunch.”

Sienna's lunch break was usually spent with her face being stuck in some random strangers pussy so I knew she would be gone a while. I had never seen the need for one of our men being at the gym and much to Achilles annoyance, I absolutely refused it. If anyone was stupid enough to come there, let them.

I'll be waiting.