2. THE BEAST

“Bene, come desideri (Well, as you wish)” Rocco shrugged and wiped the spit off with his handkerchief

Marcello yelled for his men to protect him but nobody made a move. His second order got everyone of them running but not to his side, to his surprise. They all rushed to Rocco’s back and aimed at him.

Not believing his eyes, he kept stuttering “What.. what the hell?”

Before anyone could blink, Lord Marcello had been apprehended by his own men while Rocco stood there with a smirk dancing on his lips.

With a snap of his finger, he was tied to a chair. Everyone ignored all his threats and shouts because no one could step in, it was Rocco Lorenzo and no one dared to breathe.

“Your thirty seconds is up. You just got a new wristwatch, how come you can’t keep to time?” Rocco mocked and clacked his tongue

Lord Marcello kept screaming and threatening that he would pay for it but Rocco was not moved. He walked closer to him and roamed the gun around his cheeks and mouth while Lord Marcello trembled in the chair. He pointed the gun to his glabella but changed his mind for the generosity of his birthday.

“You piece of sh…” Lord Marcello was still speaking when two shots landed on his knee joints

His words were cut short with a long scream of pain. Blood splattered everywhere as his knees hung down, dismembered from his thigh.

“La tua vita è il tuo regalo di compleanno. Considerati fortunate (Your life is your birthday gift. Consider yourself lucky)” he completed his sentence and everywhere scattered with screams of horror while he cleaned off the blood on his face

All the guests scattered in different directions as they scrambled for safety.

“I know you are very cheeky and fearless but not with me Rocco Lorenzo. I will make sure to put the vineyard to a good use and who knows? You might be a good source of fertilizer some other time” He whispered to him

Lord Marcello groaned in pain as blood seeped out of his wound.

“You… bas… basttt.. bastaarrd” he managed to pull through but Rocco only lighted his cigarette and told him since it will only hurt more he should keep his gutter shut

As he turned and walked to his car, both his men and that of Lord Marcello’s men rushed to follow him. He had managed to buy them over without the knowledge of Lord Marcello and that made his work easier.

They pulled over at his office where Bojana, his aide was waiting for him with the transfer of rights of the vineyard’s documents.

“Well-done Rocco Lorenzo” she said to him with a smile and handed over the file

“I trust your competency any day and anytime” he commented and his mouth curved into a smile as they bumped fist

“The boys are out for dinner” she informed him

“Why didn’t you go with them? This can wait” he questioned

She lit her cigarette and took a puff before answering “I don’t feel like. Why bother when I can enjoy the scenery with you here”

He scoffed.

“You should focus on other things when we are not working. Don’t let your life revolve around the gang alone” he advised and her eyes rolled tiredly

“Talk about describing yourself. You never see anything else except work” she slammed and he suddenly yanked her closer to his side with her waist

He leant closer for a kiss and her eyes gradually closed as his lips came closer to hers.

“Get me a bed warmer” he muttered to her face and removed her hand from his waist before walking away, making her stumble but she was quick to regain her balance

“Quello stupido bastardo (That corny bastard)” she cursed under her breath and threw the cigarette into the fountain before stomping away angrily.

****

|Rocco|

The turbulence of the water was so high that our ship fought for her life endlessly. Everyone panicked and scrambled around to safety but I couldn’t move no matter how hard I tried. Nothing was working and my heart sank with every second as I watched people rush to safety while I lost all hope. My legs were perfectly fine but they wouldn’t move. I struggled to get on my feet and just when it felt like there was a glimpse of hope, my legs buckled and I met myself on the floor.

Once again!

A hand stretched towards me finally and I happily grabbed it without thinking twice. A helper I prayed for was desperately in front of me and I didn’t want to lose the chance. The hand helped me up and started leading me to the other part of the ship. I wouldn’t know if that was safer than where majority of the boarders were running to but at least, I was not on a spot any longer and it was kind of refreshing.

“Do we stand a chance? Are we going to make it out of here alive? This storm is really raging hard” I blabbered to my helper but he just silently pulled me along.

Every single question I asked was not met with an answer. Perhaps, my helper was mute. I decided to keep shut before he would throw my hand off due to my curiosity and followed blindly. On getting to the other side, he shifted the veil on his face to the side and my eyes bulged in horror. It was him again.

That callous animal in human skin. The one whose resentment weighed on my mind more than my happiness. Never! Never will I ever forget him.

My eyes flickered with both fear and desperation. He was everywhere I went to, no matter what and now, he’s was standing right in front of me.

“You think I wouldn’t see you anywhere you go?” he cackled. His ugly brown teeth arranged in italics presented themselves disgustingly in front of me.

“No! Don’t do this! Just let me go!” I trembled, my legs shifting back in fear but he was faster than me

Before I could pick up the pace, his huge hands like the tiger’s paws were already on my slim and small shoulder. My tiny frame was nothing hard for him to lift, and there I was, dangling at his mercy.

“Please… just llllee….eeet me gggo..ooo” I pleaded with my last breath as the collar of my shirt hugged my neck tightly

His monstrous laugh echoed in my ears and before I could blink, his grip on me loosened and within few seconds, my back kissed the cold and dark water.

“Welcome to your grave!” the sea echoed to me as I sank deeper before I heard a cough from afar.