CHAPTER FOUR

ETHAN'S POV

I was sour.

My ass hurts.

My whole body ached.

And worst still, I had a fever.

As I laid on the bed, I could only coil my body and cover myself up. It was 8 am and I had barely gotten the strength to stand or even open the curtains.

Draven was kind enough to let his men allow me to have my privacy in a newly arranged room which was better than the red room. There was a bed, dark curtain drapes, a dressing mirror and a chair beside it.

Only seeing the room at first, I knew he wanted to keep me locked up till he had found a way to do away with me. Now, I couldn't do anything, not even to escape.

“Fuck!” I cried out as I turned to the other side.

Suddenly, I heard a sound. I tried raising my head only to see Marco walking in.

“What are you doing under the sheets?” he asked me as he approached.

I did not answer. There was no energy left in me to do so. I knew that must have made him angry because he quickly walked to the bed and held the sheet.

He pulled the sheets hard, saying, “When I'm talking to you, you opened your mouth to…” he paused, “... speak.” he finished in a low tone.

I shivered from the cold and tried looking at him.

“Are you dying?” he asked me then moved closer to where I laid, “you can't die without Don's permission. He had to be the one to kill you.”

Then he touched my body and recoiled due to the heat.

“Fuck! You're burning!” he said in a loud tone and rushed to the door.

Once he was gone, I began to feel dizzy and very weak so I shut my eyes and tried to breathe.

“I don't want to die.” I whispered to myself.

If I die here, my mother would probably not find my body anymore. Even Nicole–

“Oh, shit, Nicole–” I said slowly as I drifted slowly in total darkness.

I was unconscious.

Or dead?

***

DRAVEN'S POV

I sat in my office with my legs crossed on my table as I smoked. My eyes were glued to the window as I watched the sun rise.

Lots of thoughts were rummaging through my mind with my brain trying to find a solution. When I recalled Bernard’s talk about the traitor, I couldn't help but think about who would want me gone. Since I had lots of enemies, a specific name could not be called to mind.

While I was still engrossed in thoughts, the door opened abruptly. I glanced from the corner of my eyes and clenched my jaws.

“Why did you barge in?” I asked Marco who was panting heavily.

My privacy was really important and my men were aware of this, but for Marco, my right hand man to barge in, I figured something must have triggered it.

“I–I am sorry, boss.” he quickly apologized, “but we have a problem.”

“A problem?” I asked him as I puffed out another round of smoke..

What kind of problem could make a fierce man pant like this?

“It is Ethan.”

Ethan?

I raised my brow and looked towards his direction.

“He is dying.” Marco added.

Suddenly, I rose and smeared the remaining cigar in the ashtray.

How dare he? I roared in my mind.

“Where is he?”

“In the room.” Marco answered and followed behind me.

***

Immediately I entered the room where Ethan was confined, the silence told me something was wrong, not that it mattered or that I was scared, but still I needed to check.

On getting close to him, I noticed his body was stiff and his breathing was irregular, fortunately enough, he was alive, only unconscious.

“What should we do, boss?” Marco asked me, “if we had shipped him off earlier, he would have fainted in the hands of Vincenzo.”

“Get me a doctor.” I told him in a nonchalant tone.

Before I could realize what I had just said, I took one of Marco's weird looks. It must have been shocking to hear me say that.

“He can't be sent to Vincenzo in such a manner. He needs to get treated and shipped off immediately.” I told him.

Marco nodded in agreement, then he turned towards the door in an attempt to get a doctor.

When he was gone, I looked at the pale boy lying in the bed and sighed.

Had the sex caused him this?

“Fuck. Was I too rough?” I asked myself as I walked close to him.

As I looked at him, I was caught in his peaceful and calm look. Then suddenly I looked away and shook my hands in my pockets.

He was nothing to me, only a mere collateral.

A few minutes later, Marco entered.

“Where is he?” I questioned.

Marco gave away and behind him was an average old man.

“I had to kidnap him from the hospital.” Marco said as he pushed the man forward.

All of a sudden, the man bowed, his body shaking as he spoke.

“Please, spare me. I will do whatever you say.” he begged.

I smirked and walked towards him. “Of course, you will obey me. But no one enters my territory and leaves in one piece.” I told him.

“Please–”

“Save him.” I said in a stern voice as I pointed to Ethan.

Without speaking, the old man rushed to the bed side with a little briefcase by his side. He opened it and began to bring out his medical tools.

I turned to Marco. “Keep an eye on him.”

Marco nodded and bowed as I left the room.

The next stop was my office. I barged in and went straight for the table where the remaining packet of cigar laid, I pulled one out and lit it, puffing heavily as I stared at the window.

Something was not right.

What exactly was this feeling?

My mind went over my first meeting with Ethan. I had seen him as daring and quick-to-speak, but who could have thought a round of sex would have him wrecked like this.

Lucky for him, there wouldn't be another round. My rules were set and having sex twice was against it. Besides, if we were to try it again, he might die in the process.

The best I could do was sell him off to a lower mafia group. On another thought, I doubt he would survive judging from his weakness.

I huffed another smoke and blew it across the room.

“Well, that is not mine to solve. If it has to do with his weakness, he would get accustomed to it or suffer greatly.” I said to myself.

All I had to do was follow the protocol.

At that moment, I brought out my phone from the pocket of my pants and scrolled through it. I dialed the number I came across and waited.

“Hey Don. Any good yet?” a voice said.

“One came in last night. You have to come inspect.” I told him.

“Fine, I'll be there by tomorrow even though I trust you to always give me something good.” he said and hung up.

Something good?

I scoffed.

This one was not even near the “good” category.