Chapter Nine

Marcello

“Dispose of him,” I commanded, pulling off the blood-soaked gloves I wore, a smile playing on my lips as I reminisced on how I’d dealt with Sebastian, a reminder that no one messes with my family and goes scot-free; they always suffer.

I disposed of the gloves in the bin, crouching to stare at Sebastian's limp body.

While I waited for two of my men to drag him away towards the dark hallway, his neck slumped to the side.

I brought out the pocket square wiping my hands. I was still wearing the tuxedo I wore to my weddings, I didn’t have enough time to change, and I had to attend to pressing issues that Sebastian was trying to escape from the basement I kept in.

“Are we done here?”Luca asked, his voice jolting me out of my reverie.

“Of course, we are, he’s dead after all,” I said walking towards the hallway, Luca flanked me, trying to keep up with my pace.

“I have news on the men spying on the House of hell!”Luca boomed and I stopped in my steps, my attention grasped now.

“And?”

Luca brings out his phone, clearing his throat loudly.

“They are hired by Stefan Lombardi, I have reason to believe he is watching your every move.”

I turned to a corner where the wet bar stood, I poured myself a glass of cognac gulping it down my throat as if it was water. “Hmmm, Stefan Lombardi,” I repeated.

The name rang a bell, I shot him but spared his life now he was back trying to attack me. Interesting.

“Yes, he’s the one, we should have dealt with him when we had the chance to, I have reason to believe he’s plotting against you.”

I hit the glass against the counter, unmoved by the news, “Let him keep watching, spectator, that’s all he’d ever be!”

Luca chuckled a little, “Do you want me to send some men back? I can have twenty men on his doorstep by dawn.”

I raised my finger in disapproval, “No, let’s give him a chance to rethink his actions, he must remember I'm the reason why he isn’t dead.”

“What do you mean, boss?”

“So far no harm comes to the casino, then whatever he does is none of my business, I’ve got more important issues to attend to,” I glanced at my Rolex watch, “I need to be home to see my wife, it’s been days since I saw her beautiful face.”

“About that…. She’s been in the cell for four days now, starving and almost dying away, she looks pale and disheveled, don’t you think we should at least give her some food?”Luca asked, his tone laced with concern.

“She brought this upon herself, Luca,” I growled.

He nodded without saying a word, he knew my rules and dared not question them.

I’d given her lots of chances but instead she chose to remain defiant, that wasn’t my fault. But she shall bear the consequences of her actions.

“You can ask the maids to feed her some meal,” I said after much consideration.

The limousine took me back to my main mansion, where my wife was. When I arrived at the mansion it was already dark and quiet. I went straight to the master bedroom, the one I stayed in all by myself, it was dark as always, I liked it that way.

I loosened my tie and threw the jacket onto the sofa next to me, I formed a fist as I stared at my bruised knuckle, the one I’d gotten from punching Sebastian.

The idiot didn’t want to leave my sister alone so I made sure I never had to worry about him.

I turned on the light and to my surprise I wasn’t alone, Sofia was lying across the bed naked, her dirty blonde hair sprawled around the pillow like she owned the room, she winked at me slowly.

“Welcome, Marcello, I’ve been waiting all day for you to come home to me, papi.”

I faked a smile while I unbuttoned my shirt, “Who the hell let you in?”

She held up a spare key I had forgotten I had given her in my drunk state. “You gave me this, have you forgotten?”

“Oh!” That was all I could say.

She sat upright, “I’m also your girlfriend, I can visit whenever I want, isn’t that right?”

I also asked her to be my girlfriend in my drunk state as well.

“What’s wrong?” She asked, sliding off the bed and walking towards me. Finally, she was right in front of me, her head barely reaching my chest. She was about to place a hand on my face when I held it.

“I’m married now, you need to leave!”

She burst into loud laughter, “I understand you had a tough day, but I’m here now, I can make it better….”

I pulled her close by the waist our noses rubbing against one another, then I whispered in her ears, “Leave now before I let the dogs drag you out.”

She stiffened, blood draining off her face as she pulled away immediately snatching the red dress from the floor, she hastily slid it on and scurried away as if she was some stray dog.

As soon as the door slammed, I let out a heavy sigh, finally, good riddance. I took a quick cold shower and changed into a casual black sweatshirt and joggers then headed downstairs to the cell where my wife was.

By the time I got there, Luca was already there and she was munching on something. She looked terrible, she’d lost a few wounds and her black hair seemed disheveled and I brushed it, this was none of my fault, I gave her the world yet she threw it at my feet.

“Hello, wife, are you ready to behave yourself now?” I asked.

She paused, gulping the food down her throat, “How about you go to hell, Marcello!”

A quiet laugh erupted in my throat. I was genuinely surprised at how stubborn she can remain even in this state; filthy, hungry, and powerless. It was going to be hard to break her. Nonetheless, I loved her fighting spirit.

“Release her,” I turned to Luca.

And he nodded unlocking the cell and her cuffs as well, Gabriella rubbed her wrist wincing in pain.

“Go to your room and get dressed, we are going on a date tonight!” I commanded.

She rolled her eyes and said, “I’d rather burn in hell than go anywhere with you.”

“Haven’t you learned your lesson, Wife? You belong to me, so you’d do anything I ask!”

“I don’t think so,” she snarled, throwing a knife straight at me.