Chapter Three

Marcello

“Damn it, Marcello,” Luca groaned, he stumbled back as a second punch landed on his face.

After several unsuccessful attempts, sweat dripped down his face soaking his clothes. Yet he wouldn't stop, he came at me with full force but I kept his every move.

“Is that all you've got” I snickered, enjoying the show, trying to rile him up even more.

Each time the light from the casino shone from the boxing ring, I could see the sweat glistening on Lucas' face.

The air smelled of smoke and sweat just as it should be. My kind of air.

Luca snarled at me again, while I gave a devilish grin before throwing him to the canvas.

To Luca, it was a fight. A fight to test strength. But to me, it wasn't.

This was therapy. A way of putting my mind to rest, for once I can stop thinking about the many things that troubled me or what my enemies were planning behind me.

Luca wasn’t just my bodyguard, he was my best friend. I trusted him. Not completely, but he was different from the others. The truth was I trusted no one, not anymore, but Luca was an exception he has been with me through thick and thin. He was kind and always unfailingly loyal to me.

“You just never get tired of losing, huh?” He grunted as he rose to his feet. I gave him a fleeting smile, he was one of the few people who got to see this playful side of me.

“Do you”? I teased.

“No,” he muttered breathlessly. “Not until I slam my fist on your bull head.”

Luca threw a jab, and I ducked swiftly. My fist smacked his jaw and he stumbled back, completely caught off guard.

“Huh? ” he grunted, his back brushed against the ropes.

“You're the problem, you don’t give up.”

“No, you're getting better,” Luca shrugged

“And you're weaker. Or maybe you are getting slower, I hovered around him like a predator that had just seen its prey. “Feel free to say the safe word.”

He wiped the beads of sweat off his face, lunging towards me. I saw it coming and slammed my fist into his ribs.

He fell on his knees. He coughed and spat out blood

“Fold!” He shrieked, motioning to me.

Yes, we had a little bit of a rule, a safe word, I couldn't go against him, even if I was completely enjoying it.

The referee was a man in his late forties, He watched silently from afar he was almost invisible and unnecessary.

His black t-shirt clings to his neck tightly. Too tight for his neck. He has been in there all along, completely mute.

He was there at my command. But he did absolutely nothing because he knew better than to go against me.

We needed someone to just stand in and pretend, just to make it official.

“You're good?” I grabbed two bottles of water and tossed one to him.

He took a sip .“ Yeah, Good enough to accept I won't be winning against you anytime soon Just glad I still have my head.”

We both chuckled.

“How come you're stronger? What's your secret?” He asked. A smile played on my lips.

“You think I'll tell you, if I had one?”

“Nah.”

“So you don't trust me.” He laughed.

Well, I gave no response. He took it as a joke but I didn't.

They were more to it, more than it seems to be.

“Boss.” Luca began, his voice softening.

“Yes, Luca.”

“What are you planning on doing with the new bride?”

“What do husbands do?” I responded.

“Will you let her live?” He questioned.

I turned to face him, “That’s none of your concern, Luca.”

“Yes boss,” he nodded.

Before we could utter any more words, the door screeched open, revealing Victor, one of my masked guards, who had a stern look on his face.

I glared at him. He knew the rules, No one came except I gave the order. Why was he here?

“I’m sorry for interrupting my boss,” he began.

“Someone's outside, she claims you would want to see her.”

I slid into my grey shirt, buttoned it up, took my watch, and cleaned my sweaty face.

“Who is it?”I asked.

He hesitated.“She didn't say, but it's someone important.”

I got interested.

“Might be an ally or not,” Luca chipped in and I smiled.

“Keep watch, eyes fixed outside,” I told Luca. “If there's an unusual movement, if things go sideways, report to me, immediately.”

“I want reports every five minutes!” I added.

“Yes boss on it” He assured as he pulled out his phone to check the security alerts.

I stepped out, accompanied by the guard, The air outside felt cool, there was chatter, laughter, lies, and money. I walked down the hall connecting the casino floors to the hallways.

That was when I saw her, my little sister, my little princess. Her straight black hair was packed up in a ponytail and her red dress was tattered. My heart skipped a beat, and she ran towards me sobbing. Tears stained her cheeks.

“Marcello! Brother.” she wailed trying to stay steady. She crashed into my chest in a warm hug, arms tight around me.

My heart raced. I held her gently, I hate seeing her this way, whoever caused this would surely pay for this.

“What's wrong, Andreinna? What's going on? Who made you cry?” I asked and she slowly looked up at me, quiet.

“You know you can talk to me,” I urged, she sniffed, her nose runny and her makeup completely ruined.

“I didn't know where else to go.” She cried.

“It's alright, I'm here now,” I said consoling her. “Now tell me.”

“He just wouldn't let me be, he keeps following me, talking dirty, and threatening to end me if I don’t get down with him. He says disgusting things too. I tried to make him stop but he just wouldn't listen.” she bawled.

I held her hand, taking her to a quiet corner. Away from the noise. My men stood at different distances.

I clenched my jaw, “What's his name?”Just a name, that was all I needed to end his life.

“Sebastian,” she muttered.

I let the name sink in then I snapped my fingers.

The sound echoed in the air. Instantly two of my men dragged a brutally injured man. They dragged him to his knees, His clothes were torn, his eyes swollen and he could barely speak from the numerous beatings he received from my men.

“Please spare me.” He muttered weakly.

Andreinna grasped utterly dumbfounded, covering her mouth in shock.

“Marcello… how did you do this?”

“The inferno lord has his ways, is that him?”I asked.

Her hands shook, “Yes,that's him.”

“Please, forgive me, I never meant all of what I said, I was …just…”

A resounding slap landed on his face, cutting him off.

I was just getting started. I wouldn't get satisfied even if I ripped his skin apart.

It wasn't about inflicting pain. It was about putting him in his place, “Quiet!” I yelled at him and he obeyed instantly, sensing the venom in my voice as I spoke.

“You didn't mean to follow her, yet you made her cry,” I said softly, as I circled him. “You see I don't joke with my little sister and I definitely won't let this slide.”

“Marcello, please.”Andreinna bellowed, almost in an audible whisper.

“You get some rest sister, I’d handle him.”

“He’s already suffered enough, how did you even know it was him?”

“I noticed you were being followed so I decided to investigate further!”

She fell silent instantly.

The man tried to speak but I shot him a glare, and he instantly swallowed his words.

“You've picked the wrong family to mess with, Take him!

Make sure he faces the consequences of his actions.”

“Yes, boss.”The guards chorused.

Sebastian screamed fearing for the worst as he was dragged along the cold floor to the dark hallway.

“Marcel, are you going to get him killed? What do you plan on doing to him?” Andreinna grasped, horrified.

“Don't worry sweetheart, it’s nothing serious,” I said with a devilish smirk playing on my lips.

“But you promised, you said you were never going to hurt anyone ever again. You promised Marc.” Andreinna scolded, pointing accusing fingers at me.

“People like him deserve things worse than death.”

“I don't want him to be killed, I just wanted someone to confide in, must you always resort to violence every time?"

“Stop acting like my mother, Andrienna!”

“And you aren’t my father either!” She retorted.

Before I could respond, my phone rang interrupting me.

“Speak!” I said.

“Boss”. Luca's voice echoed from the other end of the line, his tone was sharp and unreadable. *You need to see this.”

I moved the strand of hair that fell on my face.“What is it?”

“We noticed movement outside the casino. A group of men all dressed in black were outside, it seemed like they were waiting for someone.”

My pulse quickened.