“So it has been here all the while?” Damian asked, his gaze fixed on the book.“Shut the fuck up. Enjoy while you can, you’ll soon breathe your last breath.” Lucian teased with a chuckle.“Ugh?” Damian asked with a smirk. “I don’t think so.” He said and narrowed his eyes at Freya.“Boys!” Freya shouted as the door opened to reveal 12 heavily built men who rushed into the room, six on each side facing each other, with grim faces.“What the hell-““Untie me,” Damian said lazily.“Yes young master,” Freya said and turned to one of the men in suit, and if they communicated with telepathy, he rushed to Damian’s side and loosened the rope around him.“Who the hell is this?! Why is he-“Lucian asked looking frantically and helplessly at the busy man. “Stop this instant, you bastard!” He fired but the man didn’t spare him a glance as the cocky look on Damian’s face remained, teasing and mocking him.“Freya!” Lucian turned to look at the lady behind him, who was relaxed.“What is going on?” Luc
Ravenna stood there for a while staring at her father, praying he made a move or said something.“I’ll be down in 10.” He said finally as she freed her clenched fist which she held for a while now due to her nervousness.“Okay.” She said barely in a whisper and turned around to the living room where men from her dad’s inner circle sat, all looking rich and expensive but red with rage.Each exuded an air of authority and success that could be felt as they sat, even in silence. The first man, Giuseppe Bianchi, was the epitome of the fashion industry. Dressed in a tailored black suit, he wore a crisp white shirt underneath, a silk tie adorned with intricate patterns, and patent leather shoes that glistened under the soft chandelier light. His perfectly groomed salt-and-pepper hair was a testament to his meticulous attention to detail.Sitting across from him was Leonardo Rossi, a titan in the world of finance. His attire exuded sophistication, as he sported a finely cut charcoal-gray pi
"Just because I'm in a mess doesn't give you the right to get cheeky," Lucian said, not looking at any of them. His face was grim as Antonio cleared his throat.Lucian raised his head to look at Antonio. "You all want to do it the dirty way?" he asked, shifting his gaze from one person to another."Okay then." He stood up, took out his phone from his pant pocket, dialed something, and turned the picture to show Antonio. "Does this look familiar?" he asked, and Antonio's face turned pale. Antonio rested back on the cushion, staring at it in shock."What is he-" Giuseppe began, but Lucian turned the phone in his direction, a smirk on his face."You bastard! I knew you shouldn't be trusted!" Giuseppe stood up abruptly and stared at Lucian in rage.Lucian ignored him and flicked his eyes toward Leonardo, who watched him with expectation."Wanna see yours?" Lucian asked. "Or is it fine?"Leonardo's lips curved into a smile, the kind that hides growing rage. "You're going this far?""Nah."
"Domenico? Who the hell are you?" Amiri made an irritated face, hating the fact that he was being kept in suspense."Like I said, your new nemesis," Damian replied as he stared at Paulo, who was sitting opposite him, munching on an ice cream greedily with a happy smile."You...," Amiri began to say."Mind your language. I know you're just a bloody illiterate who owns a syndicate and thinks you run the world, but I've got a spoiler for you, my dear." Damian paused as his lips curved into a smile. "Paulo is right in front of me, happily enjoying some ice flavored drink. Would you like to meet him?" He asked in a casual tone."Is that Daddy?" Paulo, the six-year-old, looked up at Damian with his big, curious eyes.Damian flashed him a smile. "Yes, boy. Daddy is on his way to pick you up." He replied as Paulo gave him a smile and continued with his ice cream."How the hell do you have Paulo?! What are you doing with my boy?!" Amiri shouted in sheer frustration and anger as Damian put the
"How about we play a game," Damian said with a smile. "You pull that trigger... and the car you're soon going up in like 'puff!'" Damian made the sound with his mouth as Amiri's hand tightened on the gun."What the hell," Amiri's hand came down slowly as he tried to process what Damian had just said."If I am to explain more literally," Damian started again. "I meant to say, if I die, your son dies." He completed as Amiri chuckled stiffly at first and laughed out like a maniac."My bad," he raised his hands with a smile. "I didn't get enough information on you... my bad," he repeated again as Damian watched him with a smile."Now, everyone's concentrating," Damian said and walked back to the seat he had meant to sit in earlier, crossed his legs when he took his seat."Have a seat," Damian gestured to the sofa beside him. "And keep that away." He shifted his gaze to the gun as if it were trash as Amiri didn't know when the gun slipped from his hand and fell off.He walked to the seat a
"It's evident that the Kings are trying to go against the president. How disgraceful!" Mrs. Castile exclaimed during the emergency shareholders' meeting held a few days after Lucian's press conference."That isn't the issue. If we believe Mr. Santoro is innocent, it's of no use as the stocks keep decreasing daily. Everyone is in a bind," one shareholder commented, while Damian sat in his usual seat at the far end, barely listening to the banter.Since the conference and the spread of news, the whole nation had been in an uproar. Even though the police had investigated and declared him innocent, some masses were still adamant. Santoro's stock was the most affected, and the shareholders were not left out. Some who were truly sad about it voiced their opinions, while those who had always hated him saw this as an opportunity to get back at him."Everyone..." Damian calmly interjected, and the room became silent once more. Even in the midst of the chaos, he knew the power he wielded over t
“The truth is that I and Domenico Santoro married in the past. Dad has always hated him for no reason. He tried all he could have to separate us but he didn’t succeed until a while.” Damian watched in awe the news that was displayed on the TV in his office, with Roberto.“He made him go to prison for what he didn’t commit. He had initially promised to let him go after a few days, but he-“ Ravenna paused and dabbed her eye with a handkerchief, sniffing under the camera of so many many news stations. “He left him there to rot.” She said as Damian rested his back on his seat. “This crazy woman has started playing some tricks,” Roberto muttered as he turned to look at Damian who was staring at the TV with a troubled look.“About the allegations placed on Mr Santoro about the drugs. It’s a lie.” Ravenna continued.“Dad has always been unhappy that Mr Santoro has finally gotten the Justice and life he deserves and he will do anything to destroy it. That’s how Lucian Kings can be.” Ravenna
“Never,” Damian said as Roberto sighed in relief.“I would never make such a mistake, Roberto. The kings have bartered me in ways that I don’t think I would be able to heal again.” Damian stated but Roberto still had this nagging feeling that his boss was saying one thing while his heart meant another. Either way, be let it lie and didn’t discuss it further.Meanwhile, as Ravenna walked out of the Santoro Group building, her body shook in fury as she thought of how Damian had been treated after she became a black sheep in her family for him.She took a taxi and got in.“The airport please.” She said and rested back on the cab chair, her mind drifting to the look he had on his face earlier. He looked like he was going to succumb at some point. This proves Damian still has some feelings left for her. But the other sin she and her father had committed against him was too great.“Excuse me, sir, take me to Jade Hotel.” She said to the cab driver to make a turn. She had planned if things h
"In five minutes, some people will come over to your place. Old friends of mine. I might call them," Damian said as he paced majestically in his study, feeling extremely proud of himself."You might be wondering what friends I have…" Damian paused, as if expecting a response."Or maybe you already know them?" Damian asked with a raised brow."The Tigers," Damian said in a grim tone. "They've been all over the city, looking for you, dear uncle," he said, folding his arms."You…" Valentine tried to steady his shaky hands as beads of sweat formed on his forehead."Don't," Damian interrupted. "It's just five minutes," he said again. "Are you sure you want to waste your precious time battling words with me, or is saving your life more important?""How would you know who The Tigers are? You bastard!" Valentine exclaimed."Hmmm… let me think. I did a small background research on you in the past, which didn't give me much result. But then, I do have some friends in the underworld, uncle," Dam
“Who is there?” Came Valentine’s harsh voice as Leonardo felt his feet freeze to the ground while the other man approached. For some reason, he couldn’t move, shocked by what was going on and the fact that he had been played.As the door flung open to reveal Valentine's harsh gaze, Leonardo swallowed, feeling completely dumb as the other man stared at him for a few seconds.“Leonardo,” he started with a smile, like the psychopath he was.“Have you been eavesdropping?” Valentine asked as he approached, his right hand behind his back as if hiding something. Leonardo was stunned for a second, but his survival instinct kicked in instantly.At this point, Valentine was very dangerous, and getting out of this house should be his main priority.“What did you hear?” Valentine asked, cutting into Leonardo’s thoughts, who forced a smile.“You are mistaken, Valentine,” Leonardo began, shaking his head.“I came here to talk,” he said again as both men's gazes remained intent on each other.“You a
“Just talks.” He muttered under his breath after a moment of silence, that’s all you can do.“I heard you took care of Ravenna, I must commend you however you did it.” He said again. “She is not a threat to me any longer. So just step down and let me have the position.”“You don’t understand.” Damian approached him. Valentine is trying to get the position for himself.” He said and started to shake his head. “Not you brother. And the moment you continue to stay with him, I won’t be able to do anything. Like I said, he will use you….”“Bullshit!” He turned away and headed to towards the door.“Leo…..”Damian made to say again but he had started walking away, this time with determined strides and out he went of the room.“Young master.” Roberto called after few seconds passed with Damian staring blankly at the door following Leonardo’s exit as if looking for something desperately.Damian turned away from the door. “I have a bad feeling about all this.” He said calmly.“Thank God you came
The chauffeur opened the door as Damian walked swiftly in front of the huge building, that stood towering over most the buildings in that area.The Santoro headquarter building was one of biggest in the city.Damian did the button on his jacket as he walked through the exit with the security bowing down for him.His hands tucked in his pocket, he made his way through the different part of the building and straight to the boardroom confidently. He was literally unstoppable now.Immediately Elena caugh sight of him coming out of the elevator, she rushed towards him with a scared deamenor.“Young master…,”she said breathlessly as if she has been running.“Are they all in?” He asked with a slight frown.“Yeah. The remaining two shareholders that seemed to be late has arrived. They don’t care young master.” She said as rage filled Damian as he made his way past her with her trailing behind him.“Do you have a plan?” She asked as he stopped on his track, memories of his conversation with Ma
As the laughing subsided, she stared at Amiri who just watched her.“Fuck you Amiri!” She spat out as Amiri just watched her. Her laughing was out of spite.It didn’t take another second when the sound of the police siren filled the whole place as Ravenna made to turn around to look back, but stopped, probably because of her pride.She turned to look at Amiri, her eyes bloodshot with rage while Amiri stared at her lazily.“You shouldn’t be outside here, Ravenna. Living with normal people.” Amiri said as the sound of the policemen steps coming towards them increased to show how close they were.“You are dangerous to humanity.” Amiri completed as Ravenna scoffed. “And you call yourself a saint by doing this one thing?” She asked with an angry look.“You are bloody criminal, you bastard!” She shrieked angrily as the police finally got to them.“I am inspector Morales and you are under arrest for the…..”The words trailed off in Ravenna’s head as she stared angrily at Amiri, and as her ey
Amiri wasn’t sure of what to say. He just stared blankly at her.“What did you do to Paulo?” He could only manage to ask as Ravenna gave him a scrutinizing look as if that would determine if she would tell him anything or not.“You should ask what I would do to him if you don’t comply to my commands right now.” She said as Amiri’s fist clenched.“You still look as if I am lying to you.” She said with a pout. “You still think I don’t have Amiri, ugh?” She raised a brow and tuttered.“Foolish.” She snorted. “Swerville Day school. Finish his lessons by 12 noon. Has a standby driver that takes him home to his mama.” She said to spite Amiri the more as if the other man hasn’t gotten the point, the predicament he was into.“What if I switched the driver with my people.” Her lips tugged in a sinister smile as Amiri felt a bead of sweat on his forehead.She chuckled and took off his shades and put it on. “Now I can see the darkness hidden inside of you Amiri.” She murmured almost in a whisper
Amiri made to blink but for some reason, restricted himself as if scared that any wrong movement of his would lead to another problem.He watched as a smile curved up Ravenna’s lips. “Who put you to this, Amiri?” She started to removed an invisible speck of dust on jacket, as she smiled sheepishly, she raised her gaze to meet his again as she stifled a chuckle.“What?” She asked with a laughing tone, her gaze dancing on his face.“You’re crazy.” Amiri could only say as Ravenna stoped moving her hand, the smile faded as she stared at me as if the word ‘crazy’ was foreign to her.“Crazy?” She asked with an irritated, as if challenging Amiri.“Me?” She asked, as if truly hurt. But Amiri knew better. “Stop playing the victim’s game. You’re in front of the man you killed. Have some respect for this dead, Ravenna.” He shove her hand away from his chest as her hand dangled by her side as if she had no control over it.“As if you care.” She stared at him with angry gaze.She bent her head to
“We’re here, boss”. Carlos said thriugh the rear mirror as he tried to discern what was going on in his boss’s head who looked pale through out the ride.“Oh…”He replied absentmindedly as Carlos quickly got off the passenger’s sit at the front.He opened up the back seat for his boss and waited, but it seemed Amiri was still in deep thought.“Boss.” He called again as Amiri snapped out of his reverie and turned to see Carlos watching him with a mixture of worried and careful gaze.“What’s with the look?” Amiri got off the car as he straightened his well tailored suit, as he out his shade one, Carlos closing the door again. “You don’t look too well boss.” He said as Amiri started to walk down the small path that was paved in the middle of the cementry where Lucian’s funeral was supposed to hold.“Today is Ravenna’s dad funeral.” He said, without sparing him a glance as he moved ahead.“I didn’t realize you both were that close for you to feel Lucian’s death.” Carlos said as Amiri sto
“I can’t believe this.” Amiri staggered back, unconsciously locating a sofa behind him and sitting down. His hand slowly moved to hold his face, the news making his whole body shudder, hating how foolish he looked.“It’s okay if you feel embarrassed,” Damian said nonchalantly as Amiri raised his head to look at him in an uneasy manner.“Sorry,” he feigned a smile. “I didn’t mean it that way,” he added as Amiri sighed, smacking his lips together, looking away to avoid revealing how disgruntled he felt to Damian.“So?”Amiri raised his head to look at him. “What? You want me to pay back?” He asked as Damian watched him with an amused look.“What?” Amiri asked, his apprehension growing by the minute. He always portrayed himself to everyone as this strong-hearted person, deeply revered in the underground world. But this man knew how to effortlessly get to him, making some part of his life seem to almost revolve around him.“You must think so lowly of me,” Damian said with a soothing tone,