Chapter 3

Zarek Vaughn.

I was never the type to trust a man beneath me easily. Yet, even when he pulled the trigger and the bullet tore into my arm, I still struggled to believe he'd betray me.

Jules was like a brother to me. He was my best friend Mark's younger sibling. When Mark died, I took Jules and his sister Alena in, vowing to give them the life Mark would've wanted for them. Mark died serving me, protecting me during an enemy ambush. Which wasn't my fault, death wasn't a myth in our world. We all knew it could claim us at any moment. Only the lucky ones could delay its grasp.

But Jules never saw it that way, It pained me that he was too foolish to let the people that killed his brother brainwash him into thinking I was the bad person. I always knew Jules wasn't the smartest for this kind of world, he acts with emotions not brain, which is why I tried to prohibit him from joining but when he insisted I didn't have a choice.

His sister, Alena was taken far away from this. I made sure her college was far from here and she barely came back home. It was safer that way.

Now, as I sat in my office, anger brewed within me, replaying what happened just hours ago. The scene burned in my mind-how I hesitated to pull the trigger out of respect for Mark, for the promises I made and knowing Jules was still out there moving freely after he shot me only made me more furious.

My gaze fell to the wound on my arm, neatly wrapped with a blue cloth. My mind drifted to those soft features, blue eyes, blonde hair, plump pouted lips and the focused expression that she had as she carefully took out the bullet and cleaned my wound.

Fuck. If it weren't for her, I might be dead. Jules lured me to a place no one else knew about, a place only he could've known because I trusted him. Spoiled him. And now, I swear, I won't rest until I punish him for this.

The intercom on my office desk started ringing, indicating that someone was at the door. I checked my camera and Tony's face came into view. Tony was one of my trusted men, loyal and had skills than Jules could ever have but I favored Jules over him cos of obvious reasons.

I pressed the open button and my door slid open like that of an elevator.

"Don, about Jules" Tony started, his hand at his back, his head bowed as he spoke.

It made me remember how free I let Jules be around me and others were so tense around me.

I nodded, already knowing what he had come to tell me. "Keep searching and bring the bastard alive for me!"

"Yes Don! Is there anything else you need me to do?"

"Bring James to me, and the Berrylink manager that let a girl deliver my goods. "

"Where do you want them?"

"The lion's den" I said, Tony nodded a flicker of emotion passed through his face but it was gone as soon as it appeared.

The lion's den is where I punish those who sin against me, and from my record no one has ever left there alive.

Let's see if James and that manager can change that-after they explain why they thought it was acceptable to send an innocent, delicate girl like my princess into this godforsaken world.

As soon as Tony left, my phone started ringing, Alena"s name popped up. I sighed and pressed the green button.

"Zarek! Help me!" her voice screeched into my ears sending panic through my vein.

"Calm down and talk to me!" i yelled as I picked up my second phone typing a message to the security I specially assigned for her safety.

"Jules is here, he's trying to take me!"

I heaved a sigh of relief knowing it was her brother.

"I told you to not call him!" I heard Jules voice underneath.

"What makes you think I'll listen to you, asswipe! You're a fucking betrayer, you are not my brother anymore"

"He has brainwashed you, if you don't follow me he'll kill just the way he killed Mark!" I listened to their conversations without a uttering a word.

"Its your brain that needs to be washed you idiot! Mark would be so disappointed in you right now"

"Zarek please come get me before this idiot kidnap me!"

Before I could reply, the buss of my intercom interrupted me. "Boss, they are ready!"

"I'll be down in a minute" I said before I turned my attention back to my phone. "Your guards are outside waiting, pick your choice"

Before I hung I heard Jules voice. "See? he doesn't give a shit about you-"

I shook my head and dropped my phone on the table. Fucking, immature kids.

I took the stairs down to the underground, the dark room with no window, no light, no furniture except the small chair in the middle of the room where I tie the sinners to.

I pulled the door open and I smiled seeing the two men of the hour tucked to the chair just the way I liked it.

"Hello everyone! Welcome to the sinner...therapy... session" My voice carried a playful mockery, and I reveled in their discomfort as they squirmed under my gaze.

With a flick of my wrist, I locked the door behind me and turned on the dim blue light, casting a glow over the room. Privacy was paramount here; I wanted my clients to feel... at ease.

My eyes roved over the table that held my tools, gleaming and arranged with meticulous care. I selected a chair and placed it directly in front of them, sitting with a calm demeanor that hid the anger brewing inside me.

I recognized James, he was my trusted delivery man and the other man-I didn't care who managed the mall as long as my goods moved smoothly.

I owned Berrylink, it was one of things I built that made sense. On the surface, it was a mall known for its affordable prices, job creation, a beacon of goodwill for the community. The public adored me for it. They never questioned how I made a profit, nor did they suspect that the mall was my conduit for a far more lucrative operation. It was the perfect front for my trade.

These men knew that and they still sent someone like that to my warehouse. She could be followed and then I'll be fucked. Worse, my pretty princess could be killed.

I leaned forward, locking eyes with the manager. "Do you know your offense?"

His lips quivered. "N-no, sir, please-"

I exhaled sharply, tempering my anger. "I'll forgive you this once since it's your first time here. But let me explain how this works. In this room, you don't lie, you don't beg, and you don't cry. You've already broken two rules. Next time, I'll break a bone. If you keep going, I'll break another. Do you understand?"

He nodded rapidly, his face pale.

"Good," I said with a tight smile. "Now, let's try this again. What did you do to earn a spot in my special room?"

"I-I sent Sofia to the warehouse instead of James. I'm-" He faltered, trembling, and my chest tightened at the sound of her name.

Sofia.

Her name rang in my mind like a melody.

I remembered the first time I saw her, two months ago, stepping out of a flower shop with a smile that lit up the street. I knew I had to see her again and I kept seeing her again and again. Watching her every night became an obsession.

Imagine how fucking happy I was that she appeared in front of me today, it felt like a dream seeing her very close to me and smelling her.

God, she smelt so delicious. And knowing how she smelt, how melodious her voice was, how soft her hands were, I knew I would not be satisfied watching her from afar anymore.