Chapter One

"But his soul was mad.

Being alone in the wilderness,

it had looked within itself and,

by heavens I tell you, it had gone mad."

― Joseph Conrad, 

~

Darkness. It could be Wickedness or evil,  or Unhappiness or gloom, or the basic meaning, the partial or total absence of light (Dictionary).

For Mateo, it was unhappiness or gloom. Everyone thought of him as wicked and evil, but no one knew what's inside him. The real him. The reason for his actions, is his father. Mateo's father didn't treat him in the best way, or the way that every father should treat their children; with love and kindness. That doesn't mean that his father abused him, but he just didn't treat him...as a son. Mateo grew up with hate and dark in his heart, but that doesn't mean that his heart is stone-cold, even if he acts like it.

-

MATEO

"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD LUCIA, LEAVE.ME.ALONE!" I yelled, while putting on my suit jacket. She's getting on my nerves and I cannot hold it anymore. If you have a sister, you'll understand. I mean—all she does is nag. And by 'all she does' I mean 24/7 nag literally.

Damn, she loves nagging. 

"Come on brother, please! I just want the car for 5 hours! I need to go shopping before my flight tomorrow." Lucia pleaded for the fifth time. Why can't she understand that a 'no' means no, putting emphasis on it. Also, why doesn't she take one of the other cars in the house? why does it have to be mine? 

She is a pain in the ass. I can't believe she is my sister.

"Fine, take it, but I swear to god if you crash it Lucia, I will crush you and bury you. Alive!" I furiously replied, giving in as I couldn't hear her say another word. She knows that if she kept on nagging, she will get what she wants, and the worst part is that I know that I will give in eventually when I could have just agreed in the beginning without listening to her voice. 

I am so stupid. 

"Woah, slow down, it is just a car" she mocked, singing the last part as she walked out of my room. She loves getting on my nerves and she is so good at it, and I hate her for it. 

I rolled my eyes and walked out behind her.

My sister and my mother are the only ones I cannot control. They are uncontrollable. They're evil. Pure evil. And you know what I mean if you are the only male in the house with two or more females, one of them being your mother. It's not that all females are like that—like I have seen some who aren't, but because of how lucky I am, I got two who—God I don't even want to talk about it anymore; however, at the same time, I am extremely grateful that I have them—they're my life.

I walked down the spiral stairs, passing by the living room, and made my way outside. Our house was very big. It's not like we were born with al of this. In fact, we started everything from scratch. My dead ugly father did leave us an enormous amount of money, but we donated most of it to charities. We didn't want to take anything from him. 

My best friend; Samuel, was standing by his car waiting for me. That is another person who I cannot control.

Fuck my life.

"Morning, you ass." He grinned, irritating me more as if I need it. You could say that he is Lucia 02. 

Rolling my eyes I said, "Morning, dick." A smile made its way to his lips. He just loves dirty talks, something that I am not that fond of, but I do it for him. Just to make him happy.

"So, brother, where are we going?" Samuel asked, while we stepped inside my dark Blue Tesla S.

"Warehouse." I replied, starting the engine. The sound of the engine reviving up was like a sound to our ears. One thing Samuel and I have in common is our love for cars. 

Samuel and I have been best-friends since grade 10. He and I bounded really fast and we understand each other so well. He is the only person I trust after my family, and he is considered family.

On our way to the warehouse, we got stuck beside the New York City hospital because of a stupid traffic light and a stupid ambulance. I opened my window to check what is going on, and saw an accident. A female doctor; who I couldn't see her face, was yelling at the paramedic to hurry up. I guess the man was dying because he looked to be in a really bad shape. Something I do everyday to some men—bad men.

"Stupid ambulance." I muttered, getting irritated by the second.

I am just not a patient person. I hate waiting and I get angry easily if things didn't speed up.

"Calm down. Some people need saving you know." Samuel rolled his eyes, as he peeked his face outside the window to see the accident.

"I don't care, I have work to do." I replied quickly, frowning.

I glanced again at the sight and that's when I saw her face. Her angelic face. I have never seen a face like this before. I have never been captivated by a woman before. I was enchanted by her ocean blue eyes. She wasn't that far from me, so I could see her beautiful light eyes. And since the moment I laid my eyes on her, I knew that I was doomed. 

Who is she? I thought to myself. 

After waiting for almost 30 minutes on the same damn road, the ambulance had finally gone and the traffic light was finally green. But a bitsy part of me wanted to stay longer, wishing that the ambulance was still there, so I could look at the angelic doctor. 

After few minutes, we arrived at the warehouse.

This warehouse is my second home. I sometimes even sleep in it. Our work is all here, from killing to torturing to sleeping with girls, and of course selling weapons and other stuff. The reason I sleep with girls in the warehouse is because I have never taken any girl to my house because my mother never allows it. She thinks that her son is a man-whore. 

Well, she ain't wrong...

Did I mention I am a man-whore?

I stepped out of the car, adjusted my clothes, and Samuel and I made our way inside. I opened the door and was greeted by my men.

One of the men told me that they found the man who was selling drugs. I would allow anything to be sold, but I would never allow drugs to be sold or trafficking in women and children. If I could kill every single person who trafficks with women and children, I wouldn't hesitate. Just give me their location and I'll go right now. 

On the other hand, drugs should be banned. The things I have seen in Spain the past few years because of drugs is just so...unfortunate. I cannot imagine what would I do if I have got a sibling at the age of 13, die because of drugs. That's only one case I saw in Spain, imagine the rest. 

I made my way to a room located in the basment. This room is where we mostly torture people. I went in and saw the man kneeling on the floor with his hands cuffed to the ceiling. I knelled till I was in front of him with the same height. I smirked and looked Into his terrifying eyes. His eyes told me that they feared death and they also told me that they knew death was coming soon. Very soon.

I love seeing people in fear...especially bad people.

"Well well, if it isn't the drug dealer" I greeted, mockingly. 

"Please...I-I am sorry" He sobbed, trying to break free from the cuffs. His eyes were red, probably from how much he cried his eyes out. 

"You do know that I do NOT tolerate anyone who sells drugs, right?" I asked, while he nodded. I could tell that he would do anything just to let him go. 

"And that I will kill anyone who does it and knows I don't like it, especially when you used my name to sell it." I added and he nodded yet again. 

"Then why the fuck did you do it?" I yelled, harshly. Is he stupid or stupid?

"I needed money." He cried even more.

I mean...okay, sell drugs without me knowing, but why the fuck did you use my name when you knew I would kill you? Is money worth dying for?

He looked at me with watery eyes, pleading for me to let him go. I grabbed my gun from my waistband and shot him right in the head.

"Clean this mess." I ordered my men and left the room. Just so you know, I don't feel remorse. 

I went to my office with Samuel following me.

"By the way, I have some bad news." Samuel started, nervously. Why can't I have just one day without bad news? 

"What?" I snapped, unintentionally. 

"Dr. Joe ran away, so we don't have anyone to treat our men." He announced, rolling his eyes at my attitude.

"Fuck! I want you to find him and kill him. I cannot let him live knowing about us, besides, he cannot leave. He either stays or dies, and he knows that." I explained, frowning. 

"I know." He nodded, "Do you want me to find a new doctor?"

I hate it. I mean it is really hard to find someone to work for us. It is not easy to find a doctor who is willing to work for the mafia. But I have to find someone even if they are not willing.

Suddenly, an idea came to mind and I loved it. It was a selfish one, but we are humans and humans are selfish, by nature. 

"I found one. The doctor we saw today near the NYC hospital." I said with a grin, happy with the idea I came up with. 

"What doctor?" he asked, confusingly.

"The woman Samuel. The woman who was beside the ambulance." I explained with my hands flying in the air. 

"Oh, that doctor." He remembered. 

"Yes Samuel, who else!" I replied, rolling my eyes. "Find everything about her."

"Fine. Everything will be at your desk tomorrow morning." He replied and left my office.

I have two options, either kidnap her or ask her nicely, and that depends on her file and what kind of life she lives in. I know it is selfish to do this, but when I want something or someone, I get it.

Besides, she is getting a job that includes helping people; my men.

It is now 8pm and I decided to go home. As I was about to leave, the door burst open revealing Claudia. This woman is my on and off girlfriend. I wouldn't really call her a girlfriend, more like a fuck buddy. A not great fuck buddy that I would like to get rid of, but can't. 

"Hey, handsome" she flirted, seductively.

"Not in the mood, Claudia." I groaned, grabbing my suit jacket and making my way out, but she stopped me by grabbing my arm. 

"Then when will you be! I have been waiting for you for a month now." She yelled, angrily.

"Well—stop waiting because it's never going to happen again."

"You can't do that!" She yelled, as she stomped her foot on the floor harshly.

"Do NOT yell at me!" I yelled back. "What part of you don't understand that I don't want any fucking thing to do with you?"

"But, we always fight and get back together." she pouted.

"Not this time." I replied and left the room. She is really a pain in the ass. Every woman I know is! 

Damn my luck.

The problem is that I cannot kick Claudia out of the mafia because we work with her father's mafia, and me kicking her out won't make things good; however, if I didn't want to be with her, her father wouldn't mind because he cares more about business, and I don't really think she could get hurt. She doesn't have feelings, like me. 

Of course her father cares about her being hurt, but he cares more about business, and that's why I took things the way I did with her, but she won't seem to understand.

And yes, I'm an asshole.

I pushed the door open and stepped in. I started the engine and sped off. On my way back home, I drove by the hospital again and my mind wandered to that doctor again. How will her reaction be when she learns that I want her to work for me? It is really interesting that right now, she is living normally, when tomorrow her life will change drastically.

I parked my car and made my way inside. Walking into my room, I took a shower and went to work in my office. I started searching everything about the NYC hospital in general. Of course it is not about the girl. It is just I want to know more about the hospital and everyone working in it. And now you know, I didn't work and just stayed up late learning about the women and the hospital.

Also...

Never mind. 
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Word count: 2284