Chapter 2

After a moment of driving past the busiest street of San José, Ares slowly drove his McLaren 720S along the coastal highway where the richness of the sun is gradually fading and replaced by the dark. Outside of his car, you can visibly hear the sound of the waves pounding on the edge of the shore.

He should still have a meeting by now, but he doesn't know what pushed him to go home. He touched his forehead with one hand leaning against the window while the other held the steering wheel. He takes a deep sigh. What's wrong with him?

When he arrived, the iron gate opened when it recognized his car. Inside were guarded by hundreds of armed men roaming around the area. The mansion is not just an ordinary house, and it has a control system, training center, weapons, drugs, and secret passages underground. Best killers and assassins were using the in and out of the route so they won't have to enter the mainland. The house was renovated from an old bungalow into a modern style,  made of glass and steel. What made it even more luxurious is that it stood overlooking the vastness of ocean-facing West and surrounded by the prettiest greenery scattered around the estate, so when the sun sets, the glass walls mirror the beautiful reflection of the sea.

He entered the mansion and saw his uncle on the couch sipping a glass of wine and was already waiting for him, and just when he saw him, he stood up and smiled as if good news is waiting to serve.

"I haven't seen you going home this early, Mr. Grant. Oh, by the way, I have some news. She's awake."

He froze for a moment. Wait.

"What's with the reaction, dumb ass."

He scolded himself and scoff, then went straight to the bar counter to get himself a whiskey.

"I'll go see her."

He replied coldly, then turned his back on him and walked towards the elevator while holding the glass of whiskey. When the door is about to close, he followed him and handed him a gold necklace with a pink diamond cut in a moon shape.

"Found it the night I was operating her and kept it. I just forgot to give it to you."

He was about to scold him when he quickly stepped outside as the door opened on the 3rd floor. Since when did he forget to tell me important details like this. He thought while looking at the necklace on his palm.

A pink diamond. Known to be the most expensive, and having just a little cut of it means you owned a massive fortune! Did she steal it? That is why she was almost dead that day? But she had no gunshot or wounds from being cut by a sharp object. It looked like she had fallen from a height that caused a concussion and severe damage to her body. But think about it, her body can recover quickly, very unusual for a petite woman like her.

She was still sleeping when Ares entered the room. He can only hear the sound of beeping from different machines that connect to her body. The bandages on her face were gone, and the scars are lightly healing, maybe because the medicine they used is unlike the ones in the hospitals. They had modern technology and drugs that only them had used for his men to recover from any accidents quickly. Only a few stitches were visible, but he now can see the face of the woman in front of him.

She had long, thick eyelashes and natural brows. She doesn't even look sick because her lips still have the colors of cherries. And even if she is wearing a patient's white gown, it even made her look like a sleeping goddess. Have they put makeup on her? She is comfortable sleeping, like she was lying on pieces of cotton and clouds. Her aura is equal to how calm the breeze outside is— serene and welcoming.

He shook his head, took a deep breath, and walked closer to her bed while pulling a chair, slowly placing it in front of her, then sit in a crossed-legged position with arms crossed on his chest.

"What will I do to you when you wake up?"

He whispered, alienated from this kind of feeling. In his 25 years of existence, he never felt the need to care for other people except for his closest relative. His father once told him, "never feed a stranger; they'll become your worst enemy when they're full."

Just when he was about to deepen his thoughts, his phone suddenly rang. Liam informed him that they got Hugo's son. He smirked and hurriedly walked his way out without him knowing that the woman slowly opened her eyes and had seen him walking out the room. When his back slowly fades from her eyes, she went back to sleep.

—————

  It is raining outside the old warehouse. There are no signs of shelter for the next 20 miles, and the area was peaceful that only the night insects are making sounds. But what you can see outside is not as it seems of what was happening inside of the old warehouse, men in black wearing masks with guns scattered around the area. The torches gave the scariest vibe to the little boy sitting on the corner, both legs and arms tied on a chair.

"Mr. Grant, please don't kill me. Please don't kill me."

The boy tearfully pleaded. Tears and sweat were all over his face. Ares was sitting comfortably on his chair, holding a gun and staring at the boy without emotion. On the other hand, Liam was busy talking to one of their men, having a cigarette near the window.

"No, I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to kill your papá. How's that, eh?"

The boy silently weeps as he saw him slowly walking forward. He bowed down to his level and pointed the gun on the boy's chest.

"Are you scared? Haven't your father teaches you that a man should fear nothing? When I was your age, my father and I used to play hunting bears with real guns."

"I-I haven't touched a g-gun, Mr. Grant. Pl-please don't kill me. Please."

It is almost a whisper. Ares smirked and untied his hands.

"Here, hold this."

He handed the gun to the little boy's shaking tiny hands, who probably peed on his pants by now. Liam walked towards them and gave him the phone and a cigarette.

"Oh! Great timing, huh? Hello, Hugo, my friend!"

When the boy realized that it was his father on the other line, he started crying loudly.

"You bastard! What did you do to my son! Let him stay away from our business!"

Hugo screamed from the other line, which made him laugh like a teasing evil.

"Our business? You are right! That is how we handle a business, Hugo, interesting isn't it? So how would you like me to return your son…."

He paused and looked at the boy who is still holding the gun he gave.

"…with a casket or cremated?"

"What do you want, Grant?! Just let my son go! Please don't touch my son, bastard! I swear to God I am going to kill you! I will kill you!"

Hugo was hysterical as his son hears everything that his father said.

"You see, Hugo? I'm your God right now. I'm your punisher right now, so let me give you a little punishment, all right? So you see? Your sweet little boy here is holding a gun, and I'm going to teach him how to pull a trigger!"

The boy started shaking his head, scared to death and almost out of breath.

"No, no, no,  no! Oh, my sweet little boy! Grant, I'm going to kill you!"

"Papá, help me! Papá!

"Come on! Pull that trigger and shoot your left foot. If you don't do it, I'll kill you and kill your mother in front of your father next!"

Hugo was screaming on the other line pleading to spare his son. But he must have known that Ares is the most cunning and heartless man. Like a devil, a person with no soul on his body when it comes to business. He may have a little compassion for other things, but he shows no mercy regarding power, money, and men like him.

The entire warehouse heard a loud bang from the pitiful young boy who had no choice but to obey him with fear, crying hysterically, but without a minute, he lost his consciousness. Liam carried the boy and put him on a table to put a bandage on his feet. Hugo is cursing, screaming, and crying on the other line, thinking about what fate awaits his son.

"You see, Hugo? If you try to mess up with me again, I'll kill your entire family right in front of your eyes. I don't give way this easy, you know? But since the overseas investors signed the contract successfully, take your son back as a token of appreciation. Hmm?"

He dropped the call and decided to leave. Party is over, and he got millions of dollars done deal, neatly piled up on his money bag. When he was able to get inside his car, he loosened up the button of his white long sleeve polo and fixed his hair before starting the engine. He plans to go to the casino but once again today. He found himself paving the way home — thinking about the woman who is now sleeping like an unbothered angel in his mansion.