Chapter 4 Don

• AEMILIO
• "It's about time," Bruno said beside me.
• The silver-haired 23-year-old man was my second in command and the most heartless bastard one could ever meet. And I loved him for it. He kept me on my toes when I was slipping.
• "I knew that son of a bitch, Raimundo, would like to do something like this. What do you think he is planning, eh?" Bruno asked.
• I shrugged as I crossed the black plants. "I don't know, Bruno. But, we have to be careful not to talk about that till we meet him. We are in his territory, and the walls have ears, after all," I pointed out.
• Bruno grinned as he rolled his shirt to show off his muscles. I mentally rolled my eyes at such childishness. Just when I was about to turn a corner, I noticed that Inació, one of Raimundo's underbosses, was in the process of hitting a beauty. She looked so stunning as she cowed in fear.
• As I moved closer, I saw that Inació's fly was partially open. A frown tugged at my lips. This was one of the reasons I didn't want to honor the invitation of these people. They behaved like animals!
• The bastard pulled out his belt suddenly, and I moved without a moment's hesitation, stopping him right there.
• "Master?" He whined in shock.
• I shoved his hands aside as I looked right at the beauty that was shaking right on the floor. Her long black hair arrested my soul. I had not seen anything like it in my whole life. It was beautiful.
• Unable to resist, I squatted in front of her, calmly caressing her face. She tried to avoid my gaze as I stroked her soft cheeks. "Bella," I poured out.
• "Master," Bruno said quietly as he leaned close to my ears. "We are still in the enemy's territory."
• I groaned in frustration.
• He was right. I couldn't do anything that would make Raimundo have the wrong idea. I calmly rose to my feet, not sparing the girl a second's glance as I walked into the mansion.
• Raimundo stood in the middle of the mansion as though he knew I was around with a bottle of tequila in his hands. His gold braces were visible as he grinned at me. Damn! The man was uglier in person.
• "I didn't imagine you would honor my invitation," he said softly.
• I looked at Bruno, and he quickly helped me take off my coat. "I couldn't refuse from a don like you," I said quickly.
• Raimundo laughed, obviously pleased with the compliment. "Come on, I pale in comparison to you. You're the mafia boss in every sense of the world."
• I smiled politely then as I thought of playing with his hands. "Will you keep complimenting me, or would you offer me a seat?"
• "Ah, please pardon my bad manners!" He screeched. I shrugged. "Please, come this way."
• I flipped my nose in a bid to make Bruno even more alert. There were just two of us, and anything could go wrong. If there was a shoot-down, I needed to be prepared.
• Keeping my poker face on, I followed Raimundo down the sitting area into a small office at the side. The cold AC blasted from the setting as pictures of porn stars lined the wall. I tapped the side of my shirt, loving the feel of my gun against my skin. It would be handy.
• "Stay out," I told Bruno.
• "But..."
• "Do it," I said quickly.
• He bowed, but it was evident that he didn't like it. I knew what I was doing, though. He would operate the outside world while handling the issues here. It would be for the best, and there would be no more stress, at least on my part.
• Raimundo moved over to his faux leather chair while I took the other side of the table. We nodded at each other before sitting. I was aware that there were guards around that I couldn't see. Raimundo was cunning but not careless.
• "Like I said, Amelio," he said as he poured the tequila into two glasses. "I'm glad that you could come around to my abode."
• I smirked. "I had to. There should be a reason I was sent here, Raimundo."
• "Yes," he said. "But, drink first."
• I nodded as I took the glass from him and made a show of drinking, only to use my trick to pour the contents back into the cup, even with him watching.
• "I have done so," I said as I dropped the glass.
• Raimundo shifted on his seat and then placed both hands on the table, peering up at me. "I have been thinking about this for some time now, and I think it's the right time to let it out. You're the drug lord and have the most famous cartel in Spain. I, on the other hand, am a sex trafficker. The both of us can make the bitches sway if we work together. In my line of business, I need men who crave the company of the girls I give them. While you need people who can readily buy drugs. These bitches want to be stoned, and my clients also need the thrill of drugs and sex. You get what I mean, Capone?"
• I gritted my teeth hard. "I never said I need to move into your line of business. We are both from different worlds, which should remain like that."
• Raimundo gave me a cold smile. "No, Capone," he said calmly.
• "What do you mean by no?"
• "We are not so different from each other. We are both sinners, and we can benefit well if we play our cards well. No one in the mafia business doesn't fear us. Think of all the benefits we would have if we got partnered together. Every one of the bastards who hate us would be buried in fear at the sight of us," he mumbled.
• I leaned back on the chair, acting like I was excellent with his words, but inside, I was boiling. The man was up to no good with this talk, and if I refused utterly, it would be a problem for me and Bruno. We were alone.
• With a sly smile, I said, "You have a point, and I would do well to think about what you have said," I said quickly.
• He beamed at me as he rose to his feet. "Wonderful!"
• I rose to my feet, too. "I haven't accepted yet," I pointed out.
• He took a sip of his drink. "I know, but you will," he said quickly.
• I let that slide. "I should take my leave."
• Raimundo came around, slapping me hard on the shoulder. "I have to show you the expensive cars in the garage, Capone. It's my trick to make you quickly agree."
• "I don't..."
• "Please," he whined.
• I took a deep breath. "Of course, but Bruno would be coming with us."
• "As it should be," he said with a laugh.
• I followed him out and signaled for Bruno to come with me while peeling his eyes out if something was fishy. Raimundo walked as though we had all day, but I was glad when we finally got out.
• The same girl and Inació were at the same point I left them, but this time, she was standing with her head bowed. I tried to move further away from her, but instead, I stepped towards her.
• "Bella, what is your name?" I asked coldly.
• Inació laughed at that. "Master, taking an interest in this bitch is a punishment on its own. She is a problem to handle."
• "I'm talking to you," I snapped.
• She turned to me at once. "Evangelina," she said slowly in a voice that sounded like music to my ears.