Chapter 4

03

Sʜᴀᴅᴏᴡs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀғɪᴀ

I sit, shrouded in the shadows, my eyes fixed on the window as the sunlight casts an eerie glow on my face. My mind simmers with the bitter taste of betrayal, a wound still raw and festering. Someone had dared to cross me, to challenge my authority. The memory seethes in my thoughts like a venomous snake.

My fingers drum a slow rhythm on the armrest, the sound a reminder of the control I exert over this world. My domain. My kingdom.

I sense the surrounding fear, the weight of my presence suffocating. My employees scurry about, their eyes darting towards me with a mix of fascination and terror. They know better than to cross me.

My gaze shifts, locking onto Sophia, her trembling fingers a testament to her awareness of my attention. I watch her, my expression unreadable, as she falters, her eyes meeting mine. For a moment, we're connected, bound by the thread of fear.

Luca, my loyal assistant, stands poised to my left, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that borders on obsession. I nod, almost imperceptibly, and he takes a step forward, awaiting my command.

The air is heavy with tension, the scent of leather and cigar smoke clinging to me like a shroud. I am the master of this world, and they know it.

My eyes linger on Sophia, her gaze faltering as she quickly returns to her work. I can sense her fear, her uncertainty. It's a palpable thing, a living entity that fills the room.

I lean back in my chair, steepling my fingers together as I survey my domain. The room is dimly lit, the only sound the soft hum of computers and the occasional rustle of papers. My employees work with quiet efficiency, their faces bathed in the eerie glow of their screens.

Luca clears his throat, his eyes locked on mine. "Signor De Luca, we have a situation that requires your attention."

I raise an eyebrow, my gaze never leaving his. "Go on."

"There's been a discrepancy in the accounts," he says, his voice low and even. "It appears that someone has been siphoning funds from the company."

My expression doesn't change, but inside, a spark of anger ignites. Betrayal. Again.

"Find out who," I say, my voice low and deadly. "And bring them to me."

Luca nods, his face a mask of determination. "Yes, Signor De Luca."

I nod, my eyes returning to the window. The sun is setting, casting a golden glow over the city. But in this room, there is only darkness.

I lean forward, my eyes scanning the documents spread out before me.

The words blur together - shipment schedules, inventory lists, encrypted messages. But one thing stands out: the symbol of the poppy flower, repeated throughout the pages like a sinister mantra.

This is my sanctuary, my focus. The drug trade is a complex web, but I am the master weaver. I oversee every detail, from cultivation to distribution. It's a delicate balance, one that requires precision and ruthlessness.

My pen scratches across the paper, annotating the margins with notes and calculations. I am fully absorbed in the task, my mind razor-sharp. This is what keeps me sane, what drives me.

The room around me fades into the background - the soft murmur of my employees, the hum of the computers, the scent of leather and smoke. I am alone in my world, where the only truth is the next shipment, the next profit.

I don't notice Luca's approach, lost in my work. But when he clears his throat, I look up, my gaze piercing. "Yes?

"The discrepancy in the accounts," he reminds me, his voice low. "I've found the source."

I nod, my attention already returning to the documents. "Deal with it."

Luca hesitates, then nods and backs away. I am oblivious to his fear, my focus solely on the task at hand. But I will enjoy it later, when the time is right.

I notice Sophia's expression, a faint frown creasing her forehead. I lean back in my chair, steepling my fingers together. "Hey, Sophia, everything okay? You look like you've lost your last friend."

Sophia's gaze flicks up to mine, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "Oh, Signor De Luca, I'm fine. Just a little...concerned about the Smith account."

I nod, my voice taking on a soothing tone. "Ah, don't worry about that. We've got it under control. Victor will take care of it."

Sophia's eyes narrow slightly, her expression questioning. "Victor?"

I smile, a cold glint in my eye. "Our...enforcer. He'll make sure everything runs smoothly. Consider him our...safety net."

Sophia's frown deepens, her gaze dropping to her hands. "I see."

I lean forward, my voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Don't worry, Sophia. Victor is very...efficient. He'll take care of any problems that may arise."

Sophia looks up at me, her eyes searching. "And what exactly does he do, Signor De Luca?"

I chuckle, a low, menacing sound. "Let's just say Victor has a talent for...persuasion. He can be very convincing when he needs to be."

Sophia's eyes widen slightly, a flicker of fear in their depths. "I understand."

I lean forward, my voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Don't worry, Sophia. Victor will take care of it."

Sophia's eyes widen, a flicker of fear crossing her face. Her gaze drops to her hands, her fingers nervously entwined.

I nod, my expression serious. "He's very...efficient."

I can tell by the look in her eyes that she's thinking the worst. She's wondering what "efficient" really means. I can almost see the wheels turning in her head, imagining the worst-case scenario.

I lean back in my chair, my eyes locked on hers. I know she's thinking about Victor's true nature, about what he's capable of. And I know she's scared.

Sophia's eyes dart up to mine, searching for reassurance. But I offer none. Instead, I let the silence hang between us, heavy with unspoken understanding.

Finally, Sophia looks away, her shoulders sagging in defeat. She knows better than to press the issue.

I nod, a small smile playing on my lips. "Good. I knew I could count on you, Sophia."

With that, the meeting is adjourned. Sophia quickly gathers her things and exits the room, leaving me to my thoughts.

I push the thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. Victor will take care of the Smith account. And Sophia will make sure everything runs smoothly.

Victor. My enforcer, my problem solver, my fucking nightmare. He's a soulless, sadistic fuckboy with a penchant for pain and a taste for blood. His nature is as twisted as they come - a serial killer with a cocky grin and a swagger that makes your skin crawl.

I remember the first time we met, in a dingy, rundown warehouse on the outskirts of town. The air was thick with the stench of decay and death. Victor was torturing some poor fucker, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he worked his sick magic. I was impressed, despite myself. This was a man who could get things done, no matter the cost.

He's a master manipulator, a chameleon who can charm the pants off you one minute and gut you like a fish the next. And he loves it, every sick, twisted minute of it. He's a sexual sadist, using his charm and good looks to lure in his victims before he strikes.

Victor's got a darkness in him, a black hole of depravity that can't be satiated. He's a cancer, a plague on humanity, and I'm the fucking idiot who uses him to get what I want.

But what a beautiful monster he is. A deadly, seductive, manipulative fuckboy with a heart of stone and a cock that's always hard for the next kill.

I stand up, my eyes scanning the city below with an unnerving intensity. The lights twinkle like diamonds against the dark canvas of night, but my mind is far from the beauty of the scene. I remember everything. Every detail, every moment, every betrayal. The scars on my body, the ache in my heart, the fire in my soul.

Marco thinks he's safe, hiding in the shadows, thinking he's escaped me. But I've been waiting, patiently, for him to slip up, to make a mistake. And when he does, I'll be there, watching, waiting. My eyes will be the last thing he sees, my voice the last thing he hears.

I can almost taste the fear that will soon consume him, like a fine wine on my lips. I can almost smell the blood that will soon stain his skin, like a sweet perfume in the air. And when I finally have him in my grasp, I'll make sure he suffers a fate worse than death.

I'll carve out his soul, piece by piece, and feed it to the darkness that haunts him. I'll shred his skin like paper, and watch as he begs for mercy. I'll crack open his skull like a walnut, and devour the fear that spills out.

Marco, you may have tried to kill me, but you failed. And now, I'll make sure you pay the price. Your screams will be

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