Sicily, Italy
"Quickly tell me, where do you keep copies of the important data related to our organization!"
Mikael, a tall and imposing man with tattoos covering almost his entire body, was currently gripping the neck of a weakened man sitting in a chair. His hands were tied, and he continued to bow his head. He seemed to have exhausted his strength from the repeated blows he had received all over his body.
"It's pointless for me to tell you," he retorted. "After I tell you, I'll still be killed by you anyway. So what's the difference? I'd rather die outright."
Mikael clenched his jaw tightly. The large-bodied man was ready to signal his intention to strike again. However, this time his action was halted by another man sitting leisurely, smoking a cigarette in his hand.
"Stop, Mikael," he commanded.
Mikael turned. He furrowed his brow in confusion but still obeyed the order.
"Come here..." The man waved his hand, beckoning Mikael to approach. "That's not how a mafia member asks their enemies to talk. You're really foolish!" he scolded.
Mikael took a slow breath. He was afraid his boss might be angry with his actions, which had yielded no results. "But, Mr Luca, I've tried both subtle and rough methods. That man hasn't said a word, let alone given us information about the whereabouts of the person who holds our organization's important secret."
The middle-aged man stood up from his seat. He strolled towards their captive, sitting weakly in his hospital chair. "Raul Estello..." he said while gently wiping the blood that had soaked the man's temple. "I'll set you free if you're willing to tell us who has copies of our organization's information."
The man named Raul laughed mockingly. "Don Luca, I know who you guys are. There's no history of a mafia releasing their prisoners."
Luca grinned and nodded. "You're right. Most mafias, indeed don't let their enemies leave their den alive. But not me. I can set you free. And I'll make sure to keep my promise after you tell me where those copies are." He spoke at length, reaching for Raul's chin, asking him to look into his eyes. "Or... do you want your family to experience the same suffering you're going through now?" Luca reached for his cell phone from his pants pocket. He opened the photo gallery, showing pictures of Raul's wife and children enjoying themselves.
It made Raul pause for a moment. From his expression, it was clear that he was weighing Luca's offer. The man was threatening subtly. He thought he'd better die rather than risk his family's well-being. It had already been a risk for him as a member of the national intelligence agency to be caught by a group of mafia-like this.
"I swear it wasn't me who brought it."
Luca squinted his eyes. "Then who? Your work partner?"
Raul remained silent. He didn't deny it, but he also didn't confirm.
"If you keep quiet, I can't guarantee that when you go home, your family will still be alive or might even disappear without a trace," Luca warned. Raul swallowed nervously. Luca wasn't joking with his threat, so he decided to speak up.
"The copies of the data are in the hands of someone you might know. They could be in Italy, Ireland, or even in the UK," Raul replied calmly. "Feel free to search for it yourselves. What's certain is that those copies won't be easy for you to obtain."
Luca's lips curled into a smile. "It's alright if you don't want to give the details. The good news is, I have many connections and a wide network in those three countries. I wouldn't be Luca if I couldn't locate it quickly."
Raul let out a slow breath. "I've given you a clue. So please keep your promise."
Luca smirked. "I'm not a liar who enjoys breaking promises," he said. Then his gaze shifted to Mikael and his other henchmen. "Release this man. But before you let him go, you know what needs to be done, right?"
Mikael laughed. He quickly approached Raul's position, signalling two other companions to hold onto their captive. Moments later, Mikael was handed a glass of liquid by another comrade.
"What do you want from us?!" Raul shouted, sensing that something was about to go wrong.
"Ssstss..." Luca hissed softly from his seated position. He placed his index finger over his lips and spoke, "Be quiet and enjoy. After this, I'll set you free as I promised."
Raul shook his head. Shortly after, Mikael resumed his action. He grabbed Raul's face and held it firmly with the help of the two others. They forced him to open his mouth, then poured a glass of water mixed with a dangerous acidic substance down his throat.
"Arghhh!!!"
Raul screamed and thrashed, his throat instantly burning from the liquid Mikael had intentionally poured into his mouth.
"I will indeed set you free, Raul," Luca said from afar. "But I still have to eliminate the risk of you speaking to other intelligence members."
"Sir, is making him mute enough? Even if he can't talk, he might still reveal our whereabouts if he's set free.
Luca stood up this time. He approached Mikael, then gently patted his henchman's shoulder.
"Of course, you need to take more action. After this, make sure he can't see anymore. Use whatever method you want. But be certain that after incapacitating him, you release him as I promised," he ordered the middle-aged man. "And one more thing..." he continued. "Once your task is done, quickly contact our network in the UK or Ireland. Tell them to deploy all personnel to find out where the person holding the copies of our crucial organization information is."
Mikael nodded in understanding of the given task. Without saying much, he immediately carried out the orders. Meanwhile, Luca casually walked out of the room.
****
Kaivan had just finished his work. As he entered his presidential suite, he found Anne sitting comfortably, watching TV and enjoying a snack in her hand.
For a while, Kaivan observed her. He took deep breaths repeatedly. His mind was still the same as before. He had severe doubts that the woman leisurely watching TV was carrying his child.
Oh, God.
Why do you have to confront me in this way?
I might be naughty, but why should I be responsible for a woman I've never slept with?
Too lost in reverie, Kaivan didn't notice Anne, who had been watching him, now standing right in front of him. The woman even intentionally addressed him.
"What are you doing here?" Anne asked.
Kaivan snapped back to reality. He was slightly embarrassed and responded, shaking his head with a rhythm. "Nothing!" He protested, "Besides, this is my room. I'm free to do whatever I want. So, you don't need to ask so many questions."
Anne narrowed her eyes. "Really? Aren't you secretly observing me?"
Kaivan snorted. He felt caught but was too lazy to admit it. He didn't want to compromise his dignity. "Oh, come on!" He attempted to defend himself. "Why should I pay any attention to you?"
Anne shrugged her shoulders. A teasing grin clearly showed on her beautiful face. "Well, who knows, maybe you admire my beauty."
This time, Kaivan snorted again. He thought that the most confident person in the world was Edward Cullen. In reality, another person was even more annoying than him. "Right! As if! Why would I admire you? Just so you know, you're not even my type."
Anne approached. Intentionally, she brought her hand to stroke the smooth chin of Kaivan gently, adorned with fine hair. "If I'm not your type, then how did you manage to get me pregnant, huh?"
Kaivan immediately pushed Anne's hand away. He took a step back to avoid the woman in front of him. "Don't get too close," he warned. "Besides, up until this moment, I don't even believe that you're pregnant with my child."
In Kaivan's mind, Anne couldn't be pregnant with his child. He had never slept with a woman before. So, how could it be that the unborn baby in the slim woman's belly was his flesh and blood? All the photos and videos that Anne used as evidence could be manipulated. Who knows, right?
"I've already said that you can bring a doctor to check whether the baby in my womb is your flesh and blood or not."
"Don't be foolish," Kaivan retorted. "The only way to find out if that child is my flesh and blood is through a DNA test. That means I have to be with you until the baby is born!"
Anne nodded. "If you want the paparazzi, your extended family, or maybe your business colleagues to know that you're neglecting a woman who's carrying your child, go ahead. Tomorrow I'll leave this hotel."
Kaivan growled in frustration. He couldn't let all of this happen. It could ruin the reputation he had built for so long. "Fine, I'll play along with your game. But since you're now staying in my territory, behave yourself. Just so you know, I can do anything to you."
He walked away, deciding to take a shower and rest. There were so many tasks today that drained his mind and thoughts.
However, just as he laid his body down and was about to close his eyes, Kaivan was startled by Anne's arrival. Without hesitation, she lay right beside Kaivan. She pulled the blanket along, covering their entire bodies.
"Anne, for God's sake, what are you doing in my bed? Isn't your room right next door?"
Anne nodded. "I thought it wouldn't be good for a pregnant mother to sleep alone in her room. If something happens, it could be dangerous, right?"
Kaivan sighed in annoyance. In a tired moment like this, the woman beside him was causing trouble that stirred his emotions. "Go back to your room!" Kaivan commanded.
Anne didn't care. She tightened the blanket that covered her body even more. "I want to sleep here. Consider it a warm-up before you actually marry me."
"Tch!" Kaivan immediately clicked his tongue in frustration. "Who would want to marry you? Don't daydream too much. Even if you're carrying my child, or even if you were the only woman in the world, I wouldn't choose to marry you!"
Anne chuckled softly, not at all offended by Kaivan's mocking words. "Hold on to your words. Don't go back on your own promises. I'm just worried that you might end up falling madly in love with me."
"Never going to happen!" Kaivan replied confidently.
He pushed aside the blanket he had been using and slid down from the bed. Angrily, he walked over to the sofa. He chose to sleep there rather than share the bed with Anne.
Kaivan had just finished his shower ritual. After dressing neatly, the tattooed man headed straight to the dining room. Hans and Veronica were already present there – a beautiful woman who had recently been getting closer to him. "Darling... looks like you're awake." The woman greeted warmly, deliberately standing up to give a warm hug. "Have you been up for long?" Kaivan asked while returning the hug and kiss Veronica gave him. "Not too long." She responded, untangling herself from the embrace. "I arrived at the same time as Hans." Kaivan nodded, pulling out another chair and intentionally sitting next to Veronica. "Sorry if I've been busy these past few days and didn't have time to reach out to you. I hope you understand." Veronica flashed a smile. She understood the challenges of dating a busy man like Kaivan. She needed to be patient rather than demanding if she wanted their relationship to last. Besides being the eldest child of the Maximilian family, Kaivan was the type of
Sicily is an autonomous region in Italy, covering an area of over 25 thousand square kilometres. One of the things that has made this region famous is the presence of several mafia groups known as the Sicilian Mafia or Cosa Nostra. Their main activities include demanding protection money and resolving disputes among criminals. Additionally, they're involved in procurement, monitoring approvals, and illegal transactions such as heroin and weapons trafficking and even human trafficking. The clans or "cosca" that control a particular area are usually referred to as "Mafioso" by the general public. One of the most feared mafia groups is the Sicilian Mafia under the leadership of Luca Guzman. Many rumours describe Luca Guzman, also known as Don Luca, as a ruthless mafia leader who would do anything to achieve his goals. This group has managed to control the drug and weapons trade beyond Italy's borders. Not only that, but he's often suspected of orchestrating the murders of judges, offici
That morning, as usual, Kaivan was dressed neatly in his suit. Before heading to his workspace, the athletic man strolled casually to the dining area.There, once again, he encountered Veronica. Noticing Kaivan's presence, the woman, who was also a socialite, decided to stand up and approach him. She extended her hand as a sign for a hug."I've been waiting for you for a while," the woman said, kissing both of Kaivan's cheeks lightly."Forgive me," Kaivan replied. "I did wake up a bit late this morning. I had a lot of work to finish last night, which kept me up late."They both then chose to sit down. With great attention, Veronica prepared a meal for Kaivan.The two of them got lost in conversation. The sound of their laughter echoed between them. Kaivan and Veronica had been in a close relationship for the past year. They were engrossed in their discussion to the point that they didn't notice Anne's presence. Until Anne intentionally pulled a chair and took a seat."Who allowed you
"Kaivan Maximilian, finally tonight I have a worthy opponent."Edward immediately greeted the arrival of Kenzi Maximilian's sibling as he stepped into the Picadelli Shooting Arena. Everyone knew that among the four of them, only Kaivan and Edward possessed impressive skills in handling firearms.Since childhood, Kaivan had a strong interest in all adrenaline-pumping sports. Especially now, he often dealt with big mafia figures. This forced him to always dedicate time to sharpen his skills and instincts in defeating enemies.On the other hand, Edward was the only man who could match Kaivan's expertise in shooting, horseback riding, and archery. The two of them sometimes lost track of time when engaged in a game together. To the point that Richard always referred to them as if they were blood siblings due to their compatibility."I did come to defeat you as usual," Kaivan confidently stated.Edward chuckled. "Don't get too confident just yet," he retorted. "Tonight, I'll be the one to w
Luca Guzman looked relaxed this morning, enjoying the morning air while basking in the courtyard of the mansion where he lived. Listening to classical music, an underling approached him."Mr. Luca." The man reached out his hand to Luca, then kissed the back of his hand with reverence. His manner was polite and respectful. "There's an important guest who wants to meet with you."Luca removed his sunglasses. As he sipped on his caramel macchiato, he nodded, allowing his subordinate to lead the guest inside to meet the homeowner."Mr. Luca," greeted a guest who had been invited to sit. Judging by his appearance, the man, likely around 60 years old, was tall and imposing. From his attire, it could be inferred that he was a high-ranking official or held significant influence."Alfonso Walters. Why go to the trouble of coming here?" Luca asked. The middle-aged man straightened his posture."I'm just concerned about what has been happening with us lately. That's why I decided to come here,"
The sound of footsteps echoed rhythmically, thumping against the floor covered in a luxurious Mediterranean-patterned carpet. Casually, Kaivan entered the VIP elevator, the bouncing of each step matching the expensive decor. Upon exiting, Mike, his assistant, was already there to greet him. Mike assisted in carrying the work bag that Kaivan had been holding in his left hand."What's on my schedule for today?" the man inquired as he walked leisurely towards his office."As usual, weekends are typically clear, Sir. But there's Mr. Hans Ulrich waiting in your office. He's been there for the past 30 minutes," Mike replied.Quickly, Kaivan increased his pace. Upon entering the room, he approached Hans, who was sitting comfortably on the guest sofa. Kaivan asked his assistant to leave so that he and Hans could converse freely."Any recent updates?"Hans closed the business magazine he had been reading. "There are a few pieces of information I'd like to share.""And this time, about what?""
Birthday is one of the most joyful moments for children and adults alike. Usually, they receive well-wishes, gifts, and a special celebration on their special day as they grow older.Laura Maximilian herself is accustomed to receiving surprises or grand parties from her two children. However, especially in the case of Kaivan, since he decided to live alone and immerse himself in his business life, he seemed to rarely visit or see his Mom.So, when this man arrives today, especially bringing along a beautiful woman, Laura naturally welcomes him enthusiastically. Kaivan is indeed quite different from Kenzi's obedient nature. He's too stubborn, closed-off, and doesn't like his personal life being disturbed by anyone."Mama, I didn't think you'd come tonight," Laura says after letting go of her hug."There's no way I'd miss an important event like this."Laura then looks at Anne. She scans the woman's appearance from head to toe and speaks softly, "Who's this lovely lady, Kai? Don't you w
Kaivan flipped through the report that Mike had just handed to him. Not one, but multiple stacks of documents that his assistant had brought today. Occasionally, he was seen reading and then shortly picking up the pen he held to add a few signatures."In my opinion, the Four Seasons Hotel in Milan needs a bit of renovation or a decor update that follows the current trends," he remarked.Kaivan lifted his gaze momentarily. The man nodded, then resumed reading the report in his hands."What do you think about expanding the property as well? I admit, the hotel has been bringing us significant profits."Mike nodded in agreement. "Expanding the property is necessary now, Sir. Especially considering Milan is a thriving city and a prime destination for tourists visiting Italy," he explained. "However, there's just one thing...""What's the catch?" Kaivan reflexively looked up as Mike left his sentence hanging. "Don't beat around the bush. Do you want me to pummel you?"Mike chuckled spontane