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Chapter Two.
Alexandro's POV.
"Where did she go?" I asked my best friend, who stood at the edge of the bed.
Normally, when I've had a one-night stand with a girl, she wakes me up either asking for her money or if we can take things further. None of them had ever walked out on me, but the lady from the club did.
I woke up this morning and discovered her absence by my side. The bed lay empty, devoid of her warmth. She didn't utter a single word, not a plea, nor a farewell – she simply vanished into the early morning mist.
"She left, I guess," Boris muttered, his hand instinctively reaching for a box of cigarettes in his pocket. He withdrew the package, and with a flick of his lighter, offered it to me, saying, "Here is..."
"No, I don't want it," I replied, my gaze sweeping across the room in search of any traces she might have left behind. The setting was unmistakably a hotel, its anonymity adding to the mystery.
With a heavy sigh, I rose from the bed and began a meticulous search of the room's drawers, my hope dwindling with each empty compartment I encountered. Alas, there was no note to be found, no clue to her sudden departure.
"Perhaps," I contemplated aloud, my thoughts swirling with suspicion. It had left me utterly bewildered that a woman had initiated a proposition for a one-night stand, only to vanish into the night without a trace.
My hand instinctively reached for my wallet, my fingers fumbling through its contents to confirm my suspicion. To my relief, every card and every bit of cash I possessed remained safely in place. A wave of gratitude washed over me, knowing that I had escaped unscathed from a potential theft.
Turning my attention to my collection of prized watches, I scanned the room for any sign of them missing, but there was no cause for alarm. Each timepiece still rested in its designated spot, undisturbed. The enigma deepened as I realized that no robbery had occurred.
Boris, my ever-loyal friend and confidant, observed the baffling situation, his brow furrowed with concern. Gently, he picked up the discarded clothes strewn about the floor, meticulously folding them before placing them on the bed "Maybe, just maybe, you were subjected to something far more sinister," he suggested, his words hanging in the air, a chilling possibility that sent a shiver down my spine.
I fixed a withering glare on him, my eyes burning with a fiery intensity that made him instantly regret the ill-chosen words that had just slipped from his lips.
In that moment, he realized the gravity of his blunder. I, Alexandro San, the formidable owner of the largest and most ruthless cartel in all of Russia, was a name that struck fear into the hearts of many.
The mere thought of anyone attempting to violate me was inconceivable; no one dared to entertain such a notion.
As far as my world was concerned, I was an entity beyond reach, beyond touch, and beyond violation. Anything that transpired between me and the mysterious lady from the club was strictly a matter of choice, not coercion.
Boris, seeking to mend the rift caused by his thoughtless comment, stammered an apology. "Forgive me, but I don't understand," he began cautiously, his voice trembling with a mixture of anxiety and regret. "Do you believe that she might be an informant?" His words were laced with an underlying fear of my wrath, but he knew he had to tread carefully.
I shook my head slowly, my mind swirling with thoughts. I walked over to the expansive window that overlooked the city. The morning sun was casting its warm glow over the urban landscape, bathing everything in a soft, golden light.
I mused, my gaze fixed on the bustling streets below.
"Perhaps," Boris continued. "She's simply a confused woman, lost in the labyrinth of her own emotions. Why else would she behave so strangely, so differently from anyone else we've encountered?"
As I contemplated the mysterious woman and her actions, I couldn't help but wonder what secrets she might hold and what her presence might mean?
I found myself pondering the same question, but as I recollected our conversation from the previous evening, she confided in me, revealing her newness to the town "I think I know why. She just got back to San Matoes."
"Really?" Boris exclaimed in astonishment. After a brief pause, he slowly nodded, his brows furrowing in thought. "You might be onto something, boss. Her face didn't have that usual familiarity."
I couldn't help but agree with a silent thought. It wasn't just her face that had undergone a transformation; her entire presence had left an indelible mark on my memory.
Last night had been an experience that defied words, leaving me utterly speechless as I shared those moments with her.
"Whoever she is, it's either she comes back or I find her," I declared with determination, my voice echoing in the room.
Boris nodded in silent agreement. He knew all too well the lengths I would go to when driven by desire. When I set my sights on something, I would traverse the furthest corners of the earth to obtain it.
The mysterious woman who had ignited a fierce passion within me would inevitably feel the weight of my pursuit. Yet, a thought lingered in the shadows – perhaps this was one of her intricate strategies. Maybe she aimed to keep me in perpetual wonder, a puppet dancing to her enigmatic tune.
I waved Boris away and headed to the bathroom. During my entire time there, I grappled with trying to purge those haunting scenes from my mind. The woman remained a mystery, consuming bottle after bottle of alcohol without the courtesy of a lady's delicate knock. She possessed a strength that belied her appearance.
I knew I would never forget her appearance.
In her twenties, she was a stunning woman with voluptuous curves that accentuated her natural beauty.
Her ebony hair cascaded in loose waves down her back, framing a face adorned with warm, olive-toned skin, and almond-shaped eyes that sparkled with a hint of mischief. Her lips, full and inviting, carried a perpetual, captivating smile that left a lasting impression on everyone she met.
My bath was a rushed affair, for I had a meeting scheduled in less than an hour with the leader of the Jimenez Cartel.
He had made the extraordinary decision to surrender and transfer all his assets to me, assets that once belonged to my late father.
I was just a boy when my father met an untimely demise, and some of the cartel's leaders unlawfully seized his properties. Reclaiming them and exacting vengeance on our enemies had become my mission.
I confronted him, giving him an ultimatum: his children or the cartel. In his wisdom, he chose his children, making the best decision of his life. It was a stark contrast to the alternative, which would have been taking his life on the spot.
This morning, I donned a sleek black tuxedo, a choice that would lead anyone to believe I was headed to a critical business meeting. But was it really one?
In less than twenty minutes, I found myself settled in the owner's seat of my Ferrari, Boris by my side.
"We're running late, boss," he expressed concern.
"He can wait for us."
"Of course, boss," Boris replied, sinking back into his seat. "Have you heard?"
"No, what exactly?" I inquired, my hand flipping the document I held.
"Rosario's kid just returned from Europe," Boris responded in a hushed tone, well aware of my deep-seated resentment toward those Sicarios for the anguish they brought to my family. It was a wound that would never heal, a debt I would never forget. "He's hosting a party tomorrow."
"Don't concern yourself with him. Let him revel in his festivities," I said with a wicked grin. "Because I'm coming for him and I'll take everything he holds dear. Make sure he understands that."
"I will pass the message, boss."
The car came to a smooth stop in front of an elegant, cream-colored building. A guard promptly opened the door, and I stepped out of the car. As we neared the entrance, thoughts of the mysterious woman flooded my mind.
"Can you assist me in locating this woman?" I asked, coming to a halt.
"Did you manage to learn her name?"
"No, I have no information," I replied, heading toward the entrance. The door swung open, and I entered the building. "However, you must find her."
"Of course, boss. I'll begin my research as soon as possible," Boris replied, doing his best to keep pace with me.