BFF'S APARTMENT
Diamond's Bedroom**
"Think, Diamond. Fucking think!" She groaned, staring at the blank computer screen.
For over five years now and she has been suffering from everlasting writer's block. Does that even make any sense?
She lack inspiration and concentration. She has been unemployed since Miss Donna fired her.
Diamond groaned loudly, tugging at her hair when Ayden walked in.
"Hey bitch!"
"You didn't fucking knock before barging into my room like that, idiot."
"Oh, please. Is there need for a knock?"
"Is that even a question? what if I was dressing, huh?"
"So? It's not like your nakedness gets me hard or something."
"I have beautiful body, Ayden. You might begin to doubt your sexuality if you see me naked."
"You wish." He cackled. "To me, you look like an unripe plantain. There's no way in hell my cock will harden for that."
"Wha...what?" She rose to her feet. "Get out of my room."
He laughed. "Calm the down."
"Tell that to your cock." She fired back.
"I'm going on a hot date with Lake. I'm here to inform you."
"Whatever."
He winked at her then left the room.
"Stupid." She stared down at her body. "Do I really look like an unripe plantain?" She shook her head, shaking off the thought. "No way. I know how many men crawled on their knees just to fuck this body. Fuck you, Ayden." She huffed.
BRUNI'S MANSION
Mikhail's Office**
There was a soft knock on the door.
Mikhail took a gulp of tequila, drinking directly from the bottle.
"Come in." He groaned.
The door opened and Evelyn walked in.
She bowed her head. "You sent for me."
"Yeah..." He took another gulp. "What did you say to my daughter?"
Evelyn knitted her brows in confusion. "I...I don't understand."
He scoffed. "You don't understand?"
She quickly went down on her knees and bowed her head, almost kissing the floor.
"I swear I didn't say anything to her. I...I swear."
"Now that's the problem." He rose to his feet.
"Wha...what?" She stuttered, looking up at him.
"Didn't I tell all of you what to tell her whenever she ask after her nannies?" He growled.
"Uh...I...I was still in shock...and_"
He threw the bottle of drink at the wall beside Evelyn, cutting her off.
The bottle broke into million pieces, flying everywhere.
Evelyn let out a loud yelp. A piece of glass faintly went through her right cheek and she started bleeding but Mikhail didn't care.
He clenched his jaw so tight that it hurt his teeth. But of course, Mikhail felt no pain.
"You were still in shock?" He laughed darkly, ruffling his hair. "I don't give a fuck about your feelings, Evelyn. All that matters to me is my child and I will spare no one who dare hurt her. Not even myself." He mumbled the last part. "Because of that 'shock' of yours, my daughter doubted me." He glared hard at her. "Now I am going to say this again even though it is against my rule..." He snarled at her. "Whenever I fire her nanny for their stupidity, always tell Aurora that they quit. Have I make myself clear?"
"Ye...yes sir." Evelyn whimpered.
"And if you like be in shock again but trust me, I will shockingly end your life." He bellowed, grabbing another bottle of whiskey. "Get out of my sight."
Evelyn stood up on shaking feet and turned to leave,
"And," He cut her off. "Take care of that wound,,I don't want my daughter worrying over your damn health. Send a maid to come here and clean this mess."
"Yes...s..sir." Evelyn was going to walk out the door but she stopped and turned around to look at Mikhail. "Mi...Mikhail?"
Mikhail shot her a hard glare. "Didn't I warn you not to ever mention my name?"
"I've always called you by your name in the past." Mikhail didn't say anything. "I know you are still hurting but I really wish you will come back to how you were before that incident."
Mikhail snickered. "Quit dreaming, Evelyn. That Mikhail of the past is fucking dead. And trust me, the only reason why you are still alive right now is because of that same past. Don't let me forget it, Evelyn. Don't. Now get out."
She bowed and left the office immediately.
Marcello walked in right after.
"Capo..." (Boss). He bowed.
"Are the weapons ready?"
"Sí." (Yes).
"Bene. È ora di torturare quel bastardo." (Good. Time to torture that bastard). He growled darkly, cracking his knuckles.
BFF'S APARTMENT
Living Room**
Diamond's loud laughter filled the room. She was eating popcorn while watching her favorite series 'Emily in Paris.'
She was the only one left at home. Hours of trying to think of a word to write, Diamond quit and decided to watch a movie to get her mind off some certain things. And luckily, it's working.
She threw some popcorn in her mouth as she stopped laughing.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
Diamond frowned as she stared at the closed door.
'Could that be Ayden?' She thought to herself, coming up to her feet. She dropped the bowl of popcorn on the table and went to get the door.
"Who is it?" She asked, unlocking the door without peeking through the peephole.
"Surprise!" It was her step-father, Rhodes.
Diamond's eyes went wide. "Dad?"
"Hello, my beautiful child." He spread his arms open and she quickly embraced him, grinning widely.
"Dad, I miss you so much. What are you doing here?"
"Uh-uh. Can't I pay that daughter a surprise visit, huh?"
"You totally can. Please come in."
"Wait, before we go in." He smiled. "I have a surprise for you."
"Another surprise?" She asked.
"Yes."
"Okay? What is it?"
"Close your eyes first." Diamond hesitated before closing her eyes. Few seconds of waiting, "You can open your eyes now."
"I wonder what this surprise_" Diamond stopped talking as soon as she opened her eyes and saw the surprise. The smile on her face dropped and the excitement in her eyes were replaced with regret.
*****
BRUNI'S RESIDENCE
Torture Room**
"How long do you plan on keeping your mouth sealed?" Mikhail asked.
"As long as it takes." The man replied, smirking like a psycho.
Mikhail nodded. "I see. But I don't think you will be able to keep quiet for too long."
"You don't think?" The man laughed. "Your loyal dogs have done everything to make me talk but here we still are."
"They did but I haven't tried my methods."
"And what's the difference, huh?"
"The difference... Marcello, bring the weapons over."
Marcello bowed and walked into a dark room.
"You know, the difference is that, I use the weakness of my victims and that's something my men can't do."
"What...are you trying to say?"
"I heard you are afraid of rats."
"Wha...wha...what?" The man stuttered in fear.
Mikhail stood up. "Seems like that's correct. I can see the fear in your eyes. But don't worry, we won't get to that point as long as you are cooperative."
Marcello returned with some weapons and dropped it on the table in front of Mikhail.
Mikhail glanced through every gruesome weapons and decided to begin with the less destructive one.
He shrugged off his jacket and tossed it on the chair and then picked up a plier.
"Here is another chance to live...tell me where Octavius is."
"Ne...never." The man remained reluctant.
"You want it the hard way, right? Fine. I love giving it hard."
Gael screams and wails echoed through the four corners of the room.
He was mercilessly dealt with by Mikhail and his men.
There was no single ounce of life left in the prisoner's body.
He felt defeated, weak and dead.
His face was barely recognizable. He was missing one eyes, his fingers on both hands were missing. He had different cuts from different blades all over his body and face.
But Gael refused to say a word on Octavius. He was willing and ready to die....
Mikhail's white shirt was stained with the blood of Gael.
He sat comfortably on the chair, facing Gael who could barely open his eyes or utter a word.
Marcello was holding a screwdriver as he awaited his boss's order.
"Start talking." Mikhail bellowed.
Gael tried to open his one eyes but it was impossible for him.
"Speak." Mikhail grunted, impatiently.
"I...I..." Gael's croaked out, inaudibly. Being dead was far more better than feeling this way.
Mikhail nodded his head at Marcello.
Marcello took the hint and wrapped his arm around Gael's neck, his hold wasn't firm. He raised the prisoner's head so Mikhail could see the face better.
"Speak."
"F...f...fuck you." Gael managed to say.
Marcello gave the man a heavy punch at his back, earning a loud cry of pain from him.
Gael coughed out more blood, staining himself and the ground.
"You are going to die if you don't f*cking say what you know." Mikhail threatened.
"I...am I...i...no...not de...dead already?" The man stated quietly, hissing in pain because of his injured jaw.
"You are but think about your family." Mikhail snapped his fingers and one of his men stepped forward with a tablet in his hands. "Want to see a scene?"
The guard switched on the tablet and showed it over to Gael who forcefully opened his one eye.
He stared at the tablet for over five seconds. He almost lose interest, thinking Mikhail was only bluffing but he was knocked out of air from his lungs when he saw his wife and son. They were tied on a chair and unconscious.
"N...no. Ke....keep my fa...family out o....of these." He begged.