Marco regretted the night before as he recalled the harrowing
experience he had. He didn't need to move to know he was bound, and
he gently opened his eyes to come face to face with Matteo, who was looking down on him as he stood beside the bed,wearing a victorious smile on his face,More than
anything, he wished he could wipe the smug smile off Matteo's face.
As he took in his surroundings, he realized that he wasn't in his hotel
room but in a foreign environment. Just as he was observing the
unfamiliar setting, Matteo stood up and smirked.
"Follow me, Sleeping Beauty," he said before walking out of the room.
Marco followed and stepped into a breathtaking landscape. It was then
that he realized they were on an island. A wave of surprise washed over
him—he had no idea where he was.
"Wondering where you are?" Matteo asked, snapping his fingers. His
second-in-command immediately stepped forward.
"Get us a chair and some refreshments," Matteo ordered.
Marco's captor's second-in-command nodded—his face void of emotion,
wearing the same passive demeanor he had since arriving at the Alessandro's mansion decades ago to work as a bodyguard but upon the passing of Matteo's father he became his right hand man also.
Without a word, he strode through the door of the penthouse,
leaving the duo in silence.
Marco watched his captor, unease creeping over him. The silence only
heightened his fear and curiosity. Matteo moved with a feline grace, his
manner lazy yet deliberate, as if life itself was an afterthought to him. His
dark, abysmal eyes seemed to hold stories capable of making one's
heart lurch, twinge, and recoil in terror.
Soon, his second returned with the requested items and vanished just as
quickly. Marco knew he had to speak—Matteo was clearly enjoying the
silence.
"Why am I here?" he asked, attempting to sound defiant, but his voice
betrayed him, coming out more like a frightened whisper, he felt like kicking himself but tried to comport himself and regain whatever dignity he had left .
Matteo turned to him, amusement flickering in his eyes. With deliberate
ease, he poured himself a glass of wine, taking his time as he drank,
savoring the moment.
Matteo's family was one of the famous winemakers in Italy but in secret, drug barons they had been very successful in that line of business too . Though their rival was Marco's family in the wine business only but they had become a thorn in his side, challenging him in both the winery and the drug business. Though he tried to brush it off, his ego wouldn't
allow him to admit they were proving difficult to control. He had been in
the business long before Marco's nephew, yet the young upstart had
skyrocketed to power, threatening Matteo's dominance. The realization
sent chills down his spine.
Kidnapping Marco had been a calculated move to lure his nephew out,
but according to his sources, the boy hadn't budged. No moves had
been made. That uncertainty gnawed at Matteo, filling him with a
restless, creeping anxiety. Was it curiosity? Fear? He wasn't sure.
Unsure of his next move, he fell back on his usual facade—calm,
nonchalant, unreadable. He smiled smugly at the man before him,
relishing the fact that Marco was afraid. That fear made him feel
powerful.
Matteo stood up and said to Marco, "Let's take a walk."
As they walked in silence, Matteo finally spoke. "You know, the only
reason I interrupted your little orgy is because I need your help. Oh yes, I
do. You see, we've been healthy rivals—until your little nephew decided
to become a thorn in my flesh. I brought you here because I want to
have a good conversation about this.
"Eduardos and Alessandros have maintained a cordial friendship for
over fifty years—until your sister's son took over the business from you.
Why? Because you're a weak man."
He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing, his tone as casual
as if he were discussing the weather.
"I want you, Marco, to handle this like the adult you are—before it gets
out of hand. That's the responsibility I'm giving you as the head of the
family.
Matteo inwardly cringed at that last part. He knew it wasn't true. Marco's
nephew had already taken that role.
Marco had always been the lily liverd one between himself and his sister, she had alwys been brave and a ruthless businesswoman, she had zero tolerance for rubbish, even when their both families had wanted to forge an alliance by marriage she had refused, stood her ground and married the Spaniard against their father's wishes, it was a great battle but she won in the end , which was a very impossible feat during their time, he secretly admired and envied her guts, ge always wonders if any god changed their sexes during their foetal period as he felt strongly she would have come as a man and he a woman but the universe had other plans obviously. He was involved in the winery and still held a strong position there but he knew his sister was the backbone of the development of the company as he was introverted to a fault and didn't just have it in him to make certain decisions , she was in charge of everything , he loves and adores her a lot.
When she lost her husband to tuberculosis she moved back to Italy with her young teenage son who Marco feared had the stronger traits of stubbornness his mother possessed. Oh it was going to be a long and hard journey...
MARCO
As Matteo spoke, fear gnawed at Marco, but he knew there was no way
he could convince Lorenzo to bow to this terrifying man's demands. He
swallowed hard before opening his mouth, only to stutter, his voice
betraying his shame. His embarrassment deepened when he noticed the
amusement on his captor's face.
"I... I'll do my best to keep my nephew in check, Matteo," Marco
managed to say. "You can let me go now, please."
Matteo smirked. "I don't intend to keep you any longer," he said icily. "But
let me tell you something, my friend..."
His expression darkened. "I will not spare anyone who tries to stop my
tap from running. I'll make sure they never try again."
Then, suddenly, his lips curled into a manic smile, sending an icy shiver
down Marco's spine.