Taken By The Mafia Lord

All smiles disappeared from Marcel's face as soon as he left Arianna. Although he had been smiling all this while, the truth was that all wasn't well.

His cousin Victor was upon him as soon as he came into the room.

"How is she?" He asked.

"Alive and sassy," Marcel said.

"She still has the guts to be impudent after what she caused?" Victor sneered.

"She didn't ask to be tortured," Marcel retorted.

"And you're still defending her? Unbelievable," Victor huffed, shaking his head in disbelief before turning to face him, "You killed three of our men because of her and left the gang in total unrest,"

"They disobeyed my orders, no one had the right to lay a hand on her without my calling," Marcel stood his ground.

"You heard Macy, she was only interrogating her. Moreover, this wasn't the first time she got information from a target on your behalf. So what's different about this one? And please don't tell me you're so taken by this girl that you killed three of our own for her, " Victor asked, staring him straight in the eyes.

And that was a challenge.

"Do I seem that weak in your eye?!" Marcel growled now, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes, "You would take the words of a mere assistant over mine, your leader?!"

Victor cautiously took a step back, having realized she had crossed the line. Marcel might not be as cruel as his father, but that doesn't undermine the fact he was brought up by a monster. Added to all the violence he has seen over the years, Marcel was lethal.

"You think that just a mere pussy would cloud my mind and judgment?!" He thundered at Victor who gulped.

"I knew what I saw and Macy had no intention of keeping Arianna alive and you are in quite a haste to forget that she's the key to getting to Elijah. Have you forgotten our purpose all along because I'm sure as well haven't forgotten!"

There was a tense silence after that speech and Victor finally glanced up at him, guilt-ridden.

"I'm sorry I doubted your intentions," He apologized, "I was just concerned over the welfare of the gang seeing the unrest there is now. And you know of all people knows what happens when there's unrest, cracks begin to appear in the organization. They all seem to agree that you've lost your mind and gone on a killing spree. There are concerns that you might be worse than your father, although he never betrayed them over a woman,"

Marcel practically winced over that statement. Do they think he was that easy to distract as much as Arianna was the beautiful and far most interesting woman he has seen so far? Those charming eyes of hers do not affect him. She can't bewitch him.

"I would hold a meeting and calm their horses. I acted out of character as well but I was so scared to lose the only connection I have to Elijah," Marcel lied through his teeth.

The truth was that the instant he saw the unconscious Arianna with that bag over her head, he lost it. At that moment, he had seemed like an alpha wolf who lost his mate - what's with him and mate again? - and entered a blood haze. He was craving for vengeance, willing to obliterate anyone that aided in the killing of his beloved.

Beloved? Wonderful - note the sarcasm.

"Then if you're going to be doing that, you need to keep Arianna away from the men,"

"What?" Marcel's brows furrowed.

"I'm not telling you this as your consigliere but as your cousin and family, the killing is still fresh in their memory and one, if not more, might go after Arianna,"

"You're trying to tell me that they would try to harm Arianna in my territory?!" Marcel's anger rose, "Then they should come, I'll put a bullet -"

"Then what?" Victor interrupted him, "When does the bloodbath end? Moreover, the Luciano elders would not stand still and watch you end a legacy they've built even before you were born. They put you here, and they have the power to remove you as well,"

And his father would like that so much, there was a sour taste in Marcel's mouth as he realized that. He can't let that happen, not now Chloe was in his father's hands and he - Marcel - was still growing his powers.

"However, you forget one thing, Victor, it's also imperative that I instill fear inside of them, that way they would respect me," Marcel told him but to his surprise, his cousin gave him a stupid look.

"Really?" Victor cocked his head, "You really want to do it this way. In that case, why don't you go grab a book and pen and grabbed some tips from daddy while wagging your tails, I'm sure he'd appreciate it,"

Marcel groaned, rubbing his palm down his face. Sometimes, he wished Victor wasn't family so he could hit him once.

"What do you want me to do then?" he asked him, leaving the ball in his court.

Victor said, "I'm sure your father must have heard the news already and would be interested to know how you will handle it. As expected, he would want you to subdue the gang. Who knows he would actually be proud you shot three of your men to show your authority, but because of a woman? He would not be proud of that. But you would go the opposite way, "

"Opposite way?"

"Appease your men,"

"Appease them?"

"The three deaths today would remind them to be on their best behavior and your appeasement would display your magnanimity," Victor said.

"And how exactly do I carry out this eer ..... appeasement?"

"Return Macy to her former position and compensate the family members of the ones you killed,"

"Hell no!" Marcel cursed as soon as he heard his cousin's ridiculous suggestion.

Victor sighed.

"That is not happening!" Marcel stood his ground.

Each time he heard Macy's name, all he could see now was how she stood over Arianna's limp body with a smile. She stood by and watched the light almost leave Arianna's eyes, it was not something he was going to forgive soon.

"Listen to me, Marcel, I'm not a huge fan of Macy as much as you are not now, but everyone knows she's good at what she does and you having by her side would show you're still level-headed and not blinded by that witch,"

Marcel could tell that the witch they were talking about was Arianna. When did his gang members become so chatty? It seems he has become too kind.

"Moreover," Victor went on, "Macy is not returning anytime soon since she's having her nose repaired. I have to say Arianna has quite a fire in her," He found it amusing at the end.

"Yeah, she does," Marcel acknowledged, reminiscing the first time they met at the coffee shop. Thinking about it now, the girl has quite a potential that can be improved with training. Nope, no going there.

"Fine, Macy would stay but after a good break, however, that doesn't mean she'd have the same authority as before."Marcel agreed.

"Fine. And Arianna?" he pried.

Marcel answered, shifting on his feet, "I would return her to the Redgiant as agreed after I'm done getting the information I need about Elijah,"

"Really?" Victor's brows arched as if he didn't believe a word he said.

"I told you...." Marcel's tone was filled with seriousness, "I've had enough pussies, I can't be trapped down by one,"

"In that case, that's good to hear, cousin," Victor tapped him on the back proudly while Marcel broke into a wide grin, wallowing in the glory.

The tension around them finally relaxed and both cousins began to converse about other issues when Marcel asked, "So how about Mimi? How's the lesson going?"

At the mention of Mimi, Victor's face distorted at once and Marcel caught all of it.

"By the look on your face, I can tell there's a story to it," He grinned.

"Gosh, don't even go there. The girl's a cavewoman. She hit me!"

"Ouch," Marcel said, yet leaned closer, "What did you do? Kiss her? Hit on her?"

"She says I insulted her coffee,"

"You did not!" Marcel burst into laughter.

"I did not, maybe a little? But the point is, it was all part of the lesson,"

However, his cousin was busy laughing at him.

"I can't believe this. Arianna and Mimi must be from the same planet. No wonder they're best friends,"

"Yeah, wait - what?!" Victor was stunned, "They're best friends?! You've been hiding this from me?!"

Marcel merely shrugged.

But his cousin narrowed his gaze at him suspiciously, "You got her best friend a ridiculous job here, what are you planning, Marcel?"

Marcel smirked, "A little gift for our guest, Arianna. I told you, she doesn't have me charmed,"

Victor shook his head, his cousin was a sly snake.

However, Marcel must have jinxed his luck before the next they heard was the breaking of a window and something dropped to the ground.

Marcel froze, Arianna.