Chapter 5:

DOMINIC P. O. V

I felt like a coward, running away from Derek's men. Of course, that was the only option I had left, because I couldn't be foolish enough to engage in a physical fight with them, except that I wanted to find myself in the deepest pit of hell.

My right hand rested upon my waist as I paced around my sitting chamber, calling different contact numbers for Phil.

He hadn't been picking up my calls, nor had he replied to my several messages. I was beginning to get sick with worry because I knew what Derek's men were competent at doing, but I trusted Phil to be smart enough not to engage in a physical fight with them; rather, he should sneak my Lisa out of that building and bring her to me.

The thought of Derek being the mastermind behind all these made me want to confront him, but then it would mean demanding war, and I couldn't risk it, knowing I could lose eventually.

I decided to give Phil another call, and luckily it went through. "Pick up your damn phone, Phil!" My finger drummed softly on the wall, waiting impatiently. But damn! He ended the call, which got me even more furious.

'What is happening?'

I attempted to call again, but this time I was shocked to find his phone shut down. Perhaps Derek's men might have held them hostage.

Fuck! He should not dare lay his sinful hands on my Lisa, or else hell will break loose. I punched my folded fist against the wall in anger. Damn!!! Just those thoughts alone made me want to go crazy.

I stormed over to the huge long table beside my window. I carried out the glass jar from the table and threw it against the wall, which dispersed all over the floor. As if that wasn't enough, I broke whatever items my eyes could lean upon. My heart rose and fell after turning my sitting chamber into a total mess beyond recognition.

Suddenly, my door swung open, and two of my men strode towards me, presenting me with a young man who knelt before me, dressed in white and black attire. My face was screwed up in confusion because his face was not familiar to me. He looked different from my boys.

"Master, he is a spy from mob boss Derek." One of my men explained.

I swirled around the young man, walking with my hands grasped behind my back. I suddenly crouched down to his level, and that was when I noticed the great job my men performed on his face because they were all red and swollen.

My hand slowly moved to his neck, and I discovered a large tattoo on his neck-and that was Derek's logo, the 'Eagle'. I nodded my head and stood up before swirling around him again as I spoke to him.

"How much does he pay you? If you trust me, I'll triple that amount for you. All I just wanted from you is all the important information about your boss." With a smirk, I crouched down in front of him, pulling his jaws gently with my hand.

His face looked bloody with broken lips, his body was covered with several bruises, and his clothes were torn into nuggets.

He stared down at me with so much bravery, without any hint of fear. He wasn't having any discomfort expression, neither was he grunting. He maintained his calm expression without any smirking playing on his lips.

That was another thing I admired about Derek's men. His men acted just like him. They behaved like him and never felt intimidated by anyone except for their boss. Their loyalty and submissiveness made other mafias envy Mob boss Derek a lot.

"What do you think about my offer?" I leaned over and whispered into his ear as my lips brushed faintly against his cheek.

For the first time, his lips stretched into a smirk, and he shook his head sideways gently, moving his gaze to the floor. "You know all the Brotherhood's codes better than I do, Dominic. I'm so ashamed of your stupidity." He muttered and brushed his cheek against mine, but I could sense mockery in his tone of voice.

"I will make you richer. I will give you a good life. I will make you live like–––"

He shook his head sideways as he spoke, "You can't buy my royalty and submission to my mob with your cheap tokens." He asserted, interrupting me, rolling his eyes. But maintaining that calm expression, which made me wonder how he did that effortlessly.

"Ain't you afraid of death? Because I will gladly offer you a slow and painful death. I will pierce my digger into your skin, slicing them piece by piece and feeding them into your mouth." I imperiled, intending to make him adhere to my request.

"A spy is meant to go on a mission, entice important information for his master, and return to base to deliver the results of his successful mission to his master. But if eventually he is caught by the enemy, the penalty is death!" He groaned and stated one of the brotherhood codes to me.

I stood up and strode closer to my window. "Untie him and let him go," I ordered my men. My lips slanted into a smile because of the thoughts in my mind.

"Don't play those mind games with me because I know all your tactics. You wanted your men to set me free so that you could order my killing outside your territory? Woah! I sometimes wonder how your mind foolishly works. Don't think highly of yourself because your days are numbered!" He thundered in a loud voice as his chest rose and fell.

I turned and dashed toward him, grabbing his neck, "You talked too much! Accept my request now!" I growled in desperation as my hands pressed tightly on his neck. But he was staring back at me, flashing me a smile.

"You are like a mere servant to him." He burst into laughter, saying, "You will serve him like your king because he rules over you." He heckled, as he couldn't suppress his laughter.

"Stop talking....!!!"

"You will always live to bow to his feet." He yelled fearlessly in my face. The rage in me was boiling like a hot volcano as his words sank into every body cell and kept echoing in my ears.

********

MONALISA

Within 30 minutes, the ride finally came to an end, and that was when the realization hit me so hard on the head that I had no dime to pay for my fare. I suddenly felt embarrassed.

'What am I going to do now?' My hand slid slowly to the back of my head, scratching my hair nervously. I didn't know how to break it down to him that I had no money to pay him.

"20 MINUTES MORE FOR THE ITALY PLANE TO TAKE OFF!!" A young lady's voice boomed on the huge speaker from the airport premises.

My eyes glanced at the entrance through the window as the cap man stepped down from his car and gestured me to do the same too. I hesitated for a while but had no choice but to step out of the car because I couldn't stay in there forever.

"Ehhm..... Mr.----"

He cut me short by helping me roll out my luggage from his car before flashing me a smile. "You shouldn't bother about the payment; I understand everything."

He muttered, shocking me to the bone, as I stared at him, feeling embarrassed.

"Your facial expression said it all." He added, with his finger pointing out to my face.

I nodded my head, "Thank you." I whispered with so much gratitude in my heart as I quickly made my way to the door entrance.

I brought out Phil's phone from my pant pocket and dialed Arial Sky Airline's contact line. After a few rings, she picked up.

"I'm at the airport now," I spoke in a calm voice, glancing around.

Everywhere was filled with people rolling their luggage here and there, minding their own business.

"If you are on the premises, all you have to do is head straight to the board room; you will see me there." She instructed.

I sighed in relief and rolled my luggage alongside me. I strode down the hallway, lost in my thoughts. I followed the direction she gave me, and I finally stood in front of a glass door.

I gently pushed it open and peered through the small opening. My gaze came into contact with hers as she flashed me a smile and gestured for me to come inside.

I walked fully into the room and saw many passengers sitting and waiting patiently to be attended to too.

"Mona Lisa, right?" Ariel asked, striding towards me with her well-fitting blue and white steward attire, while I nodded my head in confirmation.

"I wanted to call Dominic, but here you are. Dominic----"

"Can I use the washroom?" I quickly interrupted her before she could complete her statement. Just at the mention of Dominic's name, my stomach crumbled in discomfort as I clung tightly to it, ignoring people's stares.

She quickly held my arm, with concern written all over her face. "Are you okay? We have a clinic on the next ward." She admitted, stroking my arms softly.

Suddenly her eyes glanced down at my feet, and she shrieked out, "Your toe is bleeding wounded" Her finger pointed at my feet.

I shook my head in refusal, "I'm fine." "I just need to use the washroom."

"I insist; please, Monalisa. Let me take care of you." She pleaded, fluttering her eyelashes cutely.

She held my hand and dragged me to the clinic, where my wounded toe was well-dressed. The doctor gave me some painkiller drugs that would diminish the pain and instructed me to take them twice a day because my wound was very deep.

I thanked him but still insisted that I should be taken to the washroom. Ariel held to my request and led me along the hallway that led to the washroom. Soon, we stood in front of a metal door, which she pushed open and strode inside while I followed behind.

"This airport is really beautiful. I love it," I said, smiling while my eyes glanced around.

"Yeah! It is. This washroom is camera-free, and it's soundproof too." She disclosed, raising her gaze to the wall. At that moment, I noticed a butterfly tattoo on her left neckline, which looked so familiar to me.

"You can use the washroom now while I wait for you outside. I will call Dominic and inform him about your situation." She smiled, operating her cell phone. I think she was already calling Dominic's line as she made for the door.

'Oh no! I can't let her tell Dominic anything, or else I'm doomed!'