⚠warning: voilence & torture⚠

AZARIAH SERENE:

I kept banging on the mansion's front door like crazy.

I knocked once more before the door opened revealing a very naked Santino, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Santino!" I shoved him back and entered the house not wanting our neighbors to die from early trauma.

Santino just stood in his boxers sheepishly smiling at me while I looked around just wanting to find Zemen.

"Where's Mr. Acétta?" I said walking towards his office.

"He's not in there. Wait here for me. I'll be back." He rushed upstairs but stopped and looked back.

"Iam serious, don't go anywhere, wait here."

I just nodded and huffed while tapping my foot on the marble floor, impatiently waiting for him.

It had been five minutes now and I was contradicting whether I should just go find Zemen on my own or should I wait for Santino.

I waited for two more minutes before saying fuck it.

I searched the entire house but he was no where to be seen.

He can't be at the warehouse, I checked already. Where must he be in this house?

Suddenly, a terrorizing scream echoed inside the house making me jump hard and fall on my back.

I kept a hand on my chest trying to ease myself from the jump scare that I just received.

I slowly and cautiously walked upstairs from where I think the sound came from.

I found myself standing inside the mansion's library which was filled with books to the ceiling. I looked around while panting as I still hadn't recovered from that sudden jump scare.

I am pretty sure the scream was heard from here-

I fell back and hissed when my elbow scraped along the wooden furniture due to that horrendous scream that I heard again.

It wasn't a scream for help, it was a scream of pure agony and pain.

I looked around the room wide eyed, looking at each corner, paranoid that something is out to get me.

I composed myself and with tears almost falling, I walked to the big door placed in the centre of the library.

I placed my hand on the door and crouched down, wanting to catch my breath but the door suddenly opened causing me to fall inside the big door.

For a few minutes I just laid there on the ground, fallen as I didn't know where the heck I was.

"Sabes lo que hago a las traidoras, Charleston?" (You know what I do to traitors, Charleston?)

I heard Zemen's voice and instantly stood up wanting to get help from him.

It was dark all around, really dark. I hugged myself in a pathetic attempt to protect myself as I was feeling light headed.

A whiff of a really bad odour filled my nostrils and inhabited my brain causing me to gag and crouch down as I was about to pass out.

It smelt like blood mixed with the odour of dead rodents.

I looked up from my teary eyes and saw a very dim light coming from a corner.

Without thinking twice, I rushed to the corner but stopped when my eyes widened and I forgot the state that I was in.

In front of me was the most traumatic and agonizing scene that I had ever seen.

Charleston was held onto the wall by only nails around his body, holding his body weight up straight on the wall. Thick black chains were wrapped around his thigh, legs and arms while he was withering and shaking trying to get out of the chain's hold.

He didn't look like how he did day ago, in his suit, drinking champagne. He looked like a rotten body who was just about to decease but was on it's last moments. Moments of terror and pain.

His body had cuts all over while he was a bleeding mess. His broken limbs and nose where crooked making him scream as they were held down my chains.

His clothes were discarded as he bleed immensely and I couldn't help the chocked sob that emitted from my mouth.

My eyes snapped to Zemen who was just standing there with a wild expression on his face, covered in blood with disheveled expressions.

"Boss. Let me go! I swear I didn't mean it! It was all planne- Aaa!"

I covered my ears when Charleston screamed once again when Zemen threw a knife at him like a dart.

He was enjoying this. He was enjoying someone's pain.

"Don't speak. Until I tell you to." He looked like a maniac while swirling the knife and circling it around his hands, "Comprender?"(understand?)

Charleston, in no state to speak, just nodded and cried.

"HABLAR!" (SPEAK!)

Zemen slapped him and Charleston's head whipped down due to the sudden force.

"Y-yes boss."

"Choose your weapon."

Zemen pointed to the table which was filled with different torture devices.

Charleston immediately looked up with eyes widen and crooked nose. "I told you what you needed to know!"

Zemen sat down on a chair across from Charleston and combed through his hair while grazing his thumb on his lower lip.

"No... es divertido torturarte." (No...it's fun to torture you.)

"Boss please!!" Zemen tsked and shook his head like talking to a kid, denying his candy.

I heard a drill sound and looked where it came from to see Jade getting a drill ready for the reason that caused me my next trauma.

She walked up to Charleston and drilled a nail in his shoulder keeping him more supported on the wall.

Charleston's scream echoed around the walls which were covered in blood.

"That's enough nails, Jade. We need more for later." She nodded and unplugged the drill.

She didn't look like that smiling girl who showed me around the mansion. She looked sadistic with a glimmer in her eyes telling me that she was enjoying his suffering.

Zemen. Don't get me started on him. He looked what he portrayed, danger. He was looking dangerous and like a maniac with a smirk on his face watching his prey.

"While other Mafia capo's are known for their alleged ways, boss is known for his. Torture and pain. It's true that he finds pleasure in other's pain and agony, but people don't seem to believe him. So sometimes he has to show them."

I remember Levi's words which I couldn't seem to understand back then, but looking at them now, I should have known that I was fucked.

Zemen stood up and walked close to Charleston who shut his eyes close at the sight of him.

"Do you know what a chiropractor does?" Charleston looked taken aback from Zemen's question and answered immediately.

"They.... C-crack.. Bones" Charleston barley got it out while panting like crazy.

"Right..... Y las rompo" (and I break them)

As soon as the words left Zemen's mouth, Charleston's eyes widen but he didn't get to say anything other than scream because Zemen broke his shoulder and kicked him in his already bruised ribs.

My vision got blurry and I could only tremble. I looked away from the horrific sight while gulping hard and trying my best to compose myself.

"How are you always the first seater to my live shows?"

I screamed and jumped back when I felt a hot breath on my neck. I looked at Zemen who was boredly looking at me while I felt my heart dropping to my stomach.

"I-"

He tsked and rolled his eyes while walking ahead, leaving me behind with no choice but to follow him.

I was walking with difficultly as I felt my limbs growing heavy with each second.

Not now, Azariah. Not now.

He activated the door with his finger print and got out with the same door that had books on the other end.

I looked behind me to find Jade still talking to Charleston as he cried and writhed.

We got out. He didn't exchange no words neither did he look angry which had me losing my mind. Was I about to get my ass handed to me?

He started walking out of the library but I called out for him causing him to halt.

"Wait" my voice came out very shaky and little.

He turned on his heel and looked at me while shoving his hands inside his pockets.

"Wh-what did I just see?"

He pursed his lips together and sighed. "What you shouldn't have."

He started walking once again but I didn't let him and caught up to him.

".....Will you kill him?"

He shook his head while I sighed.

"Death is too easy for him. And now, don't get in my way. Fuck off."

He pushed me away causing me to stumble back while he passed by me and walked away.

I stood there stunned, still trembling, not believing what I had just seen.

I ran up to my room, drank water and washed my face calming myself down.

I took my anxiety pills and took a deep breath as I was feeling my lungs closing in on me.

Is this how their world is, Frightening and terrific?

I heard chatter outside, so I got out of my room and walked to where I heard them.

I saw Zemen and Santino talking in the kitchen.

"I am sorry boss, it was irresponsible of me."

Zemen looked rather clean now with no sign of blood on him, he had seem to have a shower now because his hair was damp while he stood there in his suit.

"You fucked up."

"I did, I k-"

Zemen stopped him by raising his hand as a gesture for Santino. Who gulped visibly and nodded and rushed outside.

I jogged up to Zemen and stood in front of him, finally coming to my senses as I realized the real reason I came here for.

He looked at me up and down with his captivating eyes making me squirm under his gaze.

"Th-" I cleared my throat as it came out in a very low pitch making Zemen raise his eyebrows amusedly. "The doctors said that Levi is out of major danger and his vitals are healthy, his organs didn't contain too much damage but all is left is for him to wake up now."

Zemen blinked and sighed.

"This is what you wanted to tell me urgently?" I nodded.

"And you couldn't have said this on phone?" I shook my head.

"I just needed a breather so I took a little break-"

Zemen chuckled and he gave me once over. "You. Needed a breather?"

I was confused as to why he spoke like that's but none the less I nodded.

"What a joke." He muttered and looked away.

Before I could say anything, he came close to me making me take a few steps back and hold the counter top tight, but he didn't let me and grabbed my hand harshly and pulled me towards him.

I craned my neck up to meet his eyes.

"You do realize that he's in that state because of you, right?"

"I-"

"How ungrateful and inconsiderate can one be?" He pushed my hand away making me stumble and hold the counter for support.

"You are the reason why everyone almost lost Levi. While you're here taking breathers."

My eyes widen because of the way he was throwing his words at me.

"You're just a weak woman who stood there while others had to save you and take a bullet for you." He caged me between the counter, making my breath hitch.

"Tell me. What would have happened if we weren't quick enough?"

"Zem-" I placed my hand on his chest in an attempt to push him back but that didn't cause a dent.

"You would have died on the spot like the pathetic being you are."

He kept searching for my eyes holding me captive under his gaze while I tried my best to not break down and disrespect him.

He leaned down beside my ear and whispered. "If anything happens to Levi.....I'll be out for you."

My breathing fastened and I looked away, closing my eyes shut not wanting to look at him and just disappear.

When I did open my eyes, I found him gone. My eyes searched for him but I didn't find him anywhere.

I sat down on the stool and drank water while taking a deep breath.

No matter how much I tried to objectify his words and neglect them. At one point they coursed through me and made me realize my real worth.

•••••••••••••

Two days later:

"Azzy, no more....stop" he pushed my hand away which held the soup bowl.

I huffed keeping the bowl on the table, "Levi, you seriously need to eat. It's been days since you last ate."

He tsked while pouting and showing me his puppy eyes that almost had me melting and giving in. Almost.

I smiled at him and picked up the bowl, raising the spoon full of soup.

He opened his mouth, ate it and then looked away while crossing his arms over his chest.

What a man baby.

Satisfied, I kept the bowl away and made myself comfortable on the hospital bed beside Levi.

"How are you feeling now? Do you need anything? Juice, water, medicine-"

He held my hand to shush me and leaned his head back on the headboard.

"Your voice is annoying me."

I narrowed my eyes at him to which he smiled.

"You're acting as if I am on my death bed, I got shot, Azzy. Relax, would u?"

I tsked and leaned back, "You could have been. I mean what were you thinking jumping like that in front of me? People need you here, Levi. You can't risk your life for me."

He shrugged, "People need you too."

I scoffed and looked down at my fingers, "As if..... You have a team now, they are dependent on you, they trust you to come back to them. I am nothing."

"Every life matters, Azzy. You're living for yourself, not for others. Remember that."

I looked at him with shock evident on my face. His words felt nice, they gave a sense of comfort to me. A feeling which I haven't received in a long time.

"Why did you do it?"

He sighed and took a deep breath, his heart rate on the monitor increased as if he was nervous.

"My sister, Angela. She did the same for me."

He paused and then continued with me intently listening to him.

"She and I, we were really close. She was my twin, my other half...... But, when she turned fourteen-"

He gulped hard and I squeezed his hand telling him I am there for him.

"We were ambushing one of Alejandro's warehouses when I got caught and was almost killed but, Angel took the shot." He huffed and took a deep breath, "In a short period of time, Azzy, I have considered you my sister. You're just like her, goofy, energetic.... You even talk back to Zemen. She did that too." He chuckled and wiped his cheeks which had a few fallen tears on them.

"At that moment I didn't think twice and just.... Thought about my Angel." He sniffled.

I couldn't take it anymore and hugged him sideways, mushing my face into his shoulder while a few of my tears escaped.

"I have never had a brotherly figure in my life, Vi. My brother, he left me at an early age. Left me to deal with my own problems. It's nice to know I have you with me now."

He hugged me back while shaking as his tears wet my forehead.

It hurt to see Levi cry like that when all I have seen of him was nothing but a man who was goofy and knew how to have fun in his life while making others happy on the way.

Suddenly our bonding time was interrupted by a harsh slam of the hospital door.

I looked up to see Zemen eyeing us both while a very stern expression was on his face.

"Out"

I glanced at Levi who smiled at me and nodded.

I didn't mutter a word and got out as quietly as possible.

He slammed the door and I could only pray for Levi.

~◌~✤✤~◌~

ZEMEN ACÉTTA:

"Estás loco?! Por qué diablos saltaste frente a ella así?! No tienes prioridades en esta mafia?!" (Are you nuts?! Why the fuck would you jump in front of her like that?! Don't you have priorities in our Mafia?!)

He just shrugged and with a groan, leaned up from his position.

"No es nada jefe, ella es como mi hermana. Tenía que hacerlo." (it's nothing boss. She's like my sister. I had to do it.)

I pinched my nose bridge trying to go easy on him as he was already injured when in reality I wanted to break his limbs.

"And quit speaking Spanish, I hate it when you speak Spanish when you're angry."

"No estoy enojada" (I am not angry.)

He raised his eyebrow at me and I took a deep breath, rolling my eyes.

"I am not." He mockingly nodded while I pursed my lips together wanting to beat him.

"What about that fucker? That bitch hurt me hard, boss. Make sure you torture him for hurting your boo."

"I did, I broke his li- what?"

He just laughed and raised his hand to pinch my cheeks but I held his hand, midst air and twisted it earning a scream from him.

The door opened and a wide eyed Azariah bursted in.

She rushed to me and pushed me while I looked at her.

"Are you crazy!? He is injured!"

"Azzy, he twisted my hand." My eyes snapped to Levi who had a frown on his face while my hand was itching to punch him.

Azariah looked over at me with a harsh glare and I eyed her up and down.

Look at her being worried for him. Pathetic.

I tightened my hold on his hand while glaring back at her.

"Uh.... Boss?" I looked at Levi with a sneer, completely irritated by those two goofs.

"Aye...Leave my hand" he shook his hand from my hold and I pushed his hand away and walked out of the room.

They can enjoy their time together.