Chapter 3

• Sicily, Italy
• "Quickly tell me, where do you keep copies of the important data related to our organization!"
• Mikael, a tall and imposing man with tattoos covering almost his entire body, was currently gripping the neck of a weakened man sitting in a chair. His hands were tied, and he continued to bow his head. He seemed to have exhausted his strength from the repeated blows he had received all over his body.
• "It's pointless for me to tell you," he retorted. "After I tell you, I'll still be killed by you anyway. So what's the difference? I'd rather die outright."
• Mikael clenched his jaw tightly. The large-bodied man was ready to signal his intention to strike again. However, this time his action was halted by another man sitting leisurely, smoking a cigarette in his hand.
• "Stop, Mikael," he commanded.
• Mikael turned. He furrowed his brow in confusion but still obeyed the order.
• "Come here..." The man waved his hand, beckoning Mikael to approach. "That's not how a mafia member asks their enemies to talk. You're really foolish!" he scolded.
• Mikael took a slow breath. He was afraid his boss might be angry with his actions, which had yielded no results. "But, Mr Luca, I've tried both subtle and rough methods. That man hasn't said a word, let alone given us information about the whereabouts of the person who holds our organization's important secret."
• The middle-aged man stood up from his seat. He strolled towards their captive, sitting weakly in his hospital chair. "Raul Estello..." he said while gently wiping the blood that had soaked the man's temple. "I'll set you free if you're willing to tell us who has copies of our organization's information."
• The man named Raul laughed mockingly. "Don Luca, I know who you guys are. There's no history of a mafia releasing their prisoners."
• Luca grinned and nodded. "You're right. Most mafias, indeed don't let their enemies leave their den alive. But not me. I can set you free. And I'll make sure to keep my promise after you tell me where those copies are." He spoke at length, reaching for Raul's chin, asking him to look into his eyes. "Or... do you want your family to experience the same suffering you're going through now?" Luca reached for his cell phone from his pants pocket. He opened the photo gallery, showing pictures of Raul's wife and children enjoying themselves.
• It made Raul pause for a moment. From his expression, it was clear that he was weighing Luca's offer. The man was threatening subtly. He thought he'd better die rather than risk his family's well-being. It had already been a risk for him as a member of the national intelligence agency to be caught by a group of mafia-like this.
• "I swear it wasn't me who brought it."
• Luca squinted his eyes. "Then who? Your work partner?"
• Raul remained silent. He didn't deny it, but he also didn't confirm.
• "If you keep quiet, I can't guarantee that when you go home, your family will still be alive or might even disappear without a trace," Luca warned. Raul swallowed nervously. Luca wasn't joking with his threat, so he decided to speak up.
• "The copies of the data are in the hands of someone you might know. They could be in Italy, Ireland, or even in the UK," Raul replied calmly. "Feel free to search for it yourselves. What's certain is that those copies won't be easy for you to obtain."
• Luca's lips curled into a smile. "It's alright if you don't want to give the details. The good news is, I have many connections and a wide network in those three countries. I wouldn't be Luca if I couldn't locate it quickly."
• Raul let out a slow breath. "I've given you a clue. So please keep your promise."
• Luca smirked. "I'm not a liar who enjoys breaking promises," he said. Then his gaze shifted to Mikael and his other henchmen. "Release this man. But before you let him go, you know what needs to be done, right?"
• Mikael laughed. He quickly approached Raul's position, signalling two other companions to hold onto their captive. Moments later, Mikael was handed a glass of liquid by another comrade.
• "What do you want from us?!" Raul shouted, sensing that something was about to go wrong.
• "Ssstss..." Luca hissed softly from his seated position. He placed his index finger over his lips and spoke, "Be quiet and enjoy. After this, I'll set you free as I promised."
• Raul shook his head. Shortly after, Mikael resumed his action. He grabbed Raul's face and held it firmly with the help of the two others. They forced him to open his mouth, then poured a glass of water mixed with a dangerous acidic substance down his throat.
• "Arghhh!!!"
• Raul screamed and thrashed, his throat instantly burning from the liquid Mikael had intentionally poured into his mouth.
• "I will indeed set you free, Raul," Luca said from afar. "But I still have to eliminate the risk of you speaking to other intelligence members."
• "Sir, is making him mute enough? Even if he can't talk, he might still reveal our whereabouts if he's set free.
• Luca stood up this time. He approached Mikael, then gently patted his henchman's shoulder.
• "Of course, you need to take more action. After this, make sure he can't see anymore. Use whatever method you want. But be certain that after incapacitating him, you release him as I promised," he ordered the middle-aged man. "And one more thing..." he continued. "Once your task is done, quickly contact our network in the UK or Ireland. Tell them to deploy all personnel to find out where the person holding the copies of our crucial organization information is."
• Mikael nodded in understanding of the given task. Without saying much, he immediately carried out the orders. Meanwhile, Luca casually walked out of the room.
• ****
• Kaivan had just finished his work. As he entered his presidential suite, he found Anne sitting comfortably, watching TV and enjoying a snack in her hand.
• For a while, Kaivan observed her. He took deep breaths repeatedly. His mind was still the same as before. He had severe doubts that the woman leisurely watching TV was carrying his child.
• Oh, God.
• Why do you have to confront me in this way?
• I might be naughty, but why should I be responsible for a woman I've never slept with?
• Too lost in reverie, Kaivan didn't notice Anne, who had been watching him, now standing right in front of him. The woman even intentionally addressed him.
• "What are you doing here?" Anne asked.
• Kaivan snapped back to reality. He was slightly embarrassed and responded, shaking his head with a rhythm. "Nothing!" He protested, "Besides, this is my room. I'm free to do whatever I want. So, you don't need to ask so many questions."
• Anne narrowed her eyes. "Really? Aren't you secretly observing me?"
• Kaivan snorted. He felt caught but was too lazy to admit it. He didn't want to compromise his dignity. "Oh, come on!" He attempted to defend himself. "Why should I pay any attention to you?"
• Anne shrugged her shoulders. A teasing grin clearly showed on her beautiful face. "Well, who knows, maybe you admire my beauty."
• This time, Kaivan snorted again. He thought that the most confident person in the world was Edward Cullen. In reality, another person was even more annoying than him. "Right! As if! Why would I admire you? Just so you know, you're not even my type."
• Anne approached. Intentionally, she brought her hand to stroke the smooth chin of Kaivan gently, adorned with fine hair. "If I'm not your type, then how did you manage to get me pregnant, huh?"
• Kaivan immediately pushed Anne's hand away. He took a step back to avoid the woman in front of him. "Don't get too close," he warned. "Besides, up until this moment, I don't even believe that you're pregnant with my child."
• In Kaivan's mind, Anne couldn't be pregnant with his child. He had never slept with a woman before. So, how could it be that the unborn baby in the slim woman's belly was his flesh and blood? All the photos and videos that Anne used as evidence could be manipulated. Who knows, right?
• "I've already said that you can bring a doctor to check whether the baby in my womb is your flesh and blood or not."
• "Don't be foolish," Kaivan retorted. "The only way to find out if that child is my flesh and blood is through a DNA test. That means I have to be with you until the baby is born!"
• Anne nodded. "If you want the paparazzi, your extended family, or maybe your business colleagues to know that you're neglecting a woman who's carrying your child, go ahead. Tomorrow I'll leave this hotel."
• Kaivan growled in frustration. He couldn't let all of this happen. It could ruin the reputation he had built for so long. "Fine, I'll play along with your game. But since you're now staying in my territory, behave yourself. Just so you know, I can do anything to you."
• He walked away, deciding to take a shower and rest. There were so many tasks today that drained his mind and thoughts.
• However, just as he laid his body down and was about to close his eyes, Kaivan was startled by Anne's arrival. Without hesitation, she lay right beside Kaivan. She pulled the blanket along, covering their entire bodies.
• "Anne, for God's sake, what are you doing in my bed? Isn't your room right next door?"
• Anne nodded. "I thought it wouldn't be good for a pregnant mother to sleep alone in her room. If something happens, it could be dangerous, right?"
• Kaivan sighed in annoyance. In a tired moment like this, the woman beside him was causing trouble that stirred his emotions. "Go back to your room!" Kaivan commanded.
• Anne didn't care. She tightened the blanket that covered her body even more. "I want to sleep here. Consider it a warm-up before you actually marry me."
• "Tch!" Kaivan immediately clicked his tongue in frustration. "Who would want to marry you? Don't daydream too much. Even if you're carrying my child, or even if you were the only woman in the world, I wouldn't choose to marry you!"
• Anne chuckled softly, not at all offended by Kaivan's mocking words. "Hold on to your words. Don't go back on your own promises. I'm just worried that you might end up falling madly in love with me."
• "Never going to happen!" Kaivan replied confidently.
• He pushed aside the blanket he had been using and slid down from the bed. Angrily, he walked over to the sofa. He chose to sleep there rather than share the bed with Anne.