ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴘᴏᴠ

𝘊𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴, 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘺, & 𝘏𝘦𝘳.

♛♛♛

Blood spurted from the male's mouth, the forceful punch that was made to his jaw caused his head to hit back against the wall.

Julius took a step back and clamped his jaw, rage seeping from every pore on his body as his predatory eyes swept over the man.

As he took steps forwards towards the young man, a 5-inch blade slid through his fingers, curling and twirling on his side.

"Business is business, Alfredo." The name curled on his tongue like a foreigners accent, the half-dead man coughed up enough blood to stain the alleyways concreted floors.

"No," Alfredo replied, his accent breaking forth with every ounce of his remaining voice. "Whatever the Ricardos intend to steal from you is not going to be business."

Julius stared into his eyes as he pushed the blade at the nape of his neck, waiting for his last words to be said before slicing open his throat.

"It will be chaos."

Alfredo's last words were spoken carefully and slowly, making sure to leave a dent in the mind of Julius—knowing well enough no one could ever brainwash him, but his words might leave a mark if whatever he had was important enough.

Slowly, Julius backed away, unaffected by his words and wanting this man's death to be quickened, he ordered one of his men for his gun with a single signal of his two fingers.

Pressing the gun to his head, the bullet flew right through his heart leaving him dead to be.

Julius tucked the gun into his waistband and turned around easily leaving his men to clean up his work.

His strides affected everyone in his path, so they stepped aside, never looking him in the eyes or striking eye contact.

Each man and woman found themselves scattering away from him, sure enough, to not fall into a depth of his wrath.

Julius arrived at his parked vehicle. The black sports car was a sight to behold, and practically everyone knew who owned it, so no one dared to approach it.

All except those who were desperate.

"Julius." A feminine voice spoke from behind him. He rolled his eyes, fisting his hand around the handle to his car door while turning his head ever so slightly to acknowledge the girl.

A young woman stood with her arms crossed over her chest, wearing a long black fur coat with hardly anything underneath.

His gaze shifted away from her and onto the two women standing behind her. Friends of the woman cast hungry glances at him but kept their distance.

Taking a step forward, she smiled at him with her red-stained thick lips, glitter shone above her eyes and the blue in them gazed so hungrily.

Julius didn't say a word, impatiently waiting for the woman to speak before he could simply pull out his gun and shoot her and the two flees.

"Spend a night with me? I promise I'll make it worth your while." She smirked, taking her confidence into performance as she started her hand up to his chest and down to the band of his jeans.

Julius clenched his jaw angrily as he stared at her motions on his body. Ten more seconds and he'll be grabbing his gun. Ten more seconds.

Since he hadn't made a move to push her away, the woman moved closer and reached up to his ear, her fingers trailing up to his jaw and successfully caressing his ear with her breath.

"My pussy will make your dick squirm within seconds."

A soft exhale escaped his mouth, a sound mixed with mock and disbelief. Another feminine voice spoke before he could act, it was a voice that made something inside him spark, and he was abruptly tamed, now refusing to draw out the gun that pleaded for his touch.

"Juls?" Soft, sweet, and luscious was all he could think of hearing the terrible nickname she gave for him.

Turning his head to the other side, Julius pulled the woman away, either by decision or by just taking a step away from her, leaving her staggering backwards in her exceedingly high heels.

Hazel and Julius locked gazes once again. She stood at the sidewalk with a white tote bag slung across her shoulder, a pair of baggy white jeans with rips at the knees, a casual black t-shirt that looked twice her size and had a picture of Joey from Friends printed the words 'how you doin'?' onto it.

Beautifully, she wore a light smile, one that he knew was fake. Since he had seen it used before on others she wasn't fond of.

Reaching to her eyes again, Julius watched her gaze fall to something beside him and then back to him as well.

Taking a step forward, she looked awkwardly to the floor and played with the ends of her red hair.

"I was just about to head home and wait for you out the front. If you had other plans though..." She said looking once again to something beside him, now guessing it was the woman who he thought had made a notion to leave.

With no emotion, he strode to the passenger door and held it open for Hazel. Hesitantly, she walked over and stepped inside. Julius didn't leave his eyes from her.

After closing the door, he walked around to his side of the car, the other woman's gaze staying on him and virtually glaring at the one who stepped into the car.

Before entering the car, Julius leant his head down to the woman's ear, low enough only for her to hear.

"Get the fuck away from my car or a bullet will be denting your egotistical head within seconds."

His words cut deep, they were said oddly calm yet terrifyingly dark. The woman took a step back, shock plastered over lust and her face turned a deep shade of red.

Julius clenched his jaw as he opened the car door and slid inside. With a single push of his thumb, the car roared to life with an engine that had the sound of an animal.

"Are you okay?" Hazel asked from her seat beside him. Her voice was soft and quiet, immediately signing that she was nervous.

Julius gave her a single nod without looking at her, his hard eyes fixed on the road ahead of him as he drove onto the main road.

Leaning back, he handled the wheel with one hand while his other rested in the middle between the two.

The woman from before, along with the comments of the man he had recently just murdered, had placed Julius in a rather foul mood. It wasn't as nearly as bad as what he usually is like when in a bad mood, because without even noticing, he was suppressing his anger for her.

He rubbed his jaw to relieve the ache. The gesture, or rather any of his movements, had not gone unnoticed, as he felt her bright eyes on him from thousands of miles away, almost as if it were some kind of mind trick.

Therefore, a hand had wrapped around his wrist. The hand didn't entirely encircle his, causing him to almost push a smile onto his lips, but he didn't.

He let her put his hand in her lap, amused and intrigued by what she was doing. Her painted lilac fingertips drew the outline of a tattoo on his wrist.

Julius found it difficult not to pull away as he formed a wry smirk on his lips. Affection or the touch of another always was a bother to him. Never has he ever been either with anyone or tolerated it from anyone.

Except her.

And he liked it.

"You know you can talk to me, Julius. If anything's ever bothering you or you just want to get something off your mind, you can vent it out to me."

He glanced over at her, her warm ones colliding with his dark, cold ones. "Isn't that why we're best friends?" She blinked, black lashes brushing underneath her eye as she did so, and he was surprised to see a tinge of uncertainty when she glanced at him again.

Best friends...

A chuckle was near to escape. Friends aren't exactly attuned to him, neither is a best friend. The sound of it was off. Particularly since those two terms appeared in the same sentence as his name.

But he allowed it. He couldn't keep away from her, and neither could his mind. Though, he does much rather be anything other than friends. No, it was the constant images of her plump lips on his, the sweet taste of those lips, and the feel of her body against his that drew him closer to the more intimate aspect of their so-called friendship.

But fuck, her genuine concern for him, which no one else had shown before, was refreshing and...

"I know I can, Hazel." He looked over at her, stopping at a red light. Hazel squeezed his hand lightly and smiled with her warm eyes.

"Has work been making you stressed or angry? Is that why you seem off?"

He sped down the road, biting the inside of his cheek and looked intensely at the road. His gear shifted as he passed cars at lightning speed, and he smirked as he watched her horrified expression out of the corner of his eye.

With a smooth jerk, he drifted the car slightly to turn into a street. Hazel's grip on his hand had become extremely tight, and luckily her grip was not as strong, or his hand would have been broken.

"Oh my gosh, Julius." She covered her mouth with one hand but had a guilty smile underneath. "Just relax, angel." He mumbled with a smirk and briefly brushed his thumb over her hand.

She sunk down in the seat and sighed in relief upon seeing them enter the local town square, filled with all restaurants and cuisines.

They pulled up out the front of a Thai restaurant, one that Hazel loved. She had only been once before, due to the expense, but it was the most amazing Thai she had eaten ever.

And somehow, Julius had known.

After parking the car, his hand had left hers along with the warmth. He stood out, coming to her side and opening up her door. Hazel thanked him as she stood out, bag over her shoulder and the regular blush coating her cheeks.

Running a hand through his dark locks, he slammed the door shut and locked the car.

Hazel awkwardly shifted in front of him, eyeing the cuisine and looking like she was hesitating to speak. But he beat her to whatever she had to say as he took her hand and lead her inside.

They walked straight through, the staff were well aware of Julius' identity and always kept the back tables clear in case of an emergency for their 'exclusive' guests.

Hazel tried looking over Julius' shoulder with a curious stare to gain a better view, but Julius was just too dang tall and broad.

A server unlocked the glass door that led inside the hidden room that was reserved for the two as they arrived in the obscured area.

The room revealed glass all around, allowing everyone inside to see out. Though, anyone outside couldn't see in.

It was set up with four individual lanterns in each far corner of the room, a table in the centre with a black tablecloth draped over it. A single rose in a jar sat in-between the empty glasses and fresh, ice-cold water.

With a bow, the server placed the menus on the table silently. Julius pushed open her chair as the door closed, letting go of her hand in the process.

For the first time, he couldn't keep back a small smile when his eyes finally looked up at her, focused directly on her expression.

Her eyes shone with adoration. Happiness. Love.

Of course, love for the dinner arrangement.

"Oh my, Juls—" She says breathlessly. Wordlessly.

Her gaze was drawn to his, and she giggled as she placed her hand on her heart.

"It's so pretty." She flushed pink as she lifted her hand to her cheek.

Nevertheless keeping her eyes on the outside view of the cars and lively avenue, she positioned her body into the chair.

Julius moved around, taking the seat across from her. His grey eyes followed her delicate hands reaching toward the menu, she lightly grazed the leather folder with her fingertips and then smiled once again, looking up at him.

As she pushed in her chair further to get closer to Julius, her strawberry and Tide aroma enveloped him. She traced the outlines of the menu while leaning forward, elbows on the table and one hand under her chin.

"I've only been here once. And it was amazing but expensive." She let out a small breath. Something between a laugh and sigh. "I guess I understand why it's so expensive, the food is incredible."

Julius leant back in his seat, running a hand through his hair again while raking his eyes across her frame.

He needed a cigarette.

Digging into his pocket, when he took one out the packet and tossed it on the table, he also produced a single lighter from his pocket and lit it quickly.

The plume of smoke that erupted from his lips made Hazel wrinkle up her nose, disgusted. He raised his eyes to her as he lit the candle on the table between them.

"Does it calm you?" She asked, curiously. Licking his bottom lip, he adjusted his head slightly so the smoke would release away from her. Their eyes remained on each other with another inhale and another exhale.

"Yes."

She pressed her lips together, nodded, and returned her gaze to the ground. Under the table, her hands rubbed together, and one leg bounced up and down.

Nervous.

She was nervous.

Standing, Julius rose to his full height, immediately capturing her attention and confusing her. When he moved his chair and figure around the table to sit alongside her, her face lowered to soft adoration.

He sat down again, dipped his cigarette in the ashtray, and relaxed by spreading his legs. Her leg was no longer jerking, and her eyes were beaming as she pressed her hands against the table.

"What drink?" He spoke clearly, firmly. "Sprite with extra ice, please." Not hesitating, she replied with a curt nod.

He leant forward, flicking the cigarette again and smirking lightly. "Extra ice?" He rose a brow, utterly amused, not bothering to suppress it.

A soft laugh escaped her lips as she laced a hand through her hair, letting her curtain bangs fall effortlessly onto the sides of her face.

The next intake was as harsh as ever, trapping the smoke in his lungs for as long as he needed.

She was beautiful. Too fucking beautiful.

"Yeah, I like ice in my beverages, and extra most of the time."

As the waiter entered on time, his lips tilted again, and all emotion displayed was erased faster than the speed of light. The waiter gave him a brief look before returning his gaze to the iPad.

"What can I get for you tonight, Mr Santo."

Julius glanced across at her and gave her a slight nod as he motioned to the waiter. "Whatever she wants."

The waiter then looked over at her.

Julius spoke before she could, ordering her Sprite with extra ice and his neat glass of Whisky. And then Hazel spoke as to what she wanted to order.

They ordered. The waiter left. And then it was them alone again.

"I have another question for you." She said, sitting forward to be closer to him, which is something she did naturally.

Even on the night they met, she hadn't noticed but her body had glided over to his side, only the slightest bit but it was evident.

To him it was.

"Hm?" He replied, bringing his lips to the glass of water placed in front of him.

Her hand reached out and delicately grasped his wrist, her fingers skimming the bloodied and bruised skin around his knuckles.

"Is someone hurting you?" She had a worried look in her eye, as if she was pleading him to say no and that he wasn't being hurt.

Julius restrained himself from chuckling. Perhaps it was the fact that she thought he was hurting when, in fact, he was the one doing the damage.

"I get into fights." He admitted and the waiter walked back in with the glasses right as her mouth parted slightly.

"Thank you." She squeaked and desperately sipped her entire cup of ice and sprite. Julius held her gaze while taking a single sip from his glass, amused.

"W-What kind of fights?" She hesitated. Every word dripping with unknown fear. But what Julius didn't know was that the fear was for him.

He dropped the glass and leant back, hanging his head upward. "Underground. Most of the damage is from the gym, though."

Sighing, she grazed her fingertips again along his knuckles. "You need to learn how to clean them, Julius. It can get infected." She shook her head disappointedly but slowly brought his hand in front of her face.

If this were anyone else, they would have been dead already.

Tingles shot up his arms and excessed through his shoulders and down. His jaw clenched as her lips moved away from the hand she had just pecked.

With a red face, she smiled at him through hazy eyes and placed his hand back on the table. "That'll make it heal better." She whispered.

She shifted her gaze back over her shoulder, peering out the window and memorising the sights below. Meanwhile, the man next to her was having difficulty removing his hand from in front of her, desiring to have her lips again on his skin.

Julius' gaze was drawn to something behind her, outside the enclosed room's glass. They couldn't look in, but he could see everything well. On the other side of the street, a group of men—dangerous individuals like himself—were standing just outside.

One of them, in particular, wasn't in the good books of Julius. Well, none of them were by a long shot, but this particular one was more likely on the next killing spree Julius was to make.

As if to shatter Julius's spell, the man turned away from him and Julius returned back into the present .

Julius didn't feel. He hasn't felt for a long, long time. Call it trauma or his past, but he refuses to feel anything ever again. His heart continued to beat, but it was cold and dark, not at all like a heart should be.

With her red hair and warm eyes, the woman in front of him was everything he wasn't. He was disturbed by the fact that she was unintentionally destroying a barrier he had placed all around him. A switch he had shut off in his head was becoming broken; it was flickering and needed to be repaired.

"Where's a place in the world you've never been to, Juls?"

And that nickname. He hates it. But God, does he love it when it comes from her sweet lips.

"Germany." He answered, his voice unemotional and lifeless. She hummed. It was a sweet sound, like the beginning of a lullaby, but it was just her voice, her hum.

"I've always dreamt of going to Paris." She admitted, smiling at the shoes she flexed in front of her. "Why Paris?" He asked, swinging the rest of the Whiskey down his throat.

Hazel sighed, lightly. She twirled the end piece of hair falling down her shoulder and remained smiling. "My sister and I have always wanted to travel together, especially to Paris."

"We made a plan: once I turned eighteen, she would take both of us to Paris for a week, where we would spend the days sightseeing and eating new foods, and the nights sleeping outside the Eiffel Tower."