Rafael Vintagè rushed out of the house, not quite able to contain his excitement.

Today was the day!

The earth could crumble and fall, the skies could turn green and it wouldn't matter, because she would be his.

He would see her and she would see him, there wouldn't be a single part of her left untouched, he would draw a map of her body with his hands, eyes and tongue. The thought of her naked body wrapped around his own, her pale and smooth skin unblemished by all but the full bodied blush he'd make sure to coax out her— but God, these thoughts were the reason he couldn't control his excitement. But it didn't matter. Besides the few things he cared about, she was another priority of his and every thought of her tormented him almost during every waking hour. She would be his.

The devil ran his fingers through his shortly cropped silky black locks, starting to slightly squirm under the beginnings of nervousness. He felt as stupid as a child on Christmas morning. His heart was jolting in excitement -finally, he would be with the love of his life.

As he was just taking a seat in the black tinted Range Rover, his phone rang, the loud tone nearly making him jump— working his nerves to no end. He groaned, hating the disturbance from his thoughts that had him nearly aroused. The man shook his head, thoughts slowly filling with fantasies of how he would have her in his bed just in a few hours. His eyes strayed to the phone which now sat on his palm making him snarl in annoyance, he did not like this, did not like such interruptions.

Then suddenly, he was fighting a grin as the caller ID flashed back at him. His friend was calling to tell him what was no doubt good news, and he swiped on the screen with no hesitation, because surely today was a good day as even his best friend called after not having heard from him in so long.

"Ronald!" He shot through this being one of the good days when he actually smiled, feeling giddy as hell.

"Boss, you have to get here, you have to get here now! I don't know how, but we got hit and we can't hold them in for long."

The air seemed to freeze, and his heart seemed to stop.

"I'm coming," he answered hoarsely.

They got hit?

How?

He doesn't remember throwing his phone away, all he can focus on the first tightly clenched on his head. He did not need this, not today! He felt an icy cold lust for blood spear through his body. He could feel his hands itching to break someone's face under his fist.

Someone was trying to fuck him hard and he did not take kindly to that, his men know it, and his enemies even more.

Rafael had his fingers in every city, warehouses filled with millions and millions of merchandise just waiting to be distributed or shipped. He had placed Ronaldo in Frankfurt, one of his biggest warehouses. His best friend who he trusted more than he trusted himself looked over the operations there reporting when needed.

This could only mean war and he prayed they were hard to kill, because if he found out a bunch of heavily armed amateurs were trying to start a turf war with the biggest bad in the northern hemisphere...oh he'd make them beg for death.

He wrenched the car door closed, briskly walking up to the double doors before slamming them open.

"Tom!" He bellowed, making the nearest guards flinch. With a careful eye he observed their positions around the staired foyer, begrudgingly pleased that they hadn't broken formation just because they thought he was gone.

"Sir?"

"Get the jet running, I have business in Germany."

Tom stood there shocked, reading into his vague words as if he'd clearly speller them out. He knew what that meant, he knew that someone wanted to fuck them over. Ronald was like a brother to Rafael, one of their best and most ruthless fighters. They had grown up together, been each other's rocks when everything was crumbling. Tom knew that Rafael would tear up the world to save his best friend and so help anyone who stood in his way.

Taking out his phone, Tom called for the jet, and in five minutes it was on the private runway a few minutes drive from his house.

The trip barely felt like a blink, but Rafael blamed his absentminded behaviour on his erratic thoughts.

"Sir, the girl?" Tom asked as Rafael quickly ascended into the awaiting jet.

"Go and get her, bring her here, and place her in my room." Then slowly, after a thoughtful pause, he chillingly said. "Tom, if even a hair on her head is harmed..." Then he disappeared into his private jet.

Rafael stopped the direction of his thoughts, before he started thinking about her again. Some people seemed to forget who he was and needed reminding. He looked out the window, watching the clouds as the vehicle soared even higher in the skies and he relaxed. If there was one thing he'd learned from being in this business, it was too be calm during a storm. Letting emotions rule his actions would have repercussions and he couldn't afford to be sloppy. He had to shut down the opposition before they grew bigger heads.

His thoughts carried him to the first night he laid his eyes on her, she'd been an image, Beauty and him the Beast personified, unable to tear his wild gaze away from her bewitching beauty. He felt unworthy but knew there and then that there was no way he was not having her. In a matter of hours her whole life had been contained in a file only meant for him, he had flipped each page, each photo feeling his cold heart leap as his pants got tighter and tighter. The poor waitress had not held a chance as her house had be bugged by the time she finished her shift at an event they had been catering for.

He closed his eyes, imagining her long silky hair falling effortlessly over her shoulder as she giggled, feet bouncing playfully as she gazed down at him. His eyes flickered open as he thought of how he would not lose her, even her acceptance to college wouldn't get in his way.

Tom Ivanov watched the jet take off for a while before checking his watch and rushing off to the black Range Rover. He hopped in and told the driver to go. A quick browse through his phone confirmed what he thought—she was still in her room. He'd taken his fair share of hostages since he started working for Rafael, but he felt nervous as hell. Nothing could go wrong here or he would lose his head, with everything going on they needed a win and he would make sure that when Rafael came back the girl would be waiting for him. He could not help but fear for the dear child, if only she knew what the devil had planned for her. He shook his head, settling comfortably into his seat.

Thirty minutes later they were pulling up near the girl's apartment, three black tinted cars, nine men who had been trained to kill in a blink of an eye— Tom thought it was a little ridiculous that so many of them had to come, but what the boss wants he gets and he'd stressed that they should come prepared. Still, it didn't sit right with him that they were all waiting to pounce on one innocent girl who had no idea how her world would crumble to dusts in a matter of hours.

It seemed like she was packing the last box in the car boot while her friend stood next to her, saying something. They hugged, then Loala got in her black mini Cooper and drove away. All the three cars trailed her waiting for the perfect time to snatch her up.

It had been two hours and the men were patiently following waiting for the perfect moment to pounce, they would not rush it, patience was something that had been drilled into their skulls from such a tender age. They followed like the predators they were knowing that there was no way this prey was escaping their grasp on this day. She pulled up at a gas station, getting out of the car, music blasting from her speakers as she swayed her hips to the music while taking strides heading into the shop.

Tom was the first to step out followed by the others. Curios peopled stared stepping away from the scene yet not bringing themselves to completely leave as they knew something was about to transpire and they would live to tell the tale. Everyone gasped at the sight of them as they stalked into the shop eyes hungrily taking every corner looking for the beauty. Everyone who was near the door ran out if they got the chance, they all whispered to each other as the men tore through each aisle looking for the woman they would gladly give their life for.

She had been wearing a white, silky top with brown denim jeans.

"I got her," Tom said through the earpiece as he spotted her grabbing some gummy bears while on the phone.

She seemed young, very young especially with her hair down. It was a large contrast from how she looked when her hair was in a messy bun. Tom had no time to really look at the girl nor look at her pants that had magically turned into short shorts as he stalked towards her knowing that nothing would save her from what was to come.

"Mum! I want my card back." A sweet voice came from the young, curvy and tall girl.

"No, mom. You can't keep doing this to me! Arggh, I hate you so much, I wish dad were still here!" She dropped the call before shouting at it in anger. Tom saw this as an opportunity to strike, so he walked from behind her and covered her mouth with the white cloth. Fortunately, she gasped, inhaling a lungful of chloroform and with a weak struggle, she joined the land of unconsciousness. He carefully picked her bridal style and walked out of the shop, ignoring the people gaping at him.

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