THE UNDERGROUND WORLD

LORENZO 

I sat on the bed, admiring her peaceful sleep. Her back was turned to me, and for a moment, I forgot about my habits. 

I normally take women to the guest room, but she is weirdly different. She had chased away that girl, twice, and yet, I wasn't angry. Instead, I found myself smirking at the memory.

She stirred, turning onto her back, her eyes still shut with her fist fight around her phone.

I wasn't curious about her phone anymore. My attention was focused on her. Her actions, though unpredictable, amuses me. I felt drawn to her, and my irritation melted away.

I pulled out my cigar from the cabinet and lit it, puffing out smoke as I gazed at her. 

My phone buzzed, breaking the silence. Marcello's name flashed on the screen. I knew something important had come up.

I gently left the bed and walked out of the room, closing the door behind me. Two men stood by the door, they instantly showed courtesy.

"Meaning?" I asked Marcello who moved closer to me.

"I asked them to stay here till we return," Marcello replied. 

"The underworld is in coarse because of your marriage," he announced and I gave a slight nod puffing out the smoke.

I was expecting this reaction from them, the moment I decided to put myself in the situation.

"Dude, you know what you are doing, right?" Marcello asked, his voice laced with concern. "She's going to be your weakness." I raised an eyebrow.

"Fine, she won't," Marcello corrected himself, "But I think otherwise, you are letting her get away with too much. If she crosses my limit, I might kill her."

I shot Marcello a warning glance, "Don't you dare lay a finger on her." 

"Relax, I won't harm her," Marcello assured me. "But seriously, Miles, you need to set boundaries." 

Before I could control my action, my hand encircled around his neck, choking him hard. I slammed him against the wall, his legs dangling above the ground.

"Are you trying to go against me?" I asked, my eyes blazing with anger.

Marcello struggled to breathe, his face turning red. "Man, see...are you sure you're not in love with this girl?" he gasped.

My grip tightened. "Marcello, enough!" I barked, this time now releasing him.

He crumpled to the ground, rubbing his neck. "Don't test my patience dude," I wanted and stormed out of the mansion, my mind reeling with his words.

"My weakness," I cracked at this, throwing my stock to the ground. "Jokes on you all," 

The car was waiting outside, engine purring. "I will be back in the morning," I instructed my guards. 

"Protect the lady like your life depends on it." They nodded in unison. I got into the car, leaving Marcello to catch up.

As he slid into the passenger seat, I could sense his fury. I had hurt him, my best friend, for a girl I barely knew.

Marcello's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. "You are making a mistake, dude."

I ignored his warning, gazing out the window.

After a few minute's drive, the car pulled up to an uncompleted building, its exterior deceivingly nondescript. Inside, however, lay a secret world.

He alighted the car and waited for me to do the same, "Lorenzo," he called and I looked back at him, only to see he had his pistol pointed at me.

Men gather around us immediately, leaving me to snicker, I don't trust anyone but one person I don't play with is Marcello.

I knew he wouldn't fire that bullet, we played with ourselves with this, so it wasn't new to me.

The only thing different is the anger directed at me, "This is what would happen if you dare turn your back on this and face that girl," he warned, it was against the law to fall for anyone, to love is totally off it.

We believe that might make us lose so we don't do that shit here, I only want to use her and discard her and not love her.

I smirked at Marcello's dangerous warning, "You sure you would do it?" I retorted.

"I am reminding you that I can't hurt my friend so don't do shits, you know how crazy the underground world can be."

"I am doing it to get back at her, her being my weakness?" I bursted out laughing.

"Never," I let out and he sneered.

We both walked into the mansion with some guards lined up waiting for us. 

As we approached the entrance, Marcello nodded at me, and we diverted from the main path. 

Inside, the dimly lit corridor stretched before us. Walking down its length, we finally got to the end of the corridor.

To an outsider, it is the ending but to us, we know exactly what this is. I placed my hand against a wall, and it slid open. 

Beyond the hidden wall lay a lavish chamber where they all stood watching me walk inside. 

They are all the leaders of all the little mafia gangs we have in the city, they are small to me but big to the normal world and they are also all my allies.

Their gaze followed me as I made my way to the chair at the center, I had my seat and Marcello stood by my side.

"Heard you asked for my presence?" I announced, and their gaze shifted to Marcello, knowing he must have informed me.

"Yes, we did," Ivan, one of the leaders of the men replied. "You are our leader now, and you have decided to have a woman. Isn't that a danger to us who ally with you?"

My eyes narrowed as I began to toy with my ring. "And what made you think I married her because I loved her?" The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on me in surprise.

"But.."

"She is a renowned prosecutor," I cut him off. "Why do you think I would want someone like that as my wife,"

"Oh, so to get…"

"Few boxes are being loaded to Calonia and I would need the law to cover me up the most here," I stood from my seat, my hand poked into my shoulder.

"Calonia? That is so bold of you, what if you get caught?" Another one rose asking in shock.

I laughed out loud, "She is known never to lose her case," I answered, and only then did they gulp down nervously.

"You heard the news of her always refusing to step in for Volko when he wanted her right," I smirked at this, my eyes boring into Volko himself.

"When I need her, you can come to court to know if she would stand for me or not."