Chapter 2 DIEGO

Diego's POV

I fired a shot and memories began flooding in. I can still remember that day vividly. I kept firing shots as the echoes of that fateful day crashed against my mind. I could still see her face, pale and fragile, as she gasped for breath.

The memories were sharp. I was a mature man then, ready to take over from where my father left off, yet I could cry like a small child when my mother died.

I had failed her. I had been too weak, too scared to save the one person who meant everything to me. The guilt consumed me.

As I kept firing, lost in the past, the present faded away. Not a soul tried to save her; some merely stood by, watching, while the others escaped the scene. The damage had already been done and nothing would ever be the same again.

That incident turned me into a stern, merciless, and unforgiving person. I came dangerously close to becoming just like my father; the only difference was that I could never harm a woman. I left the dirty work to my loyal men.

"Mr Diego, you have an urgent call," my associate at the shooting range informed me.

I removed my earmuffs and glanced at my phone to see numerous calls and messages from Luis insisting it was urgent and that I should call him back. I dialed his number.

"I will send you an address; meet me at the shooting range," I told him. I couldn't drive again; I desperately needed rest at that moment.

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"Diego, one of our men is dead and another one is hospitalized," Luis said when we got into the car and drove off.

"How did that happen?"I yelled. The guts someone had to attack my men.

"Our men went to catch the man that broke into our warehouse, but they fell into his trap, and one of them died while the other one was severely injured," Luis explained. This man had crossed a line and I needed to take action quickly.

"Call Ignacio right now. Tell him to check all the cameras for that man's whereabouts near the incident site, and do it fast," I instructed.

I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes for a moment. The thought of marrying her flashed through my mind. I couldn't remember her appearance anymore; I could only recall her name. I had to resolve this marriage issue quickly.

My thoughts were interrupted by a notification on my phone. I opened it and was surprised by what I read. The audacity she had to reject me.

No one dared to turn down Diego Castillo, yet she did. Even if I didn't like her at all, she should have not rejected me. "She is feisty and courageous," I said with a smirk. I needed to know more about her.

Marrying her won't be so bad," I thought. "If she proves to be a challenge, I could break her strong will and tame her. I could weaken her until she begs me to spare her. I smiled at the thought.

Adriana's POV

"Did you have to do that?" I asked Camila, my best friend, as we prepared to leave after our working hours were over.

"As your best friend, I need to look out for you. How could I let a monster like him marry you?" I could tell that she was genuinely concerned for me, but she didn't need to take such a drastic step. I sighed.

I felt my knees become weak as I read the contents of the message:

"Mr Diego, this is Adriana Cruz. I want to make myself clear which is why I am writing to you. I will never marry you or take the Castillo name. Therefore, I suggest you talk to your father about canceling the marriage while I speak to mine as well. The marriage will never happen, so please find a way to call it off. Thank you."

The message left my head spinning, and for some strange reason, I began to feel a heat rising inside me. Although I didn't know Diego very well, I would never forget how ruthless and unforgiving he could be. No one dared to oppose him as they feared for their lives.

"What am I going to do about this mess Camilia?" He must have read the letter by now, as it was too late to delete it. I realized it was a mistake to save his number in my phone as per my father's request yesterday.

"Remain calm, and don't worry about anything, Adriana. I am with you all the way," she said, holding my hand. Her words didn't feel reassuring at all. Only if she knew who she messed with this time.

When I arrived home that night, I opened a can of alcoholic drinks and slumped onto my bed. I needed something to relieve my stress because everything seemed to be going wrong. I had decided to go to school abroad just so I could escape everything related to the mafia, yet, somehow, I still ended up getting involved with it. I hoped everything would be alright by the next day.

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"Why won't you let me sleep in peace, Dad?" I asked as the voices of people echoed throughout the house. I had a splitting headache that morning and was heading to the kitchen to get a glass of water when suddenly I froze in my steps.

Different styles of wedding gowns were laid out in the living room. Today was the wedding and I had completely forgotten about it. My dad was still very serious about it.

My dad looked at me. "It's good you're awake dear. Wash up and get dressed fast because the wedding will begin in two hours." He seemed excited, grinning from ear to ear, which was unusual for him.

I quickly ran to my bedroom and slammed the door. Just as I reached for my phone to dial Juan's number, my dad walked in.

He seemed disappointed in me. "I know you were about to call Juan," he said as he stepped closer, making me feel anxious.

"Why did you have to call him yesterday?"He added. "I just want you to get married so someone can look after you when I'm too old." He seemed upset and I didn't know how to respond.

"I can marry anyone else except him. How can you easily forget that they are our rivals and not to be trusted?"

He turned to leave without saying a word. As he reached the door, he looked back, and my heart stopped when I saw his face.