Beautiful Scar

9:28 PM, MEXICO.

The night sky was without stars that day, it was a stormy and rainy night. As stormy as Kael Darko's eyes when he heard the news.

"Repeat yourself." His voice was low and dangerous that his subordinates trembled in fear. Their boss was going to Kill them, they were sure of it. It had something to do with Her after all.

"We... Err... Boss, Number thirteen, he diffused a sleeping gas in the car and we all slept off including Madam. We awoke and she was gone with number 13." One of the men spoke up, his voice quivering and his legs threatening to give way to the floor. Perspiration was plastered on his forehead and he then shared eye contact with his mates but they weren't helping out at all. He was better off. Number ten had already pissed on his pants and Number Eight's teeth was clattering like he would convulse the next minute.

Kael's eyes narrowed, his fingers folding into a palm fist, "You mean to tell me that my Woman was kidnapped under your watch?"

All the subordinates didn't know whether to cry or die but they didn't dare to not answer their boss so they nodded their head.

Kael breathed, "Pray to whatever god you serve that not as much as a scratch is found on her body or you all might as well choose the weapon you wish to die by and which parts of your body be fed to the birds."

He took heavy and large strides out of the room taping away very much seriously on his phone. He immediately took a phone call,

"Have all backups at the frontier now, we have been compromised, Reynolds' men infiltrated our cabin. Get number one to be on the move." He said and immediately ended the call.

Kael's every steps were filled with rage and his body vibrated with anger. They had been very low-key the past few weeks and she just wanted to go and get some groceries since he was bent on cooking diner for both of them.

Who knew! He blamed himself. He should have insisted on taking her himself than leaving her to those miserly men who couldn't even protect themselves. His heart thumped so fast but his face showed no emotions.

He made it quickly to his front yard and took the fastest car in his collection, zooming off and leaving a gust of wind to his wake.

He prayed his girl was safe, he swore to protect her.

His subordinates prayed their lives be spared.

The entire city lay awake to hear the cries of the men who lay their hands his woman.

The underworld will be shaken to its core and the starless skies will be a blanket over the blood that will flow like a stream.

Just a scar, a little scar was enough. He was the Mafia King and the entire night will know, it will be imprinted in the sands.

That she was his. Jen.

JENNIFER'S POV

The bustle of New York City always takes me out. At this point, I don't know if that's what I hate about this city. I sit behind the counter and prop my hand under my jaw, leaning my upper weight on the counter and I watch the activities happening outside the glass doors animatedly. People-gazing sometimes has to be the best sport of all time, just that people aren't aware of its benefits.

I glance at my wristwatch while bobbing my right leg impatiently on the stool I am sitting on. I hate this part of working so much, especially since Amanda is the one taking over my shift. That girl never understands the art of punctuality and it scratches my gut that she has to be the one working after me-now don't get me wrong, I absolutely like Amanda, she is a ball of sunshine, and she is so bubbly and at the same time a nice soul, and I wouldn't have minded her lateness one bit if I didn't have a place to go.

Talking about going somewhere, I dig my hand into my baggy pants and dig out a piece of paper folded neatly. I peel it open to go through it once more.

An Eviction notice.

My landlord is the absolute worst - No, he isn't, I'm just flat broke.

I received an email last week pending the expiration of my rent but I was flat broke and I still am. I had to do what a girl had to do, I had spent my entire week sneaking in and out of the apartment so that he would never catch me one-on-one. I woke up this morning, ready to carry out my criminal routine of sneaking out when I saw a piece of folded paper beneath my door, he had threatened to lock me out of my house, and Oh! He really can.

I just have within today to get myself a lot of money to hold down Landlord's rage...a lot of money for my pocket but it isn't a lot of money since I live in a dingy fucking basement.

This week has been a blessing in disguise, Ellie called in sick, Lexi is on leave and the Manager has travelled to another branch in the next city for God knows what. This means I will get a pay worth three people, which will do a lot of good to my pocket. Thank God it's Friday, I will just swerve to HR at the back to get my pay for the week.

The door chimes and I raise my head praying I will be seeing Amanda as I raise my head, but not to my disappointment, I see a man in a tux step in.

Eli.

He glances at the counter catches my eye and spreads his lips in a broad smile. I try so hard to fight the smile threatening to escape from the corner of my lip but when my stupid lips give up on me by flashing itself to him, I do not blame it either.

Eli has been my friend since College, my very good friend. As recent as the last two years, he bagged a great job as the PA to the CEO of Sterling Corps which is so huge. People would die to see such an aristocrat of society talk less about working directly under him.

I had started working here earlier this year and to my utter disbelief, I saw him walk in here on my first day, after three years out of college, I hadn't seen him till then, and it was a pleasant surprise.

He walks up to me and my inner teen hushes over him as he makes his way forward. Eli had always been my crush since Freshman. He was the handsome and nerdy boy who still managed to be popular around school and maybe because he had consoled me when I wept my tears out when my hold fiholdfishhe looked more handsome to me.

Now he has grown even more handsome, breathtaking and brain-numbing (In a sexy way though). His Sandy hair curling neatly on his head, his oceanic and green eyes that are so soft it would make grandmas cry, his nose which is small yet straight and lips, oh lord! His lips are so enticing that I can just-

"Down to Jen." A snapping of finger drags my attention back and he is now leaning close to me over the counter...wait, how did he get so close?

I clear my throat and plaster a friendly smile on my face, "Hey."

"You always zone out, Jenni." He smiles softly but says it, which I don't take offence in because it is kind of true, you don't want me telling him that I was secretly drooling over him instead, would you?

"Eli, how are you? Here to pick your boss' favourite coffee?"

Eli chuckles, " The usual, he is in a hurry."

"Right." I bolt up with relative speed and move over to get the coffee ready. Eli's boss is quite temperamental, so I've heard. I have heard a lot of complaints and praises at the same time about this man. Eli has a big adoration for the man though he would refuse to admit it, but you need to see the way he gushes over his boss and when he hates on his boss too. It always gives me the vibes of a nagging girlfriend, not the bad part though. I would have thought there was something fishy if I didn't know that Elijah was as straight as a plastic ruler.

Besides, who will have to be at the bottom? Eli? Nope! Eli is the definition of masculinity at its peak, his muscles, his features, his carriage and every other thing about him...Well, you never know with men.

I immediately set the cup of coffee on the counter and winked at Eli who shakes his head and smiles.

"You owe me a drink, remember? I'll text you a date and time, and no excuses, Jen." He whispers and then proceeds to leave like he came in earlier.

Can I give an excuse now? I part my lips ready to give an excuse but his damn legs stretch out so long that he leaves the Cafe before I can even speak.

My weekend is packed, I have Piano lessons with kids by Saturday morning, a personal painting session in the afternoon and I have to binge-watch this Japanese movie I downloaded recently, can't let the movie go to waste!

The doorbell chimes once more and I hope it's Eli so that I can spew my excuses once and for all but when I see a redhead, I know that it's Amanda.

Finally.

I heave a sigh and peer at her trying to look offended but I know it's futile because that girl has a truckload of excuses ready to go and we will both know that she is seriously lying through her teeth.

Okay, so , 1-2-3-4 aaaaaaannddddd-

"I'm so sorry I'm late, Jen sweetie, my gran is so sick, I am just coming straight from the hospital."

You see? A lie. She said her gran died last month, but we all know that Amanda does not have a grandmother, to begin with.

"You need to keep up at this point, Mandy." Jen started,

"I know, but I did not have control over this one, you know-"

But I interrupt her before she ventures into a non-existent sob story, a smile on my lips, "You said she died last month, I mean, keep up with the lies, will you?"

"Urghhhh! You got me there." Amanda drops her act immediately, the sorrowful look previously plastered on her expression quickly wiping off of her face.

She reverts to her usual self, "Honestly I am so sorry for being late, but if you take me back in time? I would do the same,"

God, No! We are not going to go down this lane today. We shouldn't. Amanda is so quick to share personal details, she rants a whole lot, which I do not mind since get to source out free gossip but some things are just too personal that I have to protect my ears from hearing, and that is where she is headed I am sure of it.

1-2-3 aaaaannnnnddd -

"You wouldn't believe who I saw today, So I came across Jason, the brown skin sexy guy from Block B across the street, we got a little dirty you know, and guess what he is so good! You needed to have seen his-"

"La la la la la!" I immediately blocked my ears to stop hearing whatever she had to say. I do not want to destroy the mental image I have of Jason because Amanda will go on to tell me about his cock size and details I do not want to hear about.

"Alright, alright, alright. No more details." Amanda raises her hands in surrender.

"I need to get changed and get going, you know I have a program I have to catch up with, I told you," I say.

"Oh, whatever! You are such a bore" Amanda sniffed. She began to undo the jacket button, exposing her work shirt which had previously been hidden.

"I saw our hottie, Eli, banged him yet?"

I shake my head, an incredulous look on my face, "Amanda, I'm seriously done with you."

I move out of the counter and rush inside to get changed, I can't afford to be any more late than I already am. I can hear Amanda calling out to me with something like, "...He is so hot..." I can't make out the rest, and honestly, I don't even want to.

The only thing on my mind is to finish up on time and head to my next job which I certainly do not want to miss.

JENNIFER'S POV

Excitement is a way to put it. I got a paycheck this evening which means I won't get kicked out after all. I am in a cab and on my way to my next job and the sum of money in my bag already puts me high up there on cloud nine and all I can think of now is the extra cash I will make on my next big, that will certainly be enough to pay completely for my rent and get the landlord off my back.

The vibration from my big drags me out of my blissful thoughts. I dig my hand into my bag and brush past the bundle of cash placed carefully inside, it takes a whole lot not to squeal in excitement.

I pull out my phone and when I see the caller ID flashing on the screen of my ringing phone, I hold back my reflex urge to hiss.

Big Bro.

That's what flashes on my screen.

Seriously.

Way to destroy my mood in seconds.

I busy the call and chuck the phone into my bag. I refuse to think of him. I will not think of him. I shall not think of him, I definitely can not think-

"INCOMING CALL FROM BIG BRO." A tiny robotic voice sings out from my phone.

Oh fuck you Siri and your annoying voice!

Hmph! Not picking. I decide to think good thoughts, okay what to think about, maybe the fact that I am about to make extra cash, yeah that should work.

It doesn't work. Not at all. My excitement has been ruined by this call. You will be wondering what kind of a sister I am but honestly, if you were in my shoes, you'd do the same, especially if you have a deadbeat brother like mine and he calls on your payday, just when you are about to get kicked out of your trashy basement, it definitely will not be wise to pick his calls.

He calls the third time and my conscience pokes at me which raises frustration in my chest, I wish I could ignore this man just for today because I just cannot afford to be homeless and-

I hiss in annoyance and dig out my phone, I swipe to answer the call and what assaults my ear is a blast of music,

Seriously? See why I can't be bothered to pick up his calls.

"Yeniver." He drawls, barely pronouncing my name well, I zone out for a moment admiring the drunken pronunciation of my name, Yeniver, sounds sexy...or not.

Back to what he is saying, I arch my head back and press the phone tightly to my ears so that I can hear him through the noise.

"Yeniver, I am drunk, I can't move, help." He coughs and stumbles around his words.

See?

I close my eyes and rub my hand on my temple suddenly feeling a headache coarse through me.

"Matteo, I can't come, your friends should help you out, I have a job right now okay?" I reply softly but loud enough for him to hear. Again, I would have gone to his rescue for the nth time if I did not have a gig I needed to be at in like five minutes.

"Alone, came alone and -bleurgh!"

I still as I hear him gag. "Matt"

"Jennifer, I - bleurgh!"

I hold my breath and calculate in my head, this is not the first time Matteo calls at night in a club and they all did not end well, I always had to pay for his drinks or his debts if he lost a gamble. What if this is another ploy to get me to come to the club? But what if he just needs someone to drive him home? His gagging is scary.

"I'm coming, where are you?" I blurt out before I can stop myself and I immediately regret it, but he is my brother and only family after all.

"Xxx club " He drawls between hiccups and the line goes silent.

Toot! Toot! Toot!

He already got off the call. Just like that.

I turn to the driver who is already near my destination and I say in a pleading voice, "Please can you change destination? I have an emergency, I'll pay double the price, I promise."

He murmurs something under his voice but still swerves his car and that is how I know that he is turning, "where?"

He sounds grumpy but I do not mind his grumpiness, even though I feel grumpy too.

"Xxx," I say and he zooms off towards the location. This club or wherever Matteo is present, I have never heard of it before, honestly. It does not sound like one of his usual locations where he went to play bets and drink in a stupor. It sounds exquisite. It has a luxurious ring to it and I pray sincerely that it is not as expensive as it sounds.

I place my hand on my jaw and press the button by the door to wind the windows down. I shut my eyes and wonder.

At the back of my head, I have arranged that this impromptu rescue mission will be swift, I will pick him up, drop him at his apartment and head to my next gig, I planned to be early but with fate working hand in hand with both Amanda and now Matteo I doubt I will make it early anymore, in short, I won't.

I let the cool breeze assault my face and massage my hair with its cool caress and I have a really bad premonition but I shove this thought down my stomach. Everything about Matteo never turned out well for her.

"Ma'am, we are here." The driver stops immediately after his words and I alertly flip my eyes open.

"Thank you," I say to him and get off, tipping him and still further expressing my gratitude.

I close the door behind me and I step onto the curb ramp and I behold a very big club.

I am about to die and resurrect because what the hell is my broke-ass brother doing at a high-end club like this? This spits money, it spits exclusive, it spits class, and it reminds me of the tall and gorgeous skyscrapers opposite my workplace in the district.

I look down at my outfit and I cannot help but feel so out of place in the place. I step closer to the club and I see that there is a bouncer or rather, there are bouncers lined up and looking all bucked and murderous. I can't even make my way past them even if I wanted to because they are going to ask questions, how the hell am I supposed to make my way through?

How the hell did Matteo make his way through?

I glance at my watch impatiently and see that a whole thirty minutes has passed since I left my last job at the coffee shop.

God, please keep that job for me, pretty please.

My brother certainly will be the death of me.

"Hey, excuse me, you are in the way." I feel a tap on my shoulder and I look over to see a lady in-

Well, clothes and long lashes, flicking her exaggerated nails at me.

She screams Old fucking money despite the craziness of her carriage, it is just a bad sense of taste and fashion maybe.

I step out of her way immediately and watch her saunter further, chewing her bubblegum quite loudly and of course I hear her snicker, "Dirty rats everywhere these days."

A sense of shame washes over me, but I remind myself that I don't have the time, whether I look like a drowned rat or my cheap perfume smells like a refuse dump is none of my business.

I watch as she shows them her card and they push open the door of the club to her.

Once again, how did Matteo make his way inside?

I dig out my phone and call Matteo, but it rings continually and that's it. I call a few more times but I am met with this response.

I walk to the side of the clubhouse and pace in deep thought. It would have been easy for me if Matteo answered his call, this way I would have told him to come out and we would have headed away from this place.

A car pulls over, not just any car but a sexy-looking Rolls-Royce Phantom, don't ask me how I identified it. One step out and the other, and I'm swooning, but that's not the point, the point is that the man who comes out of the car is dangerously handsome, he was busy with his phone but just his side profile was so handsome at first glance that Eli's entire profile would grovel in comparison.

So sorry Eli.

A sudden thought surges through my head and impulsively I head towards the man but immediately another man draped in a suit comes in between and holds me like a thief.

Bad choice, Jen, bad choice.

I immediately struggle to let loose, and at the same time I call out to the man who stood there behind the meddlesome lackey and plead,

"Sorry to intrude but I need your help please."

The man just with the wave of his finger motions to the other man who lets go of me but not before he throws me a stink eye. I don't have the time to gloat but dive straight to business as the man is busy with his phone,

"Please can you help me get in?"I ask, and I seriously think I sound stupid as it leaves my mouth, to that effect, I shrink into my shoulders and wait for his reply which was only a few seconds but it felt like minutes.

He slowly puts away his phone and looks down at me-He is towering over me.

All I can say right now is that I am speechless.

No, I am not, because what?!

You know those movies where the man is so Italian, a CEO and dangerously handsome? The type that pins you to a wall and does things to you? (I know that's a lot of detail.) That's what he looks like, what am I saying? He is even way better! His dark eyes look like they are piercing down into my soul, his nose is pointed and even straighter than Eli's, his eyebrows full and sabre and his-

"Why?" His voice drags my attention back to the situation at hand but melts me in the process because the baritone with it was so...

"Huh?" I ask dumbly.

Jen. Seriously?!