Mafia Lord's Ultimate PaybacK

Lillian didn't know what was chasing her. All she knew was that she had to run.

The darkness stretched endlessly before her, her feet pounding against the unseen ground as she gasped for air. Her heart hammered violently against her ribs, terror clawing at her throat. A warm liquid trickled down her cheek, but she didn't stop to wipe it away.

She didn't even know why she was crying.

Whatever was behind her was getting closer. She could feel its presence, its hunger. Desperation seized her, and she tried to scream for help, but no sound left her lips. And just when she thought she could run no more...

She collided with something solid.

No, someone. A strong, towering body.

Before she could react, a hand clamped around her throat, and she was slammed against a wall. A sharp gasp left her lips as she clawed at the fingers tightening around her neck. She couldn't breathe. Panic surged through her veins as she stared up at the figure before her.

Cold, gray eyes pierced through the darkness, locking onto hers. Eyes that held nothing but raw, merciless cruelty.

"You can't escape from me, Dulzura."

[Sweetness]

The voice was deep, smooth, laced with deceptive softness but dripping with lethal threat.

A wicked grin curled on his lips, sending a violent shiver down her spine. His grip didn't loosen. If anything, it only tightened.

Lillian choked, her hands trembling as she struggled to pry his fingers away. She tried to fight back, to scream but before she could, a voice called her name, faint and distant.

"Lilly... Lilly..."

The sound pulled her from the suffocating darkness.

"Lillian!"

She jolted awake, gasping, her hands flying to her neck. Her chest heaved as she sucked in ragged breaths, the suffocating pressure still lingering. A cold sweat drenched her skin, making her shiver.

Blinking rapidly, she turned to see her best friend, Evelyn, standing at the door, worry etched across her face.

"Another nightmare?" Evelyn asked gently.

Lillian lowered her gaze, her throat tightening, gripping the bedspread tightly. She couldn't bring herself to speak, so she simply nodded, fresh tears welled in her eyes.

The nightmare felt so surreal this time. And nothing scares her more than that.

Evelyn sighed, walking over to sit beside her on the bed. She hesitated for a second, then pulled her into a warm hug, stroking her hair tenderly.

"Ssh, it's okay," she whispered, "You're safe."

Lillian squeezed her eyes shut, gripping onto her friend like a lifeline. "I don't feel safe, Evie," she admitted in a broken voice. "Every second, I feel like he's watching me. Like he's waiting to find me and take me. To kill me."

Frustration was laced in her voice. Evelyn pulled back slightly, cupping her tear-streaked face. "You've been in hiding for six months, Lilly. He doesn't even know where you are."

"But what if he does?" Her voice wavered, panic creeping in. "What if he finds me?"

Evelyn bit her lip before forcing a small smile. "Then we'll figure something out. But for now, you need to breathe. You can't keep living like this."

She only kept looking down at her fingers with her blurry gaze, imagining the worse. His eyes, his palm on her throat like that night, the chilling smirk-all of it intensified the fear that had already rooted deep inside her.

Evelyn watching her closely placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"It's going to be okay," she assured softly.

But they both knew that was a lie. Nothing was okay.

Lillian had abandoned everything; her career as a lawyer, her old life; just to disappear. To escape him so he wouldn't find her. Yet, she still lived in fear.

She wiped her tears, forcing a nod. "Where have you been?"

Evelyn stiffened at the question then avoided her gaze, gulping the lump in her throat. "I was... at Alex's place." Her Fianceé.

The way she responded didn't sit right with Lillian. There was a flicker of hesitation. She narrowed her eyes, studying her.

"Evie..."

Before she could say anything else, Evelyn suddenly pulled her into a tight hug.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, so quietly that Lillian barely heard her.

"What did you say?"

"I said, bless you," Evelyn quickly pulled away, covering her words smoothly. Lillian frowned, but Evelyn playfully nudged her before she could dwell on it.

"Forget about me. So... what do you plan on doing today?" She asked, trying to change the subject.

Lillian sniffled, wiping her remnant tears and answered the question. "I'm going to church."

"Church?"

"Yeah," She nodded. "I just need to feel... something. I need to talk to God."

She needed God more than ever. Maybe if she showed Him how desperate she was, He would finally answer her prayers.

Evelyn studied her for a moment before exhaling. "Okay. But which church?"

"Eternal Life chapel. I don't want to be somewhere near."

The church was like an hour from their apartment. Evelyn nodded slowly, but her expression remained tense. Then her expression softened as she smiled at Lillian.

"Well, pray for me while you're at it."

Lillian only chuckled.

After freshening up, she dressed in a simple black outfit, covering her hair with a scarf and slipping on dark shades. A black mask concealed the lower half of her face.

Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she barely recognized herself. Good.

With a deep breath, she stepped out of the house, and the moment the sun kissed her skin, her steps halted. It had been too long since she last felt it.

With her head down, she boarded a taxi and made her way to the church.

The moment she entered, a sense of peace washed over her. The large cross at the altar, the quiet hum of prayers left behind, it felt safe.

Slowly, she walked forward, kneeling before the cross. Her fingers gripped the Bible tightly as she bowed her head, tears slipping silently onto the floor.

"Lord, help me. I've lived in fear for six months, and I don't know when it will end. I've prayed, I've fasted and did charities. Please, just let him forget about me. Let him lose his memory of me. I never wanted this. I only wanted justice for my family."

Her body trembled as she wept.

"If you save me from him, I promise... I promise to serve you until my last breath. Please, God, grant me this one thing."

She wept until her body ached.

For nearly an hour, she stayed there, pouring her heart out to the heavens. And when she finally stood, wiping her tears, a small weight lifted from her chest.

With her Bible held close, she turned toward the exit, humming a quiet hymn to herself. The moment she reached the doorway, she froze.

A pair of polished black shiny shoes stood at the entrance.

She thought she was alone.

Dread crept up her spine as she suddenly felt the weight of someone's presence behind her. Her fingers tightened around the Bible with her pulse hammering.

Don't look. Don't turn around.

Slowly, she took a step forward.

"Our Father, who art in heaven..." she whispered, her voice barely audible as she took another step. But before she could take another...

"Why did you run from me, Dulzura?" A deep, familiar voice rumbled behind her, sending ice through her veins.

The Bible slipped from her grasp that instant, hitting the floor with a dull thud. Her entire world stopped. And she didn't need to turn around.

She already knew.

He had found her.

Lillian's heart pounded violently in her chest, fear gripping every inch of her body. She couldn't bring herself to turn around. She remained frozen, paralyzed by the terror that had dawned on her.

She didn't need a soothsayer to tell her that God had forsaken her. After all her prayers, fasting, and charity, how could He still allow this follower of Satan find her? And here of all places, just when she had come to church to pray for him to forget about her.

"Turn."

The deep command sent a shudder through her spine. The fear of angering him forced her body into motion. Slowly, she turned around, gasping the moment her eyes met his with tears already pooling her eyes.

There he was. Jake Hernandez.

His cold, gray eyes bore into her, empty yet suffocating, making her stomach twist. But that wasn't what made her breath hitch, it was the scar across his face, the same scar she had left him with that night.

The one she had dragged across his skin.

With two steady strides, he closed the distance between them, and yanked off her scarf, her shades, and the nose mask she had used to conceal herself.

Lillian shivered, barely able to stand, and then just like in her nightmares, his hand wrapped around her throat. A sharp gasp escaped her, panic swallowing her whole with tears gushing out.

Jake watched her, drinking in every of her reaction, every flinch, every trembling breath.

"I didn't treat this..." he pointed to the scar on his face, his palm tightening slightly around her neck. "Wanna know why?"

Lillian could barely breathe, let alone speak. His grip wasn't tight, just firm enough to keep her close, to make sure she felt every word that left his lips.

"Because I wanted to be reminded of you every single day until I find you again," he murmured darkly, his eyes gleaming with something sinister. "And now that I have?" He let his words lingered. "I'm going to return the favor."

Lillian shook her head desperately, her body trembling like a jellyfish caught in a storm.

"I-I... w-will scream," She managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. She thought it would make him let go. But instead, a slow, wicked grin curled onto his lips.

"And what?" he asked, tilting his head like he was actually interested in her answer.

"People... wi..will come."

A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest this time. He abruptly released her, but the amusement in his eyes vanished in an instant. He stood tall before her, exuding dominance, the air around him suffocating.

"I dare you, puta." [whore] His voice dropped an octave, "But just so you know... no one is on your side anymore."

"Your little friend didn't even hesitate to give you up. You have absolutely no one."

Her heart stopped. Was he talking about Evie?

His smirk deepened as realization crashed over her.

"She's been spying on you since the day you moved to this country. You really thought everything would work in your favor because you've been praying to a faceless God?" He mocked, his tone dripping with venom.

Lillian felt like the ground beneath her had been ripped away. Evie... they both met on the plane and their connection was instant.

How stupid of her to chose an absolute stranger as a best friend in this foreign country?

Jake had been waiting for this moment to come. For six long months, he had let her believe she was safe. And today, she had finally made a mistake.

His fingers suddenly tangled into her hair, yanking her forward. "Your punishment starts now, puta."

Terror struck her hard. She tried to step back, but his grip tightened, jerking her closer.

"P-please, just let me go," she choked out through her sobs, begging desperately.

But Jake remained unfazed.

"You should have thought about that before daring to cross the Mafia King himself."

Before she could plead further, his hand moved and landed a swift, brutal strike against the side of her neck.

Lillian felt her world spun. Darkness seeped into the edges of her vision, consuming her entirely as she slumped to the ground.

Jake stared down at her crumpled form, his expression resembling that of a stone. Then, without another word, he turned on his heel.

"Take her away," he ordered coolly, walking out of the church.

A man walked in, scooping Lillian's unconscious body into his arms before carrying her toward the black car parked outside the church.

Jake entered his house, his mood already foul from the events of the day. His sharp gaze swept across the grand living room, only to land on a familiar, unwelcome presence.

[You suck]

"Eres un inútil! I said 'no sugar in my tea,' don't drown it!" Isabella's sharp Spanish cut through the air as she berated one of the maids.

Dressed in one of her expensive designer gowns, she stood in the middle of the living room, her manicured nails tapping against the rim of her teacup.

She was a model which they know, and yet added sugar to her tea. Every staff was used to her cøcky attitude.

The moment she noticed Jake's presence, her entire demeanor shifted. A soft, practiced smile curled on her lips as she took a step toward him. The maid doesn't need to be told before she leaves at once.

Before Isabella could touch him, Jake's cold voice rang out.

"Why are you here?" He demanded, his tone unforgiving.

Before she could answer, heavy footsteps echoed behind him. Efren strode past them, carrying an unconscious Lillian in his arms.

"Take her to the basement," Jake ordered without sparing him a glance.

Isabella's head snapped toward the movement, her sharp eyes locking onto the limp woman being taken away.

"Who is she?" she asked, her tone sharp with curiosity.

Jake ignored her and walked further into the house. "Answer my damn question," he snapped. "What are you doing here?"

Isabella doesn't seem fazed by the tone of his voice. She lifted her chin, feigning confidence, but he could see through her.

"My father asked me to be here," she said smoothly. "He thinks it's time we start... living together."

His stare darkened. She continued, placing a hand on his chest, her fingers trailing lightly. "We're having dinner at my father's house tonight. He said we need to give the public something to talk about. So you need to be there."

He grabbed her wrist before she could go any further. Her eyes widened slightly at the sharpness of his grip.

"You're not listening." His voice was dangerously quiet. "I don't give a damn what your father wants."

She winced as his grip tightened slightly before he let go.

"I'm busy." He added dismissively, walking away.

Isabella clenched her fists.

"We've been engaged for six months, Jake!" She yelled, frustration leaking into her voice. "You can't keep pushing this forever!"

She was tired of this.

Jake halted mid-step. His already irritated mood spiked. All of this was because of that damn whøre.

Isabella's Father, Rodriguez, the Mafia Lord of California, had spent years trying to push his daughter into his life, hoping to strengthen their bond and take down their mutual enemy-Saheed Habib, the Indian Mafia King.

Jake had ignored those advances for as long as he could, but when Lillian had him arrested in his country, Rodriguez had wasted no time pulling strings to get him released before Jake could even use his influence, using the situation to his advantage.

That's how he ended up engaged to Isabella. And now, they were trying to force a wedding on him?

Isabella took a deep breath, regaining her composure. "The dinner is to finalize our wedding," she stated hesitantly. "I can't make up excuses for you anymore."

His gaze locked onto her with cold calculation. He studied her carefully. She sounded too sure.

"You met him, didn't you?"

She stiffened at the question, avoiding his gaze to mask up her expression. And that answers Jake's question. He exhaled slowly, tilting his head back. He was going to kill someone today.

"You went to my father?" His voice turned deadly.

Isabella took a small step back. "No... it was your mother," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, the house fell into complete silence. Then, the tension snapped.

In an instant, he closed the distance between them, his presence towering over hers. She gasped, stepping back, but he grabbed her chin roughly, forcing her to look at him.

"You think I give a damn about that woman?! That woman has done nothing but saw me as a trophy, and you ran to her like a desperate little b!tch?"

She trembled, but she didn't cry. She knew better than to show weakness now. She would become the Mafia Queen soon.

"Baby, it's for us," she whispered, her voice unsteady and sweet. "We need this marriage. It will solidify our position. Don't you see? This is how we win..."

Jake pulled out his phone, cutting her off. She watched in growing panic as he dialed. The moment the call connected, Jake's voice was cold and commanding.

"Efren. Escort Isabella home."

Isabella stiffened. "Jake, what are you..."

"The engagement is nullified," he declared, his tone final. He turned and walked away.

Isabella felt blood drained from her face.

"What?! You can't do this!" she shouted, chasing after him. "What about my father? And your parents? Do you really think they'll let you back out of this just like that?!"

Jake turned around that second, pulled out his gun and fired toward her. The scent of gunpowder filled the room, together with Isabella's scream, stumbling backward.

He shot the floor, just inches away from her feet. Only he knew how badly he wanted to kill her at that spot.

His grip on the gun tightened. "Don't push me, Isabella."

She knew him well enough to understand that he was moments away from doing something irreversible. She bit her lip, forcing herself to stay quiet.

Jake turned on his heel and walked toward the basement, his thoughts still simmering in rage.

Going against his father wouldn't be easy, and that's what piss him off the most. Because no matter how much he hated the man...

They were alike in one way. They didn't like losing.