CLOSING IN

Derek's POV;

Splash

For the sixth time, Jason was snapped out of his slumber with a bucket of water. He'd lost consciousness after his torture, and I didn't think he could withstand another torment without giving up. He could barely move his muscles, his wrists burned as a result of the rough rope tied against it, his shoulders were afflicted by the upper sides of the wooden chair as he internally groaned, even through the blur, he noticed a person standing right before him. But either way, I was enjoying it.

It's bad that it's the person he knows that was the cause of the pain. As I heard from Jessie, this boy here, Jason, had loved Elena while they were still little. I chuckled to myself. Indeed. I doubted that. He had had intentions all along, he just didn't know the right time to execute it. She trusted him, and that's why it seemed like betrayal whereas I am a guy just like him and I know it was all a lie. He never loved Elena. She was always seen as a pawn in his eyes.

"I'll ask you again Jason, what is the name of the mafia?!" I asked, clearly pissed and impatient. But Jason struggled to speak, his voice got lost after the pain he had to endure minutes ago. He would open his mouth, gasp and gulp again as though he were trying to process his words, and then, when he found his voice, it came out rough and weak.

"They didn't mention. It's impossible to give the name away."

I scowled. I wasn't dumb. I knew every little detail about him and had watched how he ran away from his sister Gretchen years ago. He came back and forced her into the mafia so she could succumb to his will. I watched how he used his father and sister as tickets to get into the mafia... This fool had also tried to kill his sister twelve years ago for power. His father was quick on his fit and had saved his daughter. I knew all this information because I was part of that line of mafia myself. I watched him grow up. His every move was reported to the team. It was a pity that a gunshot wasn't enough to kill him. The fool had betrayed a lot of people.

Now it was a mafia's wife that he slept with. He betrayed her trust by trying to gain power, unknown that he had been fooled. And even though he turned the whole mafia against Elena, he still lost. Elena even without trying was in safe hands. There was nothing keeping me from murdering him right here, right now. I was only in a singlet and jeans trousers, so y'all know I was prepared. I was going to kill him, but not yet, no matter how tempted I was. I was only going to torture him and make him wish for death.

He sent Gretchen packing, killed his father, and expected to have the cake he already ate.

"I know you're lying you mother fucker. It will do you no justice to lie to me. You know who I fucking am." He visibly gulped. My temper whirled within me. I could barely stare at him without the thought of killing him. I strode towards him when I got no response, eyes blazing with fury. "You thought things were really going to work for you huh? Even the damage you caused to your family, is enough for you to suffer." He chuckled at my statement and I knew what was coming.

"Says the man that killed his own parents." He said and it was the nerve for me. I wasn't fazed by his statement at all. I was only annoyed with the fact that he thought that would affect me.

"I see you did your research. But sadly you only see what your research wants you to believe." That was the only thing I said and he tilted. "And sadly, your nerves have gotten you in more trouble with me than none. I love the audacity. It strengthens my hatred towards you." I smirked devilishly.

Shock and fear were masked on Jason's face because he hadn't expected my reaction to be so calm. What was there not to be calm about?

"Do you remember this Jason?" I asked, tracing the scar line from his eyes down to his nose. "Remember when I tried to rip your face with a fucking steel and told you to lie about it? You did well by telling everyone it was Elena's father." His eyes widened.

"You...you....you we... were the guy in the hoodie."

I smirked. "Now you remember me."

"Anonymous."

"I must say I am flattered. But I don't go by that name anymore."

"It was you." I grinned as I saw the fear on his face before my face turned serious.

"Funny how Elena trusts so easily. You worked for me against your father, even when you knew he was innocent. You went the extra mile and killed him because you wanted to prove your loyalty?" I shook my head with disdain. "You were so easy to manipulate. Fortunately, you were very much useful to the team and now that they're done with you, they're no longer in need of you. Now tell me, what did you gain at the end of it all? I trust Damon would have killed you by now if he was the one handling this case. He has very little patience, so be thankful I'm even willing to spare you some minutes."

He seemed to be contemplating my question. Good.

"I never would have thought." He breathed out.

"So now you know who you're messing with. You don't enter the game without first knowing how to play it." I said. And let out humourless laughter. "Fool, you couldn't even treat the lady you wanted right."

"I loved her."

"You've never known love Jason, neither would you ever know it. Because your way of loving is on the path to hell. You don't deserve her, much as you want to deny that. You don't deserve to be loved." I said in a low tone, earning a hard stare from Jason. "That's right, and you don't deserve a woman like Elena. So talk yourself out of your fantasy."

He was pathetic.