xxvi

M A L I O

The inner demons had returned. Stronger than ever, they searched for the fight, they searched for redemption. My darkness was back. And this time I would let her rage. Unstoppable like a storm.

Jolien was the spark, the hope in my darkness. And I had personally and intentionally ruined it.

I won't let anyone hurt you again, my own words rattled around in my head - haunted me. I promised her - and I ended up being the person who hurt her.

Maybe I was meant to be damned? Destined to be evil. Destined to be alone.

"From now on, Malio will be my right hand." My father's voice pulled me out of my train of thought. Out of the painful memories.

Our men's eyes were on me.

As is so often the case when it comes to business, we sat at the oval-shaped wooden table in the meeting room. The only difference from the countless times before was now that I no longer took orders, but gave them.

Alex, that motherfucker, hid his amused laugh behind a snort.

"What's so funny?" I challenged him. Breaking up with Jolien had shortened my fuse quite a bit.

"Nothing. I just think it's odd that you're interested in the family business. Your sudden change of heart doesn't have anything to do with that bitch? Are you such a wimp that you can't stand their existence at the Academy?" Alex fixed me with his dark eyes and I realized I'd been way too nice lately.

I opened my mouth to smash an insult at his head as he rudely greeted me, "Save your breath, Malio! It's embarrassing to buckle like that under a bitch. You made us look ridiculous with your little excursion into the emotional world!"

Damned. He had crossed the line.

I sprang up noiselessly, jerking my gun in the two steps it took me to close the distance from him, and brought it right to his temple. My finger twitched dangerously on the trigger - wanting to blow that motherfucker's empty brain out.

It all happened in seconds. In seconds that Alex didn't anticipate.

He looked at me with wide eyes. The rising panic in them, the fear with which he was looking at me, fueled me even more.

"Malio!" I heard my father's voice admonishing. But I didn't give a shit.

"Well, you're not so cheeky anymore, are you?" My voice was a cold growl. He had actually managed to tease me so much that I was only millimeters from losing control.

"Malio!" I heard my father's voice again. Even more warning. Even colder. An even clearer command to finally lower my weapon.

But wasn't that what he always wanted? Exactly what he taught me when I was twelve. Isn't that how he wanted me? Freezing.

"You're lucky we need your damn head!" I turned my attention back to Alex, who relaxed noticeably at these words. A victorious grin even crossed his lips.

Idiot.

"You shoot with the right hand, don't you?..." I pressed the barrel of the pistol against his shoulder. The grin on his face disappeared in one fell swoop. "Y-yes....", he answered, stuttering. Maybe it was beginning to dawn on him.

"Then you should practice shooting with your left hand." Without waiting for an answer or even the slightest reaction, I pulled the trigger, sinking a bullet into his right shoulder.

This alone would be enough to put this bastard out of action for weeks. But I wanted more. Much more.

It only took two bullets to shut down the function of the entire arm.

As the next shot left the barrel of my gun, the tension in the room was almost palpable.

Seconds later, Alex squirmed onto the floor. His screams echoed off the stone walls.

men jumped up. "Sit down!" I ordered loudly.

"You..." I turned to my cousin, writhing in pain. "I'm talking to you!" I yelled over his cries of pain and kicked him in the ribs. His loud screams weakened. Ultimately fell silent altogether.

Probably afraid I'd sink more of my balls into him.

"You're never going to talk to me unsolicited again, or call Jolien a bitch. Next time it's your head, that's not a threat, it's a promise. THAT MUCH your fucking brain isn't worth.", I turned back to the men who were still standing undecidedly in front of their chairs. "I told you to sit down!", I rumbled angrily.

Finally they sat down. Finally they obeyed me.

After giving each of them a crushed look, I sat back in the chair too, right at the head of the table. Right next to my father.

He still stood motionless. Looked at the situation with cold eyes.

"You will carry out my son's orders, do we understand each other?", A silent nod went through the group. But that wasn't what surprised me. It was the pride that resonated with every word.

For a few seconds there was silence, only the soft whimpering of Alex could be heard.

"Is there anything else, or are we done here?", I heard my father's voice. There was actually one more thing.

I cleared my throat loudly. "Bring me that bastard that tried to kill Jolien." Silence again. "And I want him alive!"

-End-

That was part 1! Continue with: BOY WITH A DARK SOUL.