CAELLUM’S POV
The three riff-raffs were handcuffed to the bumper of my jeep, beaten to a pulp and without eyes. We stood in a large sparse of land at the back of the pack headquarters.
I stood in front of the car while the field was littered with members of the pack, who were summoned by order to witness what happened when someone decided to take laws into their hands and defy me.
“We have always been guided by set laws which govern the operations of the Cosa Nostra pack and its members.” I started my speech with my hands in my pockets. Dark shades covered my eyes. “Can anyone volunteer to tell us the few set rules of the Cosa Nostra pack?”
Silence. Nobody moved or made to answer my questions. I didn’t like that.
“When I ask questions,” I took off my glasses, my eyes told of how pissed I felt. “I expect answers.” I cleared my throat and asked for the second time. “Let’s try that again, can someone remind me of the set-out rules that regulate this pack?”
This time, Matteo came to the rescue. “Never snitch on the pack. Keep your mouth shut. Respect the Boss at all times, and pay tribute to the Alpha. Reputation is everything. Do not do anything that would taint the image of the pack.”
“Good.” I clasped my hands, feigning excitement. “And the unspoken rule? What’s the one thing I detest and hate?”
“Spies?” Someone said from the crowd.
I walked around the car, standing in front of the three dead meat tied to the bumper of my jeep.
“Close. But not enough.” I faced the people and a smirk grew on my face. “Abusers. Abusers of women and children.” I answered.
“I have always been adverse to people who are not man enough to take on men their size, and so, decide to prey on women and children.” My anger grew as I spoke. “Hence the reason I have annihilated various groups and packs that thought it profitable to engage in trafficking of women and children.”
“One would think that with this knowledge, my turf would be free from such kind of people, knowing how much I detest it, but it seems I have not made my stance clear enough to end such evil even under my nose.”
I faced them. “The men before you are worthy of death. They have touched the tail of the lion and it’s only fitting they pay for their crimes.” Murmurs ensued but I continued. “Let this serve as a warning to all the males, who deem it fit to force themselves on unwilling females. This will be nothing compared to what you will face the moment I find you.”
Without further ado, I headed into the car and put on my shades, and belt. This was going to be a bumpy ride.
The engine roared alive and I dived head straight into the bumpy road ahead. The distressed screams of the men were music to my ears as I dragged them through the muddy road, enjoying the sight of them through the side mirror.
I went round and round the field, dragging them behind until they were muddy dead bodies. I didn’t stop there. I continued my spin, going an extra ten minutes while the people stood afar off watching me exact revenge.
After venting my anger, I stepped out of the car, and some men rushed to the jeep with body bags and keys to the handcuffs.
“Do not touch them,” I ordered and they froze in their work.
“These men abused me,” I said, breathing heavily. “They violated a woman who had done them no harm, defenceless and imprisoned. They ganged up and preyed on her.” The words were bitter in my mouth.
“I will say this once so listen carefully. Lady Naledi is my prisoner, but make no mistake, she is also my woman.” My eyes sparsed through the entire Cosa Nostra populace. “If any of you have such plans against her or any woman in general, I advise you to think again. Because I swear on my life, the punishment meted out today would be nothing compared to what you would face.”
“Have I made myself clear?!”
“Yes, Alpha.” The atmosphere was cold, and everyone shivered in fear.
I turned to the muddied bodies, and the men standing beside them. “They will not be buried,” I said and their eyes widened. “It would be a curse to bury such atrocity in our lands.”
“Drag them to the middle of the land and hang them on stakes. The vultures would finish the job.”
As soon as the words were out of my mouth, the men bowed and went on to carry out my instructions. I felt a bolt in my chest untie as I watched the jeep move with the dead bodies dragging behind.
I couldn’t lie, it was therapeutic watching them go. Slowly but surely, the crowd dissipated to their duty posts and Matteo came forward.
“It is done.” He informed me and I nodded.
“Good.” I walked back to the mansion, contemplating seeing Naledi or returning to my duties.
I hadn’t set my eyes on her since the previous day when I met her in that condition. She must hate me, and everything I represent, and for some reason, that didn’t go right well with me.
I didn’t want her to hate me. Not because of this. Anything else was fine but not this. Matteo soon joined me, walking inside the pack house.
“The lady is awake.” He said and I swallowed a bile in my throat.
“Awesome. Take good care of her. I want you to supervise everything personally.”
“Yes, boss.”
A traitor sigh left my lips. “Prepare dinner for two. It’s time we straightened things out.”
“Done.”
We got to the hallways and I was split between going to see her and returning to my office. My decision was simplified by Matteo’s words.
“The Yakuzas have encroached on our territory in China. Our representative from China has news.”
My jaws tightened and I looked towards the path of Naledi’s chambers. It would have to wait till dinner.
“Get him on the line,” I said and headed towards my office to take care of business.