His Queen

CHAPTER SEVEN

D A N T E   P O V

My Queen is with the Russians. Arabella is in the right place. She belongs to him. Hope she lives to have her nineteenth birthday? Which is in a few days? I've noticed how Rydon is with his women. So many girls wound up dead from spending a night with him. Rydon married three times; all three wives wound up with their throats cut. He played the grieving window really well. Just so, the police would not suspect him. He thinks he's untouchable. One day he will meet his maker.

The men arrive back from exchanging Arabella with the Russians. Raul stands before me. "Dante, we raised our pistols. One of Rydon's men slapped Arabella across the face," Raul informs me what events unfolded. I stood, made fists. No woman deserves treatment like that, even if Arabella is fiery. 

I stared out the window. "Did she retaliate?" I needed to know just for my own peace of mind. He laughs. "That is the reason he slapped her. He tried to put cuffs on her. She turned, punched him," The ends of my lips curl. It's not just me, with whom she has a temper. She has a fire that burns deep within her, full of rage.

Turn to face him. "She is with the man her father made the deal with at the beginning. Get the men together, they need us at the warehouse," He nods, leaves. Take my gun from my drawer, check the safety, holster it. Ready to make my way to the drug warehouse. Slip my jacket on to leave.

*****

Stood in the warehouse, rub my face with my hands. One guy informs me about one worker who took a kilo on more than one occasion. "Where is the fucking asshole?" He nods to the room on the other side of the warehouse. Not believing this is happening to me. All these men have been warned not to double-cross me. They knew the consequences of their actions.

Stride towards the door to take care of business. I would always take care of my business myself, that is how I have a reputation. Everyone on my payroll respects me. They realise I will not sit back and watch anyone take me. Kick the door to open, taking it off the hinges. Take my jacket off, to place it on the back of the chair. The guy sits up. His body reeked with fear. 

Sweat forming on his forehead. Shake my head, take my shirt off. He squirms in his seat, guilt written all over his face for what he had done.

I show no remorse for his actions. I will not tolerate the disrespect from this guy or any other. He stole from me. My rage is fired up ready to explode, but I will make an example of this guy. Place my shirt on the back of the chair. Never liked to get my clothes messy with the blood. 

Stepped closer to the guy, give him a few thumps before I drag him to his feet to make an example of him. "Dante, I needed the money." He pleads with me, but I am not the forgiving type when it comes to my business. I make him kneel in front of the workers and my men. Aim the barrel of my gun at his head. 

He is pleading to me, his words tremble. Pleading for his life. I couldn't care less why he did it. I stare into his eyes so he could see the evilness in me, before my finger itches to press the trigger. Bang, his lifeless body falls to the floor. Blood seeping from the hole in his head. I nod to the men to get rid of the body. "If anyone else steals from me, this is what you will fucking get. Let this be a warning to all of you." Amble back to the room to put my shirt and jacket on. 

The men get the workers back to work. Do not understand why they steal from me; I pay them more than the minimum wage. In fact, they are on double. It is beyond me why anyone who works for me presumes they could get away with stealing or even being a snitch. They put their own lives at risk. Asserting my dominance puts the fear into the ones who witnessed what I am capable of. I will not think twice about taking a life. I am evil, but this is my business they are taking for granted.

Leave the warehouse head to one of the brothels. Need to make sure it is running smoothly. Some men get to have a little pleasure too. I could do with pleasure, but not with a prostitute. That is a line I will not cross. I said my vows, plus I'm still married to Arabella until we finalise the divorce. I've not even spoken to her about it. She will find out soon enough when the papers are delivered to her.

*****

The car pulls up to the brothel. The driver opens the door, I slide out, do up my buttons on my jacket. Stroll up to the door to see a group of girls smoking chatting with each other. They stop to glance at me. They follow behind me into the house. A few of the guys enter behind us, grab a girl and disappear upstairs to get some pleasure.

The head girl who is known as the madam, which is the person who collects all the money plus arranges the clients for the girls, moves towards me. We chat briefly before we step into the office. I sit behind the desk to go through the books, glancing at the client's names. Business is thriving in this area of town. The clients are regulars wanting the same routine every time they come. Some ask for a specific girl.

"Dante". I look up at her, wait for her to say something else. "We heard about the Queen, I'm sorry." Shake my head not engaging in a conversation with her. "Word got around really quick. Also, we heard that she is playing with fire," Sit back in the chair, clasp my fingers on my lap. She stares at me expecting me to say something. 

I really can not give two fucks about Arabella. She pushed me once too often to the point I just could not go through the same fucking shit anymore. "Dante, a client said Rydon is going to put her in one of his brothels. If she doesn't comply with his needs, he will kill her." Shake my head, get back to looking over the books. Had nothing for Arabella, no emotion, no feelings, no shame. 

She is on her own. I might sound cold towards her, but regret fills my entire body, regret I married her. Should never have married her in the first place. My life would be so different if she hadn't come along. Why the hell did I get down on one knee? to ask her to marry me. I will keep on asking myself the same question.

After glancing over the books, I leave slide into the limo to wait for the men. I have had enough of everyone's pity for my Queen. She made her choice, and now she must face the consequences of her actions. Take my phone from my pocket to check emails. My lawyer sent me details of the divorce. 

I read over the draft he had written for me. Send him an email back to tell him to go ahead and file the divorce. Place my phone back in my pocket, rest my head on the back of the seat. A while later, the men get into the vehicles we drive back home.

*****

Sit in the dining room to eat dinner. How peaceful it is not having Arabella around. I chuckle to myself, it is bliss not arguing or fighting over every little thing. I felt relaxed for the first time in eleven months, I felt myself again. I can now focus on finding the person who is responsible for the raids. When I find them, they had better be ready to meet their maker. Finished dinner made my way to the lounge to watch the news for a while before retiring to my bedroom.

Stood in the shower relaxing, letting the water run over my soothing body. When I finished, I slide into the bed, stretching the full length. Rolled to my side to face the side that Arabella would sleep on. I could smell her perfume on the pillow. Grab the pillow to smell it closer to my nose, burying my face into it. 

Why the hell did I do that? Placed the pillow back, closed my eyes to sleep. Tossed and turned most of the night not able to sleep. Sit up in bed, comb my fingers through my short hair. Is my conscience playing a role? Slide back between the covers, place my head on the pillow to face the door. Close my eyes once again to sleep. It took a while before I entered dreamland.

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DANTE HAS NO REGRET OR FEELINGS FOR ARABELLA