Zephyr's Promise

17

"Cristiano Russo, you've been a very busy man." I circle the man who I have heard too much about. Bound to a pole set in the center of the basement he jerks around. "We'll have plenty of time to talk. For now all I want is for you to think about what you could have possibly done to find yourself here." Pleadingly his bright eyes find me.

If I weren't disgusted before I truly am now. A man is supposed to deal with his consequences head on. Whatever those consequences are, even death you are to take in stride. Most of all you don't plead or beg. It shows how weak you actually are. There must be some sort of mistake as I refuse to believe that this is the man she would have fallen for.

Sure I guess his bright eyes may be attractive and he isn't a short man. Still even that doesn't seem like it could be enough for her. Money doesn't seem to impress her even if she is starstruck by luxury it makes little difference to her. Stability though is important.

"Sh sh sh." Bending down I pat his wet cheek. Yuck. "All in due time Cristiano." Standing I wipe my palm on the suit I have yet to take off. "A word of advice. Enjoy the breath within your body while you still can. Life is short, you'll soon find that out." A rumbling yelp can be heard coming from him. Too bad he is in my soundproof basement.

This home has all the precautions needed. Soundproofed rooms, tools to dismember bodies, and anything else I or my brother requires. Since I am here very rarely most of my items are untouched. I have never stayed in Vegas in this home for this long.

Taking my time I walk away from the temptation to kill Cristiano.

"We shouldn't." Ira's trembling voice is what I hear upon coming up from the lowest level. "I am married Axel." Slowly I creep closer, the two stand in the hallway leading to the guest bedrooms. Her bedroom.

"Is it your husband you're thinking about or me when my arms are wrapped around you?" He rasps. "Don't act modest now Ira when we both know what happened between us."

Please tell me they aren't sleeping together.

I knew this would happen. From the moment I saw her I knew she'd be trouble. Axel would never willingly get involved with her knowing what is at stake. The woman is married for fucks sake. Some limits just shouldn't be crossed. We all know that if he hadn't lied to her she'd still be playing house together. Really I don't know if it was the cheating or working for me that upset her the most.

"That was a mistake." I can't see the two of them but I imagine her putting distance between them. "I need to go."

"Ira." Desperately he calls for her, but we both know she's gone. Thank whatever entity that for the first time in her life she's made the correct decision. "Fuck." He blows out his breath.

When he walks out and sees me standing there he glares at me. As if I am the one screwing around with someone I'm not supposed to be.

"Don't start." He says brushing past me and walking to the kitchen.

"Are you even using your brain?" I question. "Seriously I have to question your mental state right now. The Axel I know would never do what you just did. Not with her."

"Because you hate her?"

"Stop acting obtuse." Walking up I stand directly in front of him. Blue eyes glower at me and I can hear his ragged breath through his clenched teeth. "You and I both know that she is. A means to an end." I growl.

Once this is all over she'll go back to where she came from. All four of us will pretend we never met. Anything that happened or will between now and until we find out the truth will be erased. Whatever the two of them shared would end. Ignoring that truth won't benefit anyone least of all Ira. At least she was trying to reset the slate back. As much as it pained me I could give that to her.