NIGHT [GXG] (BOOK 2)

Chapter 1

HADES

MGA TANGA!!!

His eyes bulged, his face turning a sickly shade of purple as he fought against my grip. The air hissed from his lungs in a desperate gasp. Then, with a swift motion, I tossed him towards the men behind him, their designated leader, Capo Tres. He landed with a thud, his body crumpled on the ground.

The Primo Mob is clustered into four groups, so I have four Capos; Capo Uno, Capo Dos, Capo Tres, and Capo Cuatro. They led a crew of soldiers.

"B-boss. Patawad... patawad po Boss!" He stammered, his voice choked with fear as the men rushed to his side.

I slammed my fist on the table, the sound echoing through the room. The men flinched, their eyes darting nervously between each other. My gaze was cold and unforgiving, I can see that some of them wanted to pee in their pants.

"Punyeta! Malaking pera ang ibinabayad ko sa inyo! Tapos hindi niyo man lang magawa ng maayos ang trabaho niyo? Pinagloloko niyo ba ako? Ha!"  My voice was a low growl, laced with barely contained rage. I leaned forward, my face inches from theirs, the air thick with tension.  "I gave you a simple task, and you fucking failed! Do you have any idea what this means for me? For us?"

Silence. The only sound was the heavy thud of my heart in my chest. I reached under my skirt, my fingers closing around the cold steel of my revolver. A slow, predatory grin spread across my face as I brought the gun up, spinning it effortlessly between my fingers. The men, their faces pale with fear, stared at me, their eyes wide and pleading.

"Uhm... Boss..." The representative, his voice a mere whisper, tried to speak, but no words followed.

"Mga puta!" I roared, the word spitting from my lips like venom. The men flinched, their bodies reacting instinctively to the raw fury in my voice. "Lumabas na kayo! Baka mapapatay ko pa kayong lahat!" I slammed the gun on the table, the metallic clang echoing through the room. They remained frozen, their fear palpable. "GET THE FUCK OUT!" I screamed, my voice raw and ragged.

Finally, they scrambled to their feet while their movements clumsy and frantic. They stumbled out of the room, their faces with terror. The door slammed shut behind them, leaving me alone in the silence. I lowered the gun as my hand was trembling slightly. The adrenaline was still coursing through my veins.

The door creaked open, and Stella stepped inside. She's my Consigliere, the counselor and advisor of the Mob. She's actually my fiance, we were arranged by our parents when we were young. Her father is the former Consigliere.

I watched as she moves with fluidity and deliberately, the click-clack of her heels on the polished floor a hypnotic rhythm. She glided across the room, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. She reached me, her body pressing against mine, the scent of her perfume a heady mix of jasmine and vanilla.  She tilted her head up, her lips brushing against mine in a soft, lingering kiss.

"I've missed you, my Hades," she murmured with soft and tenderness, a caress against my skin. "Are you mad again? I heard you yelling at your men."

I shrugged, a wry smile playing on my lips. "As per usual."  The truth was, I couldn't help it. The weight of responsibility, the pressure to lead, it all took its toll.

"Don't worry, I'll remove that stress of yours." She winked at me, her eyes sparkling with mischief, a promise of a different kind of release.

She leaned in, her lips meeting mine in a passionate kiss to melt away the tension.

***

"Ate, thank you for coming. Alam ko pong super busy kayo-" Zenith started, my younger half-sister.

"Shh... sissy, I would set all my plans aside, for you." I hugged her tightly, feeling the warmth of her small frame against mine. "Congratulations for completing your senior high school, are you ready to enter college?"

"Kinda..." She said hesitantly, a hint of nervousness in her voice. I chuckled, a soft sound that reflected my joy for her. I gave her a small box, wrapped in beautiful paper. "What's this po, ate?"

"Open it," I smiled at her, my eyes sparkling with anticipation.

I waited patiently, watching as her fingers fumbled with the ribbon. She gasped in surprise, her hand flying to cover her mouth. "Talaga Ate?! OMG!!!" She hugged me tightly, showering my cheeks with kisses. "I love you very much ate, thank you so much! May car na ako. Yiieeee..."

"Anything for my little sister," I kissed her forehead, feeling a surge of pride for her.

"Sige po Ate, enjoy ka lang diyan. Pupuntahan ko lang mga barkada ko." She said, her voice light and carefree. I nodded at her, a small smile playing on my lips.

I watched my sister have fun down in the pool area with her circle of friends, their laughter echoing up to the balcony where I sat, sipping my wine.

Zenith Hiraya Primo, was my only family left. She was the last piece of my family, the only one left untouched by the tragedy that had consumed us. And I would do everything in my power to keep her safe, to shield her from the darkness that threatened to engulf us. I also made her use a different surname in her school for safety purposes. She was supposed to be my Underboss, since the rule for that position is for those with blood-related. But of course, I would never in a million years. That's why I only have Consigliere, and that's Stella.

The Antonov, a name that now whispered of betrayal and blood, had taken everything from me. My entire family, massacred in a cold-blooded act of treachery by the so-called "reputable" Mafia. I loathed them, especially Vanity Antonov, the woman who orchestrated the carnage.

The Primo and the Antonov, once rivals vying for power, were now locked in a bitter feud fueled by the flames of vengeance. My father, Sicilian Hades Primo III, a legend in the underworld, had conquered countless Mafias, earning the title of Apex Predator.  He never saw the darkness that would consume him, the betrayal that would cut him down.

Now, with the weight of the empire on my shoulders, I knew I had to stand strong. We would not fall. I swore to avenge my father, to honor his legacy, to reclaim the title he had so valiantly earned.

In my 32 years of existence, I've been leading the Mafia for 15 years. It's a weight I've carried since I was 17, a responsibility thrust upon me when I was barely a woman.

Those 15 years have hardened me, shaped me, made me into the woman I am today. A woman of steel and who knows the cost of power and the price of revenge.

But even with the weight of the world on my shoulders, I haven't forgotten who I am. I'm still a daughter, a sister, and a protector. I will never stop fighting for what I believe in, para sa pamilya ko at reputation ng Primo.

The Antonov might have taken everything from me, but they will never break me. I will rise, stronger, more determined than ever.

"Don't worry, Papa," I whispered, the words a promise etched in my heart. "I will bring our empire into victory against The Antonov. The Primo will take back their rightful title, the Apex Predator."

My gaze hardened, my determination burning brighter than ever. "I won't disappoint you, Papa. It's going to be a blood bath. Magbabayad ang mga Antonov, at sisigiraduhin ko iyon."

The Antonov had crossed a line, a line that would cost them dearly. I would make them pay for their sins, for the lives they had taken, for the legacy they had tried to destroy.

The war will soon begin. And I, the heir to the Primo throne, would lead the charge.