The Monster I Married

1: James Valentine Lazaro

If you haven't already I recommend reading the warnings in the Intro.

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•Malika's P.O.V•

The first time I had ever met James was when I was 10. He had been nothing but a wounded boy whose father had just died. He had been 14 and extremely handsome for his age. He'd been blessed with beautiful hazel eyes and with the most beautiful tan skin. His jaw had always been square with a jawline that can cut but as a man now he looked a lot tougher. He didn't have a beard at that period I his life but as he grew he developed more into a well groomed man, the beard made him absolutely sexy. He had been quite skinny in his teens but after a few years he had been blessed with a body used to design greek statues. Claudia, his nanny since birth, took him in and had raised him as her own. When he reached the age of 18 instead of taking up his father's mantle as a notorious drug lord, like expected by many, he instead became something more sinister.

Now when people heard his name, they feared him for all the lives he had taken . He was known as the devil in disguise and seemed to take pride in all the bad things people said about him. Stories were told on how he killed and tortured his victims. He was like the monster in the shadows just waiting for the perfect most orpotune time to come and end you. He was a gun for hire, every crime and drug lord wanted him as an ally. His repuation was quite well known throughout the nation. Only a limited few were lucky to have the so called 'pleasure' to have him as an ally, my family was included in that very short list. My family was his main concern apart from his own mostly due to the fact that our fathers had been the best of childhood friends while growing up. He eliminated all threats towards our families, and though I despised what he did, to some extent I also in a small way appreciated his works for keeping my family safe.

The rumour had been spread that he never missed a target. The more gruesome the crime, the more money he made off of it. He liked sending messages, leaders knew to be careful when he killed one of their men it usually meant they were going to be the next to be executed. If you were to meet him in person you'd think 'what a sexy, charming, charismatic man he doesn't look like much of a killer' but even the devil has been known to disguise himself as an angel of light.

James was not a man to be messed with or underestimated. The small crush I had on him as a child had dissolved throughout the years as I saw him for who he really was. Now, more than ever, I saw him for the real monster he became. 10 years I knew him and watched him turn into someone that has become completely unrecognizable.

I limited my contact with him because I couldn't stand his mere presence. We were never in the same room for too long, I never allowed myself that type of exposure to him. I had barely spken a word to him in all the years I had known him.

He'd come to visit my home today, him and my father were up in the office as per usual. What baffled me though was that it was quite unusual for him to show up quite so late at night. Especially taking into consideration his other 'nightly activities'. I had gone down to the kitchen to get a midnight snack. In order to make the trip I had to pass by the office while trying to remain as silent as possible so my presence wouldn't make itself known. I was returning to my room when suddenly I heard.

"Sit down Jose, I have a proposition for you."

My ears perked up as I heard James speak to my father in an authoritive voice. My curiosity was piqued. I knew better than to listen in on their conversations but a part of me felt that it was going to be about something that I had to know. There was a small opening through the doors, being the expert spy that I am, I quietly shuffled over to them. I looked into the thin opening to see my father sit down behind his desk in a gesture to show that he was listening.