Chapter 7 - A Mysterious Man : Ally Or Enemy?

Persephone was passed out beside Santiago. The syringe had done a number on her. He had serenely captured her without any screaming or kicking with a prick of the needle but the same could not be said about her bodyguards. They were probably lying dead somewhere outside the bridal room.

Beads of blood splattered on her pure white wedding dress like a plain white canvass filled with red dots, such a beautiful contrast of red against the white.

His gaze fell on her face again. If not for her long raven black hair he would have mistaken her for his Persephone but his Persephone had wavy auburn hair which didn't even reach her back when he first saw her in that basement and those green eyes of hers were enough to light any dark room.

"When do we leave for the Island?" Callum asked Santiago with a frown.

"Not we. Just Killian and I along with the stolen bride" answered Santiago without bothering to look away from the sleeping Persephone.

They would be departing for the island tomorrow once Killian was done with the preparation there. If New York was Alesaandro's sanctuary then the island where he was taking Persephone his. No power in the world can infiltrate his sanctuary.

He would take his time to return Persephone to Alessandro, it was not like that one kidnapped a mafia boss's daughter every day. It was once in a lifetime occasion and he would take his time.

"She is a piece of real art," Nash commented staring at her neckline.

Something snapped inside Santiago. He bore his eyes into Nash's and spoke, "Look at her like that and I'll forget vow of brotherhood. We've stolen her for a purpose not to fulfill your sexual fantasies. Keep your dick in your pants and if you don't I'll rip it off and shove it in your ass."

Nash grinned at him and then Santiago replied what he had done. The bastard was waiting for this particular moment when he would have leverage above him and so he got one.

"She is a Marino," Callum spoke.

"She is a woman first," came the reply which was enough for Callum to drop whatever worries his mind was occupied by.

All the eyes turned to Santiago but he didn't flinch under their scrutinizing gazes. He had promised to break Persephone to break Alessandro but he would never break her beyond fixing. He didn't need her soul just her submission to get Lorenzo out of the rat hole.

He knew she was innocent, her face gave away the fact that she was innocent but he was sure of one thing that she would never return to them innocent.

*****

Once they reached their basement, Santiago laid her down on the bed. Her hands were tied to a chain so she couldn't flee. Though it was impossible for her to escape, Santiago still made sure of everything.

"Alessandro is looking for her everywhere. You were right he indeed attacked the Bratva and now he's out for retribution," Nash sighed.

"There is something strange," Killian said looking up from the laptop screen. "Someone is fiddling with Alessandro deliberately he knows someone took his daughter. "

Santiago furrowed his brows. " It's definitely not Ryuu's style. He is not a very high-profile person."

"Do you remember once I told you there is someone who's toying with the three great families?" Killian asked and everyone else nodded. " It seemed like it is his style but the great families are so much immersed in their pride and ego that they are not seeing their demise approaching. And this person is faceless and nameless."

"Any idea how he is related to Marino?" Santiago asked.

" Don't know about Marino, but he's indeed interested in our captive. And the main question is why?" Killian evaluated.

"I don't care about his intentions as long as my goal is achieved and if he wants our little captive he can have her once I send her back to her father.. I'm not interested in the power struggle of these three great families," Santiago said as his gaze trailed over Persephone's sleeping form.