Dante Castelli.
The sharp scent of chemicals hung in the air, mingling with the smell of aged wood and rust. The dim light from a single halb dangling from the ceiling ea twisted shadows into the corners of the cramped, suffocating space.
Sitting on a metal chair, a cigarette between my fingers, I calmly observed the cargo laid out on the table before me. The plastic packages, tightly seated, gleamed under the dull light, revealing refined white powder and small crystallized rocks.
Pure material. No impurities.
Exactly as it should be.
The prison warden, a middle–aged man with graying hair and a wrinkled suit, stood beside the table. His tense expression and the sweat glistening on his forehead betrayed the anxiety he tried to hide.
I picked up one of the packets, sliced it open with a pocketknife, and let a small amount of powder run down to my fingertip.
Without haste, I brought it to my tongue.
The bitterness dissolved into my saliva.
‘Pure.
I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth, analyzing the quality.
“Better than the last shipment.”
The warden let out a relieved sigh, rubbing his hands together.
“The boat delivered everything last night, just as agreed. No issues, no risks. It came straight from the lab, refined and ready for distribution.”
I exhaled the smoke slowly, eyes still locked on the merchandise.
“Good.”
I stubbed the cigarette out on the floor, crushing the butt under my boot.
“But you know as well as I do that moving this kind of product is no joke. I want the security doubled. One slip could cost more than just money.”
He nodded a little too quickly.
‘I’ve already taken steps. The guards assigned are the usual ones–trustworthy. They’ll take the alternate routes and avoid any FBI patrols. Everything is under control.”
I tilted my head, watching him with a sharp gaze.
“The FBI always suspects something.”
My voice came out slow, laced with disdain.
“And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that those sons of bitches sniff out trouble before we even have time to hide it. We’ve had problems before,
remember?
The man swallowed hard, tension clear in his shoulders.
“I know, sir. That’s why I’ve taken every precaution. One mistake would cost me dearly, and I’m not stupid.”
Chapter 36
I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes.
“Yes. It would cost you your head.”
I ran my fingers over one of the packets, feeling the firm texture of the plastic.
“Tell me, Warden… When do you think I’ll be leaving this place?”
He hesitated.
The question caught him off guard.
His eyes darted to me, calculating.
“If things keep going this way… soon.” Caution laced every word. “But there’s a problem. Your influence in here has gone beyond anything anyone imagined. You run this prison better than I do. And that… well, it draws unwanted attention.”
I chuckled, leaning back in my chair.
As if I haven’t been the center of attention since the moment I set foot in here.”
I huffed, bored, crossing my arms.
‘Funny… so many in here think I’m some kind of mob boss. Just because I took control the moment I arrived. What an insult.”
A mocking smile tugged at my lips.
“Imagine me, Dante Castelli, a mob boss? What a horror.”
I shrugged, letting out an indifferent sigh.
“But don’t worry. Being here has always been a strategic move. If I wanted out, I’d already be gone.”
The warden looked away, clearly uncomfortable. I tilted my head, letting my gaze darken.
‘But I still have unfinished business.”
He raised a brow.
“You mean the boy?”
I narrowed my eyes, a warning shadow crossing my face.
“Focus on your job, Warden. I’ll handle mine.”
The man cleared his throat, adjusting his blazer, visibly uneasy.
“Right… Just be careful. You may be untouchable in here, but out there, it’s a different story. The FBI won’t stop until they have something on you. One mistake could bring your whole empire down.”
The laugh that burst from my lips was loud, echoing through the room–sharp and full of scorn.
The warden flinched instinctively.
“Bring my empire down? I repeated, still laughing, before staring at him with cold, calculating eyes. “They’ll never manage it.”
I stepped closer to him, feeding off his growing tension.
‘I’ve expanded my territory. Spread my influence across the world. My allies are countless, and the FBI…
Chapter 36
I chuckled low, taking a drag from my cigarette before releasing a slow, deliberate breath.
“The FBI doesn’t even have a clue about the true extent of my empire. And to make things worse for them, I have someone on the Inside
The warden inhaled sharply, tension radiating from him as he tried to keep his composure.
“Always misleading them. Always manipulating. They think they’re in control, but they only see what I allow.”
I held the cigarette between my lips, watching the glowing ember before continuing.
‘I was caught for one reason only, Warden. A mistake that wasn’t mine. That bastard Enrico betrayed me. My gaze turned icy, every word soaked in contempt. “And that… cost him his life.”
A cold, cruel smile spread across my lips.
“If I decide to leave this place, no one will even notice. They really think they can bring me down?”
I let out a slow, bored laugh before locking eyes with him.
Chapter Comments
Visitor
oh, so this goes a little more deeper than surface level. I’m liking the layers.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
