As the boss of the Mafia, you don't care about what is taken from your resources 24/7 (money loans, protection, social gains etc. ) as long as it is generously reimbursed afterwards. When one of your business associates failed to fully repay what is owed to you because of financial issues, he offered his only daughter as his form of payment.

Lightning in the background, heavy rains pouring down. The surroundings are lush and lit by the moons' casting shadow. Large dogs barking in the background

Dismissing your guards and subordinates, you ran after the heroine by yourself, she run off to the woods near your estate after her father dropped her off to your care.

Her being afraid of you made you annoyed because this isn't what you had expected off your first meeting.

You : [ Panting hard and screaming after her ] You can't outrun me little flame!!! run faster!!! if I catch you I'm gonna wring that delicate neck of yours!!!

She's screaming and stumbled off the distance. You saw her crawl inside a hollow tree. Drenched by the rain... she was shaking and whimpering in pain as she grabs hold of her ankle. Sobs would come out of her every now and then.

You : [ Stopped a few distance away from her and grab hold of your composure, take a deep breath before speaking in a clipped irritated tone ] By the looks of it, it is safe to assume that you are done running, atleast for now.

Her eyes are staring at you like daggers, angry because of her fate.

You : [ laugh amusedly at her  ] Do I see anger beaming off your pretty eyes my little flame?... It suits you.

She broke off her stare and glued them to the ground, which made you angry.

You : [ trying to control your temper ] Look at me...

She pretends not to hear what you have just said.

You : [ yelled at her defiance ] When I say look at me, YOU look at me!!!

She got startled and moved further back into the hollow tree, making herself look small.

You : [ got upset at yourself ] Fuck!!! Fuck!!! Fuck!!! [ dragged your hands on your face, a couple minutes of silence engulf the both of you ]

Lightning and rain stopped. Thunder rumbling in the horizon

You : [ slowly moved toward her direction, slow strides, careful not to frighten her more and leaned beside the hollow tree ] I know you're afraid... afraid of this situation... afraid of me... you've been afraid half of your existence and here I thought this would be an easy transition for you.

You : [ grab a cigarette off your jacket and lit it up, blows smoke three times ] I was wrong huh?  [ chuckles ]

You : Your good for nothing father offered you to me as collateral damage, did he ever mentioned it to you? Hmmm? [ knock on the tree to get her attention ]

You hear her croaked voice answered NO.

You : [chuckle] its no surprise.

You : [ throw away the cigar butt and wiped your hands on your trousers ] Are you hurt? [ you asked casually]

You hear her scuffling inside the dead tree as she sobs saying that she might've sprained her ankle.

You : [ sardonic laugh ] serves you right for running away from me. I guess this will serve as your first lesson. Running away have consequences, you're lucky you didn't fell off a cliff.

You : [ crouched down in the entrance of the hollow tree facing her ] Hey little flame, wanna come out?

She shook her head NO.

You : [ look at her sternly ] I am not here to further hurt you, especially not in this current state of yours. Trust me.

You : [ offered your hand out towards her ]

You see her slowly inched her way out and locked her hands with yours. You guided her outside, slowly examining her fragile frame. She looks thin, pale, a number of numerous healed scars seen on her body and a swollen ankle.

You : [ Anger boils inside of you after seeing her up close  but chose not to show it ] Do you mind if I carry you instead? If I let you walk, you might end up spraining your other ankle! I cannot have a wobbling mess beside me.

You didn't wait for her to respond and carried her bridal style. She was caught off guard but slowly eased her body to your form.

You : [ held her close to your body as you walk back to the mansion ] You are light as a feather my little flame, you should cling on tighter to me, we wouldn't want you to get blown away now would we?

You : [ hearty chuckled because she smacked your chest ] *kiss her forehead *

She buried her flushed face in your chest.

You : [ smirked ] all flushed with a single kiss? You better get used to it. Theres more, where it came from kiss her head

Moments later you arrived at the mansion. The maids and guards we're scrambling inside with your every orders. Walking up the grand staircase you headed towards the North Wing where your room is situated carefully trying not to awaken the sleeping beauty in your arms.

You lay her gently on your bed, the soft creaks waking her up.

You : [ brush the hair off her face ] Welcome home.

She needed a few moments to process what you have just said.

You : [ sit beside her and grab a hold of her hands. Tracing the visible scars up to her arms with your fingers  ] These scars... was it your fathers' doing?  [ you asked in a cold manner ]

She nodded, looking ashamed

You : [ tensed, you tilted her face towards you ] Hey... you are a fighter. These scars... I don't see them as your flaws. I see them as symbol of your strength my little flame.

She broke down beside you and you held her close to you.

You: [ allow her to cry for a few minutes... then rub her back to soothe her ] Shhh... its going to be alright now. I may have barged into your life a little late and unexpected BUT I am here now, you are no longer alone. I refuse to be without you.

She looked at you as if she heard wrong.

You : [ enveloped her face with both of your palms ] I admit, at first when your father offered you to me I wasn't supposed to accept it. I had a background check done... I got curious.  I saw a picture of you... smiling BUT what caught my attention was your eyes.

Tears fell off her eyes again.

You: [ wipe them away ] stop crying, hear me out place a quick kiss on her nose

You: [ stroke her face with your thumb ]  As I was saying... You may have smiled but your eyes told a different story. They were calling out to me.

You : [ hug her again and whisper in her ear ] wanna know what they we're telling me?

She shook her head YES.

You : [ sigh] they we're telling me to SAVE you. I sleep every night being haunted by your eyes [ deep breath ] The more days passed without you safe here, within my reach is torture.

She looks at you questioningly, wanting to know more as to why you are too invested on her.

You: [ flick her forehead and laugh at her ] stop staring its rude. You only have the right to stare at me and only me, got it? [ serious tone ]

She massages her forehead as she nods and swat your hands away from her but failed.

You : These hands are meant to be with mine too [ kiss her hands ]. You are my little flame, and I am a mere entranced moth at your disposal, I would burn for you baby [ your eyes lingered on her lips and sealed them passionately with a slow burning kiss]

You treated her wounds and got her checked out by a doctor, she was given pain medication for her ankle and aside from that a clean bill of health was issued.

Days passed and you see her bloom into a fine young lady. Your little flame grew into a phoenix that is free from the cages of suffering and pain.

You : [ answer an incoming call while watching her water the flowers in the garden thru the window ] is everything ready?... good. I'll be there in ten minutes. [ hang up the call ]

On your way out you said your goodbyes  and told the heroine you'd be back by dinner and hurriedly made your way to the awaiting car.

You : [ arrived at the dock, smoking cigarette and with your glock on the other hand. Walking with purposeful strides to a beat up individual whose already on his knees ] You'll serve as an example to those who'd dare lay their hands on the women within our circle [place the gun in his head &pull the trigger ] single gunshot

                                                                                                  The End.

Hello 👋

Please do inform/message me if you plan on using any of my precious thoughtsprings ( offsprings )  in the future. My brain bled these scenarios out of my head, if I ever find out that you've credited this all on yourself, I'm going to use my divine dogs, seek you out and shred you to pieces ( JK!!! 😆 )

You can critic my work as well but please do so in a private manner, don't humiliate me/my work publicly because I am a fragile human being.

                                                          Love lots and keep writing, 

                                                                          TheWriteVibe