Chapter # 30

After returning to Amsterdam, they all went back to his hideout first before going back to their respective homes. Nathaniel was fuming from inside and using the human slave he got along with, he wanted to pour his wrath on beating him. Like always. Keeping everyone outside, they threw Guru in the basement. With a scowl plastered on his face, he looked down as if he was mere dust before him. A vile smirk spread across Nathaniel's lips, resting his hand in his pockets dominantly, he walked towards the tied man. 'And there you are. Finally where you belong," His low, husky tone came out. He was indulging in how he was shaking violently in apprehension, how tears were brimming in his eyes. De Villiers kept a disquiet face, leaning against the wall with folded arms, watching him pressing his foot over Guru's face. 'Did you think you could escape me? Did you really?" 'N-N-Nathaniel, please…" He whimpered, knowing he won't spare a single drop of mercy. He would torture him to the point his soul would beg for mercy how he had always done, etching his terror into their souls. The mark on his neck for being his prey and without a warning, Nathaniel kicked him hard. 'Where the fuck do you think you are going to run huh?!" 'P-Please!" Old man in his sixties coughed up blood. Gasping for air, unable to take the pain anymore but he had no intentions of sparing any compassion. 'Do you think you can escape after faking Zoran?" And he then hit him with a wooden log lying nearby, causing it to break into two pieces along with his bones. 'Ahh!" 'Your son may had managed to slip but you won't, Guru," And not wasting a single second, Nathaniel started to hit the man. His screams echoed, writhing in inexplicable and unbearable pain. He was begging for mercy which was futile. He was sobbing, endeavoring but everything was fruitless. 'Dammit, cover his mouth," 'Yes, Boss," And no matter how he wanted to hear this painful resonance, he had ended up covering his mouth. His clothes were bloody, he was barely conscious with bruises forming all over his old and rusted body. Still, He continue tormenting him until he lost consciousness. Nathaniel was about to hit him again until the door knocked with Zariah's voice. 'Nathaniel…? How long will it take you?" Flagrantly staying in this basement evoked suspicion. Inhaling sharply with the realization- not of how inhumane he became- but, he kept her waiting, he sat down. 'Just a minute, Zari," Responding from the other side, he washed his hands and face, ruffling his hair, wiping the blood from his shoes and taking off the waistcoat as well. With a deep breath, he forged his most charming expression that evoked repulsion from De Villiers. 'What an actor you are," He scoffed. 'Shut up," He scoffed back before climbing the stairs and went to see Zariah. He opened the door only to find her there. She attempted to take a peak but he immediately closed the door and brought his most eye-catching smile. 'Oh, Hey, sorry, I didn't notice the time," 'What are you doing?" She frowned, folding her arms at her chest. 'Nothing, just about the shipment, work, not much. You okay? Do you need something?" He continued smiling, wrapping his hands around her shoulder to press her into his as they walked down the corridor. 'Yeah, I feel dizzy, can I go back to our apartment?" 'Sure. I will be home in the evening. I hope you will wait for me, Darling," He kissed her cheeks, becoming the most affectionate man at the moment. 'I will. Take care," 'You too," After she left, he was in his office. De Villiers wrapped up the mess Nathaniel created in the basement and came back too. A smirk lingered on his lips to find Nathaniel rubbing his temples out of distress. He had too many ordeals to deal with and today releasing his wrath didn't work either. 'So you won't show her how horrendously you will beat him up?" He taunted before taking a seat. 'De Villiers." 'What?" 'Zariah has completely abandoned this savage life. She had left all traces of it behind." He breathed out, noticing her demeanor for the past months. The moment she held Nathaniel's hand, she utterly discarded herself from the mafia life. 'So?" 'How ruthless she used to be when she was a human killing machine. She is not that person anymore," 'Is this what you wanted from the beginning? She is completely surrounded with your affection. She is blindly dependent on you," De Villiers snickered, speaking of an undeniable reality. Nathaniel. Wanted. This. Zariah being all his, totally beckoned in his charm, her world existing in his. Most of his efforts, like leaving her at the summit, her confession, pleaded with him to stay but he asked her to release him and this one year gap. All to lead her to this point. The point where she would live and die for him. 'And the thought of your work at the hospital gives her false hopes of a ‘normal' tomorrow." De Villiers sneered. Nathaniel knew he was reaching an elusive path, It would cause nothing but ravage. Because wanting and having are two contrary points. He gained what he desired but to handle that kind of life was hard. 'Exactly. She is expecting a monotonous life with me where I will work, return tired only to find my wife and kids to enliven my day." He muttered, the reason why he was massaging his temples. It was not that he didn't want this too but the question was- How? How were they supposed to attain a life like this? 'And in that case, if she sees you like that, she will break. Her dreams will shatter." 'And then, Boss…" Leaning forward, De Villiers stared deep into his eyes and declared the harsh truth he would never accept. 'You won't be the man she fell in love with," His breaths hitched, losing his composure, Nathaniel slammed his hand down, pointing his finger at him warningly. 'Don't you fucking dare to say it again, De Villiers!" 'I won't. But, this is the sad reality of your life, of this hatred which had consumed you," He growled back, forcing him to swallow his reality. 'Then what do you want me to do? Forgive this bastard!? Like hell I will!" His softened, 'I am only afraid of the day when you will be forced to chose this or that," 'Tsk," Rolling his eyes, unable to endure any of his piercing statement, Nathaniel grabbed his things and left his office with one resolve only- ‘I won't let this day come. I have made incredible efforts for my happy ending with Zariah. I won't let anything steal it from me!'