Chapter 4: The Prince of Crime

Aizen's POV

Keeping secrets was never my forte. Yet here I am, tangled in a web of deception, trying to shield Desiree from the darker aspects of my life. As I step out of our lavish estate into the morning light, my mind races with conflicting thoughts. How do I conceal the truth from her, especially after last night's altercation? My father's enemies lurk in the shadows, and I must confront them head-on to protect our empire. But how do I keep Desiree safe without revealing the extent of my involvement in the world of crime? With each step toward my clandestine rendezvous, the weight of my dual identity presses heavily upon me, threatening to unravel the carefully constructed facade I've maintained for so long.

After a short drive, I arrived at one of our secluded hideouts on the outskirts of the city. The familiar sight of the nondescript warehouse brought back memories of clandestine meetings and covert operations. As I stepped out of the car, my senses heightened, attuned to the clandestine nature of the business at hand. The air was heavy with the scent of gasoline and concrete, a stark contrast to the pristine surroundings of Nara Estate. With a sense of purpose, I made my way inside, the echo of my footsteps mingling with the faint hum of machinery. It was time to confront the traitor who dared to betray us to our rivals, time to mete out justice in the shadows where my true power lay.

As "Oyabun no musuko," I entered the room, greeted by the respectful bows of my men. Their weapons lowered as I took my place among them. 

In the center of the room stood the traitor, the one who had betrayed our organization by selling valuable secrets. His actions had endangered the life of my wife, a fact that filled me with righteous anger. 

I flexed my fingers, anticipation coursing through my veins as I approached the traitor. My main goal wasn't just to extract information; it was to make him pay for endangering Desiree. With a cold resolve, I prepared to unleash the full extent of my wrath upon him. 

I adjusted my grip on the pistol, pressing it firmly against his forehead as I demanded answers with icy determination. "Tell me why you did it."

Despite his flinch, the man maintained his resolve, refusing to divulge any information. 

Kenji, my right hand man and friend, stepped forward and pressed the glowing tip of his lit cigarette against the man's forehead. "It appears he needs some encouragement," he says coldly. 

Despite the man's efforts to maintain composure, the agony of the burn was evident in every trembling muscle and strained expression. He gritted his teeth, willing himself to withstand the pain even as his body protested against the cruel punishment inflicted upon him.

With a swift gesture, I signaled to my men to bring forth the implements of persuasion.

"I'm not new to this,"I declared, revealing the masked figures standing helplessly in the shadows. "You, I assume, traded secrets, thinking your family would be spared. Unfortunately, you crossed the wrong man." I raised my pistol, pointing it alternately at each victim. "Who should I shoot to get you talking, huh?"

Finally, the man began to show emotion. Unfortunately, the fear in his eyes didn't satisfy me. "Please," he begged, squirming. "Don't hurt them!"

Kenji aimed at the old man, his gaze unwavering. 

"Tell me who the other rats are and I might consider sparing your father," my voice cutting through the tense atmosphere. 

"Please," the man begged, shaking violently. 

Mercilessly, Kenji pulled the trigger. A sharp crack pierced the air, followed by the sickening thud of impact as the bullet found its target. It went straight into the old man's forehead, killing him instantly. Blood oozed out from his head, his body crashing down with a hard thud. 

That old man was a rapist. He mercilessly preyed on young girls as young as ten and murdered them right after. He deserved to die. People like that have no right to live. 

"Father!" the man's cry echoed through the room as he thrashed around in agony. "No! No! No!"

"Shall we move to your mother, then?" I asked, pointing my pistol at her neck. That woman was just as bad as her husband. She murdered just for the thrill of it. To put it plainly, they were a family of trash. 

I'm no saint. I'm no hero either. In fact, I'm the devil my father created me to be. I relish in playing god despite knowing how wrong it is. This is just the hand life has dealt me. As always, to stay on top, you have to do whatever it takes. And as for my enemies, crushing them completely is the only option. 

"He's still not budging," Kenji stated, shooting the man on his leg. "We have all night, you know? We can keep bringing out people you know and we'll shoot them one by one."

The man screamed in agony as blood spilled from his leg. He received another shot on the same leg as he continued screaming and thrashing. 

"Still no?" I intone, my voice laced with a chilling edge as I raise an eyebrow in disdain, my gaze piercing through the traitor's facade. 

The woman's anguished cries fill the room, a cacophony of desperation that only serves to fuel my resolve.. 

I shot her again, this time in the abdomen, hoping that was enough to shut her up. "Your cursing is giving me a fucking headache!" I growl, my patience wearing thin as I fire another round, the sound echoing off the walls in a grim symphony of retribution. "I'm growing impatient. Honestly, I don't need you to tell me who the rats are." 

"What?" the man questioned, trembling in fear. 

I nodded, shooting his mother for the last time. I smiled as her corpse dropped cold on the floor, her body stained from the pool of her own blood. "I already know who they are," I declare, my tone devoid of emotion as I pointed the gun against his neck, the traitor's fate sealed by his own betrayal. "I'm not an idiot. I already had them killed."

The man gulped, his life flashing before his eyes. 

"The information you leaked almost had my wife killed," I said, as I reach for his neck. The traitor's struggles only serve to underscore the gravity of his actions. "Do you have any idea?"

He struggled, trying to escape my grasp. 

"Those bastards planted a bomb on the wrong yacht. Since they failed, they poisoned my wife's coffee," I said through gritted teeth. "She's safe of course. I'm going to need to send those people a message," I declare, my voice a chilling reminder of the price of betrayal in the ruthless world we inhabit. Your head would be perfect, wouldn't you agree?" That said, I pulled the trigger, piercing his chest. I frowned, seeing that the man was still conscious. So, I pulled it again, but he remained alive. "You just won't die, huh?" A smile curved on my lips as I watched the horror in his eyes.

Kenji handed me my katana as my men held his body up. 

"This is what happens to people who dare betray me," I declared, unsheathing my sword. With a steady hand and a focused gaze, I gripped on the hilt of my katana. The blade, reflecting the sunset, seemed to hum with a lethal energy as I raised it overhead. In one fluid motion, I brought the katana down with precision and speed, slicing effortlessly through the scumbag's neck. His blood splashed against me, staining my white swell-pressed shirt. 

I looked at my men dead in the eyes as I declared, "No one gets away with harming what's mine." I sheathed my sword, handing it to Kenji. "Let this be a warning to you. I don't care who you are or how long you've served me or my father. If anything happens to my wife, I will hunt you down and every single person you know, and I will make you face a horrific death." 

Unfortunately, there were a few other setbacks I needed to attend to. Someone made a mess of the transactions while I was away. This is such a drag. Dealing with incompetence is never pleasant, especially when it disrupts the smooth operation of my affairs. Nevertheless, it's a problem that requires my immediate attention, so I'll have to address it swiftly and efficiently. Another task that demands my focus is the development of a new drug. It's rumored to be an aphrodisiac, adding an interesting twist to our portfolio. Seems like I'll have my hands full until tonight. 

"Aizen," Kenji called, falling into step behind me. "Hikaru mentioned that Desiree finished her meal."

"Good," I acknowledged with a nod. 

Kenji furrowed his brows. "Do we really need to keep such close tabs on her meals? Desiree is perfectly capable of taking care of herself."

"It's not a matter of capability," I explained. "I prefer to stay informed about her well-being. I can't afford to overlook any potential risks to her health."

"Why?" Kenji asked. "After all this time, it seems rather excessive for someone you've claimed to have no feelings for." His hand rested heavily on my shoulder, his eyes searching mine. "We live in the midst of danger, Aizen. You made it clear that she's just a pawn, nothing more, when you chose her."

"Enough," I snapped, my tone razor-sharp. "She won't be endangered. Once five years pass, she'll return to her life."

"But will you be able to revert to the way things were?" Kenji persisted, skepticism coloring his words. "I recognize that look in your eyes, Aizen. It's the same one you had when you discovered she'd left. It's possessive and... Forget it. Just remember, she's not yours to keep. She's not one of your possessions."

Wheeling around to face him, I fixed him with an icy stare. "She's mine," I declared, each word cutting like a blade. "Until the contract's fulfilled, she's mine. So fuck off and do your job."