Chapter 7: The Man Who Killed Fear

It was past 1am. The island had gone quiet as I lay on my bed thinking back into the evening when I had returned from the field.

Red Dragon was standing in the middle of my room wearing nothing but a white towel around his waist. But I couldn't tell him about Mira and Bianca. "what happened? why are you wet?" he had asked. I lied. "I slipped into the water, my Lord. it's nothing serious."

My eyes fixated on his broad and hairy chest, strong muscles, and fascinating abs. When I saw his build, I couldn't unsee it. Now hours had passed, and here I was, thinking about the hot body of the most powerful man in Valdoria.

I couldn't help it. I couldn't sleep. Each time I closed my eyes, I pictured him standing there with that smile that made my heart dance.

My mind drifted back to Bianca's words… I can't let myself admire the Red Dragon. “Stay focused, Octavia,” I said to myself.

But each time I tried to act like I didn't care, a knot tightened in my chest.

Maybe I should've told the truth. When the Red Dragon asked about my wet clothes, I lied to protect Mira. At least that's what I told myself. But in reality I was afraid.

Perhaps I should've been confident enough to trust Red Dragon to protect me.

I sighed deeply and pressed the bedside switch, turning off the lights. But the moment I closed my eyes hoping to find sleep, my door slammed open.

“Octavia, are you awake?” It was Red Dragon again.

I sprang up as a wave of excitement rushed through me. The lights went on, and he was standing by the door, still on the same towel.

I swallowed hard.

“Yes.” I spoke out loud.

“Can I come in?” He asked politely. I didn't think he had to ask. But I liked that he did.

I nodded.

“Are you going to accompany me tomorrow?” He asked. I furrowed my brows.

“Accompany you?”

“I have a judgment to pass down on someone who has been betraying me for a long time. He is selling secrets of my network and organization.”

I paused.

I didn't know why he was telling me this. But a part of me was invested if it would make him happy.

“What's going to be his fate if he's found guilty?” I asked curiously.

He exhaled… “Well, shouldn't I leave that for you to find out tomorrow?” he smiled.

I giggled.

“Alright. I'm coming with you.” He smiled. He rested both hands on his waist as he stared back at me. Then he studied me silently.

“What?” I laughed softly.

He came forward and stood before my bed. “Why do I have a feeling that you're dying to ask me something?”

I rolled my eyes. “I'm not.”

He didn't believe me. I giggled, “ok, fine.”

I cleared my throat. “I was wondering what it's like in the Mafia. Do people lose their lives? How dangerous is it? How did you become the most powerful man in Valdoria? Have you ever faced a strong opposition?”

I stopped speaking. When I looked up at him, our eyes met.

“Wow, those are very serious and interesting questions. That's my Octavia.” He said. I blushed. I didn't want to, but I did.

“Well, let's start from life in the Mafia. It's dangerous, but not like the movies portray it to be. People think we kill without reason. They couldn't be more wrong…” we laughed together.

“But truly, people do lose their lives, yet, there has to be a good reason. That being said, the Mafia gives you power.” He walked to the edge of the bed, staring up at the ceiling as if trying to recall an event.

“If you're in the Mafia, you can never be bullied by ordinary folks.” My chest tightened. I gulped down my empty throat.

He smiled as our gaze met… “Many will tremble at your feet and sing your name just to get on your good books. You'll walk with your shoulders high and be respected in a gathering of powerful people.” I swallowed hard.

The thought of Sarah and my parents crossed my mind.

“Now, to your last question…” he strode over. I was sitting on the bed, legs folded as I listened to his beautiful story.

“To become the most powerful man in Valdoria, I had to destroy my strongest opposition. You know the story don't you?”

I nodded. “You defeated the Viper Cartel. They taught us the story back in high school.”

He chuckled.

“Story? It's not just a story, darling. Viper Cartel and its fearsome leader; Morpheus Vine terrorized Valdoria and beyond. They controlled the government, the military, every corner of this country, and no one could stop them. I knew if I didn't face him no one ever will. But I was afraid.”

I gasped. My lips fell apart slowly. “Afraid?” I asked without knowing when the word slipped out.

He laughed. “Oh yes… I was afraid.”

Silence fell between us as I watched him patrol the room with his hands on his waist and his gaze fixed on the ceiling.

“Viper Cartel was a dangerous group that I feared. They were ruthless. I knew I might die, but I knew I could win too. So I killed my greatest enemy first.” I sat up… I was so focused on him that nothing else mattered at the time.

“Who was your greatest enemy?” I asked. He laughed in his deep masculine voice, and stepped closer.

“Fear…” his voice cut in the room. I held his gaze. There was something about his aura in that moment, the tenacity in his eyes, the confidence in the way he carried himself; that made it impossible not to admire him.

He bent before me and looked into my eyes. "The moment I killed fear, I realized I was stronger than Morpheus Vine. So I fought him. The rest is history.” He rose and walked to the wall mirror.

“Now I'm alive, and I'm the savior of Valdoria, the man who restored peace to the country and ended the reign of the Viper Cartel and Morpheus Vine.”

I felt goosebumps all over me. My jaw dropped. I saw his eyes, dark, dangerous. Like the eyes of a man that had seen a thousand deaths and counting.

And that moment, something stirred inside me, something I couldn't explain. My heart wouldn't stop racing. My mouth went wide, and my eyes never left his. I had forgotten myself, no one would dare stare at the Red Dragon with such intensity.

When he came forward and bent before me, his face leaned closer than ever. I gasped softly. I didn't move an inch. Like I was rooted to the bed.

“So you see, Octavia. That's what a Mafia is. And tomorrow, you'll witness a Mafia judgement day in person. Sleep with anticipation, for the night is short…” he reached forward and kissed my forehead.

The smell of cedarwood and musk filled my nostrils, and when he pulled back, my heart screamed for me to stop him. But I couldn't make a move. I watched in silence.

“Goodnight darling…” he walked away while I stared at his back, the fittest fifty-year-old man I'd ever seen.