Diablo

Prologue

Patience is the most underrated emotion in humans. If a person can master this attribute no one can dissuade him from ruling this world. People think I lack patience or so I make them believe.

You can never fulfill your dreams if you don't have the patience to make them come true. One slip can cause a domino effect and everything would come spiraling down.

Never allow someone access to your mind for once they know your thought process, it gets easier for them to beat you in the game that is life.

Learn to believe the worst from people and you would never be disappointed. You can never find what a man is capable of until they are cornered. If you want to test someone's limits, draw them up against the wall and you will be amazed by the extent of their power.

"Why are you silent?" Junaid's voice broke the train of my thoughts.

Junaid was the third in command of the Legion. He was the only son of our driver, Rasool chacha who had laid down his life to save my father's. What a waste of a good man, I wished he would have let my father die, on that day.

"I am bored," I replied, doing the shoulder presses on the weight stack machine.

Sensing Yahya's gaze fixed on me, I looked in his direction, the fucker was well aware of how my mind worked. Maybe the only man on Earth who understood me to some extent.

"What have you thought about the Vipers?"

I gave a side glance to Junaid, who was stationed on the bench, beside the weight stack machine I was training on.

"What about them?"

"Aren't we going to do anything about the raids on our warehouses?"

Halting, I turned towards Junaid, who was watching me with a scrutinizing gaze. How could I forget those raids and who had carried them out?

Wardah Zaman.

I appreciated strong women, who knew how to fight for their honor and self-respect. A woman deserves as much respect as a man does. That doesn't mean they were allowed to poke their noses in matters that didn't concern them.

"Or have you forgotten them?" His voice was full of sarcasm.

"I have neither forgotten nor forgiven, what Venom's precious Princess has done," pulling the towel I wiped the sweat from my face and neck.

"We are in an alliance with them," Yahya cautioned.

My little brother never forgot to remind me that the Legion had an alliance with the Vipers and that we were allies and needed them.

"They were the one to cross the line," Junaid stated.

He had been urging me to end the alliance with the Vipers since the raids. It was the logical decision but it won't serve the purpose I had in my mind.

Ending the alliance was an open declaration of war, which I didn't want to risk at the moment. I needed Suleiman until I could find a route for my overseas consignments. The mess our father had created before his death by offending one syndicate after the other on both the east and west sides of the Indian peninsula, it was a miracle the Legion was still operating.

Making any decision in haste was not wise, it was important to bring all the chess pieces in position before the last kill. Junaid didn't understand this, he was an impatient man. The board was set and I needed to position my pieces without my opponent realizing my moves.

"I have decided to ask Suleiman for his sister's hand in marriage," Junaid and Yahya, who were arguing amongst each other, looked at me in shock.

"You are going to, what?" Yahya's voice was filled with astonishment.

"I am going to marry, Wardah Zaman," my jaw clenched at his nonsensical question.

I had been planning this for a while now, asking for Wardah's hand in marriage. It was important to teach her a lesson and make her understand the consequences of messing with Huzaifa Ibrahim.

"She would never agree," Yahya declared.

"I am calling Suleiman," I ignored him and picked up my cell from the stand.

Unlocking my cell I searched for Suleiman's number who was the Boss of the Vipers and dialed after I had found it. The call was received after a few rings.

"Suleiman Khan," he said in a formal tone.

"I know who you are, Suleiman," my tone was mocking.

Nothing gave me more joy than to see the Iceman, all riled up. If not for the way he was fierce about protecting his family, I might have thought the man was carved out of a glacier.

"Why did you call, Diablo?" His tone got cold, which was his signature.

"I was wondering if it's been a few months since you left the God-forsaken city, and I thought of inquiring after your health," pulling my lip between my teeth. I bit on it waiting for Suleiman's response.

"I am good," he replied dryly.

"Come on, Suleiman, you don't have to be so dry, we are allies after all," I teased him.

"If you don't have anything important to say...," I didn't let him complete the sentence, "I know you are a very busy man, Suleiman, and since your wife is finally with you. I guess that I might be disturbing your quality time together."

I could imagine Suleiman grinding his teeth in anger, his wife was a sensitive topic for him.

"Huzaifa," his voice held a warning note.

"I think I disturbed you in the middle of something important," I mocked and then continued with the reason I had called him in the first place, "I was thinking as our alliance is going phenomenally well for both our syndicates, why don't we think about strengthening our bonds with each other?"

"How do you suggest we do that?" Suleiman sounded weary.

From his tone, it was clear he had a notion about what I was going to suggest and if it was up to him he would have completely avoided this discussion.

"Marriage, the best and oldest way of guaranteed peace," I suggested with my voice full of enthusiasm.

There was a momentary silence on the other side then he spoke, "I don't think anyone will agree to a marriage between your sister and Osman."

The cunning bastard.

"You are good, you are very good," I couldn't help but taunt.

I admired his wit, Suleiman Khan was surely one of a kind. He knew very well that I would never agree to marry my sister to his brother. It was not like I had anything against Osman, but I don't think any man would be worthy of her in my eyes.

"Unfortunately I was not talking about your brother and my sister," I contradicted him, "as you see, I want your sister's hand in marriage."

I could feel Junaid and Yahya's gazes fixed on my face. They were studying my expressions, trying to get a clue about the conversation on the other side.

"You mean, what?" Suleiman asked, in a calm voice.

"I want to marry your sister Wardah, is that so hard to decipher?"

"No, it was quite clear from what you said earlier. I wanted to know why you got this feeling, that Wardah or even I would agree for this match?"

"You owe your life to me, Suleiman," I couldn't help the strain in my voice.

"I am aware of that, but you know the rules of our world, Diablo. Wardah is promised to another. I can't back off from my word," it was clear that he was not even willing to give my proposal a thought.

Very good.

Just as I had expected it, now Suleiman would be the one responsible for the consequences.

"You are declining my proposal?"

"I think that I made it clear. Wardah will marry Fahad as was agreed. Nothing is more important to me than my word, and I gave my word to Fahad, that Wardah will be his," he replied.

"Very well then," I said through gritted teeth.

"Until later," Suleiman disconnected the call.

I took a deep breath trying to calm my searing temper. Though I had expected this reply from Suleiman, I still couldn't help being enraged. Expecting something and going through that exact thing were two opposite scenarios.

"I knew his answer, even before you called," Yahya drawled.

"Do you think I was not aware of what his answer would be to my proposal?" I gave him a pointed look.

"Then, why call him?" Junaid questioned.

"In ancient times they always blew a horn before the battle began," I smirked at them.

"Are we going to war with the Vipers?" Junaid's eyes glinted.

He was a bloodthirsty monster and killing Vipers had been his dream for quite a long time.

"We are," the corners of my lips tilted upwards.

"What about his sister?" Junaid asked.

"I am going to steal her, from right under his nose," I gave them both a mysterious smile.

Yahya didn't look happy with my intentions while the glint in Junaid's eyes multiplied ten folds. Wanting to break the wings of the Iron Butterfly, Wardah Zaman, was becoming an obsession. Just imagining her in a broken state was making me feel ecstatic.

"Gentlemen, let the game begin," I smiled at Yahya and Junaid.

Venom is the first installment in this series. I will upload it gradually.