Dimitri stood by the window, his hands gripping the sill as if it could anchor him to reality. The morning light filtered in, cool and indifferent, a sharp contrast to the storm brewing inside him. He stared out into the garden, but his eyes were vacant, his mind lost in a tangle of bitterness and resentment.
The house was silent, but not the comforting kind. It was the oppressive quiet that made every thought louder, every feeling sharper. Dimitri's breath was shallow, his chest tight as he forced himself to stay still, to keep from losing control.
Then he saw them.
Through the open window of Lucas's room, the scene unfolded like a nightmare. Lucas and Kane, bodies intertwined, moving together with a raw, careless passion. The sight hit Dimitri like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, he couldn't breathe.
Lucas's head turned slightly, and Dimitri caught a glimpse of that familiar, twisted smile. It was a smile that dripped with malice, a cruel, knowing smirk that seemed to say, *I've won.* The sight of it was a knife to the chest, driving deep into the hollow space where Dimitri's heart used to be.
He wanted to look away, to tear his eyes from the window, but he couldn't. He was rooted in place, forced to watch as Lucas reveled in his victory, as Kane obliviously played his part. The morning light, so pale and clean, now seemed harsh and judgmental, casting shadows that made Dimitri feel exposed, vulnerable.
His hand flew to his mouth, fingers pressing hard against the spot where Lucas had touched him the night before. A shiver ran through him, and he clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the wave of nausea that rose in his throat. *What did you do to me?* he thought, his mind racing with fragments of last night's torment.
"What did you do to me?" The words escaped him, barely a whisper, as if saying them out loud would make them real. His voice was raw, barely holding back the rage that simmered just beneath the surface. He pressed his fingers harder against his lips, as if trying to erase the memory, but it clung to him, a reminder of Lucas's cruelty.
Dimitri's chest tightened, his breath coming in shallow, uneven gasps. His fingers curled into fists, the nails digging into his palms. The pain was sharp, a welcome distraction from the image burned into his mind.
The room felt smaller, the walls pressing in on him as he turned away from the window, his face flushed with a mix of shame and anger. He staggered back, his movements jerky and unsteady, until he found himself facing the mirror.
The reflection that stared back at him was almost unrecognizable. His skin was pale, marked with bruises and scars, a map of his suffering. His body, slight and wiry, seemed pathetic compared to Kane's muscular frame. He ran a trembling hand over his chest, tracing the welts and discolorations, his expression hardening with each touch.
"I'll be like that too," he whispered, the words laced with a fierce, trembling determination. His eyes narrowed as he imagined himself stronger, harder, a match for the man who had stirred such jealousy and rage in him. The thought brought a dark satisfaction, a flicker of hope in the midst of his despair.
His gaze shifted to the bruises, the scars that marked his body. Each one was a reminder of his own helplessness, of the power Lucas had over him. But now, that helplessness was turning into something else. Something darker, more dangerous.
Dimitri's eyes burned with resolve as he imagined Kane broken, defeated, and Lucas by his side, forever. The image brought a twisted smile to his lips, a spark of satisfaction that made his heart beat faster.
He stepped closer to the mirror, his reflection filling his vision. "I'll make him see," he murmured, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "I'll be everything he wants. And Kane… Kane will be nothing."
With a final look at his reflection, Dimitri pulled on his shirt, hiding the bruises and scars once more. His shoulders squared, his mind already turning to the steps he would take to fulfill his dark promise.
He picked up his phone, his fingers moving quickly as he dialed a number. When the call connected, his voice was cold, stripped of the desperation that had gripped him moments before.
"I need you to do something for me," he said, his tone hard and unyielding. "Have your team follow Kane. I want every move he makes watched, every detail collected."
There was a pause on the other end, and Dimitri's expression darkened. "What you've gathered so far isn't enough. He'll slip through our fingers if we try anything now. Get as much evidence as you can—photos, videos, anything that can be used to put him away. And even if you don't find anything concrete, make sure he takes the fall. I want him gone."
There was another brief pause before a curt reply came through. "Understood. We'll start surveillance immediately."
"Good. Keep me updated," Dimitri said, his voice firm. He ended the call, his jaw clenched as he turned back to the window.
Lucas and Kane were gone from view, but the image of them together remained seared into his mind. His fists clenched at his sides, and he took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. His plans were in motion now, and soon, Kane would be out of the way for good.
Dimitri's eyes flicked back to the mirror, his reflection now composed, controlled. The fury that had raged within him was now a cold, focused determination. He would get what he wanted, no matter the cost.
And Lucas? Lucas would be his.
.