Bang. The first gunshot echoed in my ears, loud and sharp, like a cold blade cutting through silence. I didn't flinch. It wasn't fear that I felt anymore. Argh... The raw surge of power, that exhilarating pull of the trigger, made my heart race faster. The second shot followed, and for a brief moment, everything went still.
Smirk. My lips curled up into a small smile. Oh... It was intoxicating—the control. My hands, so steady, had just ended a life, but my heartbeat synced with the pull of the trigger. I'm in control over it—just how I always liked it. Ivy "Zero" Alexander—Queen of Hackers.
My gun rested in my grip, still warm. Thump, thump. My pulse raced in faster with the sound of the shots. The bullet had sliced the air, quick and lethal, finding its mark with precision. Phew. I exhaled slowly, lowering the weapon to my side.
There he was. The idiot. His body lay crumpled on the ground. The lifeless, glassy eyes stared up at the ceiling. Hmph... I gazed at him, emotionless. There was no regret. This was just another mission. I can't fail. I wouldn't let anything stop me from finding my brother, not even this.
As I wiped a hand across my cheek, I felt the sticky warmth of blood. It wasn't mine. Ugh... His heart had been the origin of that red stain. The bullet had pierced through it. Whack! I kicked his body aside with my boot.
The blood, that vivid red, dripped in slow, steady lines down his chest. It was strange... watching the blood spill, like life itself was escaping the man in front of me. Ah... A twisted sense of freedom filled me. He was nothing now. Nothing.
I holstered my gun, already feeling the pulse of excitement fade. Zoomm... I could hear the hum of the world outside the warehouse, like the distant sounds of the city, as if nothing had changed.
But everything had. Wow. The darkness faded from his cold eyes, and I felt a certain twisted satisfaction. I'm the one who brings the light in the midst of all this chaos.
Dom's Pov:
I raised an eyebrow, my gun pointed at the boy, Lorenzo Ricci and Allegra Dupont, their men, as he nervously shifted his weight, barely able to keep from trembling. Ugh... My patience was running out. His fear was palpable, but I wasn't in the mood for this weak act. Argh... Frustration boiled in my veins. "What the fuck do you want?" I asked with cold precision, my voice steady yet filled with irritation.
When he didn't answer fast enough, I slowly moved the barrel of my gun away from the lifeless body beside me and aimed it squarely at him. "What. The. Fuck. Do. You. Want?" Each word was like the click of a loaded chamber, ready to explode.
Eek... His eyes widened. "Zero is h-here," he stammered.
Zero, that's who she was in the hacker world. Zero, the Queen of the Underworld. But this boy was too terrified to know better. She couldn't care less about the nickname. What mattered now was where.
"Where?" I pressed. His eyes dropped to the floor; Hmph… such a weak display. Ah... my hand shifted, and I smirked sarcastically at him, taking the safety off my gun. "If I have to repeat myself," I said coldly, my finger hovering over the trigger, "you will be telling that corpse 'hello' in hell."
Oof... He gulped, his voice shaking as he managed to force out, "In the next room," barely louder than a whisper.
My eyes followed his nervous glance to the dead body. Disgusting. There was pity in his gaze for the lifeless man, an emotion I found revolting. Tch. Weakness. I turned away, dismissing the dead weight before me. "Take care of him, Vik," I said over my shoulder, "and let them know this guy was a dead-end. She knew nothing about Lorenzo Ricci and Allegra Dupont, Viktor."
The names Lorenzo Ricci and Allegra Dupont sent a chill down my spine; ugh.... like an old wound being opened again. They were the cause of every shard of hatred lodged deep inside me. Tick-tock... Their betrayal remains in my heart like a ticking clock. I'll hunt down anyone who stands in my way. Every bullet I'd ever fired, every shot that hit its mark, I imagined it was him behind the trigger, the same person who caused this nightmare.
Viktor nodded his head silently as I shut the door behind me. Hmph. I exhaled deeply, feeling the pressure of the moment ease slightly. My fingers reached up and grasped the knot of my tie. The cool, smooth fabric felt comforting against my skin. Ugh... I tugged it down with a small grunt, loosening it to feel some relief.
Phew... I had to keep it together. I had to be in control. And now, it was time to go see the angel, Zero.
The thought of meeting these so-called genius hackers other than one of my techs sparked a combination of curiosity and something else—a challenge, maybe? My footsteps sounded softly in the hallway; the sound of my boots hitting the ground kept me going. Tick-tock... My mind raced faster than the rhythmic sound of my own movement.
Then, as I stepped through the neighboring door, a shift in my mood brought a smirk to my lips. Ha ha ha... There she was, Zero. The infamous queen of hackers. A gag muffled her mouth, her hands tied tightly behind her back, the kind of restraint meant to hold someone far more dangerous than she appeared. But it was the glint of fear in her eyes that made the moment particularly... hmm... exciting.
Viktor, my right-hand man, stood silently off to the side, his sharp gaze flickering to me, waiting for my cue. His brow raised slightly, questioning how things had gone with the dead man outside, but I shrugged it off. Phew... We had bigger things to deal with right now. The game had just begun, and this girl, Zero, was the prize.
Standing in front of her, I reached out, brushed a few loose strands of hair from her face, and let my fingers trail down to her ponytail. Aha... Her hair was softer than I expected. Slowly, I wound one of her silky black locks around my finger, my head tilting slightly as I took her in. Her eyes narrowed, but there was a flicker of weakness beneath the anger. She was strong, but at this moment, she was vulnerable—just as I liked it.
I let my hand drift from her hair to her chin. She flinched a bit, but I gripped her tight, forcing her gaze up into mine. Hmm... She tried to pull away, but I won't let her. I wanted her to know who was in control here, who had the power. Her rebellion was cute, but it won't last long. Not when she realized what was coming next.
Viktor moved behind her and began to untie the rope tied to her hand. Slowly, her plump lips were freed, and the sight was… Aah... quite a satisfying one. Her lips parted, but no sound escaped. She could've spat or screamed—many had—but she did neither. Instead, her mouth snapped shut like an obedient pet. Smart. Very smart.
I could feel the feelings growing, the air between us thickening. The queen of hackers, the woman who thought she could hide behind her screen, was now sitting in front of me. Tick-tock... Time was ticking, and soon, I would have all the answers I needed.
Dom's Pov:
Ivy's breath hitched as the rope tied to her hand was removed, her eyes wide, but not a single sound escaped her lips. Hmm... Even when given the chance to scream or spit, she chose silence—wow, impressive. Most would have fought back, but not her. It was as if she knew this was all part of the game.
I leaned closer, watching her closely as Viktor moved back, his expression can't be read. I could see the tension in her body, the way her jaw clenched, but her eyes—hmm...—they told a different story. There was rebellion hidden behind those trembling hands, a fire that couldn't be doused by fear alone.
"You're quite the actress, Zero," I murmured, smirking as I let the words hang between us. Ah... My fingers reached for her chin again and turned her face toward me. She tried to look away, but I held her strongly. There was no escape from this moment. No escape from me.
"Let me guess," I continued, my voice cold, "you thought you can keep playing your little games without consequences. Thought you can hide behind that screen forever." Her lips parted, and for a moment, I expected her to speak, to throw back some biting comment, but she held her tongue, her expression cannot be read. So... Stubborn as always.
Viktor moved to the side, still watching the interaction in silence. Ivy's gaze flickered toward him briefly, then back to me, her chest rising and falling with measured breaths. Hmm... so she is not afraid of Viktor, my right-hand man, not truly. No, her attention was entirely focused on me now.
I felt the room's air thicken. Practically silent with unspoken words, this was the moment of truth—whether she remained silent or spoke. I leaned closer, my breath ghosting against her cheek, my voice dropping lower.
"You're going to tell me everything, Zero," I said, my lips curving into a slow smirk. "Every. Single. Thing."
Dom's eyes narrowed as he leaned closer to Ivy, his grip tightening on her chin. Ugh, frustration was evident in his expression. He was losing patience with her resistance.
"What's your name?" he demanded, his voice low and firm.
Ivy's breath hitched, her gaze darting away from his intense stare, trying to pull back. But she couldn't escape his hold. It was scary, Hmm... her jaw clenching, refusing to give in so easily.
"I asked you a question," Dom's tone darkened, his cold eyes never leaving her. "You know what I want from you, Zero."
Her lip curled into a grimace, the name he used bringing a flicker of anger in her gaze. She could feel her weakness—Argh...—fighting against the weight of his control, but still, she won't break.
"What's your real name?" he pressed on, his voice lowering into something more dangerous, a cold threat lingering in the air.
Huh... Ivy hesitated, her lips parted, but no sound escaped her at first. Finally, in a voice barely above a whisper, she muttered, "Zero."
Dom let out a cold smirk. Ha...ha...ha... He stepped back slightly, releasing his grip on her chin, but his eyes followed every movement she made, watching as she stiffened, trying to maintain her composure.
"No, not that. What's your real name?" Dom's smile faded, and a sharp return to his tone.
Ivy winced; Eek... fear creeping into her eyes as she struggled to meet his gaze again. Her breath grew shallow, and her mind raced. She had to stay strong. She had to protect her identity, but Dom won't let her off that easily.
"Z-Zero..." she stammered again, her voice trembling. Hic... Dom's expression hardened, his hand reaching to her face again, forcing her to look at him again. Uh-oh... the fear in her eyes was becoming more visible now, and Dom saw it. He could feel it.
"No. That's not the truth," Dom's voice was a low growl as he leaned in closer. "You're going to tell me, Zero... or should I say, Ivy?"
Ah... A soft gasp left Ivy's lips as Dom used her hacker alias again. The world around them seemed to shrink, the air growing tighter with every second that passed. She was trapped, cornered.
"M-My name is..." She swallowed hard, closing her eyes briefly before muttering, "It's Ivy. Ivy Alexander."
Dom's smirk returned, but there was something darker in his gaze now. Well.... He finally got what he wanted—her name. And with that name came the power he craved. He could feel the shift of control. She may have been the Queen of Hackers, but here, in this moment, she was weak to him.
"Ivy, huh?" he tested the name on his lips, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I like that."
Ivy felt a cold chill crawl down her spine as Dom stepped back. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her face as composed as possible. Hmph... She wouldn't let him see how much power he held over her.
But Dom knew. He always knew.
Dom's cold gaze flicked over to Viktor, his first-in-command. The unspoken question lingered in the air between them, and Viktor nodded subtly, confirming what Dom already knew. Ivy, or rather "Zero," was no ordinary hacker. She had outwitted Luka, one of his best tech experts, something Dom had never anticipated.
Huh... Dom's smirk deepened, a mix of intrigue and frustration boiling beneath his calm exterior. Giovanni, a man who could track anyone, was completely blindsided by her. "Zero," the woman he now had standing before him, had outmaneuvered them all. His cold smirk returned as he stepped toward Ivy again, his presence domineering and cold.
"Before Zero, I thought Luka was the smartest tech person I knew," Dom began, his voice low and soft a bit. "He could find anyone on this planet. That's why I put him in charge. But you…" His eyes narrowed, taking in Ivy's quiet rebellion, "…you outplayed him."
Ivy's expression tightened, her hands clenched at her sides as she stood her ground. No matter how much power he had, she won't let Dom intimidate her.
Ah... Dom sighed dramatically, a mix of amusement and something darker as he took a slow step closer. "Zero—" he paused, correcting himself, "—Ivy, you've been quite the puzzle for months. Luka's been working nonstop, trying to locate you. Now, finally, we've got you exactly like we want you."
Dom's words hung in the air like a threat. Ivy's pulse quickened as she stared him down, refusing to show her weakness, but the icy fear started to trickle in. His intense gaze pinned her in place.
"Most people who did what you did would be dead by now." Dom's voice softened, but the menace behind it was unmistakable. He leaned in closer, his eyes watching her every reaction. Ivy's throat tightened, but she refused to let the panic show.
She glanced at Viktor, then Luka, her last of hope starting to fade. Haa... When she looked back at Dom, that hope was gone, leaving only fear in its place.
"Are you going to kill m-me?" Ivy's voice trembled despite her efforts to stay strong, a flicker of weakness slipping through.
Dom's smirk returned, this time softer but no less dangerous. He chuckled softly, "Ha...ha...ha..." stepping even closer until the space between them disappear. He let the question hang in the air as he watched her eyes, the fear in them, knowing full well he held all the control now.
"Not yet." His voice was like ice, sending a shiver down Ivy's spine. Hmph... She hated how much he enjoyed this, the power he had over her in this moment. But she wasn't about to let him break her.
She won't give him the satisfaction.
Dom's gaze darkened as he stood up from his crouched position. The cold metal of his gun pressed against Ivy's temple, a sick thrill creeping up his spine as he watched her reaction. She bit down hard on her pink lip, her eyes closing as if bracing herself.
Dom knew she wasn't trying to be seductive, but in this moment, the fear she tried to hide only turned him on more. Hmph... He chuckled low under his breath, his dark amusement clear. He was a ruthless man; that much he knew.
As his gun scraped along her cheek, trailing down her smooth neck with deliberate slowness, Ivy shuddered. Dom's icy eyes flickered with an intense satisfaction. The air between them thickened, her breaths quickening as she tried to maintain her posture.
"Not now," he whispered against her ear, his voice dangerously soft, "but I can."
Ivy's face tightened, and though her body trembled slightly, she kept her ground, staring him down through the thick-framed glasses that hid her true nature from the world. In her baggy clothes, she was a far cry from the type of woman Dom usually preferred.
Ugh... Dom's lips curled a little in irritation as he took in her oversized T-shirt and baggy pants. Everything he admired in a woman—the elegant curves, the confidence—was hidden beneath this quiet, clever hacker. But that only made him interested in her more.
Despite his usual preference for blondes with interesting features, something about Zero—...Ivy, this hacker queen in her disguise, attracts his curiosity. Hmm... What would she look like without the glasses, the clothes, the defenses? The thought crossed his mind, unpredicted.
He leaned closer, his breath hot against her ear. "I have a question for you, Angel." His voice was laced with an almost mocking softness.
Ivy swallowed hard. Huft... Her throat felt tight as she tried to keep her voice steady. "W-What?"
Dom's voice was cold, almost mocking, as he leaned closer to Ivy, the tension between them suffocating the air.
"You know, I was shocked. Out of nowhere, I'm told that Zero—" he sneered at the mention of her hacker name, his icy blue eyes locking onto hers, "—has hacked into my system. You stole files, which you still haven't given back. Not to mention, you threatened me." His lips curled into a wicked smirk as he tilted his head slightly. Smirks...
Ugh... Ivy's breath hitched as she felt his gaze piercing through her, every word he spoke dripping with dominance.
"I'm wondering now what a quiet, little stuttering angel like you would want with a life as dangerous as mine. Was it just fun, or were you truly trying to find something?" His tone was laced with both curiosity and threat, the power he held over her unmistakable.
Ivy shook her head desperately, her lips trembling. "P-Please don't kill me," she stammered, her heart pounding in her chest.
Dom's eyes darkened, his expression never wavering. "Answer me, and I won't."
She bit her lip, her mind racing. Huft... "M-My twin... I'm looking for my twin brother," she finally answered, her voice barely above a whisper. The admission shocked her more than anyone else. Dom glanced over at Viktor, who stood in the corner, his face mirroring the same disbelief Dom felt. Hmm...
This wasn't what Dom had expected at all.
"When I first heard about this hacker, Zero," he said, his tone turning cold once more, "I assumed it was some cocky, arrogant guy. But... argh..." He shook his head slightly, an almost bitter chuckle leaving his lips.
"I blamed it on my own arrogance, maybe even some bias." His smirk faltered for a moment. "No woman will hack into my organization or any of the other crime families. No woman wants to have the nerve—or so I thought."
He took a slow step closer, watching as Ivy tried to control her fear. "But I was wrong. And that's not something I admit often."
Zero—no, Ivy, as he now knew her—was far more dangerous than he'd initially thought. And that made her all the more intriguing.
"And you think we have her?" Viktor finally asked, his voice low as he broke the heavy silence.
"I-I thought. That's why I checked." Ivy's voice trembled, her eyes darting from Dom's to the floor, her anxiety barely contained. Ah... "I checked every crime organization, but no one has him," she added, her words shaky yet determined. Her breath caught in her throat as Dom pushed his gun into the waistband of his pants. Phew... A wave of both relief and dread washed over her, though her gaze couldn't help but follow every movement he made, unable to tear herself away from the cold intensity he exuded.
"Which crime organizations?" Viktor's deep voice interrupted the moment, his sharp eyes narrowing on her. Ivy, feeling the pressure, tore her gaze away from Dom's, glancing nervously at the man standing in the corner, his cold stare just as intimidating. Ugh...
"T-The Morelli's, Ricci's, Dupont's, and, uh..." Ivy hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she muttered, "The Ivanov's."
Dom's smirk widened slightly at her hesitation, his eyes darkening with a mix of curiosity and dominance.
"You have files on the three other Italian families?" Viktor questioned, his voice laced with suspicion. Ivy glanced between them, unsure how much to reveal. Mhm...
"Yes..." she whispered, her body tense under their scrutiny. The truth was she had more than just files—she had enough information to start a war if she wanted. But that's not her goal.
Viktor exchanged a quick glance with Dom, his lips curling into a smug expression. "Interesting." He leaned back, arms crossed, as if relishing the power they held over her now.
"I-I'm sorry. I'll give it all back. P-Please don't kill me," Ivy stuttered out, her breath shaky as her brown eyes locked onto Dom's. Her honesty was written all over her face, almost too much for someone like him to handle. Hmph.... He didn't trust it, but something about the way she trembled in front of him was interesting to him. Cooperativeness and transparency... those were weaknesses in his world.
She was too innocent—too pure. And he hated that. Innocence was the kind of weakness that begged to be exploited. It was like waving a red flag in front of a predator, and Dom was more than ready to tear it apart. He wasn't the hero in this story; he was the villain, ready to ruin her. Argh... Dom clenched his jaw, determined to break her. "Put the gag back in her mouth," he ordered coldly, his expression unreadable though his eyes burned with intensity.
Without another glance in her direction, Dom stormed out of the room, the door slamming behind him. Clangg... The sound was loud in the hallway, tension thick in the air.
It wasn't long before Viktor joined him outside, his brows furrowed, clearly frustrated. Ugh... "She can get us what we need, Dom," Viktor urged, his voice low and intense. "I've been trying to get just one of those files for 20 years, but she has all three! She'll tell us where Lorenzo Ricci and Allegra Dupont are in less than a month. Don't you care about what they've done to your family?!" Viktor's voice cracked with anger, his fists clenched at his sides. "We can't let her slip away—"
Dom's icy gaze cut him off before he could finish. Hmph... He didn't need a reminder of what Lorenzo Ricci and Allegra Dupont had done to the Ivanov family. His cold exterior never faltered, even as rage boiled beneath the surface. But Luka's words lingered. Ivy was more useful alive, for now.
Dom's Pov:
The expression wore heavily on my face as I grabbed Viktor by the collar of his shirt and shoved him into the wall. Whackk... My fist collided with the wall right beside his head, the impact loud enough to send a tremor through my arm. The only color I could see was red; the only emotion I could feel was pure, unfiltered hatred.
"Don't you ever question whether or not I care!" I growled through clenched teeth, my eyes locked onto his. "You will speak to me with respect, or I will have no problem showing you exactly where to find it!" My voice dripped with a cold, ruthless intensity, each word sharp enough to cut.
Viktor's face paled as he quickly realized his mistake. "You're right, I apologize," he mumbled, his eyes cast down in submission. Hmph...
I let go of his shirt and stepped back, taking a slow breath to steady my rising anger. Phew... "Take her to my house," I ordered, my voice returning to its usual calm, authoritative tone. "She will stay in the guest bedroom beside my room. Lock every door and window." My eyes flicked toward him, adding a final command. "And before that, tell Luka I need to speak with him."
Viktor nodded stiffly, rubbing his neck as he regained his composure. "So, that means you're going to get her to help us?" he asked his voice lightening with relief, a hint of optimism seeping into his expression.
I paused, thinking of Ivy—she was ordinary, nothing special. But something about her... maybe it was the fire behind her glasses, the way she carried herself despite everything. Still, it had been 20 years since I'd seen Luka get close to anyone. He always kept to himself, always hiding behind his computer screens.
"I should've known you'd have a little nerd kink," I smirked, turning away from him. Huh... A quiet chuckle escaped me as I walked off, leaving Viktor to follow my orders.
"Kink? No, sir. I'll like any woman that brings me that much closer to finding Lorenzo Ricci and Allegra Dupont," Viktor answered firmly, his tone unyielding. His gaze was steady, his voice calm, but the weight of his words hung heavy in the air. He wasn't playing games.
I watched him carefully, my eyes narrowing as I considered his response. Hmm… Could he really be trusted, or was there something more lurking beneath that calm facade? His intentions seemed pure, but in a world filled with lies and betrayal, no one could ever be sure. Hmph… I couldn't afford to trust anyone easily—not even those closest to me.
With a sharp breath, I turned away from him, dismissing him with a single, cold phrase. "Have fun."