XXXV. What Have You Done. . .
. . . . .
We rushed inside and hurried up the grand staircase, each step echoing in the silence.
We are heading to Dakari's office.
Somehow, I can't help but feel worried for his safety. I know I shouldn't.
I can't.
As we reached the door, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I shouldn't worry. . . I should feel excited.
I should be happy if he met his demise.
"Are you ready, Ms. Viviana?" Aiden asked, his voice low but steady, breaking through my thoughts.
I nodded, steeling myself for whatever awaited us inside. With a deep breath, I pushed the door open, the creak of the hinges sounding almost ominous in the stillness.
The room was dimly lit because of the closed curtains, shadows were dancing across the walls as we stepped inside.
The air was thick with the scent of aged leather and something metallic. . . blood?
I shrugged off the thought and my gaze shifted elsewhere.
Dakari's desk sat in the center, cluttered with papers and an array of ominous-looking objects that hinted at dealings far beyond my understanding.
Yet Dakari was nowhere to be found in this vast room. My gaze shifted to another door at the far side.
I could have sworn I saw blood dripping underneath it.
The sight sent a chill down my spine, igniting a primal fear that clawed at my insides.
I shouldn't be bothered by this. . .
So, I sauntered toward it, each step heavy with dread, and pushed it open.
However, the sight made me gasp.
"D-Dakari?. . ." I stuttered, my voice barely above a whisper.
He stood there, an imposing figure in front of three bloodied men, their faces twisted in pain and confusion. One of the men is almost—. . . dead.
Dakari's expression was one of cold determination, his blue eyes glinting with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.
I felt as if I had stumbled into a nightmare, where the lines between right and wrong blurred into a haze of violence and power.
The blood on the floor glistened ominously, pooling beneath the men.
"Eugh—" I gagged, the metallic scent overwhelming my senses.
The three men at his feet were battered and bruised, their breaths shallow and ragged. It was clear they had encountered something far worse than mere physical pain.
He shot them. . . didn't he?
"Lucrezia, baby. . ." Dakari said, his voice steady, cutting through the tension like a knife. "You shouldn't be here."
I wanted to retreat, to escape this reality that felt too surreal to comprehend.
But instead, I stood frozen, caught between fascination and horror as Dakari's gaze remained fixed on me.
"W-why d-did you do this to them. . .?" I managed to ask, covering my mouth to suppress the urge to vomit.
Dakari's eyes narrowed slightly as he regarded me. "They crossed me," he replied coolly, his tone devoid of remorse. "And in this world, there are consequences for such actions."
My gaze landed on the three men sprawled on the floor, their bodies a grotesque tableau of violence. Of course, it also came to my attention that Dakari was still holding a pistol in his hand, the cold steel glinting ominously in the dim light.
The sight sent another wave of nausea washing over me.
Fucking hell. . . What's wrong with this guy, really?
I can hear Lev and Aiden rushing to my side.
"U-uhmm. . . Ms. Viviana, are you okay?" Aiden asked, concern etched across his face. I shot him a glare that could have frozen fire, and he immediately shifted his gaze to Dakari, seeking guidance.
"Aiden, bring her back to our bedroom." Dakari ordered, his voice calm yet authoritative.
But I refused. The moment Aiden and Lev tried to pull me away from the room, I yanked my arm free. "No." I spat.
"Lucrezia. . . Do as I say." Dakari insisted, his tone hardening slightly, a warning lacing his words.
I could feel Aiden's hand on my arm, steady and reassuring, but it only added to the turmoil inside me.
"Ms. Viviana, please. . ." Aiden urged softly, concern etched across his features. "We need to go."
"No!" I shot back, my voice rising in desperation.
Dakari stepped closer, his presence looming like a dark cloud. "You don't understand what's at stake here." He said, his voice low and dangerous. "You're not safe because of them."
"What do you mean??"
Aiden and Lev exchanged worried glances, torn between their loyalty to Dakari and their concern for me.
Meanwhile, I heard the office door close shut. Indicating that Mikhail and Laxei left the office now.
"They had tried to harm you." Dakari reached for my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing my knuckles tenderly.
I can't help but grimace in disgust at the fact his bloodied hands touched mine and the audacity to kiss the back of my hand.
"Get away from me!" I snapped, pulling my hand back as if his touch burned.
His expression dimmed, the flicker of warmth in his eyes replaced by something darker— hurt, perhaps, or anger.
For a moment, he seemed taken aback, as if my rejection had pierced through his heart.
He eventually masked it again.
"Lucrezia. . . They wanted to kill you. . . I'm doing this for you." Dakari tried to explain.
I narrowed my eyes further and growled, "Enough! I didn't ask you to do this for me."
"You didn't need to."
"Dakari, enough!"
"No."
I stepped back slightly. "What do you mean no??"
"No."
"Tsk. . ."
With a swift motion, Dakari closed the distance between us, wrapping his arms around my waist and forcing me to look up into his emotionless blue eyes.
He held my chin gently, as if trying to anchor me in place.
The intensity of his gaze sent a jolt through me, a mixture of anger and something else I couldn't quite identify.
"You can't just dismiss me like that." He said, his voice low and firm.
I struggled against his grip. "Let me go!" I demanded, but he only tightened his hold slightly, as if to emphasize his point.
Then, in a surprising shift, he leaned in and pressed his lips gently against mine.
What. . .?
But just as quickly as it began, reality crashed back in. I pulled away sharply, my breath coming in quick gasps. "What are you doing?" I exclaimed, confusion and anger swirling within me.
However, Dakari only licked his lips and muttered, "Delicious."
What. The. Fuck.
That was. . . Hot?
Wait— WHAT THE FUCK AM I THINKING.
"Y-you— !" I stammered, my voice a mix of disbelief and indignation. But before I could finish my thought, he leaned in once again, closing the distance between us with an intensity that left me breathless.
'. . . Waaa— I want to cry. . . Why am I not pulling away?! What did he do to me!?' I panicked inside my mind as he only continued to kiss me.
I could even hear the office door closing with a loud thud. Aiden and Lev must've walked out.
"D-Daka— mmm. . ."
This guy won't even let me breathe!
I felt trapped between wanting to push him away and the undeniable pull that kept drawing me back into his orbit.
Everytime this happen, he always had the intention to devour me entirely.
Perverted bastard. . .
With a sudden burst of determination, I managed to break the kiss, gasping for air. "Dakari!" I exclaimed, trying to regain some semblance of control. "You can't just. . . do this!"
He paused, his forehead resting against mine as he searched my eyes. "Why not?" His voice was low and teasing, but there was an edge of seriousness beneath it.
My gaze landed on the three bloodied men on the floor. Trying to stay alive.
Dakari followed my gaze and chuckled darkly. "Baby. . . Are you worried that they might see us being. . . intimate?" He whispered.
"W-what? No!"
"Don't worry, my dear. . . We can just. . . kill them."
Before I could respond, Dakari reached for his pistol and brought it to my hands, forcing me to hold onto it tightly.
"What are you doing?!" I exclaimed, panic rising in my chest as I tried to let go of the weapon. However, he tightened his grip on the gun, keeping it pressed against my palms.
He kissed my cheeks and whispered tenderly. "Take their life baby. . . They wanted to take yours, you should take theirs as well."
His words sent a chill down my spine.
"Are you insane?! I'm not like you!"
"Both you and I are alike, Lucrezia. Both born to be part of the mafia. . . to be part of this kind of life." Dakari replied, his tone unwavering.
"No! I refuse to accept that." I shot back, shaking my head vehemently.
I can hear him chuckling as he moved behind me, his hold on my palm still firm. He made my body point the gun at the three men sprawled on the floor.
He leaned down to whisper in my ear, his breath warm against my skin. "My baby is such a hypocrite. . . Didn't you say you'll kill the people after you, yourself?"
I gulped.
The psychotic bastard was right.
"Damn you!" I cursed.
Again, he only chuckled, the sound low and unsettling. He tilted my head to the side, exposing my neck to his hungry gaze.
"Pull the trigger baby. . ." He whispered, his voice dripping with a chilling mix of temptation and command.
He leaned down and kissed my neck, sending a shudder coursing through me.
The sensation was both intoxicating and horrifying, igniting a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within me. I felt trapped in a nightmare where desire and fear intertwined.
"Dakari, stop!" I gasped, trying to pull away from him, but he held me firmly in place.
"You know what you need to do. . ." He murmured against my neck, his breath sending another shiver down my spine. "They're your enemies, Lucrezia. . ."
"I can't do this!" I cried out, my voice breaking. "I won't become a killer!"
Dakari's grip on the gun tightened as he leaned closer, his lips brushing against my ear. "You're stronger than you realize, Lucrezia. This is your chance to show everyone how ruthless the heiress of the Italian Mafia could be."
"N-no. . ."
"Pull the trigger," Dakari urged softly, his voice low and insistent. "Show me you're not afraid."
The weight of the gun felt like a leaden anchor in my hands, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.
"I-I can't. . . No. . ."
"You think you have a choice? I told you, Lucrezia. . . In this world, it's kill or be killed. You have to decide what kind of person you want to be."
I hesitated, my fingers was making its way to pull the trigger as I silently teared up.
"No. . . I can't do this. . ." I stopped myself from doing it.
But Dakari had other plans.
In a swift motion, he took control, pointing the gun at them. My fingers moved against my will, compelled by his forceful guidance.
BANG!
My eyes widened.
The sound echoed in my ears, sharp and unforgiving.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Each shot felt like a piece of my soul being ripped away.
"A-Ah. . ." I trembled as I watched the three men laying on the floor, motionless.
Click click.
The gun no longer has bullets.
I felt sick, a nauseating mix of adrenaline and horror swirling in my stomach.
Dakari stood beside me, his expression unreadable. Had he felt any remorse? Any regret? Or was he simply satisfied with the outcome? I couldn't tell.
He turned to look at me, his gaze piercing through my haze of confusion and grief. With a swift motion, he wiped the tears from my eyes, his touch both tender and unsettling.
"Well done, baby. . ." His voice dripped with an unsettling mix of pride and something darker.
I can only stare at him in horror. "How can you say that?" I managed to choke out, my voice trembling with disbelief. "They were people! We killed them!"
"We?. . . You killed them, baby. . ."
His words struck me like a physical blow, and I felt the ground beneath me shift.
"Don't turn this shit on me, Dakari! Don't you dare manipulate me! You can't." I spat in anger.
I know what he's trying to do all too well. His tactic was classic emotional manipulation, attempting to shift the blame onto me while evoking feelings of guilt and self-doubt.
At my words, he only chuckled and hugged me. "Ah. . . How perceptive of my goddess. . ."
"Fuck you. . . Damn you. . ."
"Hmm. . . Such words doesn't fit your pretty mouth, darling." His tone was mocking, dripping with condescension as he held me close, as if trying to suffocate my fury with his charm.
"Let go of me!" I demanded, my voice rising.
"Ssh, baby. . . It's around 8:00 in the morning. . . Let's calm down, shall we?"
His attempt to soothe me only fueled my irritation.
How could he be so infuriatingly calm?
The world felt like it was spinning out of control, and he was treating it like a casual morning conversation over coffee.
I pulled away from him again, but he tightened his grip just enough to keep me from escaping completely.
"Calm down?" I shot back, incredulous. "You think I can just calm down after what just happened? After what you did?"
Dakari's eyes glinted with amusement, as if my outrage was a performance he enjoyed watching. "You're letting your emotions get the best of you," he said, his voice smooth and condescending. "It doesn't suit you."
I felt a surge of defiance rise within me. "You don't get to dictate how I feel or how I express myself!" I snapped, shaking off his hold completely this time.
His expression shifted from amusement to annoyance.
"You really think you can just walk away from this?" he challenged, stepping closer again, but this time I stood my ground.
"Can't I?" I scoffed and wiped my tears.
His gaze hardened, and for a moment, I saw the true depths of his frustration. "You're making a mistake," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. "You're underestimating the consequences of your actions."
"Worry about yours."
He remained silent, as if he was carefully preparing what to say.
"You think you're so strong. . ." he said finally, his tone laced with sarcasm. "But strength without strategy is just foolishness."
"Strength is also about knowing when to walk away," I countered. "And right now, walking away from you feels like the smartest decision I can make."
I took another step back, creating more distance between us.
The damned bastard didn't let me, though. He walked towards me, not stopping. "Lucrezia, you're powerless right now. There's nothing you can do." His tone was matter-of-fact as he continued to advance, forcing me to walk backward. "I tolerate your foolishness because you're going to be my wife. I can't bear the thought of losing you to those assassins sent to kill you. Yet, you're always finding fault with my ways when all of it was done for your safety."
He backed me against the wall, his presence looming. "Don't you understand, baby? You'd be dead by now if it weren't for me. If you stayed by your father's estate, you wouldn't even be able to live another day."
"Shut up. . ." I muttered, my voice was barely above a whisper.
"You'll be preyed on by everyone who vies your position as the heir." He continued, his tone unyielding.
"Shut up. . ." I repeated, my heart racing as I tried to block out his words.
"You've been nothing but delusional that you will be able to handle everything sent your way." He pressed, his eyes piercing into mine.
The truth of his words stung, but I refused to let him see how deeply they affected me.
I felt trapped between the reality he was painting and the life I desperately wanted to cling to.
I swallowed hard. The fear of being preyed upon was real, and the thought of losing everything terrified me
But did that mean I had to embrace this darkness?
Did it mean I had to become like him?
No.
I'm Lucrezia Viviana, the Italian Mafia heiress, and he's Dakari Dimitri, the Russian Mafia heir. Both of us were born into this world of violence and power struggles, but we were two different people with two different paths.
I only stared at his piercing blue eyes. Both of us looked at each other silently.
Slowly, he leaned closer, his breath warm against my skin, his lips hovering just above mine.
"Let me cherish you. . ." Dakari murmured softly, the words brushing against my lips like a whisper of temptation.
I remained still, my heart racing as I closed my eyes, surrendering to the moment as his lips finally met mine.
I may seem like I desire him outside but deep down, I despise him so much.
He craved a monster? Very well. I would embrace that darkness and become the very thing he sought.