The tension in the mansion was suffocating. Bruises had begun to fade, but the pain lingered—not just from the marks on my face but from the weight of their control.
Nico hadn't slapped me again since the last time, but his silence was more terrifying than any blow. He didn't yell. He didn't mock. He just watched. Waiting.
I wanted to believe he was the calmest of the three. That his detachment meant he didn't care as much.
I was wrong.
Caught Again
It was late, the halls dark and quiet. I'd snuck out of my room, desperate for a moment to breathe.
The kitchen seemed safe enough. The air smelled faintly of coffee, and the low hum of the refrigerator filled the silence. I poured myself a glass of water, letting the coolness soothe my parched throat.
"Breaking rules again?"
I nearly dropped the glass at the sound of Nico's voice.
He stepped into the room, his emerald-green eyes sharp and unrelenting. He didn't look tired, though it was past midnight. He never did.
"I—I just needed water," I said quickly, setting the glass on the counter.
"You needed water," Nico repeated, his tone flat.
I nodded, my breath catching in my chest.
Nico stepped closer, his movements deliberate and measured. He reached out, his hand brushing the glass before knocking it to the floor. The crash was deafening in the stillness.
"Clean it up," he said, his voice calm but cold.
I dropped to my knees instinctively, my hands trembling as I gathered the shards.
"You know what your problem is, Sophia?" Nico continued, his tone even. "You think you're smarter than us. Sneaking around, testing limits. But every time you push, you make it worse for yourself."
"It's just water," I whispered, tears stinging my eyes.
Nico crouched down, his face inches from mine. "Nothing is just anything in this house. Do you understand?"
I nodded quickly, my chest heaving.
"Good," Nico said softly, his hand grabbing my wrist and pulling me to my feet. His grip was firm, painful, his emerald gaze boring into mine. "Because the next time you step out of line, I won't be this forgiving."
Leo's Fury
The next morning, Leo's mood was even worse.
I'd barely stepped into the living room before his icy-blue eyes fixed on me, pinning me in place. Adrian was there, too, lounging on the couch with his usual smirk.
"You're up early," Adrian said, his storm-gray eyes flicking over me. "Didn't think you'd survive the night."
"Shut up, Adrian," Leo snapped, his tone sharp.
Adrian raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin widening. "Just making conversation."
Leo ignored him, his attention focused entirely on me. "Nico told me what happened last night."
My stomach dropped.
"You think you can keep disobeying us?" Leo continued, stepping closer. "You think there are no consequences?"
"It was just water," I said, my voice trembling.
Leo's hand shot out, grabbing my chin and forcing me to look up at him. "Stop testing me, Sophia. Stop testing us."
"I'm not—"
"You are," Leo interrupted, his icy gaze piercing. "And it ends now."
Adrian's Game
"She's not going to learn like this," Adrian said, standing from the couch. "You're being too nice, Leo."
Leo's grip on my chin tightened slightly before he released me, stepping back. "If you think you can handle it better, be my guest."
Adrian's grin widened, his storm-gray eyes glinting with cruel amusement as he walked toward me.
"See?" Adrian said, his voice teasing. "This is why I'm the fun one."
He grabbed my wrist, his touch firm but playful. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's see if we can fix that attitude of yours."
"Adrian," Leo warned, his tone sharp.
"What?" Adrian replied, his smirk unfaltering. "You said I could handle it."
Before I could react, Adrian pulled me closer, his hand sliding to the back of my neck. His touch wasn't gentle—it was possessive, controlling.
"Do you know what your problem is?" Adrian asked, his tone low and mocking. "You don't know when to shut up. Or when to sit still."
I struggled against his grip, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Let me go," I said, my voice trembling.
Adrian chuckled softly, his grip tightening. "Not until you start behaving."
"Enough," Leo said, his voice like ice.
Adrian released me suddenly, his grin widening as he stepped back. "Relax, boss. I was just trying to help."
"Get out," Leo snapped, his icy-blue gaze narrowing.
Adrian raised his hands in mock surrender, his smirk lingering as he walked out of the room.
The Quiet Threat
When I finally escaped to my room, I locked the door, my body trembling. But the quiet didn't last long.
A soft knock made my stomach twist, and I hesitated before opening the door.
Nico stood there, his emerald-green eyes unreadable.
"What do you want?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"You're making this harder than it needs to be," Nico said calmly.
"I'm not doing anything," I replied, my chest tightening.
"You're breathing," Nico said, his tone soft but cutting. "And in this house, that's enough to piss someone off."
He stepped closer, his presence suffocating.
"You're not going to win, Sophia," he said quietly. "You're not going to outsmart us. You're not going to escape. So stop trying."
I stared at him, my pulse racing. "Why do you hate me so much?"
Nico tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "Hate you?" he repeated. "I don't hate you. I just don't care about you."
His words hit harder than any slap.
He turned and walked away, leaving me alone with nothing but the sound of my ragged breathing.