A flicker of amusement crossed Tristan's face and he nodded as if I'd passed some unspoken test. "You're right", he said, stepping back. "But you'll learn that in this world, trust isn't always a luxury we can afford."
He motioned towards the door. "Come with me."
Without waiting for a response, Tristan led me down a series of hallways, each one more opulent than the last. I had barely had time to explore the estate, and already I felt lost within its maze. But as we descended a narrow set of stairs into what appeared to be the basement, the air changed. The elegant façade of the house above gave way to something colder, darker.
The hallway was dimly lit, and the walls were made of thick concrete. A single heavy door stood at the end, and Tristan opened it with a slow, deliberate push.
Inside was a small room, sparsely furnished with a single table and two chairs. But what caught my attention wasn't the setting -it was a man seated in one of the chairs, his hands bound behind him, a bloodied gash on his temple.
I froze, my breath catching in my throat as the man looked up at me , his eyes wild with fear.
"This is your first lesson," Tristan said quietly, stepping aside to let me enter the room fully. "His name is Carlo. He's one of ours... or at least, he was."
My stomach churned, but I kept my composure, refusing to let him see any weakness.
"He betrayed us," Tristan continued, his tone chilling in its indifference. "Sold information to a rival family. Normally, I'd handle this myself. But today... I'm giving you the opportunity to prove yourself."
I turned to him, my heart hammering in my chest. "What are you asking me to do?"
Tristan's eyes were cold, devoid of emotion. "Show me where your loyalty lies."
For a moment, the world seemed to tilt. This wasn't just a test. It was a line in the sand. If I refused, I would show myself as weak. If I agreed, I would be complicit in the violence that defined their world.
My eyes darted between Tristan and Carlo, the man trembling in his chair, knowing his fate rested in my hands. I felt the weight of my decision pressing down on me. In that moment, I understood that this was more than just loyalty to Tristan or his family.
This was about survival. I stepped forward, my expression hardening. "What do you want me to do?"
Tristan handed me a gun, his fingers brushing against mine as he passed it to me. His eyes gleamed with something unreadable- anticipation, perhaps.
I gripped the cold steel in my hands, my pulse racing. The room seemed to shrink around me, the walls closing in. There was no way out. I could feel it-the violence, the darkness, pulling me in. And there, standing beside Tristan, I realized that my choice had already been made the moment I'd said my VOWS.
I aimed the gun, my heart pounding louder than ever.
And then, I pulled the trigger.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED???? To be continued.....loviessss ❤️