The Devil Who Claimed Me

Remy stood frozen, disbelief written all over his face. His gaze shifted slowly from Serene to Mila.

"This... this can’t be true," he said hoarsely. "Mila... tell me it’s not."

Mila shook her head immediately, panic rising in her chest. "It’s not what you think. Let me explain—"

"We don’t need your explanation," Serene cut in sharply. "You betrayed Dominic. You leaked secrets to the enemy and put all of us in danger. Do you think we’ll still listen to your lies?"

"No!" Mila’s voice trembled, but she forced herself to stay firm. "I had my reasons. I wasn’t working for Marco."

"Stop lying," Valentina barked, her patience gone. "I’ve been watching you and your little partner for days. I know everything."

Mila’s stomach dropped. Only then did she realize that Valentina had already caught the janitor.

"There are five more like you," Valentina continued coldly. "Their names are out. They’ll be dealt with soon. And you..."

Her grip tightened painfully around Mila’s arm. "I’ll handle you myself."

She yanked Mila forward.

But Remy stepped in again, placing himself in front of them. "Even if she is a spy, it’s not your place to decide to punish her. Let Dominic come. He will decide what to do with her."

Valentina’s lips curled in irritation. Without hesitation, she pulled out her gun and pointed it straight at him. "Still want to stop me?"

Remy’s heart jumped into his mouth. His hands instinctively rose in surrender. He looked at Mila apologetically.

Valentina shoved past him and dragged Mila away.

Remy stood rooted in place, watching them disappear, guilt clawing at his chest.

"What? Regretting it now?" Serene’s mocking voice came from beside him.

"I warned you," she continued. "She was never safe here. You didn’t listen. Now look—she is finished. Dominic will never forgive betrayal. He’ll kill her."

Remy scowled at her, suspicion seeping into her mind. "Did you frame her?"

Serene laughed. "I don’t have to. This time, she has fallen into a trap on her own. I can’t wait to see what Valentina will do to her."

She turned to leave. But then she paused.

"Oh, yes..." She looked back at him over her shoulder. "Don’t do anything stupid. Or you will have to face Dominic’s wrath."

She walked away.

Remy remained there, fists clenched, his chest heavy.

"I’m sorry, Mila..." he whispered. "I couldn’t protect you."

Valentina dragged Mila down into the dungeon.

The moment Mila crossed the threshold, a suffocating chill wrapped around her.

The air was damp and heavy, laced with the metallic scent of dried blood and rust. Water dripped somewhere in the distance. Dim yellow lights flickered along the stone walls.

Mila’s steps faltered. A wave of dread crashed over her, her stomach tightening.

’This place...’

It felt less like a prison and more like a grave for the living.

"Move." Valentina jerked her forward again.

Mila stumbled but forced herself to keep walking, her pulse hammering wildly in her ears.

As they passed the cells, her breath caught.

Men were chained inside—battered, bruised, barely conscious. Some hung limply against the shackles, while others twitched weakly, their bodies marked with fresh and old wounds alike.

Horror crawled up her spine, cold and sharp. She couldn’t imagine the amount of torture they might have gone through.

"Do you know who these people are?" Valentina hissed.

Mila flinched and turned her head toward her.

"They were once loyal to King Alejandro," Valentina said coldly. "But they betrayed him and sided with Marco. Dominic caught every single one of them."

A chill seeped into Mila’s bones.

"He hates betrayal," Valentina continued. "And that’s exactly what you did."

She grabbed her neck and turned to the right.

Mila’s breath hitched as she saw the janitor lying on the floor, with her hands and legs tied, motionless. Blood dried in the corner of her mouth.

For a second, Mila thought she was dead.

"She thought no one would catch her," Valentina went on. "But look at her now. She is caught and trapped. And her family..."

Mila flicked her gaze to her. "What did you do to her family?" she asked instantly.

Valentina smirked. "Worried? Of course, you are. She is your partner after all. I saw how you saved her son last night."

She yanked Mila’s hair harshly.

Mila gasped in pain.

"But they won’t be safe for long," Valentina added coldly.

She shoved Mila into an empty cell.

Mila hit the ground hard. Pain shot through her body.

Before she could recover, Valentina lunged forward and grabbed her throat.

"You filthy traitor," she hissed. "Dominic trusted you. He protected you. And this is how you repay him?"

Her grip tightened.

"I’ll kill you."

Mila struggled for air, her vision blurring. "I didn’t have a choice," she choked out. "Marco forced me. He threatened to kill my friend."

Her words only fueled Valentina’s anger. "Save your excuses."

She slapped Mila hard.

The impact rang in her ears.

Still gasping, Mila forced the words out. "I’m not lying... I told Dominic everything. I’m helping him, pretending to work for Marco..."

Another slap cut her off.

"Do you think I’m a fool?" Valentina roared.

She pulled out her phone and played the recording.

The janitor’s confession echoed in the dungeon. Every word tightened the noose around Mila.

Mila was surprised to know that there were more who had been working for Marco, ready to kill Dominic if they got a chance. But they couldn’t do it because of the tight security.

She understood why he had targeted her.

Marco needed someone who could go close to Dominic.

’It’s all because of my fault,’ she thought, feeling guilty. ’If I had not been reckless that night, I wouldn’t have been in this situation.’

When it ended, Valentina shoved the phone away.

"Still want to lie?"

Mila shook her head weakly. "I didn’t betray him. He knows everything..."

Valentina grabbed her throat again. "You leaked the mission. Marco knows. Dominic is in danger because of you."

Her voice turned deadly.

"If anything happens to him... I’ll make sure you suffer before you die."

"Why wait? Punish her now." Serene stepped in, her loud voice piercing the tension.

"Dominic and the whole team are in danger now," Serene added. "It’s all because of her. Are we going to just sit and wait?"

That was the final push.

Valentina’s control snapped. "No."

She pulled out her gun and aimed it straight at Mila. "I won’t wait anymore."