The Devil Who Claimed Me

Mila didn’t want to answer it. "It’s too early. I don’t even know what it is yet."

Before Lara could ask further, Mila stood up. "I need the restroom."

She walked away, her steps slightly unsteady. The alcohol had finally settled into her bloodstream. Her vision blurred for a few seconds, then cleared.

’Being tipsy is not entirely unpleasant.’ She smiled at herself.

The ache in her chest had dulled. The argument she had with Ethan earlier that afternoon, the anger – all felt distant. At that moment, she felt light, free.

Thud

As she neared the restroom, a strange sound reached her ears. Then came something like a muffled groan.

She paused. ’Is someone in trouble?’

Her brows drew together. "Hello?" she called out cautiously. "Does anyone need help?"

Another sound came, louder this time. Mila jumped in her place. She couldn’t understand what it was. Before she could think further, a man stumbled out of the men’s toilet.

He was bruised, battered, face swollen, clothes torn. Blood streamed from his temple. He looked like he had just escaped something brutal.

Mila gaped at him, eyes wide. Before she could react, he bolted toward her. She wanted to step aside, but her legs seemed to have jammed in place.

He pushed her aside hard and ran away.

Mila swayed, losing her balance completely. The world tilted. She was about to fall when strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her firmly against a solid chest.

Everything stilled at that moment. Her hands instinctively clutched the man’s shirt. She blinked up. Through her slightly blurry vision, she saw him.

He was tall, strong, with a black mask covering the upper half of his face. But Mila could see those grey eyes behind the mast. Those were cold, piercing, and dangerous. Yet, she wasn’t scared. She didn’t feel threatened. Instead, his embrace gave her a strange feeling of safety.

"These eyes," she murmured. "They are familiar." A small, dazed smile let her lips curl upward. "Big guy. Is that really you?"

Dominic froze for half a minute. He had hidden his face under a mask carefully so no one could recognize him. Yet she had even under the haze of alcohol.

He turned his head aside, adjusting his mask.

’You have mistaken.’ Those words almost escaped his mouth. But for some reason, he couldn’t lie.

His instinct urged him to chase the man down. But he couldn’t leave her swaying like this. He grasped her shoulders, steadying her.

"Woman, you are drunk," he said coldly. "You are seeing things. Stay here until I am back."

Then he left immediately.

"Hey, where are you going?" she called out from behind, but he didn’t slow down. She pouted slightly. "Why are you even here? Shouldn’t you be resting at home?"

Outside the bar...

Dominic scanned the road, but there was no sign of the man. Frustrated, he cursed under his breath. He had nearly killed him inside the restroom. But Mila’s sudden, unexpected voice distracted him for a fraction of a second.

That was all it had taken.

The man had escaped. But that bastard had shoved Mila down. The memory itself made his blood boil.

"If I find him again, I’ll give him such a death that his whole generation will remember it."

He was about to storm further down the street when a voice called him from behind. Dominic paused and turned sharply to see Lucas rushing over.

"You caught him?" he asked urgently.

Lucas nodded. "He didn’t get far."

Dominic breathed a small sigh, only to harden his expression the next minute. "Take me to him."

Lucas led the way.

They found him in a dim, deserted alley two streets away.

He was curled on the ground, wrists and ankles bound tightly behind him. His mouth was sealed with tape.

Dominic approached slowly.

The man recoiled when he saw who was coming. His body shook. His eyes were wide with terror.

Dominic crouched and grabbed him by his collar, dragging him up. With one rough motion, he ripped the tape from his mouth.

The man screamed in pain and panic.

"Speak," Dominic demanded. "What is Marco planning next?"

The man spat blood at his feet, refusing to speak.

"Answer me. Or I’ll make your life miserable," Dominic threatened coldly.

"I’d rather die than betray him," the man hissed.

"Really?" Dominic sneered dangerously. "You are so eager to die. Then I have to fulfil your wish."

The man laughed weakly. "Marco is the real heir, the only blood related to the former mafia king, Alejandro Russo. He should be the next king. And you." He snorted scornfully. "You are nothing. An orphan. No origin. You don’t deserve to be the king."

The alley went silent.

Lucas stiffened, his gaze moving to Dominic instinctively.

Dominic didn’t react immediately. But something cold settled in his eyes. Without a word, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small glass vial filled with clear liquid.

Before the man could understand anything, Dominic forced his jaw open and poured it inside.

The man gagged, trying to spill it out.

Dominic pressed a hand over his mouth and forced him to swallow.

The man began coughing violently. "What – what did you give me?" he croaked.

Dominic leaned in and whispered in his ear. "It’s a poison. Lethal one."

He shoved him down.

The man’s face paled instantly. He coughed and coughed as if trying to vomit it out. But it was too late. He had already consumed it.

Dominic continued calmly, "It will first weaken your immune system. Then your organs will start failing one by one. You won’t die immediately. But the pain will make you wish you had."

The man’s face twisted in rage and fear. "You are a monster. No wonder they call you merciless Devil."

Dominic took out another vial and held it before his face. "Do you know what it is?"

The man scowled, confused and curious at the same time.

"It’s the antidote," Dominic said. "I thought of giving you. Unfortunately, you called me a monster."

He slid the vial back into his pocket.

The man’s composure was shattered. He didn’t want to die yet. "Please, save me. I’ll tell you everything. Give me the antidote."

Dominic straightened. "A nameless bastard, unworthy king, merciless devil," he repeated those words calmly. "Since I’m all those things, I suppose I should act accordingly."

The man sobbed. "I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have said those things. I am sorry. Please...have some mercy."

Dominic had already lost interest. He wanted to go back to the bar and find Mila.

’She must be alone,’ he thought.

He glanced at Lucas. "Take him away."

He strode away.

The man screamed behind him, begging. But Dominic didn’t look back, nor did he slow down.

When he returned to the bar, Mila was gone from where he had left her. His chest tightened.

"I told her to stay here. Where has she gone now?"

He hurried to the bar to find her, only to stop in his tracks at the sight before him.

Three men had surrounded Mila and her friend. They were visibly drunk, loud, and leaning on the two women too closely.