The Devil Who Claimed Me

Once Dominic was out of the hall and the door shut behind him, the sound of chatters, laughter, and clicking of glasses faded. The hallway was quiet. But then he heard that sound.

It was a woman’s desperate cry.

"Mila?" He ran toward the sound.

When he came toward the restroom, he saw two men pressing her down, trying to violate her. His blood boiled.

"Get your hands off her." His loud voice cut through the air like a blade.

Both men froze and looked behind, only to meet Dominic’s deadly glare. Their faces ashen. They stood up instantly.

Mila turned her head, her vision blurry with tears. She saw Dominic at the end of the corridor. Then he approached with a stormy momentum.

There was no restraint in his movement. He seemed to kill both men with his own hands. Raw fury radiated from his eyes.

Both men backed away.

"Mr. Russo," one of them spoke, "let us explain. It’s not what it seems. He pointed at Mila. "It’s her fault. She seduced us first."

"Yes," the other one joined him. "It’s her. She came to us and threw herself onto us."

Mila sat up, shaking her head. She was afraid he wouldn’t trust her. "They are lying," she said, her voice breaking. "Do you believe me?"

Dominic’s focus went to Mila. Her disheveled state, her trembling form, the fear in her eyes – twisted something inside his chest painfully.

He removed his jacket instantly and draped it around her shoulders, pulling it up to his chest. He turned his furious gaze on them.

The temperature in the corridor seemed to drop.

"You touched her?" His voice was low yet lethal. "Do you have any idea what you have done? She is my woman, mine...How dare you?"

"Mr. Russo, we didn’t know..."

"You didn’t know?" Dominic growled. "She came with me and was with me all the time. And you said you didn’t know."

"We are Mr. Lee’s men. You should think about the deal."

They thought it would stop Dominic from hurting them.

But Dominic remained unyielding. "The deal? You think I’ll care about that after you lay hands on her?"

They exchanged glances, dread consuming them.

"She is my woman," he repeated. "And you thought you could touch her?"

He pulled out his gun and took two shots. The bullets pierced their legs.

Both men cried in agony and collapsed on the floor, clutching their legs.

One man glared up at him. "Are you crazy?" he spat. "You shot us just for a woman. Mr. Lee will never forgive you. This deal is off the table."

"You should be thankful that I didn’t shoot you in the head," Dominic thundered. "And if Mr. Lee canceled the deal for guys like you, then be it. I won’t work with him either."

He pulled Mila closer to him and walked away.

Dominic didn’t stop walking until they reached a private suite at the end of the corridor. He pushed the door open and led Mila inside, shutting it firmly behind them.

A heavy silence enveloped them.

"Mila..." He clasped her trembling hands. Guilt tightened his chest. He couldn’t keep her safe.

’I shouldn’t have left her alone,’ he said to himself regretfully. ’I should know how these people are.’

His jaw tightened again. "Are you hurt?"

Mila shook her head. "I’m fine..." she whispered, though her heart was still racing.

He brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

"Did they...?" he began, but stopped midway.

"No," Mila replied quickly.

A breath left him subtly.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Dominic wanted to hold her to his chest and erase the painful memory from her mind, but he didn’t move, afraid to startle her. Then, slowly, carefully, he cupped her face, wiping her tears away.

Mila looked up at him. "What about the deal?" she asked quietly. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"That’s not important right now."

How could that be? He was so eager for this meeting, hopeful that Mr. Lee’s connection would make him more powerful. Once he defeated his enemies, Mila would get her freedom. That was why she had agreed to help him.

"Everything depended on it," she insisted. "You were so excited about meeting Mr. Lee. I still remember..."

"You shouldn’t worry about it," he cut in. "Sit here. I’ll have someone bring fresh clothes for you."

He stepped away and called someone.

A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face. Mila couldn’t sit quietly. "What do you think Mr. Lee will decide now?" she asked.

Dominic turned to her, then his expression hardened.

"I don’t care," he said coldly. "After what just happened, I have no interest in working with him."

Mila’s brows drew together. "But if he joins Marco, won’t that make things worse for you?"

Dominic looked at her for a moment, then turned away slightly, running a hand through his hair. It was really a matter of concern.

"I’ll deal with Marco," he said with quiet certainty. "With or without Mr. Lee. I’ll find another way."

Mila fell silent. She wasn’t sure if she believed that. Her mind raced with nervous energy.

’Will I ever get my freedom?’

A knock came at the door, drawing her attention.

Dominic opened the door.

A staff member greeted him respectfully. "Sir, these were clothes you have requested."

He held out a set of neatly packed clothes.

Dominic took them and handed them to Mila.

"Go change."

She moved toward the adjoining room without a word.

A few minutes later—

Mila stepped out, dressed in fresh clothes. She looked calmer but not untouched by what had happened.

Dominic was standing near the window, his back to her, his posture rigid. Before either of them could speak, the door burst open.

A guard rushed in, out of breath.

"Boss—Mr. Lee is furious," he said quickly. "He is demanding to see you."

The air in the room shifted again.

Dominic’s eyes darkened. "Of course he is."

He glanced at Mila briefly. "Stay here. I’ll be back soon."

"I’m coming with you," she said.

"No," he refused. "You are not coming."

"But I’m the interpreter," she insisted. "I’m the only one who can translate whatever he says."

Dominic couldn’t deny it. Reluctantly, he agreed to take her along.

"Let’s go then."

Together, they headed back to the hall.

The moment they entered, Mr. Lee stormed toward him and started yelling at Dominic furiously. He was speaking fast, his eyes wide and red in fury, his breath uneven. He seemed as if he had lost his mind completely.

Dominic couldn’t understand a word he said. But he guessed what Mr. Lee must be saying. Before Mila could translate back to him, he started speaking in a deadly calm voice.

"You must be furious because I hurt your men. And certainly, you want to cancel the deal. Then go on. I don’t want to work with you either."