Tobias' POV

"My sweet boy... come closer. I don't have much strength, but I need you to hear me." My mother's weak and trembling voice broke through.

The hospital room was quiet except for the steady beeping of the heart monitor and the low hum of the machines keeping her alive. Tubes and wires clung to her fragile body, a cruel reminder of how weak she had become. The fluorescent light above cast a pale glow over her face, making her look almost ghostly.

I sat at her bedside, my small hands gripping the blanket as if holding it tighter could somehow keep her from slipping away.

My mother stirred faintly, her breathing heavy and uneven. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she turned her head slowly, her tired eyes finding mine. The wires tugged slightly with her movements, and the sound of the machines filled the silence around us.

My throat tightened, my tears threatening to spill, and I shook my head desperately.

"Mama, don't say that. You're going to get better."

A faint smile curved her lips as she reached for my hand, her skin cold against my warmth.

"I wish I could, my love. But if I can't stay, I want my words to stay with you. You are young now, but you are wiser than your years. Remember this-kindness will always make you strong, not weak. Be gentle with others, even when the world feels harsh."

My chest heaved as I fought the ache in my heart.

"I don't want you to leave me... who will take care of me?"

She brushed her trembling fingers through my hair, her breathing shallow but tender.

"You'll never be alone. You have your uncle, and I'll be watching over you from the sky. But more than that, you have my love, and it will stay in your heart forever. When you feel scared, put your hand on your chest. That beating you hear? That's me, always with you."

My tears fell freely now, soaking the bedsheets as I clung to her arm.

"But I need you, Mama. I don't know how to be brave."

My mother's eyes glistened as she whispered,

"Being brave doesn't mean you don't cry, darling. It means you keep going even when it hurts. Study hard, listen to those who guide you well, and never stop dreaming. One day, you'll be a man I'll be proud of-though I already am."

I hugged her, burying my face against her shoulder, desperate to keep her here.

"I love you, Mama. Please don't forget me."

Her lips trembled into a faint kiss on my forehead, her whisper barely audible.

"Oh, my son... I could never forget you. You are my heart. Live fully, love deeply, and carry me with you always. Promise me that."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, nodding quickly as my tears fell.

"I promise."

For a brief moment, silence settled between us, broken only by the erratic beeping of the monitor. Then, slowly, the sound began to stretch into one long, piercing tone. I froze. My little hands shook as I clutched her arm, my eyes darting to the monitor in fear. Nurses rushed into the room, voices rising, but all I could hear was the sound of that flat, endless beep.

My mother lay still, her chest unmoving. The wires still clung to her, but she was gone.

my eye snapped open.

I gasped, sitting upright on the bed, my body drenched in sweat. My heart raced wildly in my chest as I looked around. No hospital. No machines. No wires.

I lifted my trembling hands to my face. They were larger now, stronger-hands not of a child, but of a man. Slowly, realization dawned on me. I wasn't young anymore. I was grown and, more importantly, I was in the devil's house.

If my mother were still alive, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be proud of the decision I made yesterday.

I recalled the encounter I had with Benjamin yesterday-accepting his proposition to become his personal whore, and how he used my mouth for his pleasure.

Fuck, I hated the way my body reacted to him using me. The desire I felt was like nothing before. I was high on pleasure even without him touching me. My cock had fought against my trousers, desperate to break free.

And that bastard made sure to tell me. Fuck his confidence, fuck his money, and fuck his enormous cock.

I looked down at my already hard cock, a wet spot already forming. Damn. That bastard wasn't even here, and just thinking of him made me hard. I needed to get a grip on myself.

I shifted into a sitting position on the bed, forcing myself to think of how he bought me and how much I hated him. That did it-my cock began to soften.

My eyes moved to the hundred-dollar bills on the table-a reminder of the deal I made with the devil. Now I truly felt like a whore.

A sudden commotion outside the window pulled me from my thoughts. I stood, uneasy, and moved closer. What I saw below shook me to my core.

Six massive men in black suits stood in a tight circle, tattoos peeking from under their sleeves.

At their center knelt a man with his hands tied behind his back, ropes cutting into his skin. He looked wretched-like someone who had been tortured for days. The sight of him made bile rise in my throat.

He muttered something to one of the suited men who stepped forward. I couldn't hear the words, but from his desperate body language, I knew he was begging. The man in front of him showed no mercy-he started beating him with brutal force.

I flinched at each blow, watching helplessly from the window. Even though their words didn't reach me, it was clear the victim was pleading for his life.

Then the suited man suddenly stopped. Relief flickered in me-until I saw who stepped forward.

Benjamin.

He carried that same unsettling, psychopathic look, his dark eyes glowing with cruel amusement. The circle of men shifted, making way for him.

My stomach turned as I watched him crouch, speaking to the broken man. Again, I couldn't hear, but the kneeling man's desperate gestures made it obvious he was begging Benjamin for mercy.

Instead of mercy, Benjamin drew a gun from behind his waistband and cocked it against the man's head. The victim shook violently, his pleas growing frantic.

I froze, my sweaty hands trembling against the glass. I felt like I was watching the devil himself at work.

Then Benjamin did something unexpected. He motioned with the gun, signaling the man to stand. Relief flooded the tortured man's face as he rose shakily, limping away with a faint glimmer of hope. I too felt a rush of relief-maybe Benjamin was letting him go.

But the relief was short-lived.

The moment the man took a few steps, Benjamin raised his gun and fired. The man crumpled instantly, blood pooling beneath him.

I blinked rapidly, praying I was hallucinating. My heart thundered so hard I thought it might burst from my chest. Then Benjamin slowly lifted his gaze, and our eyes met.

That devilish smile curved his lips-as though killing a man was nothing but a game. As though he wanted me to know exactly who he was.

I stumbled back from the window, muttering under my breath. I needed to run. I couldn't stay here. I couldn't end up like him.

The click of the door unlocking startled me. I spun around as the woman from yesterday entered, balancing a tray of food in one hand and clean clothes in the other.

"Honey, you look like you've just seen a ghost," she said with motherly concern. Setting the tray down, she moved toward me. "Are you okay? You look pale. Should I inform the boss?"

At the mention of the boss-Benjamin-I snapped out of my daze.

"No, no. I'm fine," I stammered, forcing a smile. I gestured toward the window. "I was just... watching the view. I thought I saw a cat stuck in the tree. It made me feel bad that I couldn't help."

Her face softened. "Oh, you're so kind. I'll ask one of the men to check." She turned toward the window. "Where did you see it?"

"Right there," I pointed quickly, praying she wouldn't look too long. "Maybe it got down already."

"Maybe," she murmured, still scanning the trees.

I glanced back outside. Benjamin and his men were gone. Even the body had vanished. It was as if nothing had happened at all.

The woman turned back with a smile. "Alright, honey, eat your food. And here are some clothes."

I thanked her quietly, my fake smile still plastered on my face. She left, but this time, the door didn't lock behind her.

My pulse raced. Had she forgotten? Or was it a trap?

I didn't care.

I refused to die here.

I crept toward the door, heart pounding, and placed my hand on the knob. Slowly, carefully, I twisted it. The door gave way with the faintest click.

I cracked it open and peeked into the hallway.

Empty.

I slipped out, my breath shallow, only to nearly jump out of my skin when I saw a guard slumped against the wall by my door. Asleep. Stirring slightly.

I tiptoed past the sleeping guard, my breath caught in my throat. The hallway stretched ahead, and at the very end was a door. My only chance.

Every step felt like a lifetime, my pulse pounding louder than my footsteps. Finally, I reached it.

My trembling hand hovered over the knob, hope sparking inside me for the first time. Freedom was just one twist away.

But before I could turn it, a voice cut through the silence.

Smooth. Cold. Familiar.

"Going somewhere, sweetheart?"

My blood ran cold.

I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Benjamin.

Benjamin's pov

"Going somewhere, sweetheart?"

Tobias's shoulders stiffened at the sound of my voice, the faintest tremor rippling through his frame. Exactly the reaction I'd expected. Exactly the reaction I wanted.

I leaned against the wall, arms crossed loosely over my chest, watching him struggle to summon the courage to face me. He didn't have to turn around; he knew it was me. His body recognized my voice.

A bitter amusement twisted in my chest. He thought he could slip away-quietly, unseen. As if I wouldn't notice. As if I hadn't been watching all along.

He doesn't know that his room adjoins mine and that I have a camera set up there. I purposely told Agnes to leave the door unlocked. I guess I wanted some fun. I wanted to see if he would try to escape after what he witnessed me do. And fuck, I'm ready for the chase.

Dmitri informed me the moment my defiant possession decided to make a run for it. I waited a bit, just enough to give him the illusion that he'd almost succeeded.

"Sweetheart," I drawled, letting the word drip with a cruel fondness I knew would cut sharper than any blade. "Leaving without saying goodbye? Now, that's not very polite." I smirked.

The silence between us stretched thick and suffocating, broken only by the sound of his unsteady breath. I took a step closer-slow, deliberate-savoring the way the air seemed to tighten with each movement.

Tobias turned towards me slowly. I expected fear in his eyes. Instead, when he faced me, I was wrong. His face wasn't filled with fear but with anger and rage. His hand tightly gripped the hem of his shirt.

Oh, my, my... am I not intrigued? This is going to be fun.

"It seems you've forgotten what I told you in the auction house." I moved closer, whispering in his ear.

"Let me remind you, Tobias." I growled. "I said if you try to run, I'll make sure you beg me to kill you."

"Just like you killed that man, right?" Tobias finally spoke. I had started to think he'd accepted his fate. I smiled.

"You monster!" he shouted, his voice dripping with anger, his face twisted with rage. He shoved me back with both hands, catching me off guard.

Dmitri, my head of security, interfered immediately, wrenching Tobias's arms behind his back. Tobias struggled against his grip. I laughed in a sadistic manner, his confusion only fueling my amusement.

"How could you just fucking kill someone like that? You're not human-you're a monster!" he spat, still thrashing against Dmitri's hold.

I captured his chin in my palm. "That's nothing compared to what I can do to you." Anger was already building within me as I tightened my grip, forcing a wince from him.

"You think that was me being a monster? Hm?" Tobias's face reddened from the pressure.

"I can show you why they call me the devil." Dmitri knocked his legs out from under him, forcing him to his knees.

"But you know what?" I loosened my grip, massaging the already reddened skin as he looked up at me, pupils dilated, Adam's apple bobbing.

Damn, the sight is fucking erotic. I loved the way his body responded to me. I know he feels it too-and he hates it. My cock jerked to life at the thought.

"I have other ways to punish you." I smirked.

"What do you mean?" he asked, voice shaky.

"Don't worry your pretty head about that." My hand slid into his hair, massaging slowly.

I glanced at Dmitri. "Take him back to his room."

Dmitri dragged him up, Tobias struggling the entire way. I followed, but instead of going into his room, I went into mine.

Opening the drawer, my lips curled into a wicked smile at the sight before me. I grabbed the ropes, lube, and dildo, then headed to the adjoining door. Fuck, the thrill had my cock thickening.

When I stepped inside Tobias's room, Dmitri still had him restrained, sitting on the bed.

"What are those?" Tobias tensed, eyes locked on the items in my hands.

"Don't worry your pretty head, sweetheart." I smirked, loving his reaction. I set the items on the table, then snatched his arms from Dmitri's grip, binding them tightly with the rope as he fought against me.

"Let go of me, you psycho!" Tobias repeated as I secured his wrists to the headboard. Then I bound his legs to the edge of the bed.

"You can leave," I ordered Dmitri. He nodded and slipped out, the door clicking shut. I turned back to Tobias.

He thrashed against the ropes. "Let me go!" His voice cracked as fear bled into his eyes. "Why are you doing this?"

"Consider this your punishment, Tobias-I'll give you pleasure. But release? That's a privilege you'll have to earn."

"What the fuck! You fucking psycho! Let me go!"

"Shh..." I hushed him as I leaned in, stroking his cheek gently.

"When I'm done with you, you'll be a writhing mess, begging for more." My hand trailed down his chest, slow and deliberate.

His breath hitched, uneven as he fought what he was feeling.

"Red," I said, continuing my torment. "That's your safe word. Use it if you truly want me to stop. But I doubt you will-you're attracted to me. You love this, even if you fight it, sweetheart." My thumb brushed over his plump bottom lip.

"Imagine how these lips would look on my cock," I teased. And if I heard right, he whimpered. Fuck, that sound shot straight to my cock.

"Even though I gave you a safe word, I still want verbal consent. If you don't want this, I'll leave right now-and punish you in other ways."

He stared at me, his body and eyes betraying him, lust written all over his face. Finally, he nodded.

"No, sweetheart. Use your words. Yes or no?"

His eyes closed in defeat. "Yes."

I smiled.

Shrugging off my jacket, I tossed it aside. My gaze locked on his face. So damn beautiful-like a fallen angel. His eyes, dark pools. His lips, pressed firm.

I sat at the edge of the bed, hand settling on his thigh. He jolted at my touch as I slid higher, sparks igniting in my blood. His panting grew louder when my fingertips brushed his cock.

"One word," I husked as my hand slipped between his legs. "And everything stops."

Finally, he nodded, surrendering to his desire.