I stand there quiet, if he has a suspicion then he should fucking work on it. 

"Why did you leave?" he asked, his voice calm but sharp enough to cut through the tension.

"I was sick of it," I said, my tone flat. It wasn't a lie. It had been a game to me, one I played until I got what I wanted. By then, there was no point in staying.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't suspect you."

I shoved my hands into my pockets and rose to my feet, walking closer until I was inches from his face. His words were a challenge, and he knew it. Daring me to act. Testing me.

But I wasn't afraid of him. If I wanted to, I could smash his head against the wall and bury his body right next to his father's grave. The thought almost made me smile. I'd made him who he was, built him from nothing, and now he had the nerve to stand there and question me like I was some kind of commoner. My fists clenched at my sides, the urge to hit him burning through me.

But not yet. Not now. If I killed him here, it would be too soon. Taking him out meant taking down two leaders in a row, and the organization wouldn't rest until they hunted me down for it.

"I don't need to," I said finally, my voice calm as I forced myself to relax.

He nodded slowly, his curls bouncing slightly before settling back into place. Then he circled me, taking his time as he studied my face, searching for any crack, any hint of guilt or fear. I gave him nothing. My glare was steady, my expression cold.

"Fine. I believe you," he said at last, stepping back and raising his hands in mock surrender. His fingers brushed his neck, a casual gesture that somehow made my skin crawl, like he was toying with me.

"Can I have a glass of water?" The request was polite, almost casual, but I felt the weight of it. Felt the resistance in my chest. I didn't want to do it. Didn't want to serve him anything.

"Are you going to give a brother some water?" he pressed, his voice light but insistent.

I almost told him to get it himself. Almost. But the thought of him wandering through my house, snooping where he didn't belong, stopped me. Instead, I turned on my heel and went to the kitchen, grabbing a glass and filling it from the faucet.

When I came back, he was gone. The door was still shut making me wonder why I didn't hear him leave. I shoot my eyes to the door upstairs to find it slightly open.

Shit!

I raced up the stairs, my heart hammering in my chest as I shoved the door wide open.

There he was.

He had her backed into a corner, her body curled up like a wounded animal, trembling, barely able to look at him. His filthy hand gripped her waist, holding her in place, while his other arm leaned against the doorframe, blocking any chance of escape.

My vision turned red.

I didn't think, didn't pause-I was on him before his disgusting tongue could touch her neck. I slammed him into the wall, the force rattling the entire room. He crashed onto the table, scattering papers and glass to the floor, but somehow, he got back to his feet, his eyes blazing with a twisted kind of satisfaction.

My blood boiled. How dare he touch her without my permission?

"Is this it?" he taunted, his voice venomous. "Is this the reason you left? So you could live out your wild fantasies?"

"Shut the fuck up," I growled, my fists clenching at my sides.

"Or maybe," he continued, undeterred, "you were hoping for a love story, huh? Settle down with her, have kids running around the house. I can't see that for you-but damn, she is gorgeous."

"I said shut it."

He sneered, circling me like a predator toying with its prey. "You're forgetting something, Dare. Men like you and me? We don't get to settle down. We don't get love. No matter how much you try, it's not for you."

"Mark!" My voice was a warning, but he ignored it.

He leaned closer, each tone dripping with malice. "She'll never love you. Does she even know who you really are? The things you've done-not just the assignments, but the women? If she knew, she wouldn't stay here for another second." He paused, a twisted smile spreading across his face as realization dawned.

"You kidnapped her," he said, his voice almost gleeful. "That's it, isn't it? You took her."

One more word. One more fucking word, and I'd slit his throat.

"She cannot fucking handle you Dare, the things I have seen you do, she can't fucking handle it. You have dark, twisted fantasy, she looks like you could break if you fucking touch her" 

The truth hurts just as they say. She was a fragile little thing, her skin was soft as silk, her eyes blue as the ocean, her long black hair that stopped at her waist. But besides being fragile and beautiful, she gave herself to me. She chosed to belong to me, it wasn't entirely my decision, she made the decision too.

Staring at her, she is still pinned to the wall where he left her, I wonder the things he had told her in the few minutes I was behind, her eyes are weary and she looks at me with fear. It is much different from the first time we met, when I gaze into those delicate blue eyes and made the biggest decision of my life. Sparing a witness.

Now, she looked at me like I was just another monster.

Mark pushed himself off the wall, brushing broken glass from his shoulders. He wasn't done. His smirk curved into something smug, calculating. He turned back to her,closing up the space between them.

"If you come with me, darling," he began, his tone slick, "I promise I won't make your life miserable. Unlike him. There's nothing he can offer you but pain and misery." He stretched his hand toward her, his audacity dripping from every syllable.

That was it.

I grabbed him by the collar, yanking him away from her before he could take another step. My grip tightened as my defenses kicked in, and I dragged him toward the window. Without hesitation, I smashed his head through the glass.

She screamed behind me, her hands flying to her mouth, but I didn't turn around. My focus was on him-the bastard bleeding from his head, his arms dangling uselessly out the shattered window. 

His dazed, blood-smeared face twisted into a weak smile, his eyes glinting with defiance.

"Say one more fucking word," I growled, my voice low and lethal, "and I'll throw you out this window."

Silence. For once, he understood the gravity of my warning.

I yanked him back inside and threw him to the floor. He groaned, clutching at his head, his once-arrogant demeanor crumbling. I loomed over him, rage still pulsing through my veins.

"Leave," I said, my voice cold and final. "And never fucking return."

He looked up at me, his expression shifting-half a promise, half a threat. It wasn't over, not for him. But I didn't care. If I saw him again, if he tried to pull this shit one more time, I wouldn't stop. Next time, I'd kill him.

Mark stumbled to his feet and staggered toward the door, leaving a trail of blood behind him.

I turned back to her. She still stood against the wall, staring at me like I was the same monster she'd feared minutes ago. Maybe she was right. Maybe I was.

I sank into the cushions of the couch, my arms dangling loosely from the armrests as I exhaled, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. The room was quiet, save for my own breathing and the faint creak of the house settling. I forced myself to let go of Mark's words, to push his poisonous voice out of my mind.

Then I heard her footsteps.

They echoed softly down the stairs, each step slow. She wasn't rushing. She wasn't fleeing. But she wasn't calm either. I could feel her hesitation, the weight of her thoughts as she moved toward me. For a moment, her steps stopped entirely, lingering in one spot as if she were deciding whether to face me or retreat.

My patience wore thin.

"Come to me," I ordered.

The pause lingered before she obeyed, finally stepping into the living room. She stopped a few feet in front of me, her posture stiff, her head tilted down. She wouldn't meet my eyes. But I searched for them anyway, wanting to see those striking blue eyes, to read whatever she wasn't saying.

I rose to my feet.

She flinched.

The movement was subtle, but I saw it. Felt it. She was scared, and I couldn't entirely blame her. I knew what Mark had said, the seed of doubt he'd planted in her. But it wasn't just him. She had seen me. Seen what I could do.

"What is it?" I asked, my tone controlled, neither harsh nor gentle. Her silence stretched, but I caught the faint sheen of sweat glistening on her forehead.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze, those brilliant blue eyes meeting mine for just a heartbeat before they dimmed again, her lashes lowering as she looked away.

"What are you going to do to me?" she asked softly, her voice trembling, her head bowing once more.

If only she knew.

If only she knew the things I wanted to do to her, the thoughts that burned through my mind whenever I looked at her. She'd run. Scream. Never look back.

I bit my lip, stepping toward her. She moved back, instinctively, but I didn't stop. I closed the distance, step by step, until her back pressed against the wall. The sight of her like this, trapped between me and the unyielding surface, reminded me too much of earlier. Of Mark.

But this was different.

I leaned down, my head resting lightly against her shoulder, my breath brushing against her neck. Her breathing quickened, shallow and uneven. She was terrified, and I couldn't blame her.

My lips hovered near her ear, so close I could feel the warmth radiating from her skin.

"Why?

Are you scared now that he said something to you?" 

A subtle flinch comes from her, I guess she doesn't like me being close to her or Atleast that was what I thought until I felt a pull at the hem of my shirt. The corners of my lips lit up.

I shift backwards and raise her chin to stare at me,

"Are you forgetting that you gave yourself to me, I can do whatever I want with you. Isn't that right?" I question and she nods her head in response.

Such a sweet little girl.

"Don't worry, I will make you feel good. I will make you crave for my touch on your body so much that you will despise every other, you will beg me to touch you in places that you couldn't, you will crawl to me and do whatever I say like my little bitch.

You are mine now" I whispers, my gaze darken and I mean every fucking word I said.

Her knees fail her and she drops to the ground, she is breathless. Damn do I fucking like the sight of her boobs bouncing upwards in a fast motion. I want to feel them in my palm but I restrict myself. I will have her, she was already mine but I won't touch her yet.

Sky

The room was suffocating, the kind of darkness that felt alive, wrapping around me like a second skin. I was naked, trembling, my body pressed against the cold wall. My hands and feet were chained, the iron biting into my skin, reducing me to something less than human. I whimpered, tears streaking my face as the reality of my situation sank deeper. I had no idea where I was, how I got here, or how to escape.

Then, I heard it.

Footsteps.

The sound of leather boots pressing against the floor echoed through the void. My heart raced, panic overtaking me as I scanned the blackness, trying to see where they were coming from. The footsteps grew louder, closer, each one sending a shiver through my body.

The creak of a door opening caught my attention. A sliver of light appeared, faint and distant, casting the outline of a figure. My breath caught as the door swung wider, flooding the room with just enough light for me to make out the man stepping inside.

He was massive, towering, his presence swallowing the space like a shadow come to life. Six feet tall, maybe more. He wore only leather pants and boots, his upper body bare, every inch of it carved like a statue. His muscles rippled with each movement, and his skin gleamed, as if painted with oil and glitter.

His eyes were the first thing that truly terrified me. At first, they burned red, like embers, but they seemed to shift, glowing with an intensity that locked me in place.

I tried to shrink away, pressing myself against the wall, but the chains held me fast. I raised my head again, and he was suddenly there, right in front of me.

I flinched, gasping as he crouched down, his presence overwhelming. He grabbed the chains that bound me and yanked them with a force that made my body jerk violently forward. Pain exploded through me, dragging a cry from my throat as he pulled me across the floor. The cold stone scraped against my skin, and I struggled, my limbs weak and useless against him.

We stopped in the center of the room.

A bright light flickered on above us, illuminating him fully now. My gaze flickered upward, and I saw it: the mask.

A panda mask.

It covered the upper half of his face, leaving only his sharp jawline, green eyes-no longer burning red-and wild, dark curls exposed. Those eyes glinted under the light, full of something I couldn't name. Something dangerous.

I thrashed, desperate to get away, but he pinned me to the ground with a strength that left me helpless. His powerful legs bracketed my body, caging me in, while his right hand pressed down on my waist, trapping me exactly where he wanted.

I tried to scream but my voice is gone and all I could make out was muffled sounds that I could hardly here.

He wrapped the chains around his neck and ran his hand round my body, he groped my breast from underneath, my nipples hard at this point. Why does my body have to act like I am a fucking slut?. He squeezes on them and it hurts. He follows down my back until they stop at my asshole. 

"Don't you dare?" I warned but nothing was coming out. I could feel a finger slip into it, my body twitched from the action but he pressed forth on my waist harder with his order hands. My breasts are slammed hard to the ground turning them flat, my chin hurt from being pushed and dragged around.

Two fingers in and I think he is going to tear it, he pushes it further in and then he stops and pulls them out. My eyes closed waiting for the inevitable, I knew he was going to shove his cock into it since that was the only place of interest to him. His hands trail further until they are on my fucking clit, he slaps it hard and I squint. I crossed my legs immediately a finger waltzed into my cunt, he drags the chain and and turn me over. My legs are wrapped around his waist, spread further than I could imagine. He is looking directly at me, then he dips his finger into my cunt, this time he puts two fingers. My walls are tampered with and they bring forth a sweet sensation, I thrust my hips further to get a better feel and he understands as he pushes his fingers further in. A moan escapes my lips but Ofcourse it was inaudible, he slid them in and out as he worked my hips like I was riding a horse.

A knock came on the door and my eyes open in shock, could there be someone else.

"What is it?" I hear him speak for the first time. His hands still working my pussy but faster this time, I leaned my head back, I was this close to coming when he suddenly pulled out. I opened my eyes again to find myself in the room, he is standing by the bed with his three fingers out, he looks at me and it dawned on me that I was completely naked and desperately fucking his hand in my sleep.

He bit his lower lip and walked out the room,

"We have some issues" I could hear someone say over the door, he takes one last look at me, strictly a warning for me to behave myself then he stormed out.

I glance at myself, my legs spread out, I could see bite marks on my thighs and I don't fucking remember that in the dream. Was I really dreaming? Or is what happened in the dream different from the reality?. 

My stomach grumbled, a loud reminder that I hadn't eaten in hours. I needed food, and I needed it now. The sound of the entrance door shutting echoed faintly, signaling the coast was clear.

I quickly grabbed a pair of jeans from the closet and tugged on a black hoodie from the limited set of clothes he'd given me. My eyes darted around the room as I cracked the door open, making sure the hallway was empty. Satisfied, I slipped out and rushed quietly down the stairs, heading straight for the kitchen.

The cabinets in the kitchen were ridiculously high, clearly designed for someone taller. At barely over five feet, I didn't even bother trying to reach them. Instead, I went straight to the fridge and yanked it open.

There it was.

A strawberry cake, sitting in the center shelf like a gift from the heavens.

I didn't think twice. I grabbed it, pulled a knife from the counter, and carved out a generous slice. Then another. And another. I didn't stop until I was shoving the cake into my mouth, barely pausing to chew. The sweet, creamy texture filled my senses, and for the first time in days, I felt something close to satisfaction.

The sound of the door opening snapped me out of it.

I froze, the knife still in my hand, cake smeared on my lips. Without thinking, I ducked under the counter, clutching the plate close to me. My heart pounded as I listened, every footstep drawing nearer.

No. I wasn't giving up this cake. Not after craving it for a week.

He never says anything to me expect remind me of his fucking rule, I had no idea what his name was until yesterday and I am certain he didn't know mine. All he did was touch my body in ways that I have never touched before, I knew I was his fucking sex toy, just like the man from yesterday had said but it was better to do this than get killed by him. I hated him. I hated everything about this situation. But I wasn't about to starve because of it.

When I think about Mr G and his family, I feel regretful but I have to live too.

The sound of the TV came on in the other room, the faint murmur of news or static. The tension eased slightly, and I sank back against the cabinet, finishing the last bite of cake and licking the plate clean. My stomach was full, my body buzzing from the sugar rush.

I wiped my mouth on my sleeve and peeked out. The coast was quiet.

Carefully, I crept out of the kitchen, keeping my head low as I shut the door softly behind me.

Then I felt it.

That heavy, suffocating sensation, like eyes boring into me. The air turned cold, goosebumps prickling my skin. I slowly raised my head, and my heart stopped.

He was standing there.

Not just him, though.

There were others.

A group of unfamiliar faces, all staring at me like I was something out of place, their expressions a mix of shock and amusement.

I stood there, caught, my pulse hammering in my ears. The remnants of cake on my hoodie sleeve suddenly felt like evidence of a crime.

Busted' were they right words to discuss what was happening right now. 

The room spun as I glanced around, my mind racing to piece together what was happening. My eyes landed on him, Dare. Unlike the others, who stared at me in shock, his face was calm, unreadable. But there it was-something flickered in his eyes. Was it fear?

No, it couldn't be. A man like him didn't know fear.

Before I could make sense of it, one of the other men lunged toward me, his hand outstretched. My instinct was to pull back, but I was frozen in place. The distance between us vanished in a heartbeat.

Then it happened.

Bang.

The sound tore through the air, deafening, leaving my ears ringing. Warm liquid splattered across my face and dripped down my cheek. I froze, my hands trembling as I raised them to touch the sticky wetness.

Blood.

It was blood.

I looked up in horror to see the man who'd reached for me crumple to the ground, a jagged hole in his forehead. His eyes were wide, staring at nothing, his body collapsing like a marionette with its strings cut.

My breath hitched. My legs felt weak.

"Ahhhhhh!" I screamed, the sound erupting from deep in my chest, uncontrollable and loud. I stumbled backward, my hands trembling as they wiped at the blood on my face.

Dare

I am walking across the room when I hear muffled sounds from her room, I could tell exactly what those sounds were and it pissed me off. 

How dare you jerk off herself when I didn't give her the permission, I push open the door to found her squimmering under the sheets, she is breathless and shaking, her eyes are closed.

Is she dreaming? What is she dreaming of? 

"Please" I hear her whisper, the same way she did the other night. It's soft and soothing to the ear, I would never let her go if she begged me with such tone.

She pushed herself down, her legs crossed together and tightly.

I sit by the bed watching her, I could hear moans escaping her lips, my two fingers caressed her lips when she opened them wide. For a minute I thought she was awake and responding to me but she was still fast asleep, I dipped my fingers into her open mouth and she sucks on them immediately. 

Whatever she was dreaming off has her horny as shit. I pulled my fingers out of her lips and ran them down her body, the gown she was wearing got in the way of me feeling her. I wanted her to feel my touch, to know something else was happening in reality.

I ripped the gown off her body throwing it to the ground, exposing her round and hard boobs. She is still whimpering as we speak, no idea of what was going on.

Planting soft kisses on her body, my hands trailed to her pussy,

"Fucking wet" I cursed out, they were already dripping. Slipping my middle finger in, I added the forth finger, she worked her hips into my fingers, her body becoming calmer than before. It was like she could feel my presence or perhaps she was just too horny and needed something to calm her down. I slid them into her anyways beginning my movements, her moans were getting louder at each thrust, her walls closing in on my hands.

'Knock knock'

My eyes diverts to the door and my movement are faster, like I had no time to spare. I kept quiet to see if he would go away but he knocked again.

I rolled my eyes at the door and then turned back to her. She slowly opened her eyes, they are searching mine, she glanced at herself and the position my hands were and humiliation flushes on her face.

I posed a stern look at her before exiting the room.

"What is it?" I asked, leaning against the doorframe. Theo stood straight, arms clasped behind his back like the soldier he used to be. He'd been working for me for three years now, ever since he left the military.

"We have a situation," he said, his voice steady but laced with caution. "There are about twenty men outside. They're demanding to see you."

I raised an eyebrow. "And what do they want?"

"I'm not sure, Boss. They wouldn't say."

I sighed, my mind flashing back to the last time this many men showed up at my doorstep. That day ended in bloodshed, and I wasn't in the mood for a repeat. "Lead the way."

Theo nodded and turned, his boots clicking softly against the floor as he led me out of the house. I followed him into the garden, the crisp air biting against my skin. Ahead of me stood twenty men, lined up like soldiers. Five of them I recognized-old faces from my former gang-but the others were strangers, unfamiliar and untested.

"What's the meaning of this?" I asked, my voice sharp.

One of them stepped forward. "We want to work for you, sir."

"Why?" I asked, cutting to the chase.

"We trust you."

I almost laughed. Trust. That was a dangerous word in my world. I scanned their faces, noting their youth and vigor. These men were old enough to settle down, to build lives, not throw them away chasing power and loyalty to someone like me.

"I don't just let anyone join my family," I said, my tone cold. "If you want to be part of this, you'll have to cut all ties with your old lives. That means your families, your friends-everything you've ever known. Once you're in, there's no going back. If you can't handle that, then leave. Now."

My words hung heavy in the air, the weight of the ultimatum pressing down on them. I waited, watching their reactions closely.

The first man hesitated, glancing back at the others before stepping away. He walked off without a word. Slowly, five more followed, their footsteps fading into the distance. That left fourteen, standing firm, their faces set with determination.

I studied them, my gaze hard. "You've made your choice," I said. "But understand this: loyalty isn't just a promise. It's a sacrifice. If you betray me, I won't hesitate to end you. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," they said in unison.

I crossed my arms and tilted my head, studying the ones who remained. They stood firm, their faces a mixture of defiance and determination.

Theo shifted slightly beside me, his hands clasped behind his back, ready for whatever might happen next.

"Interesting," I muttered, loud enough for them to hear. I took a slow step forward, letting the weight of my presence hang heavy in the air. "You've cut ties with your families already, have you? Or is this just bravado?"

The man who had spoken earlier straightened his posture. "We're ready to do whatever it takes. We've got nothing left to go back to."

Nothing left. I'd heard that line before, too many times to count. Most of them were telling the truth. Others were just desperate, looking for an anchor in a storm they couldn't weather on their own.

"Nothing left," I repeated, my tone flat. "That's convenient. But loyalty doesn't come cheap. If you think standing here means you're ready, then you're already mistaken."

Their eyes flickered, doubt creeping in. I took another step closer, pacing slowly in front of them like a predator sizing up prey.

"I don't need men who hesitate," I said, my voice sharper now. "I don't need men who think loyalty is a word they can throw around to gain favor. I need men who will bleed, fight, and kill without a second thought. Men who understand that this-" I gestured broadly around me, "-isn't just a job. It's a life sentence."

The tension in the air was thick enough to cut. One of the newer faces flinched slightly, and I honed in on him, stopping just inches away.

"You," I said, my eyes boring into his. "Are you ready to bleed for me?"

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. "Y-yes, sir."

"Prove it." I tossed a blade from my pocket, the sharp edge glinting in the sunlight as it landed at his feet.

His hesitation was all the answer I needed.

"That's what I thought," I said coldly. "Get out."

He didn't argue, didn't even look back at the others as he turned and walked away.

The remaining men stood a little straighter, their resolve hardening. Good. That was a start.

"The rest of you," I said, my tone dropping lower. "You want to be part of my family? Fine. But understand this-there's no turning back. From this moment on, you belong to me. Your lives, your loyalty, your blood. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," they echoed in unison.

I let the silence stretch for a moment longer, letting my words sink in.

"Congratulations to each and every one of you still standing. Welcome to the family," I announced, my voice carrying through the garden. A wave of cheers and chanting erupted from the group.

"This calls for a celebration," I added, scanning their faces before locking eyes with the young man who had spoken for the group earlier. "What's your name, lad?"

"Brad," he replied, confidence swelling in his tone.

I nodded, turned on my heel, and strolled back toward the house. The men followed, excitement bubbling in their footsteps. The living room bar, stocked to the brim with bottles of every kind, waited for us inside. 

The TV flickered on. I frowned at the sudden interruption but held my tongue.

"This is breaking news," the reporter's voice echoed through the room. "The daughter of Mayor Fredrick has been missing for over a week. The mayor is offering a reward of one million dollars to anyone who finds her and brings her home."

My eyes shot to the screen, and my breath hitched. The girl in the image-the mayor's daughter-was her. The same girl currently hiding upstairs in one of my rooms. A million dollars. The pieces clicked into place, a dangerous realization settling over me like a storm cloud.

The door to the kitchen creaked open, pulling me back to the present. My eyes snapped toward it. She stepped out, cautious as a thief in the night, wearing a black hoodie and jeans with cake all over her hoodie. She tiptoes.

She must have felt the weight of the room's attention because she froze mid-step. The tension thickened as she turned to face us, and the hoodie snagged on the door. It slipped off her head, revealing her face.

Every man in the room recognized her instantly. The room shifted, an unspoken chaos sparking to life.

I didn't hesitate. My hand darted to my back pocket, drawing my loaded gun. One of the men stepped toward her, greed plastered across his face.

"Boom!" The gunshot echoed, and his body hit the ground, blood pooling beneath him.

"Nobody fucking touches her," I snarled, the warning sharp and venomous.

But greed is a powerful drug, and a million dollars was too much temptation. Weapons appeared in their hands, hunger in their eyes.

"So much for loyalty," I muttered under my breath.

Before they could act, I dropped four of them with precise shots, the room ringing with gunfire. My gun clicked-empty. No time to reload.

I rolled up my sleeves, stepping forward into the fray. "Fine," I growled, fists clenching. "Let's settle this the old-fashioned way."

Sky

I stood frozen behind him, blood sprayed across my face, my feet glued to the floor. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched him, a knife glinting in his hand, facing seven men armed to the teeth.

The first man lunged at him, screaming, a hammer raised high. He moved swiftly, catching the man's wrist and forcing the hammer to the ground. With a brutal kick, the man collapsed, his body crumpling to the floor. Without hesitation, he stomped on the man's neck, a sickening crack echoing through the room. He then grabbed the hammer and smashed it into the man's head over and over. Blood sprayed like a crimson fountain, splattering his body.

Before he could lift his head, two more men charged at him from opposite sides, hoping to catch him off guard. But he was faster. Grabbing both by their waists, he slammed them to the ground with sheer brute force. One screamed as he stabbed his hand to the floor, pinning him with a knife, leaving the other free to attack.

The second man lashed out with a kick that sent him stumbling back a step. He glared, the annoyance in his eyes flashing like fire. His opponent smirked, emboldened, tossing his knife from one hand to the other before charging.

The man swung a punch, but he caught the arm mid-air, twisting it violently until the bone snapped with a stomach-turning crunch. Without giving the man a chance to react, he shoved him under his legs, raising both elbows high and crashing them down onto the man's back. The sound of a spine breaking rang out, followed by a strangled scream.

With calculated coldness, he grabbed the man's head in both hands, twisted it sharply, and let the lifeless body slump to the floor.

The man pinned with the knife howled as he finally ripped it free, clutching his bleeding hand. He staggered to his feet, wiping the blood from his nose, his face twisted in fury. Turning to the four remaining men, he barked a signal, motioning for them to attack as one.

They came at him all at once, a blur of rage and weapons. The first man swung an axe high over his head, but with a swift kick, he sent him crashing into the wall. Before the next could react, he grabbed the man by his side and shoved him forward, using him as a human shield. A third man lunged, stabbing the shielded man in the chest with both hands. He tossed the dying man aside like a rag doll, watching him slide across the tiles in a smear of blood.

Now armed with two knives, he crouched low, slicing through the ankles of two attackers. One of them screamed, clutching his leg, but his pain was short-lived-a knife was buried in his skull.

The remaining two men hesitated, one limping from the cut on his leg, the other clutching his injured hand. He smirked and gestured for them to come.

The limping man surged forward, hoping to catch him off guard. Instead, he was hoisted into the air and thrown against the wall with bone-shattering force. His body crumpled, his spine clearly broken.

The last man made his move, throwing a punch in desperation. It was too slow. He caught the man's arm mid-air and delivered a brutal blow to his jaw, then another to his eye. The man staggered, barely standing, until a knife plunged deep into his forehead. His body slumped to the ground, lifeless.

A faint grunt echoed from the man thrown against the wall. Still alive. He turned, walking calmly toward the sound. Grabbing the man by his collar, he dragged him upright. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to breathe.

Without hesitation, he picked up the discarded axe, raising it high. The blade sliced clean through the man's throat, blood spurting in every direction. The body fell limp, the crimson pool beneath it spreading across the tiles.

The room was silent now, save for the sound of my own shaky breath. I stood motionless, my heart racing as he dropped the axe.

He turned back to me, his body drenched in blood, his chest rising and falling with slow, controlled breaths. He didn't say anything at first, just stared, his gaze cold and unflinching. I stood frozen, trembling. This was the second time I'd seen him like this, surrounded by carnage, and I thought maybe, just maybe, I'd be stronger this time. But my stomach churned, bile rising in my throat. All I wanted to do was puke and scrub every trace of blood from my skin.

"Go shower," he finally ordered, his voice low and firm.

My legs moved on instinct, but my body was too unsteady. I stumbled, my knees giving out, and I crashed to the floor. He didn't move, didn't reach for me. He just stood there, watching, as if gauging whether I was worth his effort.

It was better to have him far away than anywhere near me. I scrambled to my feet, ignoring the sharp pain in my palms from catching myself. My heart pounded as I turned and bolted up the stairs, my feet barely touching the steps.

When I reached my room, I slammed the door shut and leaned against it, gasping for air. My hands were shaking as I fumbled for the lock. The thought of him standing there, covered in blood, his calmness after all that violence-it was burned into my mind.

I couldn't afford to cry. Not here, not now. Instead, I rushed to the bathroom, ripped off my clothes, and turned the shower on as hot as I could stand it. The water stung my skin, but I scrubbed harder, desperate to feel clean.